DES MOINES, IA - Despite a strong second half effort that brought the game back to one possession in the fourth quarter, the Iowa Barnstormers could not capitalize on some of their crucial drives late as they fell to the Green Bay Blizzard.

The Barnstormers (0-5) traveled to the Resch Center in Green Bay to take on the Blizzard (4-1) for the second time this season.

Rookie running back Jalyn Cagle put Green Bay in Iowa territory at the 20 yard line. The Blizzard, trying to attack the ground early on two consecutive plays, weren't able to get much going forcing a third and long situation. However, quarterback Max Meylor found wide receiver Harry Ballard to keep the chains moving and then ran into the end zone on the very next play to put Green Bay on the board first.

On the other side, rookie quarterback Kyle King, unphased by his first road start, made a big pass up the middle to running back Robert Washington to start Iowa's first drive. Wide receiver Quian Williams then made a tough catch in traffic on a fourth down play and he would be the one to ultimately score for Iowa after a holding penalty kept a fourth down drive alive.

Tied 7-7, the Blizzard took an immediate deep shot down the field, but a questionable pass interference non call sent the crowd into a loud booing frenzy. It didn't matter though. Ballard 'mossed' veteran cornerback Tyrell Pearson for a 37-yard touchdown to take the lead once again.

The Barnstormers had a field goal attempt blocked on their next drive and the Blizzard were gifted great field position inside the Iowa five yard line. They capitalized on two plays with wide receiver Demetrius Moore finding the end zone for his third touchdown of the year. 

Down two scores and just when things couldn't look bleaker for Iowa, King threw what was thought to be his first interception of the year to defensive back Ravarius Rivers until a holding call on defense negated the pick-six by Green Bay.

Penalties continued to plague the Blizzard with an illegal defense call on fourth down on the same drive allowing the Barnstormers what felt like a million chances to score. Williams made them pay with a wide open touchdown to cut the lead back to six points.

With seven minutes left in the second quarter, the Iowa defense finally stepped up. Meylor couldn't corral the snap on a second down play which derailed the drive and a short dump off pass couldn't go the distance needed for a first down.

The Green Bay defense decided to follow Iowa's footsteps in making a stand as defensive back Cyntell Williams intercepted a high pass intended for Washington. With excellent field position, Meylor found the end zone to put the Blizzard up two scores in the waning seconds of the first half.

Penalties then began to stack up against the Barnstormers. Offensive lineman Joe Bastante was the guilty party on a holding call that erased what would have been a touchdown. Then, like deja vu, a holding call against newly signed wide receiver CJ Tate eliminated a Washington score.

Unable to score, Iowa left Green Bay with under 30 seconds left in the half. The defense was able to hold them out of the end zone, but the Blizzard were still able to muster a field goal to extend the lead 30-14 at halftime.

The Barnstormers came out in the second half looking for a long strike, but after multiple throws to the end zone fell incomplete, kicker Gabriel Rui split the uprights to at least put much needed points on the board.

Defensive back Jefferson Fritz, the leading tackler in the Indoor Football League, made a big pass break up play on third down on the ensuing drive, forcing the Blizzard into a long field goal opportunity. Kicker Andrew Mevis then missed the 58-yard field goal attempt, which gave the Barnstormers a chance to close the scoring gap.

With the momentum on its side, Iowa was able to find its way down the field into the red zone, but were held to a crucial fourth down at the 14 yard line. Like he has done all season long, Williams came up big, winning a true one-on-one battle with defensive back Kevin Ransom to keep the drive going. Washington then spun his way into the end zone two plays later to make it 30-23 in the late stages of the third quarter.

The Barnstormers held the Blizzard to a field goal on the next drive and when they got the ball back, they got up and ran. While a holding penalty called against Green Bay allowed Iowa to inch closer to the goal line, linebacker Marquis Hendrix got a sack on King that forced a field goal. Rui made the short kick making it a one-possession game again with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

Cagle was able to give the Blizzard good field position on the ensuing kickoff return and an unsportsmanlike penalty called against the Barnstormers made their position even better. Having not scored since the first half, Meylor got the upper hand and found Moore for his second touchdown of the game.

With the game on the line, a questionable pass interference call against Rivers led to more boos from the crowd and moved the ball all the way to the two yard line. Defensive lineman Scean Mustin then sacked King, but an illegal defense call once again bailed out the Barnstormers.

Williams came up clutch with a huge grab in the corner of the end zone on fourth down,  silencing the Resch Center crowd. However, an unsuccessful onside kick attempt effectively ended the game for Iowa.

King ended the game throwing for 131 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Williams once again led the receiving corps with 74 yards and two touchdowns.

The Barnstormers will return home to Wells Fargo Arena Saturday May 4 to face the Quad City Steamwheelers (2-2) at 7:05pm. Tickets for the game are on sale now, visit www.theiowabarnstormers.com.