Iowa Barnstormers (6-5) come out of the 2021 regular season 3-0 against the Sioux Falls Storm (5-7), 55-49 at the Wells Fargo Arena on August 14.
This was the third match-up between the Barnstormers and Storm in the 2021 regular season with Barnstormers garnering both wins in the previous match-ups. The Storm came to play with a chip on their shoulder trying to win at least once against the Barnstormers. The game started with a 19-yard run that resulted in a touchdown by Storm WR Brandon Sheperd to put the Storm on top early, 0-7 with 11:20 left in the first quarter. Barnstormers responded with a nine-yard pass from QB Daquan Neal to WR Carrington Thompson to tie the game 7-7 with 7:35 left in the first quarter. Both offenses continued to match each other touchdown for a touchdown until the end of the first quarter. With :48 left Storm QB Lorenzo Brown snuck his way into the end zone with a quarterback keeper putting Storm on top going into the second quarter, 14-21.
The scoring would continue for the Storm with an 11-yard run by RB Nate Chavious to put another touchdown on the scoreboard for them making it 14-28 with 12:35 left in the second quarter. The Barnstormers would only find the end zone one time during the second quarter. Barnstormers WR Daylon Person had a clutch grab in the end zone to lessen the lead, 21-28 with 6:55 left in the second quarter. The Storm would find their groove and score two more touchdowns before the quarter ended. Storm QB Lorenzo found RB Chavious in the end zone with a 24-yard pass to increase their lead 21-35. The Storm had to have one last word before the quarter ended. With :45 left in the first half, QB Brown would execute his second quarterback keeper of the game with a six-yard run into the end zone to put the score at 21-42 going into the second half.
The Barnstormers defense and offense did not back down in the third quarter. QB Neal carried out his signature quarterback keeper with a four-yard run into the end zone putting the Barnstormers within two touchdowns, 28-41with 9:43 left in the third quarter. Both teams remained scoreless until the last 26 seconds where Barnstormers RB Covaliu rushed into the end zone to make the score 35-42 with the Barnstormers within one touchdown from tying the game.
Storm QB Brown kept the ball for his third quarterback keeper of the night which resulted in a touchdown, increasing their lead, 35-49 with 10:41 left in the game. The Barnstormers knew they had to put pressure on the Storm and QB Neal came in clutch by throwing a quick ball deep in the end zone to WR Ju'an Williams to put another touchdown on the board for the Barnstormers, 42-49 with 6:15 left in the game. The Barnstormers defense showed up and showed out in the fourth quarter with a forced fumble by DL Kenton Bartlett and recovery by DL Christopher Biggurs on the Barnstormers 11-yard line. On the next drive, QB Neal dove from the three-yard line into the end zone to tie up the game 49-49 with 2:26 left in the fourth quarter. Both teams were unable to score, sending the game into overtime, 49-49.
Barnstormers defense held their ground against the Storms offense in their first scoring attempt in overtime, keeping them scoreless. Barnstormers had one more attempt to win the game. On fourth and goal, Barnstormers RB Evan Owens rushed for three yards finding the end zone to give the Barnstormers their third win over the Storm, 55-49 in overtime.
The Barnstormers are on the road for the final time in the 2021 regular season to face the Massachusetts Pirates (9-3) in Worcester, MA, Saturday, August 21, 2021. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 pm CST.