Tag: bismarck bucks

SAN DIEGO SPECIAL TEAMS LIVE UP TO THEIR NAME IN SEASON OPENING VICTORY OVER BISMARCK

HOW IT HAPPENED

What a start for Bismarck. They were able to utilize some huge names they didn’t bother announcing they had signed (Shad Thornton) to build a 14-0 lead after Ryan Feiss set the tone with a 26 yard kickoff return which led to an Eric Lauderdale 3 yard touchdown plunge. They then used a huge missed field goal return by Zuril Hendrick to set up a Taz Wilson touchdown run from 9 yards out. These two short touchdown drives successfully masked the fact that Bismarck had no passing game on Sunday. San Diego finally woke up on a busted play where Nate Chavious got to show off his speed down the sidelines for a 31 yard catch and run for the first score of 2020 for SD. The play of the half came on rookie quarterback Michael Carrillo’s second touchdown of the half, and best throw of the day, a 42 yard bomb to Marques Rodgers to give the Strike Force a 21-17 lead at the break.

San Diego received the second half kickoff poised to go up two scores. That’s when Zuril Hendrick stepped in front of a Carrillo pass for the Bucks’ second interception of the day. That led to the Bucks’ lone passing touchdown of the day as Wilson found Shad Thornton on a wheel route from 12-yards out to go up 28-24. That lead lasted all of 1 play as the 109 Special Teams Player of the Year, Rodgers returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards for the go-ahead score.

After a stop on the following drive San Diego had a chance to put the game away, but refused to take advantage, fumbling in their own endzone for a safety. Cody Barber then made an impossible 40 yard field goal to give Bismarck the lead back at 29-28. Bismarck’s inexperience showed itself on the next San Diego drive as a busted coverage allowed Carrillo to easily find wideout Donta Armstrong in the endzone from 19 yards out as the Strike Force went up 35-29. That’s when things got fun.

After both teams traded stops San Diego lined up for a 53 yard field goal attempt off the leg of Bryce Crawford. Crawford’s kick fell short and Zuril Hendrick made what looked like the best play in the franchise’s young IFL history, breaking multiple tackles en route to a 50 yard touchdown return to give Bismarck a one-point lead with 2:23 remaining. Just when it looked like San Diego had their backs against the wall, Isaiah Bernard fielded a muffed kick by Nate Chavious and weaved nearly untouched for yet another go ahead kick return touchdown.

Bismarck had one final shot but failed to gain positive yardage and turned the ball over on downs. Nate Chavious added another touchdown from 6 yards out for good measure as the Strike Force improved to 1-0 for the first time ever.

FINAL THOUGHTS

SAN DIEGO: This secondary was the pride and joy of the 2020 offseason, and they showed out with the rest of the defense on Sunday. Daquawn Brown, Malcom Lee, and backup QB Rudy Johnson each had multiple pass breakups. The offense still provides a huge question mark. Nate Chavious could be in for an All-IFL type season if used correctly. Everytime he has the ball in his hands there is big play potential. He only carried ten times on Sunday and that number should increase. Michael Carrillo played solid football but has plenty to improve on. Finally, the play at the center position was hoorendous as Carrillo had to crouch down to field just about every snap. Things looked better as the game went on but that needs to be cleaned up.

BISMARCK: If Taz Wilson completes a deep throw just twice on Sunday the Bucks are 1-0 and we look like complete idiots. Instead, for whatever reason, Wilson continuously overthrew open men and somehow got worse as the game went on. He completed just 5 of 22 passes for 36 yards. That just simply won’t cut it and it’s a shame because the defense was fantastic, forcing multiple turnovers. Special teams was phenomenal. This loss falls on Wilson’s shoulders. Fortunately, if he plays well this looks like a somewhat talented Bismarck squad.

GAME AWARDS

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: RB Nate Chavious (SD): 10 att. 39 yards, 2 TD, 2 rec. 26 yards, 1 TD.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: DB Daquawn Brown (SD): 10 tackles, TFL, 4 PBUP, INT.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE GAME: DB Zuril Hendrick (BIS): 2 missed FG returns, 90 yards, LONG: 50, 1 TD.

