BLIZZARD TAKE DOWN THE BARNSTORMERS
GREEN BAY, WI – It came down to the final minute of the game, but the Green Bay Blizzard held on to upset the Iowa Barnstormers in a back-and-forth thriller at the Resch Center.
Both the Blizzard and the Barnstormers started strong, scoring on their opening possessions. Following a third-down sack by linebacker James Brown, Iowa’s kicker Gabriel Rui hit an early 38-yard field goal.
On 3rd & 6 with 6:50 remaining in the first quarter, Green Bay quarterback Jack Sheehan found a hole and took advantage of it. Sheehan ran in for a 25-yard touchdown – his sixth rushing TD of the season – to put the Blizzard ahead 7-3.
Up 7-6 at the end of Q1, Green Bay quickly extended their lead. Sheehan found wide receiver Shaquan Curenton in the end zone for a 24-yard score, making it 14-6.
Halfway through the second quarter, the Barnstormers failed to convert on 4th & 1, thanks to a huge stop by defensive back Shawn Steele II. On the very next drive, the Blizzard also turned the ball over on downs following an unsuccessful 4th &1 attempt. Iowa capitalized, as Antonio Wimbush scored a 2-yard touchdown with 12 seconds remaining in the first half.
Going into halftime, Green Bay was holding on to a tight 14-13 lead.
Kicker Nick Jaworski added six points to the Blizzard’s score with two back-to-back field goals– 36 and 42 yards, respectively – in the third quarter, putting GB up 20-13. Later, with just under two minutes left in Q3, the Barnstormers tied the game after another Wimbush touchdown.
A back-and-forth battle then ensued between Green Bay and Iowa throughout the fourth quarter.
Early on, Jaworski hit a 29-yard kick – his third field goal of the night – to give Green Bay a three-point advantage. Dom McNeil then quickly found the end zone for a 4-yard TD run, taking the lead back for Iowa with nine minutes remaining in the game.
With time winding down and the ball back in Green Bay’s hands, Sheehan drove the Blizzard downfield and ultimately connected with a wide-open Keshaun Taylor for a 5-yard touchdown to put GB up 30-27.
Recording the game’s one and only touchdown was Carl Robertgeau, who picked off Iowa QB Darius-James Peterson at the Barnstormers’ one-yard line with 54.5 seconds left in the game. Green Bay then ran out the clock en route to a 30-27 upset victory.
With this win, the Blizzard improved to 4-6 on the season and the Barnstormers fell to 5-4. Green Bay and Iowa will face off again next Friday, May 27 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.