Green Bay Blizzard at Bemidji Axmen Game Preview
April 23, 2014 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
Green Bay, WI - Coming off their best offensive performance of the season the Green Bay Blizzard (0-7) travel to face the Bemidji Axemen (3-4) this Friday April 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Palace Casino Field at the Sanford Center.
Be sure to stop over at Burkel's One Block Over for the Official Blizzard Watch Party as the team takes on the Axemen. Enjoy food and drink specials while watching the game with Blizzard fans and staff. Burkel's is located on 1007 Tony Canadeo Dr, Green Bay.
This week's contest is the second of four scheduled games between the Blizzard and the Axemen. Bemidji took the first game 50-46 on February 22 and the Blizzard will look to notch their first victory of the season and even up the series.
Green Bay, in their first game under new Head Coach Tommie Williams, had their strongest offensive performance of the season last week vs. the Tri-Cities Fever. QB Nate Wara shined as he tied a franchise record with five rushing touchdowns and led the team to a season-high 62 points. In addition, the Blizzard also set a franchise record with 180 rushing yards with 180 vs. Tri-Cities.
The Blizzard will look for another big offensive performance as the team faces off against Bemidji.
After his five-touchdown performance, Wara now leads the IFL in rushing touchdowns with 12. Joining Wara on the ground is RB Lucien Walker. Walker has five rushing touchdowns in the past two games. WR Donte Sawyer leads the team through the air. Sawyer leads the IFL in receptions with 39 and has amassed 353 receiving yards and three touchdowns on the season. An all-purpose weapon, Sawyer also is second in the IFL with 710 all-purpose yards.
The Axemen, led by former Blizzard Head Coach Robert Fuller are coming off a crushing last second loss to the Cedar Rapids Titans. The Axemen allowed the Titans to score five points in the final fifteen seconds of play to give Cedar Rapids a narrow 60-57 victory.
Reigning IFL Rookie of the Year QB Cody Kirby leads the Axemen on the field. Kirby, who joined the team April 10, passed for 292 yards and four touchdowns in his debut last week. Kirby is a familiar opponent to the Blizzard as the team faced Kirby four times last season when he was a member of the Chicago Slaughter. Kirby's most dangerous weapon is WR Ryan Balentine. Balentine, who played for the Blizzard last season, currently leads the IFL in receiving yards with 460. Bemidji DB Dequan Starling also played for the Blizzard in 2013.
The Blizzard defense will look to get back on track this week after a full week of preparation under new defensive Coordinator James Kerwin. Defensive linemen Junior Aumavae, Drew Vanderlin and Leon Mackey will look to get constant pressure on the Axemen. Aumavae got a sack on his very first play last week.
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Indoor Football League Stories from April 23, 2014
- Green Bay Blizzard at Bemidji Axmen Game Preview - Green Bay Blizzard
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