Blizzard gets back to their winning ways
June 21, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
The Green Bay Blizzard got back to their winning ways in dramatic fashion on Saturday night against the Louisville Fire. In front of a reported crowd of 6,961 at Freedom Hall in Louisville, the Blizzard won a see-saw battle 56-49 en route to setting a number of franchise marks.
The win raised the Blizzard to a record of 7-4, setting a franchise record for wins in a season. The previous mark of 6 was set in 2004. Saturday's victory over the Fire also made this the second-ever season sweep for the Blizzard. (The Blizzard defeated the Fire 65-49 on May 14th in Green Bay.) In 2004, the Blizzard swept the then-division rival Peoria Pirates, who went on to lose to the Florida Firecats in the ArenaCup Championship game.
With the win, the Blizzard now stands alone in second place in the af2's American Conference East Division, 3 games behind the 10-1 Manchester Wolves. With only 5 games left in the 2005 regular season, the Blizzard is in prime position to claim the first playoff berth in franchise history.
Saturday's game was a hard-fought battle that went down to the final play, and once again it was the Blizzard defense that rose to the occasion. With the game clock reading 00:00, the Fire had one last chance to score a touchdown that would put them within one point of the Blizzard, but Fire QB Matt Sauk's pass to WR/LB Dennis Fryzel fell incomplete to seal the victory for the Blizzard.
The Blizzard came out swinging in the first period, with QB Johnny Turman hitting WR/LB Kenny Solomon on a gorgeous 17-yard TD pass that saw Solomon get flipped over the dasher board. Solomon was injured on the play and did not return to the game, but he held on to the pass for the TD and a 7-0 Blizzard lead.
The Fire struck back quickly, as WR/LB Rob Mager caught a 24-yard pass from Sauk to pull within one. After Fire K Danny Kight's PAT was blocked, the score stood at 7-6 in favor of the Blizzard. The missed PAT was just the first miscue of many on a terrible night for Kight, who missed a total of 3 extra points and 1 field goal.
Turman had a rock-solid performance, completing 24 of 35 passes for 305 yards, 7 TDs and 0 INTs. FB/LB Peter Lazare, a mid-season addition, recorded his first-ever Arena Football TD, scoring on a 1-yard run to put the Blizzard up 28-18 in the second quarter. OS Gerald Harris, WR/DB Lance Taylor and WR/LB Robert Garth scored on passes of 30, 34 and 2 yards, respectively, but the offensive performance of the night came from WR/DB Brent Holmes.
Holmes caught 9 passes for 129 yards and 3 of Turman's other TD passes, including the 18-yard game-clincher with only :22 seconds left on the clock. Holmes showcased his speed and versatility all night, as his other TD receptions came on passes of 1 and 38 yards.
Game awards were split between the two teams, with WR/DB Dontrell Jackson being named US Army Ironman of the Game and DS David Crocker being named ADT Defensive Player of the Game for the Blizzard. Fire QB Matt Sauk (34 of 51, 396 yards, 7 TDs, 1 INT) and WR/LB Rob Mager (16 rec, 187 yards, 4 TD) shared the Offensive Player of the Game award for their performances in the loss.
*********** The Blizzard is back in action this Friday night at the Resch Center, taking on the 1-10 Birmingham Steeldogs on "A Night of Majik," sponsored by Piggly Wiggly and FOX 11. The first 1,000 fans age 14 and under will receive a Don Majkowski "Majik Man" Bobble-Head. Former Green Bay Packers QB Don Majkowski will be signing autographs at the game from 6:00-6:30pm in the Resch Center Atrium.
THIS WEEK'S PRACTICE SCHEDULE: Wednesday, June 22nd - 10:30am-12:30pm - the Resch Center Thursday, June 23rd - 9:00-10:00am - the Resch Center Friday, June 24th - GAME DAY - Kickoff @ 7:00pm at the Resch Center
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