SAN JOSE-The Iowa Barnstormers came up with key turnovers to keep the San Jose Sabercats out of the end zone in a 26-16 victory during Week 11 of the AFL season.
The game started with both teams trading punts, then the Barnstormers drove 54 yards on 7 plays. Ev Blansett finished it off with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Davlin Coggins to take a 7-0 lead with 5:03 remaining in the first quarter. After another San Jose punt, Iowa went on a 9-play, 35-yard drive that ended with a 51-yard field goal by SB Rhoads to go up 10-0 with 14:09 left in the second quarter.
Following the score, the Sabercats moved the ball 74 yards on 5 plays. Timmy Carey completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Teddy Stacy to make it 10-7 with 11:50 left in the half. A 40-yard return by Ryan Travers to the 50 on the ensuing kickoff set up a 7-play, 20-yard drive by the Barnstormers. Rhoads would kick a 47-yard field goal to extend Iowa's lead to 13-7 with 8:38 left in the second. The teams traded punts, and San Jose was looking to drive for another score. But Fernando Findley fumbled at the Iowa 37-yard line, and it was recovered by Nigel Tuck of the Barnstormers. The subsequent Barnstormers drive was thwarted by Isaiah O'Connell's fumble that was returned 41 yards by Madison Gandy to the Barnstormers 14-yard line. After a 4-play, 5-yard drive, Ethan Wycoff with 1:08 left, and the teams went into halftime with San Jose trailing 13-10.
The second half started with the Sabercats driving 77 yards on 10 plays. Wycoff kicked a 20-yard field goal to tie the game at 13 with 11:24 left in the third quarter. Iowa's next drive was stopped by an interception by Russ Bird deep in San Jose territory. The Sabercats went three-and-out, and the Barnstormers went on a 5-play, 45-yard drive. Blansett threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Huggins to put Iowa up 20-13 with 4:04 remaining in the third. San Jose would drive 42 yards on 5 plays, ending with a 40-yard field goal by Wycoff to make it 20-16 with 1:06 remaining in the third quarter.
Corben Marvell fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and it was recovered by San Jose's Ervin Quigley at the Iowa 35. The Sabercats went for it on fourth down early in the fourth quarter, only for Carey to be sacked by Seth Waltrip at the 31-yard line. After a Barnstormers punt, the Sabercats went with a fake punt on fourth down, but Panco Rhymer's pass to Brent Spano fell incomplete. Iowa gained five yards on three plays, and Rhoads would kick a 49-yard field goal to go up 23-16 with 9:22 left. Carey was intercepted by Merrill Bliss at the Sabercats' 31-yard line. Three plays netted minus-6 yards, but Rhoads drilled a 54-yard field goal with 6:43 remaining to extend the lead to 26-16. San Jose moved quickly into scoring position, but Turk Costigan fumbled the ball at the Barnstormers 6-yard line, and it was recovered by Early Tune. The Barnstormers would run out the clock from there.
Iowa (5-6) gained 316 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 134 yards on 31 carries. Powell Ramos led the team with 60 yards on 10 carries. Blansett went 18-of-31 passing for 219 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 37 yards. Caleb Whitlock led the receivers with 4 catches for 35 yards. Iowa hosts the Colorado Crush next week.
San Jose (7-4) gained 392 yards of total offense. The Sabercats ran for just 40 yards on only 12 carries. Alan Sale led the team with 29 yards on 7 carries. Carey went 30-of-55 passing for 357 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked once for a 5-yard loss. Costigan caught 13 passes for 213 yards. The Sabercats will visit the Chicago Rush next week.
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