DENVER-Norm Damron's four touchdown passes in the first half proved to be more than enough as the Iowa Barnstormers cruised to a 47-17 thumping of the Colorado Crush in Week 6 of the AFL season.
The game started with Iowa driving 61 yards on 13 plays, ending with Damron throwing a 4-yard touchdown pass to Corben Marvell to take a 7-0 lead with 9:19 to go in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, JC Holman fumbled and Stew Fugundo recovered for the Barnstormers at the Crush 24-yard line. After gaining eight yards on seven plays, SB Rhoads kicked a 33-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 6:12 left in the first.
After trading punts, Colorado would drive 54 yards on 7 plays. Earl Ginger finished it off with a 50-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 12:10 remaining in the second quarter. Then the Barnstormers started flexing their offensive muscle, ending an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Damron to Ryan Travers to make it 17-3 with 8:46 left in the half. Shelton St. Johns would pick off a Howton Thom pass and return it 14 yards to the Crush 22-yard line. Two plays later, Damron hit Preston Covington for a 5-yard touchdown pass to make it 24-3 with 6:23 to go in the second. Following a Colorado punt, Iowa went on the move again with a 10-play, 70-yard drive. Damron finished it off with a 14-yard touchdown strike to Caleb Whitlock with 55 seconds to go. Rhoads missed the extra point, and the Barnstormers went into the locker room with a 30-3 halftime lead.
Holman opened the second half with a 60-yard kickoff return for the Crush before being tackled at the Iowa 29-yard line. Two plays later, Valentine Millstone dived in from the 1 to make it 30-10 with 13:58 left in the third quarter. Iowa would punt the ball away, but Thom was picked off again by St. Johns who took it back 23 yards to the Colorado 49-yard line. The Barnstormers would punt again, then the Crush's Michael Chilton had his punt blocked by Damon Derr who fell on it at the Colorado 15-yard line. Four plays later, Powell Ramos scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 37-10 with 6:43 remaining in the third.
Following another Colorado punt, Iowa drove again, going 80 yards on 9 plays. Ramos opened the fourth quarter with a 6-yard touchdown run to extend the Barnstormers' lead to 44-10 with 14:52 left in the game. The Crush would respond with a 9-play, 80-yard drive of their own, ending with Thom throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Howell to make it 44-17 with 10:48 left in the fourth. An onside kick failed, and Iowa would finish a 6-play, 16-yard drive with a 43-yard field goal by Rhoads to make it 47-17 with 7:25 to go in the fourth quarter. The Crush tried to convert on fourth down in Barnstormers territory, but failed and Iowa would run out the clock.
Iowa (4-2) gained 396 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 106 yards on 33 carries. Ramos led the team with 67 yards on 17 carries and 2 TD. Damron was 26-of-36 passing for 299 yards and 4 TD. He was sacked twice, losing nine yards. Travers was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 42 yards and a TD. The Barnstormers host the Los Angeles Avengers next week.
Colorado (4-2) gained 282 yards of total offense. The Crush ran for 73 yards on 18 carries. Arman Gott led the team with 25 yards on 8 carries. Thom was 16-of-32 passing for 186 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked once for a 5-yard loss. Millstone (80 yards) and Sandy Kelley (50 yards) each caught four passes. The Crush visit the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.
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