af2 Green Bay Blizzard

Blizzard Report

May 20, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release


Game Wrap: Blizzard Collars Yard Dawgz

Green Bay 71, Oklahoma City 53

Not in our yard, Dawgz. That's the answer Green Bay gave to Oklahoma City, who showed up at the Resch Center looking to put a little polish on their 4-1 record. In what was the finest performance by the Blizzard this year – perhaps ever – they cranked their game up a notch or two and sent the Yard Dawgz packing with a deuce in the loss column instead.

Head coach Brian Noble has been emphasizing hard work, attitude and consistency in practice lately – and it showed. The Blizzard entered the game fired up, but under control, and played four quarters of tough, intelligent football. Chris Greisen was unstoppable, throwing for nine touchdowns and running for another one. Randall Lane was his ever-potent self, piling up 164 yards receiving, but Robert Garth and DeRonn Finley were just as hot as they hauled in three scoring passes each.

The defense stepped up as well, snuffing out two Oklahoma drives with interceptions and holding the highly-touted Yard Dawgz offense to its second-lowest total of the season. The Blizzard made it through the evening with no turnovers, which ultimately may have been the difference in the game.

Player Spotlight: Two Out of Three Ain't Bad!

Greisen and Finley Earn Weekly Awards

Quarterback Chris Greisen and wide receiver/defensive back DeRonn Finley scooped up two of the three weekly awards handed out by the af2 league. Greisen was named Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week and Finley won the U.S. Army Ironman of the Week award. Greisen had the best game of his Arena Football career, and Finely has been coming on strong lately as he recovers from a lingering leg injury.

Both players were eligible for the weekly award because they had won the preceding game award. Green Bay actually swept all three game awards since Blizzard DS Roosevelt Williams was voted ADT Defensive Player of the Game as well.

Extra Points

Reggie's Poole Party Good for Six

In Arena Football a ball is live off the end zone net. It's also live off a defensive lineman – just ask Reggie Poole. Against the Yard Dawgz, Poole was set on the offensive line when Blizzard quarterback Chris Greisen took a three-step drop from the four yard line and looked to hit a receiver on a slant route. Poole was just as surprised as anyone when the ball bounced off an opposing lineman and landed right in his mitts.

"One second I'm looking to make a block and the next I'm standing there with the ball in my hands," said Poole. "For a moment I felt like I'd won the lottery, then my instincts took over and I started rumbling toward the end zone. At that point, nothing was going to stop me – and I mean nothing." Reggie bulled his way through two guys to score his first touchdown in professional ball, and went into the stats with one of Greisen's nine scoring strikes.

Sent to the Pound

Speaking of being bounced, Dawgz OL/DL James Landers, number 77 got the thumb after taking a swing at Blizzard lineman Patrick Heard. Heard pursued his block on Landers right to the whistle and drove him into the wall. Landers took exception to that and responded with a punch to Heard's facemask. "I heard the ref yell ‘you're gone 77' and I backed off," Pat explained. "Otherwise, I would have had something to say about that."

Next Up: Blizzard Looks to Put Fire on Ice

Blizzard (3-3) vs. Louisville Fire (4-2)

Green Bay is hoping to make it three home victories in a row when the Louisville Fire comes to town Saturday, May 22nd. A win would tie the Blizzard with the Fire for second place in the National Midwest Division. Louisville is coached by Tommy Johnson and has been in the af2 four years.

For more information, contact the Blizzard office at (920) 405-1264.



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