Blizzard Rebounds With 52-50 Shootout Win Over Wildcats
June 17, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
Following last week's bizarre overtime loss to the Stockton Lightning, the Green Bay Blizzard could have used the deflating experience as an excuse to hang their heads and point fingers at one another, and they could have looked past a 1-8 opponent to next week's rematch with the division-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. But all week long the coaches preached one thing in practice: amnesia. Forget what happened in the last game and get ready for the South Georgia Wildcats. That's exactly what they did, going into the Albany Civic Center and coming out with a heart-stopping 52-50 win.
The Wildcats have struggled all season, and were 1-8 coming in to Saturday night's game against the Blizzard. Still, they came out swinging and gave the Blizzard just about al they could handle. Right off the bat, the 'Cats won the toss, received the ball and took a 7-0 lead on a quick 2-yard TD run. The Blizzard, however, were just as game, and they came right back as FB/LB Peter "The Animal" Lazare would even the score at 7-7 with 12th rushing TD of the season.
The Blizzard would come up with a defensive stop and tally another quick score to take a 14-7 lead, but the Wildcats would answer with another TD of their own. This time 'Cats K Dan Burnett would miss the PAT, and the Blizzard would remain in the lead 14-13.
On the ensuing Blizzard possession, the 'Cats would seemingly turn the tide by intercepting QB Ronnie Gordon deep in their own territory, but an illegal defense penalty would give the Blizzard a second chance. The penalty would only prolong the same outcome, as the 'Cats defense would hold and force a long FG attempt, which was missed by K Dallas Pelz. At the end of the 1st quarter, the Blizzard would hold a slim 14-13 lead.
It wouldn't last long, as the Wildcats would score less than a minute unto the 2nd quarter on a long TD reception by WR/LB Chris McKinney. The PAT would be blocked, and the 'Cats would only lead by 5 points, 19-14.
The Blizzard response would be quick and decisive, as Lazare would bull his way through the Wildcats defensive line only a few plays later for a 1-yard TD and a 21-19 Blizzard lead.
The next series would underscore the overall theme of the night. Both teams suffered numerous untimely penalties, dropped passes and missed opportunities, and on this series the Blizzard would give the Wildcats chance after chance to score with several penalties. Following a roughing the passer penalty on 3rd down on the 7-yard line, the 'Cats would score another TD, but their third missed PAT in a row would leave them leading 25-21 with less than 4 minutes left in the first half.
A long return on the ensuing kick by WR/DB Dontrell "Quick" Jackson would put the Blizzard in excellent field position. On the very next play QB James MacPherson, who came into the game in relief of an injured Gordon, hit OS Brent Holmes with a 21-yard TD strike. Pelz would convert the PAT and the Blizzard would be back in the lead, 28-25.
The see-saw battle would continue as the 'Cats would score a TD to take a 32-28 lead with only 42.8 seconds remaining in the first half. This would not daunt the Blizzard, as only 10 seconds later MacPherson would hit WR/DB Luke Leverson in stride for a long TD and a 35-32 lead.
The Wildcats would try to notch another score before intermission, but OL/DL Jason Hardee would repeatedly harass Wildcats QB Julian Reese into hurried passes and incompletions. His pressure would pay off, as with only 10.6 seconds left "Quick" would pick off a Reese pass and give the Blizzard an important defensive stop. The Blizzard would go into the locker room with a 35-32 lead, the momentum, and the first offensive possession of the second half.
The Blizzard took the field posed to pull away, and another long return put them in position to do just that. They would quickly extend their lead to 42-32 on Lazare's third rushing TD of the night less than 2 minutes into the second half.
What happened next would remove any doubt about Green Bay's desire to go for the throat, as Pelz would execute a textbook onside kick and the Blizzard would recover and be back in business - or so it would seem. Only two plays into the drive MacPherson would loft a pass to Holmes that would be intercepted, and with the change in momentum the South Georgia faithful would get behind their Wildcats and try cheer them on to a score.
The Blizzard D was up to the challenge, and would again hound Reese into numerous mistakes, including several incompletions and a coverage sack. Burnett would attempt a field goal, but the kick would fall short and the Blizzard D would hold.
Looking at a disheartened Wildcats D, the Blizzard would march 45 yards down the field for yet another TD, giving them a 49-32 lead. That would be the score at the end of the 3rd quarter, and since the Wildcats had taken a 32-28 lead near the end of the first half, the Blizzard had run off 21 unanswered points.
The final stanza would feature more of the back-and-forth of the first half, as the Wildcats would consistently chip away at the 18-point deficit. They would get back on the scoreboard with a TD less than 2 minutes into the 4th quarter, and a successful 2-point conversion would bring the score to 49-40 in favor of the Blizzard.
The Wildcats D would show some mettle, as they would hold the Blizzard to a field goal attempt at the end of their next series. Pelz' kick would not find the mark, and the 'Cats would find themselves in position to make it a one-possession game. Reese would make the most of the opportunity, pulling the ball down and taking a QB-keeper nearly all the way, giving the 'Cats a first-and-goal from the 6. The Blizzard D would stiffen, and the Wildcats would manage only a field goal. That would bring the score to 49-43, Blizzard.
Right out of the gate, MacPherson hit WR/LB Gerald Harris for a 17-yard gain, and the Blizzard would seem to be in business once again. Disaster would nearly strike again for the Blizzard, as a fumble by MacPherson was narrowly recovered by the Blizzard. The near-takeaway would reenergize the Wildcats D, who would force the Blizzard into another field goal attempt, which Pelz would miss.
With 2-and-a-half minutes to play, the Wildcats would take over at their own 16-yard line. The Blizzard would immediately apply pressure, but this time the Wildcats were able to handle it. Reese would stand in against the onrush, and lay in a perfect pass for a 34-yard TD. The PAT was good, and the Wildcats would take an astonishing 50-49 lead with only 1:08 left to play.
MacPherson showed no signs of panic, as he would calmly loft a 40-yard bomb to Leverson, who would haul it in and be taken down at the 2-yard line. With 5.6 seconds left to play, Pelz would take the field for a game-winning field goal. The snap, hold and kick were perfect, and with only 2.8 seconds left to play, the Blizzard would take the lead, 52-50.
The Wildcats would have one last chance to pull the game out, but Reese's desperation pass would be intercepted as time ran out. The Blizzard narrowly escaped with the 52-50 win, but it brings them back above .500 with a record of 6-5 heading into next week's matchup with the American Conference East Division-leading Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, who were 7-3 going into their Saturday night matchup with the Quad City Steamwheelers.
The Blizzard returns home next week to take on the Pioneers Saturday, June 24th at the Resch Center. The game will feature a special appearance by Myron Noodleman, "The Clown Prince of Baseball," Presented by Nicolet Bank. Myron, who is famous all over the country for his nerdy antics and family-friendly slapstick, will be bringing his wacky act inside, and fans can get in on the fun as the first 1,000 fans will receive a foam Noodle as the enter the arena, courtesy of Proforma.
For more information, contact the Blizzard office at (920) 405-1264.
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- Firecats Improve to 5-0 at Home with 66-54 Win Over Macon - Florida Firecats
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- Blizzard Rebounds With 52-50 Shootout Win Over Wildcats - Green Bay Blizzard
- Wildcats Create Organizational Changes - South Georgia Wildcats
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