Barnstormers Weather Storm In 2018 United Bowl

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By Christopher Mabry 

Last night was the IFL's United Bowl game between the Sioux Falls Storm and Iowa Barnstormers. The 2018 United Bowl between these two teams was played at the Wells Fargo Arena. Before the game can start, let’s take a look at their championship past and the road they traveled to get here.
 
The Sioux Falls Storm played their first game in 2000 and did not join the Indoor Football League until the 2011 season. Since coming to the IFL, the Storm has been to every United Bowl game. Seven to be exact. Out of those seven games the Sioux Falls Storm has won six out of those seven, Sioux Falls has won six of them. Last year, the streak came to an end as the Arizona Rattlers won the United Bowl in their first season.
 
Now, in 2018, the Sioux Falls Storm are looking for their seventh championship title under their belt. During the 2018 regular season, the Storm finished 11-3. They played in the IFL playoff game against the Nebraska Danger. In a close game the Storm defeated the Danger to advance to the United Bowl. Sioux Falls opponent are the iconic indoor/arena team the Iowa Barnstormers.
 
Established in 1995, the Iowa Barnstormers lost in their first championship game appearance in the Arena Bowl to another Storm team…that is the Tampa Bay Storm. Now, the Barnstormers are looking to go back to their championship form. Can they pull off the greatest victory?
 
Inside the Wells Fargo Arena, over 15 thousand Iowa Barnstormer fans flocked to watch an epic game go down. Early on in the first half, when the Iowa Barnstormers had control of the ball, quarterback Drew Powell would keep control of the ball. By the time the Storm has control of the ball, the quarter would almost be over. Halftime came quickly. At the halfway point of the game, the Barnstormers were leading the Storm 21-17.
 
When the game resumed in the third quarter, tempers started to boil over. Iowa almost had some players ejected and on a critical fourth down play, Barnstormers quarterback Drew Powell flicked the ball to one of his receivers and the receiver threw the ball in the stands. After the play was over, the refs threw the penalty flag on the Barnstormers side because the receiver left the pocket when he threw the ball. The only way he could have thrown the ball is when he is in the pocket.
 
Even though that was a critical penalty cause it was a spot foul, it did not hurt the Barnstormers to bad. When the game reached all zeroes, the Iowa Barnstormers defeated the Sioux Falls Storm 42-38. 

Congratulations to the Iowa Barnstormers on becoming 2018 Indoor Football League champions from everyone here at Arena Football Talk.