ATLANTA-During the offseason, in what was described as a surprising move, the Georgia Force traded their top quarterback, Norm Damron, to the Iowa Barnstormers. As fate would have it, the teams met in the opening week of AFL Season 2, and the Force held off a late charge from Damron to defeat the Barnstormers 24-17.
The first quarter was largely a feeling-out process, with both teams punting on their first possession. Then Georgia's Yannel Gansz was picked off by Iowa's Farrell Companis who returned it 15 yards to the Barnstormers' 35-yard line. Iowa drove down the field, but SB Rhoads would miss a 35-yard field goal attempt. The Force would then drive 46 yards on 10 plays, and Wilbur Ahmad ended the drive with a 46-yard field goal to give Georgia a 3-0 lead with 22 seconds to go in the first quarter.
After forcing an Iowa punt, Georgia moved downfield again with a 9-play, 62-yard drive. Gansz hit Brandon Tallman for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-0 with 10:30 left in the second quarter. On the Barnstormers' next possession, Damron was sacked by Rashid Pollard and fumbled. Sputnik Havner scooped up the loose ball and ran 34 yards to the Iowa 10-yard line. On the next play, Gansz threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Quirt Skinner to go up 17-0 with 8:02 to go in the half. The Barnstormers then struck back with a 13-play, 65-yard drive. Powell Ramos finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 17-7 with 1:50 left in the second quarter.
At the start of the second half, Iowa moved downfield again, going 66 yards on 8 plays. Damron would throw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Ramos and made the score 17-14 with 12:00 remaining in the third quarter. After trading punts, Georgia went on an 8-play, 51-yard drive. Clem Foulks would score on a 4-yard touchdown run to extend the Force's lead to 24-14 with 1:20 remaining in the third.
The Barnstormers would punt on their next drive, then Seth Waltrip picked Gansz off and returned it 40 yards to the Force 17-yard line. Four plays and 13 yards later, Rhoads connected on a 21-yard field goal to make it 24-17 with 5:16 to go in the fourth quarter. After a Georgia punt, Iowa had the ball on their 27-yard line with 1:48 left. They would face a fourth-and-10 at the Force 43 with 57 seconds to go. Damron completed the pass to Caleb Whitlock, but he was stopped a yard short of the first down, and the Force came away victorious.
Georgia (1-0) gained 284 yards of total offense. The Force ran for 115 yards on 32 carries. Foulks led the team with 57 yards on 9 carries and a TD. Gansz was 16-of-31 passing for 177 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked once for an 8-yard loss. Raven Bannon led the receivers with 4 catches for 42 yards. The Force visit the Orlando Predators next week.
Iowa (0-1) gained 296 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 66 yards on 24 carries. Ramos led the team with 39 yards on 10 carries and a TD. Damron was 21-of-34 passing for 247 yards and a TD. He was sacked three times, losing 17 yards. Ryan Travers was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 80 yards. The Barnstormers open their home schedule next week against the Chicago Rush.
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