Preview: Fighters vs. Barnstormers
Published on July 21, 2022 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Frisco Fighters News Release
FRISCO, TX - Following a comeback win against the Sioux Falls Storm to end the regular season, the Frisco Fighters are hosting the Iowa Barnstormers this Friday night at Comerica Center in Frisco for Round one of the IFL Playoffs. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
This will be the Barnstormers first time at Comerica Center this season.
The Barnstormers enter Round one of the 2022 Playoffs with a 9-7 record and as a fourth seed. Iowa has won three of their last four games and have a 3-5 road record.
How to watch
Time/Location: 7:05 pm. CT/Comerica Center - Frisco, Texas
Live Stream
Past meetups - Fighters vs Barnstormers
The Fighters and Barnstormers first met earlier this season in Des Moines, IA. The Barnstormers attacked early scoring in the first minute of the game, but the Fighters retaliated by scoring on the next possession when Smith received an 18-yard pass from Edwards. The Fighters were able to keep the lead for the rest of the game and went into the half up 13 points after a one-yard safety. The Barnstormers fought to comeback, but the Fighters did not let up, resulting in a Fighters win (62-42) earning them a spot in the playoffs.
The Fighters and Barnstormers met last season on July 9 in Frisco. The Barnstormers were able to keep the lead through the duration of the first three quarters. With six minutes left on the clock, the Fighters scored a touchdown, giving them their first lead of the game (30-28) before the Barnstormers returned for a touchdown taking back the lead. With seconds left, Byron Edwards blocked a two-yard field goal, returning it to seal a Fighters win (42-35).
Players to watch
Quarterback TJ Edwards passed for a total of 110 yards with a long of 23 yards in Week 19. This resulted in a Fighters touchdown. Edwards also collected 103 rushing yards on 13 attempts, tallying an additional two touchdowns. Blake Sims saw some action in the quarterback slot in the second quarter of the game where he had 23 passing yards with a long of 15 yards and eight rushing yards.
The Frisco Fighters offense collectively netted 162 rushing yards which is more than double what the Storm was able to tally. Running back Justin Rankin tallied 36 rushing yards and received for 10 yards, tallying a touchdown.
Wide receivers Jerminic Smith and Sheldon Augustine collectively tallied 93 receiving yards on eight attempts. Along with these stats, Augustine had a touchdown. Wide receiver Spencer Tears had 19 receiving yards while wide receiver Tyron Laughinghouse had 11 receiving yards on one attempt.
Defensive back Clifton Duck tallied four solo tackles along with a breakup pass and an interception. Defensive lineman Charles Williams and defensive back Trey Wafford both tallied a breakup pass. Williams tallied two and a half tackles (one solo, three assisted) whereas Wafford made four tackles (three solo, two assisted).
The Frisco Fighters were able to get on the board in the first 10 minutes of the matchup but ended up down by two touchdowns at the half (28-14) after offensive lineman Kohl Levao recovered a fumble. During the second half of the game, the Fighters put up 28 unanswered points and were able to make a comeback. The final score of the matchup was 35-28 and the Fighters ended the regular season with a record of 14-2.
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