Indoor Football League: Week 4 | Green Bay Blizzard at Arizona Rattlers Live On US Sports Net!

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Danger Blast Blizzard 59-23

Mar 11, 2018

The Green Bay Blizzard came to the Heartland Events Center looking to end their two game losing streak but ended up losing a third straight, after the Nebraska Danger blasted them 59-23.

Nebraska took the opening kickoff 30 yards, setting up a one-play drive when Gregory Dent caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Damien Fleming. After getting the ball back, Nebraska again used one play for Fleming to toss a 21-yard TD pass, giving them a 14-0 lead. The Blizzard defense couldn't find an answer for the Danger offense, who scored four times and led 28-7 as time ran out in the quarter.

"I'm very pleased with how we started the game. Our offense and defense both came out focused, which is exactly what you want after a bye week," said Nebraska Danger head coach Mark Stoute.

Things did not improve for Green Bay as the second quarter started. Danger defensive lineman, Xzavie Jackson, broke through the line of scrimmage and forced the ball out of Blizzard quarterback Christian Lemay's hands and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. The Danger kept the steamroller going throughout the quarter, getting points on the board three more times. Nebraska scored on every possession in the first half, racking up 194 yards of offense compared to Green Bay's 78. Nebraska's Fleming finally threw his first incomplete pass with under a minute left in the second quarter, as the Danger headed to the locker room with a 52-14 lead.

Green Bay received the ball to start the second half and brought out a new quarterback,  Raymond Cotton, to lead the team. The Blizzard got the ball moving before the Danger defense forced them into a field goal situation, which Green Bay converted to make the score 52-17. The rest of the quarter play went back and forth between the two teams. The one exception was a 27-yard pass from Fleming to receiver Eric Thomas for a Nebraska score, extending their lead to 42 points.The Blizzard showed some offensive prowess at the end of the third quarter, marching down the field only to have the drive stalled by an illegal formation penalty.

 A few plays into the fourth quarter, the Blizzard turned over the ball on downs for the fourth time. Jesse Scroggins then came out to take over at quarterback for the Danger. On his first play, he passed the ball backward for a lateral, which was then picked up by Angelo Pease and run up field for a first down. The drive ended with a missed field goal from kicker Brad Hatfield, turning the ball back over to the Blizzard at their own five-yard line. Green Bay then got the ball moving, with the help of some Nebraska penalties, including a pass interference call. This propelled the Blizzard to the Nebraska 18-yard line. Nebraska defensive back, Daniel Masifilo, snagged a Blizzard pass for an interception, ending the score threat by Green Bay. After a Nebraska turnover, the Blizzard scored quickly and cut the Nebraska lead to 36, 59-23. 

"I thought we played well today. One thing we need to clean up is penalties. Seven flags for sixty yards is too many. We can get away with that now but against Arizona, Iowa and Sioux Falls that will come back to bite us," Stoute said. 

The Danger next play at home on March 30 versus the Iowa Barnstormers at the Heartland Events Center. 

Barnstormers Fly High Over Rattlers 38-28

Photo Credit: Connor Ferguson

Mar 11, 2018

DES MOINES - The Iowa Barnstormers (2-0) beat the reigning Indoor Football League (IFL) champions the Arizona Rattlers (1-1) 38-28 Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, IA.
At the start of the first quarter the Arizona Rattlers got on the board after a touchdown catch by Wide Receiver Anthony Amos, but the Rattlers were unable to make the PAT. Within minutes Iowa Barnstormers Quarterback Drew Powell was running the ball into the end zone to take the lead 7-6. Iowa Defensive Back Bryce Enyard was able to close out the first quarter with an interception to end the Arizona drive in the end zone. Barnstormer's offense stormed down the field and finished the drive with Drew Powell connecting with Wide Receiver Sheldon Augustine for the touchdown. The score at halftime was the Iowa Barnstormer 14 Arizona Rattlers 6.
To start the third quarter Drew Powell wasted no time finding Wide Receiver Brady Roland for another Iowa touchdown giving them the 21-6 lead. Iowa defensive back Rocky Hayes came up with a huge interception to shut down Arizona's drive in the end zone. Rattlers Quarterback Jeff Ziemba was able to make the throw to wide receiver Jamal Miles for the touchdown making it 21-13.
Brady Roland began the fourth quarter by grabbing his second touchdown pass of the night to extend the Iowa lead to 15 points. Rattlers Running Back Darrel Monroe punched in a touchdown with a short running play making the score 28-21 after a successful two point conversion. Drew Powell snuck the ball into the end zone for the touchdown on a running play changing the score to 35-21. Bryce Enyard came down with his second interception of the night in the Rattler's end zone. Arizona connected with Anthony Amos on a small passing play for a touchdown to bring the score within 7. Iowa Kicker Cody Barber successfully kicked a field goal in the final seconds of the game to help the Barnstormers win 38-28.
The Barnstormers will return to Wells Fargo Arena on Sunday, March 18, 2018 for their home opener against the Sioux Falls Storm. Kickoff is set for3:05 p.m. Tickets are available at the Iowa Barnstormers official website. Season tickets are also available. Call 515-633-2255 to speak with a ticket representative.