Juky 7, 2018 -- Des Moines, IA
The Iowa Barnstormers (12-3) earned a hard-fought victory after taking down the six-time defending champions Sioux Falls Storm (11-4) by a score of 42-38 becoming the 2018 Indoor Football League Champions at the Wells Fargo Arena. Barnstormers RB Jamal Tyler pushed his way into the endzone with 13 seconds remaining to give Iowa its first-ever United Bowl championship victory.
A back and forth affair from the beginning, the two teams traded scores until halftime with the Barnstormers going into the locker room holding a slim 21-17 lead. A strong first half from WR Ryan Balentine, who would later be named United Bowl MVP, helped propel the Barnstormers offense. Balentine would finish his night with 5 receptions for 91 yards and three touchdowns.
Buoyed by a United Bowl record four rushing touchdowns, Storm QB Lorenzo Brown provided a spark for Sioux Falls in the second half. The Storm took a 31-28 lead going into the fourth quarter. The two teams traded scores in the fourth quarter before Iowa RB Jamal Tyler’s touchdown late in the fourth quarter sealed the game for the Barnstormers.
Barnstormers QB Drew Powell completed 12 of 16 passed or 178 yards and four touchdowns. The 2018 IFL regular season MVP also led the team in rushing yards with 48 yards on 13 attempts. Storm QB Lorenzo Brown completed 15 of 24 passes for 134 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also led the Storm in rushing yards with 84 yards and four touchdowns.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
F |
| Sioux Falls Storm |
0 |
17 |
14 |
7 |
38 |
| Iowa Barnstormers |
7 |
14 |
7 |
14 |
42 |
| TEAM |
Q |
TIME |
SCORING PLAY |
V-H |
IA
SF
IA
SF
IA
SF
SF
IA
SF
IA
SF
IA |
1
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4 |
7:36
13:18
12:17
6:30
5:08
0:04
9:32
4:49
0:30
9:10
3:27
0:13 |
Butler 6 yd pass from Powell (Gable Kick)
Brown 11 yd run (Bergner Kick)
Balentine 42 yd pass from Powell (Gable Kick)
Powell 2 yd pass from Brown (Bergner Kick)
Balentine 23 yd pass from Powell (Gable Kick)
Bergner 28 yd field goal
Brown 1 yd run (Bergner Kick)
Powell 3 yd run (Gable Kick)
Brown 11 yd run (Bergner Kick)
Balentine 4 yd pass from Powell (Gable Kick)
Brown 3 yd run (Bergner Kick)
Tyler 3 yd run (Gable Kick) |
0-7
7-7
7-14
14-14
14-21
17-21
24-21
24-28
31-28
31-35
38-35
38-42 |
PASSING
SF: L. Brown - 15/24-134 - 1 TD, 1 INT
IA: D. Powell - 12/16 - 178 - 4 TD
RECEIVING
SF: D. Ford - 8-59, D. Powell - 5-40, 1 TD, J. Harrold - 2-35
IA: R. Balentine-5-91, 3 TD, B. Roland 2-46, S. Augustine 2-19, D. Williams 1-9, J. Tyler 1-7, B. Butler 1-6
RUSHING
SF: L. Brown- 16-184, 4 TD, D. Powell 3-12, L. McCombs 5-7, D. Ford 1-1
IA: D. Powell - 13-48, 1 TD, J. Tyler 6-35, 1 TD, D. Williams 1-0