Blizzard fall to Fire, 49-41
May 23, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) â It was a game where the team that made fewer critical mistakes won. The Fire converted on a DeRonn Finley fumble, when Matt Sauk connected with James Scott on a 30-yard touchdown to make the score 49-41 in Louisville's 59-54 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard, in front of a Blizzard record 4,544 fans.
"This game is like any other game that we've lost â [we] turn the ball over and sometimes, it's very difficult to overcome," Blizzard Head Coach Brian Noble said.
It was a fast-paced game in the beginning, but the Louisville offense was able to slow the game down at will. Louisville (5-2) held the ball for 12 more minutes than the Blizzard did, and kept the powerful Green Bay (3-4) offense off the field.
"Green Bay is a great team," Louisville Head Coach Tommy Johnson said. "Coach Noble's done an outstanding job of getting the right personnel in and doing the right things."
Green Bay had one last chance with 23.5 seconds remaining in the game after Marc Samuel's missed field goal from 40 yards. Chris Greisen was under pressure most of the drive, but was able to toss a Hail Mary, which fell incomplete off the net.
"The plan was to let our guys have enough time to get under it, but unfortunately we didn't block well enough up front to give our receivers enough time to get under the net," said Noble.
The Fire was able to neutralize Green Bay's aggressive defensive rush by keeping a receiver, usually Anthony Payton, underneath for screen passes. Payton hauled in 10 passes for 116 yards as Sauk's emergency option.
Louisville held receiving standout Randall Lane to his lowest receiving total of the season, allowing him to catch just three passes for 87 yards. With Lane neutralized, the other receivers had to step up their performances. They took the burden on their shoulders, but not as well as they did in last week's victory over Oklahoma City.
Green Bay also made two mistakes that cost them two points and momentum. Both were failed conversions after touchdowns because of an ineligible lineman being downfield during the play, a loss of down penalty.
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