af2 Green Bay Blizzard

Gordon Stars as Blizzard Shuts Down Steamwheelers 57-34

Published on April 16, 2006 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release


The Blizzard, known primarily for their stifling defense in an overwhelmingly offense-driven league, showed that they can also put points on the board, as they did early and often in their 57-34 win over the Steamwheelers. Blizzard QB Ronnie Gordon had a stellar game against his former team, as he threw 5 TD passes and ran for 2 more scores on his way to being named Schutt Offensive Player of the Game.

Gordon got things started right away, when he teamed up with OS Randall Lane - another former 'Wheeler - less than 5 minutes into the game for a 10-yard TD. Only 3 minutes later, Gordon scored again on a 4-yard TD run to give the Blizzard a 13-0 lead. (A model of consistency, the Blizzard has begun all three of their games this season with a 13-0 first quarter lead over their opponents.)

The Steamwheelers would come back strong, and the teams would trade scores through halftime: a 20-yard TD pass from Steamwheelers QB Tim Hicks to OS Tim Dodge; a 21-yard TD pass from Gordon to WR/DB Luke Leverson for the Blizzard; Hicks to Dodge for an 8-yard TD; another Gordon rushing TD, this time from 6 yards out; Hicks to WR/DB Bo Smith for a 6-yard TD; Gordon to WR/DB Bobby Boyer for a 23-yard TD.

The Blizzard would go into the locker room up 33-20, and whatever Head Coach Bob Landsee said during intermission inspired them to come out swinging. The Blizzard would score 17 straight points to open the second half, breaking the game open with a 24-yard field goal by K Wade Tydlacka, a 16-yard scoring strike from Gordon to WR/LB Robert "Superman" Garth and a 6-yard TD pass from Gordon to Leverson. The flurry of points led to a 50-20 lead and a shell-shocked Steamwheelers team.

Hicks would get the 'Wheelers back in the scoring swing with a 24-yard TD pass to WR/LB Jack Walker, Jr., but the Blizzard would answer in a flash, unleashing a one-man wrecking crew on the 'Wheelers defense: FB/LB Matt Pagel. In only 2 plays, Pagel would put the Blizzard back on the scoreboard, first by exploding with a 30-yard run to the QC 3-yard-line, then hammering his way into the end zone on the very next play. The TD would close out the scoring for the Blizzard, putting them ahead 57-27.

The 'Wheelers would add one more score, a 14-yard TD pass from backup QB Matt Pike to WR/LB Alfonso Pugh with just :41 seconds left on the clock. It proved to be too little, too late, however, as the final gun would sound and the Blizzard would come away with the 57-34 victory and a 2-1 record. With the loss the Steamwheelers would fall to 0-2 for only the second time in their history, and the first time since 2003.

The Blizzard didn't just get the job done on the offensive side of the ball - the defense did their part as well. They snared 3 INTs, one each by WR/DB Dontrell "Quick" Jackson (32-yard return), OL/DL Jason Hardee (no return), and DS Edward Kwaku (15-yard return), who also added a fumble recovery (no return). After recording no sacks in the win over the Wolves, the Blizzard opened the floodgates with 5 against the 'Wheelers: OL/DL Robert Boss had 1.5, OL/DL Terence Taylor and WR/DB Covell Crosby each had 1.0, and OL/DLs Whitney Bell, Brett Huyser and Jason Hardee had 0.5 each.

Gordon finished the game a rock-solid 15-of-25 for 177 yards and 5 TDs, with no INTs. Lane led the Blizzard in receiving, with 5 catches for 69 yards and 1 TD, and Pagel's 2 rushes for 33 yards and 1 TD paced the Blizzard running game.

For the Steamwheelers, Hicks went 21-of-36 for 244 yards and 4 TDs, with 3 INTs. Walker led Steamwheelers' receivers with 9 catches for 122 yards and 1 TD, while FB/LB A.J. Novak could muster only 2 rushes for 3 yards and no TDs.

Game Awards: Schutt Offensive Player of the Game:Ronnie Gordon (GBB) ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Dontrell Jackson (GBB) U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Luke Leverson (GBB) Cutters Catch of the Game: Randall Lane (GBB)

The Blizzard returns home to take on the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz on Friday, April 21st. The game will feature a special appearance by the Southern University Marching Band, who will perform the National Anthem before kickoff, and then again at halftime and after the game. Then the Blizzard hits the road again for two straight weeks. First up is a Saturday, April 29th meeting with the Louisville Fire, and then a Friday, May 5th matchup with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers.

For more information, or to get your Green Bay Blizzard tickets and merchandise, contact the Blizzard office at (920) 405-1264.

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