af2 Green Bay Blizzard

Blizzard Wins 67-50, Advances to American Conference Championship

Published on August 12, 2006 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release


The Green Bay Blizzard advanced to the American Conference Championship Game Friday night as they beat the reigning ArenaCup Champion Memphis Xplorers in front of 6,005 rowdy fans at the Resch Center.

Memphis was the first to draw blood on a 13-yard pass from QB Brian Jones to OS Kevin Prentiss. The Blizzard answered right back with a 42-yard pass of their own from QB James MacPherson to OS Brent Holmes. Memphis fired right back and served up two unanswered TDs to the Blizzard, the first coming from a 58-yard kickoff return from Prentiss and the second a 39-yard pass from Jones to WR/DB Adrian Burnette. As the first quarter wound down the Blizzard was able to score once more on WR/DB Dontrell Jackson's 4-yard run and after the failed kick from K Dallas Pelz, the first quarter would end with the score 20-13.

The second quarter started with a bang as the Blizzard scored two straight TDs. The first was a 27-yard pass as MacPherson connected with Holmes in the end zone and the second was 12-yard fumble recovery by WR/LB Robert "Superman" Garth. Memphis would not be silenced and Jones scored again with a 1-yard run, tying the score at 27-27. The Blizzard fired right back with a 40-yard TD pass from MacPherson, this time to WR/DB Gerald Harris. K Steven Azar came in as the half wound down to kick a field goal for the Xplorers. As the teams headed into the locker room the Blizzard led 34-30.

The third quarter was a back-and-forth battle. The Blizzard struck first on a bruising 7-yard run by FB/LB Jeff Cogell. Jones again helped himself out by scoring on a 1-yard run, but Holmes quickly answered with a 58-yard kickoff return of his own. With 3:30 left in the third quarter FB/LB Joshua Rue scored on a 16-yard run, and the quarter ended with the Blizzard leading 47-43.

The fourth quarter proved to be more of the same as the Blizzard took a commanding lead as they scored two consecutive TDs, extending their lead to 17 points. The Xplorers were able to score only one more time as Jones hooked up with Prentiss for a 12-yard pass. The Blizzard put the final nail in the coffin as they scored one more time on 10-yard pass from MacPherson to Harris. That would close out the scoring, and as the clock wound down the Blizzard faithful kept the Resch Center rocking as the Blizzard would leave the field 67-50 winners over the defending af2 Champions.

With the win the Blizzard improves to 11-6, while the Xplorers finish the 2006 campaign with a record of 12-6. It was Head Coach Danton Barto's last game at the Xplorers' helm, as he moves on to become the Head Coach of the AFL's Las Vegas Gladiators.

Next up for the Blizzard is a match-up with the winner of tomorrow night's game between the #1-ranked Florida Firecats and the #4 Manchester Wolves. The game is in Florida, and if the Firecats win, the Blizzard will travel there for the American Conference Championship Game. If Manchester wins, they will come to Green Bay next Friday. The winner of next week's game will advance to ArenaCup7 in San Juan Puerto Rico on Saturday, August 26th to play the National Conference Champions.

Game Awards: Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: GBB OS Brent Holmes ADT Defensive Player of the Game: GBB WR/LB Robert Garth US Army Ironman of the Game: GBB WR/DB Luke Leverson Cutters Catch of the Game: GBB OS Brent Holmes (4th quarter reception)

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