Tag: game recap

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 12 RECAP

The Iowa Barnstormers have clinched a spot in the 2019 IFL playoffs.
PHOTO CREDIT Iowa Barnstormers Facebook

BARNSTORMERS 59 STEAMWHEELERS 56

This is going to be the game of the year in the IFL and if it isn’t it’s going to take one of the all-time classics to top it. The Barnstormers continued their flare for the dramatic, using a Daquan Neal touchdown scamper to give them their second last second victory of the season, clinching the defending champs their fourth straight playoff apearence. This is probably going to be the game that ends up winning Neal MVP honors, among others. The first year IFL signal caller threw only 3 incompletions on 17 attempts, 199 yards and 4 touchdowns to go along with a staggering 6 on the ground. The Steamwheelers most likely have run out of time because of this loss. The team sits at 3-7 and are 2 games behind Tucson for the 6th and final playoff spot. With that being said, this is an incredibly fun team to watch. EJ Hilliard, tossed another 4 TD strikes, and still has only thrown 1 interception this season. No QB in IFL history has thrown less than 2 in a season. Quinton Pedroza hauled in 2 of Hilliard’s 4 touchdowns bringing his league high total to 21. This connection is arguably the best in the league and they’ll have a must win game against Cedar Rapids this weekend to keep their hopes alive.

STORM 44 BLIZZARD 37

The final score was only a 7 point margin but the ending of the IFL’s battle for third place ended a bit anti-climatically. With 2:13 left the Blizzard opted to kick the ball deep instead of trying for an onside kick. The Blizzard never got the ball back and fell to 6-4. Despite the loss Lenorris Footman continued to improve as a passer, throwing for 160 yards and 3 TD’s. His 1 interception proved to be costly though as Lorenzo White picked Footman off, in what would turn out to be the deciding possession of the ball game. As for Sioux Falls, Lorenzo Brown was held to under 100 yards passing for the evening, and no player rushed for more than 65 yards. The defense won this game for Sioux Falls, and clinched the IFL’s greatest franchise yet another playoff berth.

SUGAR SKULLS 65 STRIKE FORCE 48

The good news for the Strike Force is they went into the fourth quarter against the Sugar Skulls down 44-41. The bad news, they allowed their expansion counterparts to outscore them 21-7 in the fourth, and the momentum the Strike Force had after a win against Cedar Rapids on April 14th is now a distant memory. Jihad Vercher was solid, throwing for 3 touchdowns. The Achilles heel for San Diego continued to be turnovers as Vercher threw a pick and the normally reliable George Moreira coughed up the ball on a pivotal fourth quarter drive. As for Tucson nothing they did was overly impressive against San Diego. Jake Medlock and Matt Behrendt combined to throw five touchdowns, but most importantly the Sugar Skulls never turned the ball over. Kick returner Jeremiah Harris was impressive yet again as he continues to make his case as a late runner at an all-IFL returner spot, totaling 181 yards on 8 attempts for a 22.6 YPR average with a long of 44 yards.