AFL Iowa Barnstormers

Game Preview Week 2: Iowa Barnstormers at Portland Thunder

Published on March 21, 2014 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Iowa Barnstormers News Release


DES MOINES - The Iowa Barnstormers take on the Portland Thunder at the Moda Center in Portland, OR on Monday, March 24, 2014 at 9:00 p.m. CST. This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams, a matchup in which both teams look to turn around their 0-1 records for the 2014 AFL season.

The Barnstormers look to rebound after a disappointing loss to the Spokane Shock in its home opener. The win would put the Barnstormers ahead of the Thunder in matchups with a 1-0 series record.

In his first game as an Iowa Barnstormer, Carson Coffman displayed his potential, collecting 189 yards and three touchdowns. In Iowa's third drive of the game, Coffman completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Julian Williams. His favorite connection of the night, Marco Thomas, brought in two touchdowns, accounting for 59 receiving yards, marking him the team's leader for the night.

The Barnstormers defense contributed a major factor to the team's momentum by adding their own tallies to the scoreboard. Linebacker Matangi Tonga recorded two sacks and a Barnstormers safety for the night. Ter'Ran Benton's fumble recovery added six more to the Barnstormers effort. Unfortunately, their efforts were not enough to pull the team ahead of the determined Shock.

The Portland Thunder look to host the Barnstormers and send them home with defeat. With a roster dominated by rookies, the Thunder work to settle on a starting quarterback for the 2014 season. In Week 1, QB Darron Thomas led the game with a 10-play touchdown drive. Thomas finished the game having completed 11 of 27 passes while his competitor, Nathan Enderle, completed 10 of 19 passes for two touchdowns.

To take the win from Portland, the Barnstormers need to keep their drive and intensity high throughout the entire game. Taking care of the ball on both sides of the line and scoring in the red zone will be high priority for Iowa this week. Not to mention keeping the #1 kick returner in the League, Portland's Duane Brooks, under control.

The home portion of the schedule begins Saturday, April 12 when the San Antonio Talons come to town. 2014 season tickets remain on sale for as low as $110 per seat, while individual game tickets can be purchased for any regular season game at the Wells Fargo Arena Box office or by calling the Barnstormers at 515-633-2255. For all of the latest Barnstormers information log onto www.theiowabarnstormers.com.

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