Jesse Dyess 
Image Courtesy of IFL
Green Bay Blizzard 44 Iowa Barnstormers 25
The Green Bay Blizzard (1-2) notched their first win against the Iowa Barnstormers 44-25. Green Bay started the game on a 13-3 run in the first quarter, and from there they would never look back. First-year quarterback Ja’rome Johnson led his team in passing(155), and rushing(55) while scoring 5 touchdowns en route to a victory. Marquise Irvin led the team in receptions with 5 for 78 yards, while Terrance Smith had 3 for 46 yards and 2 Touchdowns. Green Bay’s defense came up big in this performance with 8 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.
For Iowa, this conference home loss drops them to 0-2 on the season. Zack Reeder and Darius Peterson struggled in the passing game. They were a combined 12 of 22 for 99 yards, with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. They were under pressure all day resulting in 4 sacks. The running game didn’t fare much better, with only 51 yards, Zack Reeder having the majority (20). Caleb Smith was the lone bright spot on offense with 3 catches for 39 and two touchdowns. Ian Mcborrough led the Iowa defensive charge with 6 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.
Green Bay plays again on April 16th when they take on the Sioux Falls Storm. Iowa’s next game is Sunday when they take on the Sioux Falls Storm.
Sioux Falls Storm 34 Quad City Steamwheelers 36
This game had everything you could want in a football game. After Quad City jumped out to a 10-nothing lead, Sioux Falls goes on a 20-point run. Quad City would come back to tie the game before the half. Sioux Falls would score first in the second half on a five-yard run from Loren Brown Jr. Quad City would respond when EJ. Hillard threw his 3rd of 4 touchdown passes, and would add to the lead on Malik Duncan’s safety. Hillard’s 4th touchdown catch would put the Steamwheelers ahead for good.
E.J. Hillard led Quad City with 14 of 22 passing for 139 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Keyvan Rudd and C.J. Windam both had 2 touchdowns with 63 and 30 yards respectively. Kendricks Gladney Jr and Darreon Jackson led a ball-hawking secondary with 1 interception each. Quad City improves to 2-1 on the season and plays Tulsa on April 15th.
Sioux Falls quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr would have a terrible day in the air, going 6 for 20 for only 55 yards. He would however contribute with 24 of Sioux’s 66 yards rushing and 3 of their 4 touchdowns. Tavyon Ruley would lead all rushers with 25 yards on three carries. On special teams, Tony Tate was phenomenal, with 152 return yards, including a 52-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Sioux Falls goes to 0-1 on the season, with their next game on Sunday, April 9th against the Iowa Barnstormers.
Frisco Fighters 60 Duke City Gladiators 55
Another game that went down to the wire. the Frisco Fighters to a 40-35 lead into the fourth, and were able to protect it, despite giving up 20 points in the 4th quarter. T.J Edwards for Frisco City led all passers with 137 yards and two touchdowns on 16-26 passing. T.J. Edwards would also add 49 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Jimmy Smith would add 51 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well. Jerminic Smith would lead all receivers with 5 receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Shaq Bond would have two of Frisco’s three interceptions, and Levi Watson would have an 8-yard pick-six. Charles Headen III would also tack on a 45-yard kickoff return.
Nate Davis, the former NFL quarterback turned Gladiator, threw for 177 and 4 touchdowns but also tacked on 3 interceptions. Xavier Amey and Gary Brown both had big days, each getting 2 touchdowns on 88 and 57 yards respectively. Jason Serda would have 9 tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and Mason Newton would recover a fumble in the endzone for a touchdown. Kicker Ernesto Lacayo would make his only attempt, a 41-yard field goal, and would tack on 3 Deuces(when a kickoff goes through the uprights).
Frisco City now sits at 3-0 on the season, next playing the Massachusetts Pirates on April 15th. The Duke City Gladiators fall to 1-1 and play the Tulsa Oilers Saturday.
