The Tulsa Oilers, proud member of the IFL, solidified their first win in franchise history with a road victory against the Iowa Barnstormers in Des Moines, Iowa at Wells Fargo Arena.
The Iowa Barnstormers stormed out of the gate, picking up the first 14 points of the game. Iowa's quarterback Jonathan Bane recorded two passing touchdowns to begin the first quarter. Those two scores sandwiched what was an opening-drive turnover for Tulsa via a fumble. The Oilers scored their first points with 3:50 left in the first with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Vincent Espinoza to Joshua Crockett, bringing the score to 14-7 Iowa.
The second quarter started with two Barnstormer scores, the first on a four-yard rushing touchdown from Caleb Smith with 10:30 left in the quarter, and the second score via an interception from Eric Johnson, which was returned 48-yards for a touchdown with 9:44 left in the half, pushing the Iowa lead to 27-7. The following drive, Tulsa responded with a two-yard touchdown reception of their own via Montero Dubose with 6:40 left in the half, making it 27-13 Barnstormers. Iowa and Tulsa traded scores after, with the half ending with a one-yard rushing touchdown from Damion May with just 0:15 left, leaving the score 34-19 Iowa heading to the locker room.
Tulsa had their best quarter of the game in the third, returning the opening kickoff 47-yards for a touchdown via Britto Tutt, making the score 34-26. Iowa fought back with a touchdown of their own to open the half, producing a 12-yard rushing score from Antonio Wimbush with 12:37 left in the third. Tulsa sent a shockwave offensively, scoring three touchdowns in a row. Tre King picked up a four-yard rushing touchdown with 8:20 left in the third quarter to start the offensive push making the game 41-33 Iowa. Tulsa's Alex Rosario would record his first touchdown of the day with 0:59 left in the third quarter on a 12-yard reception in the middle, entering the final quarter at a score of 41-40 Barnstormers.
The final frame began with a Tre Harvey touchdown in the fashion of an 18-yard rushing score, barreling his way through two tackle attempts and giving Tulsa their first lead in franchise history, 47-41, with 10:25 left in regulation. Wimbush for Iowa gave the Barnstormers their lead back with 7:50 left in the game thanks to his four-yard reception reaching his way across the goal line, making it 48-47 Iowa. Tulsa would score the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard rush from Harvey. The Tulsa native helped the Oilers get their 54-48 lead with 4:06 left in the fourth, which would ultimately seal their first win in franchise history. Iowa's Bane would throw an interception to Tutt on the final play of the game to end regulation. Tulsa advances to 1-3 on the season with their first win in franchise history.