Blizzard Takes One Step Closer To Division Title
June 25, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
When the Green Bay Blizzard faced off against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on Saturday night, it was supposed to be a clash of titans. The two closely matched teams would square off with their A-games as the Pioneers' potent offense would take on the highly-ranked Blizzard defense. It was supposed to be a battle for the Division as the playoffs draw near. It was supposed to be the game of the year for both teams.
It wasn't even close.
The tension before the second meeting of the season between the Blizzard and Pioneers was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. The emotional buildup before this heated affair was well known, as both teams made their feelings known in the press in the week leading up to the game. In what was a much-anticipated match-up in the af2, the game turned out nothing like it appeared it would on paper. Before a spirited crowd of 4,324 at the Resch Center, the Blizzard handed the Pioneers their worst loss of the season, 65-35. The win would bring the Blizzard (7-5) to within one game of the Pioneers (8-4) for the American Conference East Division lead.
On their first possession of the game, the Blizzard struck paydirt as QB James MacPherson hooked up with WR/DB Luke Leverson for a 21-yard TD. After a stout defensive stop, MacPherson connected with Leverson again, this time from 7 yards out for another TD. At the end of the first quarter, Green Bay led 14-0 and would never look back.
Just 10 seconds into the second quarter, the Pioneers marched downfield and got on the board as QB Mike Granieri found WR/LB Leroy McFadden for a TD. Undaunted, the Blizzard regained control on their next possession as FB/LB Jeff Cogell plunged his way up the middle for a 4-yard touchdown. Following the TD and another defensive stop, K Dallas Pelz kicked a 32-yard field goal, giving Green Bay a 24-7 lead.
The Pioneers fired back as Granieri scored on a 5-yard TD run. The Blizzard answered right back, and with only 3 seconds left in the half, QB James MacPherson found WR/LB Gerald Harris in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown pass. At halftime, the Blizzard led the Pioneers 31-14.
In the second half, Green Bay did not relinquish the momentum. On back-to-back possessions, the Blizzard found the end zone: first it was Cogell with a 1-yard TD run, and then it was a 17-yard touchdown reception by OS Brent Holmes. Late in the quarter, Granieri scored on a 5-yard run, but it would prove to be too little too late for Wilkes-Barre.
Green Bay put up three more TDs in the 4th quarter: MacPherson scored on a 5-yard run, WR/DB Dontrell Jackson pulled in a 14-yard TD reception, and backup QB Zeke Dixon's saw his first action of the year, posting a 7-yard rushing TD.
Green Bay looks to continue their winning ways as they travel to Florida next Saturday night to clash with the American Conference South Division-leading Florida Firecats at Germain Arena. Kickoff is set for 6:00 pm CST.
Game Awards: Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: GBB QB James MacPherson
U.S. Ironman of the Game: GBB WR/LB Luke Leverson
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: GBB OL/DL Robert Boss
Cutters Catch of the Game: GBB OS Brent Holmes (3rd Quarter 43-yard reception)
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