IFL Green Bay Blizzard

Blizzard Break Team Scoring Record in 89-27 Win

Published on June 9, 2012 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release


All the Green Bay Blizzard (10-3) needed to do was win one of their remaining pair of regular season home games to clinch a home first-round playoff game. On Friday night they came out firing on all cylinders and removed all doubt about the outcome by midway through the third quarter in an 89-27 victory over the Reading Express (2-12). Seven players scored and three tallied interceptions in a game that resulted in both a Blizzard individual and team record falling. The individual record for rushing touchdowns in a game now belongs to La'Ron Council who scored five times on the ground. "I didn't even know....I thought I only scored four tonight, but really it's a tribute to our offensive line and receivers blocking for me and making big plays themselves," Council said when asked about his newest record. Council finished with 15 carries for 78 yards on the ground. He now sits just 44 yards short of the IFL all-time single season rushing record.

The 89 points scored by the team broke the franchise record for points in a game. The previous mark was 86, set in 2009 against Milwaukee (af2). Quarterback Donovan Porterie, who completed touchdown passes to four different receivers, stated," It's awesome to be a part of something like this. Last week we were forced to run the ball more and this week we got to air it out a little bit and the receivers helped me out by going up and getting the ball every time." Bryan Pray had another solid night catching the ball as he finished with four catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. That brings his season total to 15 which is a Blizzard record since joining the IFL.

The game got off to a shaky start for the Blizzard as Reading's Sam Bryant returned the opening kick across midfield and then two plays later cashed in when quarterback Tim Bailey hit Jermain King with a short pass. King broke three tackles and raced 23 yards for the game's first score. Green Bay responded in extremely short order, as return man extraordinaire B.J. Hill took the ensuing kick from his own end zone all the way to the house to tie the score at seven just over a minute into play. The return touchdown was the fourth of the season for Hill. After a missed field goal by Express kicker Eric Rockhold, the Blizzard marched down the field methodically and capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run by Council. The PAT was missed by Adrian Trevino resulting in Green Bay leading 13-7. Reading countered with a successful Rockhold kick from 26 yards to close within three. One play later the Blizzard extended their lead to 20-10 when Donovan Porterie hooked up with receiver John Halman for a 30-yard touchdown pass on a double-move with 28 seconds remaining in the quarter.

The following quarter began much better for Green Bay as Rockhold missed his second field goal of the night to give possession back to the Blizzard offense. They took advantage when Porterie hit big play threat Bryan Pray in the end zone for a 31-yard touchdown pass. A breakdown in Green Bay's secondary allowed Reading to crawl closer via a 23-yard scoring pass, as Bailey found receiver Chris Schubert all alone in the end zone to cut the Blizzard lead to 10. Not to be outdone by his counterpart, Porterie answered by finding Desmond Tardy, who shook off illegal contact by a defender, for a 19-yard scoring strike. The Blizzard closed out the half on a strong note, using a nine-yard touchdown run by Council and a 27-yard connection with Scott Burnoski to take a commanding 47-17 lead. Rockhold drilled a last second 42-yard field goal to cut the lead to 47-20 heading to the locker room.

The third quarter was all Blizzard as they outscored the Express 28-0 in the period. Even after the 20-minute break the Blizzard offense continued to roll, scoring after just two plays from scrimmage on Pray's second touchdown reception of the night. Four minutes later, after an impressive defensive stand, the Blizzard tacked on another seven points on an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Council. On the following Reading possession the Green Bay defense got in on the action as James Romain cut in front of a receiver and intercepted a Bailey pass. The pick was Romain's fifth of the season. Andrew Verboncouer reaped the benefits of the turnover as he scored on a 4-yard touchdown run of his own to extend the lead to 68-20. After a missed field goal attempt by the Express the Blizzard got the ball one final time in the quarter and capitalized quickly. A long pass from Porterie to Halman put the ball inside the Reading five and Council eventually plunged across the goal line from a yard away for his fourth touchdown of the evening and 27th of the 2012 campaign.

The Express scored their first points of the second half on the opening drove of the fourth quarter. Back-up signal caller Kevin Clancy led a scoring march that was finished when running back Elliot White plowed into the end zone from 12 yards out. The teams then exchanged turnovers as Verboncouer fumbled and Kenneth Viser picked off a Clancy throw. Council cashed in a few plays later for his fifth touchdown run to push the Blizzard advantage to 82-27. Curtis Thomas leapt high in the air to snag the defense's third interception of the game on Reading's next drive. That pick led to a 38-yard touchdown rumble by Verboncouer on the very next play. With the score 89-27 and just over three minutes remaining both teams were content to run the clock for the remainder of the game.

Since Head Coach Robert Fuller began coaching in the IFL he has never had a season in which his team failed to host at least one playoff game. The Blizzard will host the Bloomington Edge in a first-round playoff matchup. When asked if a home playoff game was a pre-season goal Fuller responded, "Our main goal is to go 1-0 every week, but honestly having a home game in the playoffs against a quality team like Bloomington is a big deal." Next week Saturday, June 16th the Blizzard will host the Wichita Wild in the regular season finale at 7:00p.m.

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