Blizzard Defense Holds Late To Win In San Diego

Lenorris Footman sets before setting up a touchdown pass to BJ Hill. (IFL YouTube account)

By Brice Burge
Head of Management

A sack and a pair of deflected passes in the final minute helped the Green Bay Blizzard freeze the host San Diego Strike Force to hold onto a 53-45 win on the road. Green Bay forced four sacks on the night and picked three passes overall to take the victory.
​It was in stark contrast to the opening quarter as the two teams dropped 41 points between them. Each team had one-play scoring drives and converted on fourth down at least once in the frame.
However, things started to slow down after San Diego’s defense forced Blizzard quarterback Leonorris Footman into a bad pass and got the turnover on downs. It was the first turnover on downs in franchise history and only the team’s second stop ever.
The Strike Force had an advantage after a missed extra point by Green Bay on their opening drive, but that was erased as Green Bay’s Joe Powell and Bakari Triggs had back-to-back interception returns for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half. Marques Rodgers was able to get back in the end zone as time expired before halftime, but the Blizzard never gave up the lead again.
Green Bay’s passing woes continued, but not nearly as bad as previous weeks. Footman went 9-18 for just 83 yards, but included two touchdowns in the win. Levi Copelin had one of those touchdowns on his only reception of the game, but dropped three in the second half. Keshaun Taylor led Green Bay in yards with 27 while BJ Hill led the team in receptions with four.
The rushing game remained the focus of the Blizzard offense, however it was the big guy Rameses Owens that got the majority of the work. The Robert Morris product carried the ball for 60 yards on 12 carries, including a 24-yard touchdown. Footman also had nine rushes for 43 yards and a score.
San Diego did have some bright spots, including wide receiver Julian Stafford. He had 95 yards on six receptions and two touchdowns. The IFL’s passing yard leader Derrick Bernard went 18-31 for 201 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Ernesto Lacayo split his field goal attempts, but one was a field position move. He hit the 24-yard attempt as well as all of his PAT’s. Lacayo remains perfect on the point after.
Both teams will have tough road games next week. San Diego will try to get revenge on the Tucson Sugar Skulls for ruining their home opener while Green Bay heads to Quad Cities in a renewal of an old AF2 rivalry.