Box Score
DES MOINES, IA - Despite a late comeback in the fourth quarter, turnovers, untimely penalties and quick scores by their opponent put the Iowa Barnstormers in holes as they fell 39-31.

The Barnstormers (0-1) headed west to the oil capital of the world to take on the Tulsa Oilers (0-1) in their second game of the season Saturday, but were unable to get into the win column.

Iowa started the game out with a bang, but it was all for nought. On the first play from scrimmage, quarterback Darius-James Peterson threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tre Long, but a point of his finger on his way to the end zone resulted in an unsportsmanlike conduct call that took back the score.

The Barnstormers managed to still get points on the board thanks to a made field goal from kicker Gabriel Rui to take an early 3-0 lead. Penalties continued to hurt Iowa on the ensuing drive, but the defense stood strong and on a fourth down and short, the Oilers missed a field goal.

Wide receiver Quian Williams gave the Iowa offense a spark once again catching a 20-yard pass down the middle of the field. The Tulsa defense, however, was the one to stand tall this time forcing a missed field goal on fourth down to keep the game 3-0 to start the second quarter.

With an Iowa interception wiped off the board as a result of yet another penalty, Tulsa quarterback Daniel Smith took advantage and ran his way into the end zone for a touchdown to give the Oilers back the lead 7-3. 

Veteran defensive back Romon Morris continued to ride Tulsa's momentum and created the game's first turnover with an interception to give the offense the ball back. From there, Smith led a surgical down the field capped off by his second rushing score to extend the Oilers' lead 13-3 with the clock running under minutes left in the half.

Needing a score late, the Barnstormers were unable to convert on third down and the Oilers made them pay. Linebacker Trey Harvey returned a short field goal attempt by Rui all the way to the end zone. Just when things started to look up for Iowa, Peterson threw his second interception of the game to Morris and Tulsa closed out a dominant first half with a made field goal to lead 22-3 at halftime.

Oilers Wide receiver Travelle Calvin got the BOK Center crowd rocking right away returning the second half kickoff 34 yards. Tulsa drove down the field but the Barnstormers defense caught a break with a Tulsa missed field goal. 

On the ensuing drive on a crucial third down and twelve yards to go play, Peterson found wide receiver Deion McShane for his first catch of the game. A few plays later, he eluded two tacklers and found Williams in the corner of the end zone for Iowa's first touchdown of the game to cut the lead 22-10.

The Barnstormers didn't celebrate for long, however, as they gave up their second kick return touchdown of the game this time scored by wide receiver Joshua Crockett to get the 18 point lead back for the Oilers.

Not feeling discouraged by the score, the Iowa offense started to heat up. With just his sixth carry of the game, running back Robert Washington muscled his way up the field before Peterson found Williams again for his second touchdown of the game.

Leading 28-16, Tulsa coughed up the football near the goal line for its first turnover of the game giving Iowa some life. However, Peterson threw his third interception of the game on the very next play from scrimmage leading to another Oilers touchdown on the ground run in by Smith to make it a 20-point game.

The Barnstormers practically needed perfection with under 10 minutes left in the game and Peterson delivered, throwing to wide open wide receiver Darren Wilson for a 33-yard score to keep them in the game.

After Tulsa added a field goal, Peterson found Wilson wide open again for a big play and quickly handed the ball off to Washington who bullied the Oilers' defensive line to give the Barnstormer's their first touchdown on the ground and make it a one-possession game late.

Despite a last-ditch defensive stand by Iowa that forced a fourth down missed field goal, two heaves toward the end zone fell incomplete and Iowa fell just short 39-31.

Peterson went 12-23 throwing for 198 yards. Washington led the rushing attack with 22 yards and a touchdown and Wilson led all receivers with 68 yards and a touchdown.

The Barnstormers will stay on the road, traveling to the east coast to take on the Massachusetts Pirates (3-0) Friday April 12 at 6:05 pm.