Blizzard Top Chicago to Split Season Series
June 11, 2011 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
The Blizzard were at home for the second consecutive week Friday night as they played host to the Chicago Slaughter in the regular season finale.
Green Bay (11-3) was looking to avenge a Week 10 loss they suffered in Chicago and to gain momentum ahead of the playoffs, which start next weekend. The Blizzard has the No. 2 seed and a first round bye in the United Conference for the Indoor Football League playoffs.
Even though Green Bay had already clinched a spot in the playoffs, they had a lot to play for as a win would help improve their chances of hosting the Indoor Football League United Cup Championship Game.
The Blizzard battled the Slaughter in a hard-fought contest that was relatively close for much of the evening and were able to defeat Chicago 65-48.
Quarterback Brennan Sim, who was making his first start of the season due to injuries to Willie Copeland and Jameel Sewell, led the Blizzard offense in the first half with three touchdowns.
Sim threw a pair of touchdown passes to wide receivers Willie Quinnie (8 yards) and Agim Shabaj (31 yards). He also rushed for a 4-yard touchdown.
The Blizzard defense also helped pace the first-half scoring output by contributing two touchdowns for the third consecutive week in a row.
Defensive lineman James McClinton recovered a fumble by Slaughter quarterback Juice Williams in the end zone for the first touchdown. Linebacker Greg Jackson returned an interception 33 yards for the second.
In the third quarter, Sim picked up right where he left off in the first half by adding an 8-yard touchdown run. Despite the touchdown run, the Slaughter outscored Green Bay 13-6 in the quarter.
Chicago quarterback Juice Williams threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Terry Love and he ran for a 10-yard touchdown to lead the third-quarter scoring.
The Slaughter opened the fourth quarter with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Williams to wide receiver Patrick Rouzard to cut the Green Bay lead to 53-48 with 6:43 remaining in the game.
The Blizzard responded with a three-play 32 yard drive, capped off by an 8-yard touchdown run by DeMaundray Woolridge.
A defensive safety and a field goal by place-kicker Joshua Shene closed out the game and gave the Blizzard their 11th win of the season, tying the team record set in 2008.
Shene's three field goals on the night gave him a total of 31 for the year, breaking the Blizzard single-season record of 29 made by Tino Amancio in 2010.
Defensive back Arkeith Brown intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter to give him 12 for the year, which tied him with Rusty Midlam for a Blizzard single-season record. Midlam accomplished the feat back in 2008.
In the win, Sim completed 13 of 23 passes for 184 yards and passed for three touchdowns. Also, Sim rushed for 23 yards on eight carries and scored two touchdowns.
Wide receiver Agim Shabaj caught six passes for 96 yards and scored one touchdown.
Greg Jackson led the Blizzard defense as he intercepted one pass, which he returned for a touchdown, made eight tackles and had two tackles-for-loss. Defensive back Bryson Tucker collected nine tackles and forced a fumble.
Green Bay will host a Conference Semi-Final game at the Resch Center on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30pm. The opponent will be the highest remaining seed after the Quarterfinals are played the previous week. The game on June 25th will be Fan Appreciation Night and the first 2,500 fans attending will receive a free gift from the Blizzard.
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Indoor Football League Stories from June 11, 2011
- Extreme will open 2011 IFL Playoffs at Omaha - Bloomington Extreme
- Roughnecks Edge Amarillo 37-24, Finish Regular Season at 10-4 - West Texas Roughnecks
- Blizzard Top Chicago to Split Season Series - Green Bay Blizzard
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