Hurricane Katrina Relief Night a Huge Success as Blizzard Falls To Yard Dawgz
April 22, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release
Despite playing in front of the second-largest crowd in team history, the Green Bay Blizzard dropped another heart-breaker, 44-32 to the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz in front of 6,576 fans Friday night at the Resch Center. The Blizzard offense - which had come alive the past two weeks - didn't come together, and the defense was simply overmatched by the high-powered Oklahoma City offense.
The Blizzard started off strong by opening up a 12-0 lead in the first quarter. The highlight of the quarter was a gorgeous rainbow 42-yard TD pass from QB Ronnie Gordon to WR/DB Bobby Boyer. The Yard Dawgz came right back in the second quarter with a 33-yard TD pass from QB Craig Strickland to WR/LB Anthony Dingle. The Blizzard was able to extend their lead with a 13-yard TD pass from QB Gordon to WR/LB Robert "Superman" Garth. The first half would end with the Blizzard holding an 18-13 lead.
The second half was dominated by the Yard Dawgz, as Strickland tossed 4 more TD passes to 3 different receivers. In the 3rd quarter OS Jarrail Jackson came on strong, hooking up with Strickland for TD receptions of 22 yards and 8 yards.
The Blizzard, who had been firing on all cylinders in road wins the past two weeks, seemed one step behind the Yard Dawgz all night long. Miscues certainly didn't help, as K Wade Tydlacka went scoreless on the night, missing all 5 of his PAT attempts and a FG attempt. The Blizzard also committed 9 penalties, including a costly call that took a TD reception by OS Randall Lane off the scoreboard.
Blizzard fans turned out in near-record numbers to show their support for the Donald Driver Foundation for Hurricane Katrina Relief. The "Coins for Katrina" promotion was a great success, and the fans used their change-filled Morning Glory Dairy "Grip It. Sip It." chocolate milk bottles as noisemakers all night long. The raffle for Green Bay Packers memorabilia autographed by Bart Starr and Donald Driver also had a strong response.
Most impressive of all were the exhilarating performances of the Southern University Marching Band, who performed the National Anthem before the game, then treated the fans to full sets at halftime and after the game. The stands remained full even after the final gun, as the fans were treated to a show the likes of which they had never seen.
The fans were certainly behind their hometown Blizzard on Friday night, but even a late scoring push couldn't get the Blizzard over the top. The loss dropped the Blizzard to an even 2-2, while the Yard Dawgz improved to a perfect 3-0.
Lane led all Blizzard receivers with 9 receptions for 111 yards and 2 TDs, and Boyer added 3 receptions for 67 yards and 1 TD. Gordon finished the game 16 of 38 for 230 yards and 4 TDs, with no INTs.
WR/LB Anthony Dingle led Oklahoma in receiving with 10 catches for 118 yards and 2 TDs. Strickland went 19 of 33 for 248 yards and 6 TDs, also with no INTs.
The Blizzard hits the road again for the next two weeks, heading to Louisville for a Saturday, April 29th meeting with the Fire, and then on to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for a Friday, May 5th tilt with the Pioneers. When they finally return home, it will be for "Ladies Night" on Saturday, May 13th against the Macon Knights.
Game Awards:
Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: QB Craig Strickland (OKC)
US Ironman: OL/DL Whitney Bell (GBB)
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: OL/DL Terence Taylor (GBB)
Cutters Catch of the Game: WR/LB Robert Garth (GBB)
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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