Vegas Nighthawks 42 Northern Arizona Wranglers 48
The Arizona Wranglers took a 29-14 lead at halftime and managed to hold on in the second half to secure their first win of the season. Garrett Kettle and Glen Gibbons Jr made up all of Arizona’s offensive touchdowns. Garrett Kettle would throw for 3 touchdowns on his 11 of 21 for 138 yards. Glen Gibbons scored three touchdowns on 4 carries for 13 yards. Ramaud Chiaokhi had all 3 of Kettle’s touchdowns on 7 catches for 107 yards. Kishawn and Dorian Walker each picked off Daquan Neal, and Andre Williams managed a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Daquan Neal would lead Vegas going 15 of 32 for 158, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, and add another 30 yards on the ground. His favorite wide-out Quentin Randolph would come up with 69 yards and two touchdowns, while Caleb Holley would add 60 more and the other touchdown. Davonte Sapp-Lynch really stole the show on offense, rushing for 63 yards and 3 touchdowns on 9 carries. On Defense, Javon Jackson led all Hawks with 5.5 tackles, and Mister Harriel would have Kettle’s only interception.
Northern Arizona and the Vegas Nighthawks both sit at 1-1 after this week’s game. Northern Arizona doesn’t play again till April 16th against the San Diego Strike Force, and the Nighthawks battle the Strike Force Saturday.
Bay Area Panthers 52 Massachusetts Pirates 59
After going into the half down 38-30, Massachusetts rode a 29-14 second half en route to the victory. tied 52 all halfway through the fourth, a Jimmie Robinson 5-yard touchdown would wind up being the difference in this game. Anthony Russo would contribute 127 yards and 4 touchdowns to only one interception (12 of 19 passing). Jimmie Robinson’s game-winning touchdown was one of three on the day, accomplished on 52 yards(8 carries).
Robinson also had a special teams touchdown, coming on a 50-yard kick-off return. Thomas Owens would lead all receivers with 4 catches, 64 yards, and two touchdowns. Darren Carrington II and Isaac Zico would each add receiving touchdowns. Brendon White was the leading tackler with 8.5 total tackles, and Josh Gable would make 1-2 field goals (make from 41, miss from 60).
For the Panthers, Dalton Sneed stole the show. He went 13-22 for 156 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. The dual-threat QB would tack on 63 yards and 2 touchdowns. His Partner in the backfield, Justin Rankin, also had a big day to the tune of 13 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown. Wide Receiver J.T. Stokes was unguardable today going off for 96 yards on 6 catches and 3 touchdowns. Marquis Bridges was the leading tackler with 6 and also had the game’s only interception.
The Pirates improve to 2-0 in the young season and don’t play again until April 15th, when they play the Frisco Fighters. The Panthers fall to 1-1, with their next game being the Tuscon Sugar Skulls on April 15th.
Tuscon Sugar Skulls 35 San Diego Strike Force 16
This game was every bit as lopsided as the score would have indicated. Tuscon took a 28-3 lead at the half and never looked back. Tuscon quarterback Ramone Atkins had 134 yards through the air, with two touchdowns. Dari Patterson and Carri Thompson would each have 5 receptions and a touchdown on 57 and 52 yards respectively. Running back Mike Jones would add 56 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.
On Defense, Trae’v Ferrell was dominant, coming up with 8 tackles,4 tackles for loss, and a sack. JJ Dallas and Rashie Hodge would each have an interception in what was a dominant performance. For San Diego, Aaron Aiken was the only real source of offense. He came in halfway through the second quarter when starter Demry Croft was benched after going down 21-3. In relief, he would go 10 for 25 for 140 and a touchdown. Aiken would also be the Strike Force’s leading rusher, with 47 yards and a touchdown.
Marques Rodgers would lead all receivers with 5 catches for 86 yards and a touchdown, with Kentrez Bell adding another 60 and a touchdown. D.J. Morgan was the only defender of note for San Diego with 9 tackles. The Tuscon Sugar Skulls go to 1-0 on the season, with a game against the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday. San Diego (1-1) next plays Las Vegas Saturday night.