PLAY OF THE GAME:

STAT LEADERS

PASSING YARDS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 132

PASSING TOUCHDOWNS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 3

PASS COMPLETIONS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 9

PASS INCOMPLETIONS: Taz Wilson (BIS): 17

COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: Michael Carrillo (SD): 52.9%

LONGEST PASS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 42

INTERCEPTIONS THROWN: Michael Carrillo (SD): 2

RUSHING YARDS: Shad Thornton (BIS): 40

RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: Nate Chavious (SD): 2

LONGEST RUSH: Jaymar Anderson (BIS): 16

RECEPTIONS: Marques Rodgers (SD): 3

RECEIVING YARDS: Marques Rodgers (SD): 52

RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS: Marques Rodgers (SD), Donta Armstrong (SD), Nate Chavious (SD), Shad Thornton (BIS): 1

LONGEST RECEPTION: Marques Rodgers (SD): 42

EXTRA POINTS MADE: Bryce Crawford (SD): 6

FIELD GOALS: Cody Barber (BIS): 2

FIELD GOAL LONG: Cody Barber (BIS): 40

DEUCES: None

KICKOFF RETURN YARDS: Marques Rodgers (SD): 66

KICKOFF RETURN LONG: Marques Rodgers (SD), Isaiah Bernard (SD): 1

KICKOFF RETURN TOUCHDOWNS: Marques Rodgers (SD), Isaiah Bernard (SD): 1

TACKLES: Daquawn Brown (SD): 10

TACKLES FOR LOSS: Ralph Harvey (SD): 3

SACKS: Ralph Harvey (SD): 1

INTERCEPTIONS: Daquawn Brown (SD), Marcus Green (BIS), Zuril Hendrick (BIS): 1

INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS: Daquawn Brown (SD), Marcus Green (BIS), Zuril Hendrick (BIS): 0

FORCED FUMBLES: None

FUMBLE RECOVERIES: None

WEEK 13 PREVIEW/PREDICTIONS

With a win in Week 13 the Blizzard will head to the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
PHOTO CREDIT: Green Bay Blizzard

The playoff push is officially upon us. Three playoff spots remain up for grabs and every team is in action in a week 13 slate spread out over three days. Here’s a preview of all five games this weekend.

RIVER KINGS (1-9)@ STEAMWHEELERS (3-7)

Friday May 17th 7:05 PM

The playoffs may not officially begin for another few weeks but this game has all the importance of a playoff game with none of the excitement. With a loss the River Kings season is mathematically over. With a loss the Steamwheelers are on the verge of elimination. We all know that isn’t going to happen. EJ Hillard is going to have a huge day while Ben Wilkerson and the Cedar Rapids River Kings will yet again struggle to do ANYTHING offensively, and in turn be eliminated from IFL playoff contention.

PICK: Steamwheelers: 63 River Kings 25

SUGAR SKULLS (5-5) @ BUCKS (2-7)

Saturday May 18th 6:05 P.M.

This is a game with a lot of intrigue to it and a lot of the importance for Tucson will be based on how things go down the night before in Moline, Illinois. Tucson controls their own destiny for a playoff spot in their first season, keep winning, and you’ll be in the playoffs. Jake Medlock and Matt Behrendt split time under center last week, yet again opening up a Quarterback controversy out West. Behrendt was the more impressive of the two and would be my pick to start for the ‘Skulls in week 13. Neither team sports an overly impressive record and neither team has managed to defeat a team with a record at .500 or above yet this season. The Bucks are a team on a mission, they defeat a team with a .500 record in front of the home crowd and keep their momentum moving. They’ll pull the upset to stay alive in the playoff hunt.

PICK: Bucks: 48 Sugar Skulls: 45

DANGER (5-5) @ STORM (8-2)

Saturday May 18th 7:05 P.M.

The Nebraska Danger are an interesting case. They have all the talent in the world and have for the most part, managed to piece it together nicely. A rough schedule has done them no favors and this week will be no different. This should be a back and forth contest but the Sioux Falls Storm are in playoff mode now, I expect a big night from Davonte Sapp-Lynch but I also expect some Tommy Armstrong Jr. interceptions, 2 to be exact. Lorenzo Brown will tear up the Danger secondary (a solid one at that) and the Storm will get it done sending Nebraska back below .500.

PICK: Storm: 66 Danger: 56

BARNSTORMERS (9-1) @ BLIZZARD (6-4)

Sunday May 19th 3:05 P.M.

