Iowa Barnstormers Dominate in Home Opener
Iowa Barnstormers (file photo)
Barnstormers Defeat Blizzard 73-21
DES MOINES – The Iowa Barnstormers defeat the Green Bay Blizzard at the Wells Fargo Arena, 73-21.
In their home opener, the Iowa Barnstormers jumped out to a 7-0 lead after taking the opening kickoff as QB Donovan Porterie engineered a scoring run by WR Lucas Hefty. Following the kickoff, Barnstormers’ defensive back Ter’ran Benton gave Iowa a 14-0 lead on a pick-six as he intercepted Green Bay QB Matt Behrendt at the Blizzard 7.
The lead grew to 21-0 when, after another Iowa interception, by DB Tony Grimes, Porterie connected with Brady Roland for a touchdown. Green Bay finally got on the board on a 22-yard scoring toss from Behrendt to former Barnstormer Bryan Pray. The PAT was missed and Iowa led 21-6. The Barnstormers responded with another score, this one a seven-yard scoring pass from Porterie to LeMans Casimier for a 28-6 lead. Green Bay cut the deficit to 28-9 as the first quarter came to an end.
Iowa dominated the second quarter as the Barnstormers scored on four straight possessions. Porterie hit Casimier with a 30-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 35-9. RB Robbie Rouse then increased the lead to 42-9 Barnstormers as he waltzed into the end zone from seven yards out. Casimier recovered in the Blizzard end zone to boost the score to 49-9. Backup QB Brion Carnes tacked on a seven-yard touchdown with just seconds remaining in the first half to give the Barnstormers a dominating 56-9 lead heading into halftime.
Iowa continued the onslaught in the third quarter as Benton recovered a fumble on the kickoff and Josh Gable converted a 30-yard field goal to up the Iowa advantage to 59-9. Green Bay scored a touchdown from 13 yards out, but failed to earn the extra point giving the Barnstormers a 59-15 lead. Porterie threw his fourth touchdown pass of the night and the Barnstormers assumed a 66-15 lead after three quarters.
Carnes replaced Porterie as Iowa’s quarterback and led the Barnstormers to another score early in the fourth quarter. Carnes connected with Hefty as he dove into the end zone, 73-15. To finish out the game, the Blizzard found the end zone. However, it was not enough for the win. The Barnstormers were victorious in their home opener, 73-21.
With the victory, Iowa goes to 2-0 for the first time since the 2013 season. The Barnstormers are idle next weekend. They will next head to Wichita Falls to face the Nighthawks on Friday, March 11. Iowa’s next home game will be played on Saturday, April 9 against the Nebraska Danger at Wells Fargo Arena.
