DES MOINES - The Iowa Barnstormers (1-0) offense pushed ahead to win the first game of the 2021 season over the Sioux Falls Storm (0-1) on Saturday, May 15. The Barnstormers won 56-36 on the road at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, SD.
The Iowa Barnstormers received to start the game. The Barnstormers offense had quick movement down the field early in the first quarter. Quarterback Daquan Neal connected with Wide Receiver Beau Tanner for a 26-yard touchdown within the first minutes of the game. Kicker Nathan Criswell hit the PAT to put the Barnstormers up 7-0. The Barnstormers then garnered their second touchdown of the first quarter in their second possession of the game. Neal threw to the end zone to connect with Wide Receiver Connor Hollenbeck when the pass was tipped by the Sioux Falls defense, Hollenbeck recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. Kicker Nathan Criswell hit the PAT to put the Barnstormers up 14-6 in the first quarter. Neal threw for three touchdowns in the first half, to put the Barnstormers up 21-13 to close out the first half.
Sioux Falls responded right away in the third quarter with a rushing touchdown by Nate Chauvious. The PAT was no good, causing the Storm to trail 21-19 early in the third. The scoring continued on both ends of the field, with Neal finding Wide Receiver Andrew Mahoney Jr. twice in the third quarter, putting the Barnstormers up 35-33.
The Storm drove the length of the field in the fourth quarter but settled for a 25-yard field goal, 42-36. The Barnstormers responded with a quarterback draw on a third-down conversion by Daquan Neal, putting the Barnstormers at the 10 yard-line in Storm territory. Neal threw for his sixth touchdown of the night to Tanner, increasing the Barnstormers lead to 49-36 with 3:43 minutes left in the fourth quarter. A late-game fumble recovery in the end zone by Defensive Lineman Kenton Bartlett increased the Barnstormers lead to 56-36. The Storm tried to fight back late in the fourth quarter, but it was a little, too late and the Barnstormers came away victorious.