Barnstormers Come Out on Top Over Steamwheelers

DES MOINES, IA - The force remained strong with Iowa Barnstormers as they picked up their first win of the season on Star Wars night.

The Barnstormers (1-5) returned home to Wells Fargo Arena Saturday, May 4th, for the first match up of a three-game series against the Quad City Steamwheelers (2-4).

The Iowa offense got off to hot start from the jump. Quarterback Kyle King found wide receiver Darren Wilson on his first two throws leading the team to the red zone within the first three minutes of the game. Despite being held out of the end zone on the next two plays, running back Robert Washington finally bullied his way through traffic for a touchdown to put the Barnstormers on the board.

However, the Steamwheelers offense was also able to get rolling. Quarterback Judd Erickson completed a pass for a big gain down the field to the opposite 15 yard line on Quad City's first offensive play. A crucial offside penalty against Iowa erased a third down stop and wide receiver Jarrod Harrington found himself in the end zone on the very next play.

Without missing a beat, Washington ran wild, breaking through arm tackles, but the team only mustered a field goal after stalling in the red zone.

The Barnstormers defense made a huge stand on fourth down to begin the second quarter with linebacker Ian McBorrough tackling running back Edward Vander just short of the marker. 

Shortly after, however, King threw a deep ball that was intercepted and returned 25 yards. Luckily, with the home crowd roaring and cowbells ringing, Iowa once again made a crucial red zone defensive stand that forced Quad City to attempt a field goal.

Tied 10-10 with 11 minutes left in the half, wide receiver C.J. Tate took the kickoff deep into enemy territory. The offense stalled in the red zone and head coach Dave Mogensen kept the offense on the field on fourth down. Wilson found the back of the end zone for a touchdown.

The Steamwheelers immediately responded. Harrington caught a deep pass down the field and just like in the first quarter, a flag erased what would have been an incomplete pass on second down. Wide receiver Jordan Vesey took advantage of the extra opportunity awarded by the penalty and tied the game with his fourth touchdown of the season.

After another kick return the Barnstormers were in great field position, and the team took advantage. Two plays later, Washington ran up the middle between the tackles for his second touchdown of the game, giving the team the 23-17 lead.

It continued to be a shootout. Wide receiver Ka'ron Ashley caught a 13-yard pass from Erickson that capped off a game-tying two-play drive by Quad City.

Wide receiver Quian Williams, picked a good time to make his second catch of the game. He was able to out muscle a defensive back and break through all the way down to the three yard line. From there, Wilson took the reins and gave Iowa the lead back 31-24 with a minute left in the half.

With the help of a kickoff going out of bounds, the Steamwheelers marched right down the field into the red zone. However, in a huge swing of momentum, rookie defensive back Jefferson Fritz picked off Erickson and returned it all the way to the end zone for the Barnstormers' first pick-six of the year to extend the lead 38-24 at halftime.

Iowa forced Quad City to a fourth down situation at the start of the second half, but Vander with the help of the offensive line, pushed through for the first down. 

After the deflating play, a bad snap by the center caused a fumble and the Barnstormers capitalized. Defensive lineman Tyler Tate picked up the loose ball and rumbled and stumbled his way for a touchdown. Leading 45-24, kicker Gabriel Rui launched the kickoff through the uprights for a deuce that put the icing on the cake of the nine-point drive.

The defense continued to flex their muscles, stopping the Steamwheelers on fourth down for the second time in the game. Rui added another three points to the score after he made his second field goal of the game and on the next play, got his second deuce of the game.

After a dormant third quarter, Harrington gave the Quad City a four-yard touchdown.On the next drive, Washington made a one-handed grab, but had the ball knocked out of his hands for Iowa's second turnover of the game. 

The Steamwheelers, gifted with the ball back, got back on track with Erickson finding wide receiver Keyvan Rudd who then ran his way to the 10 yard line. Defensive back J'Von France thought he had an interception, but an offside penalty nullified it and Erickson found X all alone in the end zone to close the scoring gap 52-36.

Just when the Quad City defense needed to make a play, defensive back Trey Smith won a one-on-one battle and intercepted a deep pass from King. Just two plays later, Rudd replicated Smith's interception winning his one-on-one battle for a touchdown to cut the lead to nine points with seven minutes left in the game.

After a Barnstormers turnover, defensive lineman Keshaun Moore was the one to come out of a huge pile with the football for the Steamwheelers. Erickson then ran the ball to the one yard line and despite two offside penalties against Iowa, the defense forced a fourth down and goal situation from the two yard line.

 Head coach Cory Ross elected to take the points and attempt a field goal in the hopes that his defense would make a stop with a minute and a half left in the game.

Iowa just needed one more offensive push, but stalled. After an in-completion on third down after the one-minute warning, Rui made a crucial field goal that put the Barnstormers up by nine points with less than a minute left. 

Defensive back Tyrell Pearson saw the game-sealing interception go right through his hands and it cost Iowa. Two plays later, Vander caught a back shoulder pass from Erickson that cut the lead to a mere two points.

However, it didn't matter. With only 23 seconds left in the game, King went to a knee and the Barnstormers won the thriller, 55-53.

King threw for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Washington led the rushing attack with 21 yards and two touchdowns and Wilson led Iowa with 43 yards and two touchdowns.

The Barnstormers will stay home for their next game on Saturday May 11 when they take on the Massachusetts Pirates (5-1) at 7:05 pm at Wells Fargo Arena. 

###