If you follow the page you know by now that I’ve beaten to death the fact that if the Blizzard win this weekend they’ll make the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The only problem, they have to beat the defending IFL champions. Sorry Green Bay, but we’ll have to wait at least one more week before we punch your ticket to the big dance. The Barnstormers I think finally found their mojo with a last second win over the Steamwheelers last week. This could also be the game where Daquan Neal locks up MVP honors. Green Bay hangs tough thanks to their defense, but Iowa will pull away at the end.

PICK: Barnstormers: 49 Blizzard: 34

RATTLERS (9-0) @ STRIKE FORCE (1-9)

Sunday May 19th 7:05 P.M.

Why waste space? It’s the end of the article and my fingers are cramping. Arizona won this game 5 weeks ago. Taylor Genuser has done a fantastic job with this Strike Force offense this season so they’ll put up some points but Drew Powell is going to tear San Diego’s defense apart. Hopefully with the game being on a weekend the Strike Force can improve attendance which has struggled all season.

PICK: Rattlers: 77 Strike Force: 35

WEEK 11 RECAP

Lorenzo Brown carried the Storm to Victory in Week 11 in Record Setting Fashion.
Photo Credit: siouxfallsstorm.com

STORM 59 STEAMWHEELERS 46

Lorenzo Brown tossed a season high 7 touchdown passes in the win for Sioux Falls which moves him into 4th all-time, passing Willie Copeland. Kent Shelby and Brandon Shepard were the main targets for Brown, hauling in three touchdowns a piece. For Quad City their toughest stretch of schedule could not be coming at a worse time. The ‘Wheelers now sit a game back of Tucson for the sixth and final playoff spot with a date against the Barnstormers awaiting them this weekend.

RATTLERS 56 DANGER 46

The first taste we got to see of reigning MVP Drew Powell wasn’t overly impressive, but it got the job done. Powell was efficient, completing 8 of 10 passes for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns against 1 interception. The Rattlers also got a lot of help defensively as Dillion Winfrey added an interception and veteran Bubba Chapman added two more.The Danger tried a new approach against the unbeaten Rattlers, focusing on a ground heavy attack with Tommy Armstrong, Davonte Sapp-Lynch and converted wide receiver Quincy Walden. The Rattler defense slowed down Walden and Sapp-Lynch, limiting them to just 66 yards and a touchdown combined. Armstrong had a strong night on the ground with 73 yards and 2 touchdowns, but his 3 interceptions were too much for Nebraska to overcome.

BARNSTORMERS 43 RIVER KINGS 18

If you have watched a Barnstormer or River Kings game this season, you can guess what went down in Des Moines Saturday night. Daquan Neal continued his MVP caliber season, throwing for 186 yards and 4 touchdowns to go along with 1 on the ground. Wide receiver Ryan Balentine continued to climb the record ladder, moving into 3rd place all-time in receiving yards as he earned 109 against Cedar Rapids, while also catching a touchdown. 4 different Barnstormers caught touchdown passes. Tyrell Pearson also added an interception which gives him a league-leading 6 for the season. As for the River Kings, we haven’t minced words on how we feel about the situation for Cedar Rapids. Ben Wilkerson struggled again. He went 8-20 passing for 93 yards a touchdown and 3 picks. Mark Stoute should probably receiving his walking papers sooner rather than later, and the River Kings will be playing in Oakland next season if things don’t change.

SUGAR SKULLS 54 STRIKE FORCE 34

Good for the Sugar Skulls here, they took an opportunity and made the most of it. despite losing four straight coming into the ball game Tucson did a fantastic job finishing on Saturday, earning the victory behind 3 Rico Brown touchdown catches and moving back into the sixth and final playoff spot. All hope is not lost for San Diego, there are times where this team looks like it’s heading in the right direction. This was the first time they looked like they took a step back in a few weeks. A late season surge is still in the cards for a playoff push but performances like the one seen in Week 11 must be avoided.

BLIZZARD 48 BUCKS 39

Unfortunately the YouTube stream of this game never posted so we have not seen the entirety of this game. With that being said the Bucks are dangerous. They were down 2 points with 3 minutes to go and are going to be the most formidable challenger to Quad City and Tucson for the sixth and final playoff spot. The Blizzard keep doing what they need to do to set themselves up for a home playoff game. At 6-3 they are 1.5 games up on Nebraska for the fourth spot and own the tiebreaker. Lenorris Footman had arguably his best game throwing the football, going 8-14 for 135 yards, 3 touchdowns and most importantly no interceptions.