DES MOINES, IA-The last undefeated team in the AFL fell by the wayside as the Iowa Barnstormers nipped their way past the Milwaukee Mustangs, 20-17 in overtime during a Week 5 game.
The first half was a slow, tough moving affair for both teams, as neither offense was able to sustain a drive into enemy territory. The first score didn't come until past the midway point of the second quarter, when C.C. Cage, who didn't catch a pass throughout the game, fielded a Jean Butler punt at his own 44, and took off 56 yards for a touchdown to put the Mustangs up 7-0 with 6:01 left in the half. Aside from that, the first half was pretty uneventful.
The third quarter began with Nigel McClain of the Mustangs fumbling at his own 36, and Emilio Shipp recovered for the Barnstormers. SB Rhoads would miss a 52-yard field goal attempt, however. The Barnstormers would catch another break, though, when Seth Waltrip intercepetd a JC George pass and return it 13 yards to the Mustangs' 19-yard line. On the next play, Ev Blansett hit Davlin Coggins for a 19-yard touchdown and Iowa tied the game at 7 with 8:21 to go in the third. Milwaukee responded with an 8-play, 40-yard drive that ended with Rock Philbrook kicking a 34-yard field goal with 3:52 to go in the third to put the Mustangs back ahead, 10-7. Iowa fumbled the ensuing kickoff deep in their own territory, but penalties and a stifling defense pushed Milwaukee back 21 yards and forced the Mustangs to punt, it landed on the Barnstormers' 1-yard line.
The Barnstormers recovered from the bad field position and drove 71 yards on 12 plays. Rhoads ended the drive with a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with 12:56 remaining in the fourth quarter, After the Mustangs went three-and-out, the Barnstormers took four plays to go 65 yards, gaining the last 48 on a Blansett bomb to Coggins for a touchdown to put Iowa up 17-10 with 9:19 left in the fourth. On the ensuing drive, Milwaukee would go 80 yards on 8 plays. George threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Heinie Clausen with 5:43 left in regulation to tie the game at 17. Iowa seemed destined to drive for the winning score, but were forced to punt with 1:25 to go. The Mustangs' Dave Symons returned it 40 yards to the Iowa 46. George got the ball to the 32, and fired a pass into the end zone, but Richard Ponder intercepted it and the game went into overtime. Iowa got the ball to start the OT session, and moved it 42 yards on 5 plays, close enough for Rhoads to kick a 42-yard field goal to win the game, 20-17 with 11:51 left in overtime.
Iowa (3-2) gained 347 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 102 yards on 27 carries. Powell Ramos led the team with 48 yards on 15 carries. Blansett was 29-for-47 passing for 283 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 38 yards. Chesley Starnes caught 7 passes for 15 yards. Coggins caught 6 passes for 82 yards and 2 TD. Next week, the Barnstormers host the Albany Firebirds.
Milwaukee (4-1) gained 243 yards of total offense. The Mustangs gained 81 yards rushing on 20 carries. McClain led the team with 41 yards on 6 carries. George was 14-for-34 passing for 192 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked six times, losing 45 yards. Five of those sacks came from Nigel Tuck, setting a single-game record. Chester Brice caught 4 passes for 51 yards. Nelson Romine caught 4 passes for 46 yards. The Mustangs host the New York Dragons next week.
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