Blizzard Advance to American Conference Finals
August 10, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
If two big wins can be considered a playoff run, then the Green Bay Blizzard are on one. With a come from behind win last week vs. the #3 ranked Quad City Steamwheelers 39-34, division rival the Louisville Fire traveled to Green Bay hoping to end Green Bay's season. Green Bay however, had other plans in mind. In front of 4,349 fans at US Cellular Field at the Resch Center, the Green Bay Blizzard defeated the Louisville Fire 37-27.
Both teams got on the board quickly but Green Bay was first with a six yard rushing touchdown from FB/LB Tony Ficklin (9-50 yds, 2 TD) and QB Joe Steele (24-54, 253, 2 TD's) for Louisville.
With Louisville knotting things up, the ensuing kickoff bounced awkwardly off the crossbar sending it sailing directly into the waiting arms of a Louisville player. Two plays later FB/LB Demetrius Forney would put Louisville up 14-7.
Head Coach Doug Lytle however wasn't worried, "All you can do is prepare your players to put them in the right positions, some times the ball doesn't bounce in your favor, and sometimes it does."
Green Bay however would knot up the score at 14 with another rushing touchdown by FB/LB Tony Ficklin. Louisville answered quickly on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Steele to WR Tiger Jones. Louisville kicker Danny Kight would miss the insuing extra point attempt leaving Louisville with a 20-14 lead.
Green Bay would not wait long to take the lead as QB Zeke Dixon connected with WR Kellen Allen on the next play from scrimmage for Dixon's first passing touchdown of the night. Green Bay also tallied the next score on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Dixon to WR Scott Burnoski. Burnoski's diving TD grab would also earn him Cutter's Catch of the Game. Green Bay's late TD would leave them with a 27-20 halftime lead.
On Louisville's second play of the second half Steele again hooked up with Jones for their second touchdown connection of the game knotting the score 27 points a piece. The third quarter tie at 27 would be the last of the game as Green Bay took the lead for good on the next drive when Dixon's pass found WR Gerald Harris in the endzone with 10:55 remaining in the quarter.
Green Bay kicker Bob Forstrom would score the only points of the fourth quarter on his 36-yard field goal with 8:10 remaining in the game. The Louisville offense pressured the endzone late in the game driving the ball down to the Green Bay 2-yardline with only 36 seconds remaining in the game. Green Bay's defense would hold on however, securing the Blizzard's trip to the American Conference Championship game with the 37-27 win.
The win gives Green Bay a 9-0 record at home in 2007 and 11 straight home victories dating back to the 2006 season. This playoff win is also Green Bay's at US Cellular Field at the Resch Center, giving them a 2-0 home playoff record. Green Bay will play the winner of the game between Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Central Valley in the American Conference title game next week.
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