Sunday, February 12, 2017

AFL: Nashville Runs Past Iowa, 20-13

NASHVILLE-The Nashville Kats ran for 180 yards in defeating the Iowa Barnstormers 20-13 as each team wrapped up their AFL season.

The Barnstormers started with the ball and looked to score early, but Parker Kincaid picked off Ev Blansett and returned it 39 yards to the Nashville 42-yard line. The teams then traded punts, and the Kats would go on a 10-play, 82-yard drive. Brewster Brickhouse ended the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Angus Shibest to put Nashville up 7-0 with 3:44 to go in the first quarter.

After another Iowa punt, the Kats were on the move again, going 57 yards on 9 plays. Daniel Stevenson would kick a 27-yard field goal to put Nashville up 10-0 with 12:12 remaining in the second quarter. Following an exchange of punts, the Kats went on an 8-play, 31-yard drive ending with a 49-yard field goal by Stevenson to make it 13-0 with 48 seconds to go in the half. The Barnstormers would finally get on the board following a 5-play, 41-yard drive when SB Rhoads kicked a 39-yard field goal to make it 13-3 at the half.

In the second half, Iowa started with a 5-play, 33-yard drive, and Rhoads drilled a 47-yard field goal to make it 13-6 with 11:52 remaining in the third quarter. Nashville responded with an 8-play, 61-yard drive ending with a 3-yard touchdown run by Davis Weems to make it 20-6 with 8:17 to go in the third. A fake Barnstormers punt went for naught, but the Kats were forced to punt. Iowa would punt, and the Kats moved into scoring range, but Stevenson missed a 44-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Following the miss, the Barnstormers would drive 66 yards on 10 plays. Blansett finished it off with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Whitlock that made it 20-13 with 11:47 remaining in the fourth. That was as close as the Barnstormers got, as following a Nashville punt, Blansett was picked off again, this time by Lyndon Trimmer at the Kats 18-yard line. The Kats would punt, and Iowa tried again, but were turned away on fourth down at the Nashville 16-yard line.

Nashville (6-9-1) gained 358 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 180 yards on 40 carries. Oliver Osler led the team with 112 yards on 25 carries. Brickhouse went 17-of-30 passing for 191 yards and a TD. He was sacked twice, losing 13 yards. Vittorio Swane led the receivers with 6 catches for 51 yards.

Iowa (8-8) gained 312 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran only 11 times and gained 11 yards. Weldon Taber was the "leader" with 11 yards on 4 carries. Blansett went 27-of-49 passing for 265 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked once for a 9-yard loss. Davlin Coggins (70 yards), Isaiah O'Connell (61 yards), Ryan Travers (38 yards) and Taber (32 yards) each caught 5 passes.

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