IFL Green Bay Blizzard

Late Touchdown Leads Blizzard to Narrow Victory Over Beef

Published on March 25, 2012 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Green Bay Blizzard News Release


The Green Bay Blizzard (3-1) had two full weeks to prepare for Saturday night's road matchup with the Omaha Beef (2-2) and every minute of that preparation proved necessary as they escaped from the Omaha Civic Auditorium with a 42-37 victory. The two teams were evenly matched all night with the largest lead for either team being Green Bay's nine point lead early in the second quarter. Trailing by one point with 36 seconds remaining, Donovan Porterie unleashed a pass from midfield that landed in the sure hands of a leaping Bryan Pray right before he flipped over the boards in the back of the end zone to provide the winning margin. Still, the Blizzard couldn't celebrate until 24 seconds later when defensive lineman Junior Aumavae sacked Beef quarterback James McNear on second down and the clock expired.

Omaha drew first blood when Tory Harrison weaved his way through the Blizzard defense for an 11 yard touchdown run on the Beef's first possession. Green Bay's offense answered immediately with a Desmond Tardy touchdown reception from 34 yards out, but Adrian Trevino's extra point was batted away. McNear responded to that score with a touchdown strike of his own to Leroy Banks to grab a 14-6 lead for the Beef. The scoring in the opening quarter ended on a 20 yard field goal by Trevino to draw the Blizzard within five.

On the first play of the second quarter Blizzard defensive back Mike Turner picked off a McNear pass in the end zone, leading directly to the second Porterie to Tardy TD connection of 30+ yards on the night and the first Green Bay lead at 16-14. Tardy finished with 4 catches for 68 yards and the two scores. Later in the quarter, Porterie had a pass intercepted in the end zone by Diezeas Calbert, but on the ensuing Omaha possession B.J. Hill returned the favor with his fifth pick of the season. Green Bay capitalized on the turnover again as Porterie snuck across the goal line himself from one yard out to grab a 23-14 lead. McNear hit Banks again for a short touchdown pass, but the Blizzard struck last in the half as Trevino drilled a 47 yard field goal with time running out to take a 26-20 lead to the break.

The third quarter was dominated by both defenses with the only scoring coming on a McNear touchdown run of five yards.

The final quarter proved much more kind to the offenses. Porterie found popular target Scott Burnoski on a short two yard score to regain a 33-27 advantage. Omaha kicker Paul Stoltz then traded field goals with Trevino before James McNear scored again on the ground from 11 yards out to give Omaha a slim 37-36 lead with 41 seconds to go. Stoltz finished 1 of 3 on field goals for the game. A kick return to midfield by Tardy set the stage for the aforementioned heroics of Pray and Aumavae as the Blizzard secured win number three on the season.

Linebacker Trevor Glomski led the defense with seven tackles and filled in admirably for Greg Jackson who did not play in the game. Green Bay has another bye week before traveling to Cedar Rapids on April 7th to take on the Titans in a rematch of their 64-12 victory in the home opener two weeks ago.

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Indoor Football League Stories from March 25, 2012


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