DES MOINES-The Milwaukee Mustangs could not get into the end zone for the second straight game. The final indignity was Garrett Counts being knocked out of bounds 1 yard short of the end zone on the final play of the game in a 13-9 loss to the Iowa Barnstormers in a Week 8 AFL game.
The Mustangs started the game driving into Barnstormers' territory, but Seth Waltrip sacked and stripped Bruce Baskerville and Leif Whitten recovered for Iowa at the Milwaukee 47-yard line. But the Barnstormers couldn't hang onto the ball, either. Norm Damron would misandle a snap, and Yousef Checkers scooped it up and returned it 12 yards to the Mustangs' 44-yard line. After Dexter Gaither pinned Iowa back with a punt downed on the Barnstormers' 3-yard line, Iowa got breathing room but were still forced to punt. The snap to Arman Wilcox was low, and he was forced to try to run, but was hauled down at the Iowa 31-yard line. After three plays netted five yards, Rock Philbrook connected on a 43-yard field goal to give Milwaukee a 3-0 lead with 2:43 left in the first quarter.
Iowa had to punt again, and Wilcox again got a terrible snap and was overwhelmed at the Barnstormers' 26-yard line. But Baskerville would get picked off by Austin Teel at the 10-yard line. Iowa's next possession ended in a punt that went off without a hitch, then the Mustangs drove 89 yards on 13 plays. They settled for a 21-yard field goal by Philbrook to make it 6-0 with 5:56 left in the second quarter. Following another Barnstormers punt, Milwaukee moved the ball 35 yards on 9 plays. Philbrook would kick a 52-yard field goal with 57 seconds left to extend the Mustangs' lead to 9-0 at the half.
The Barnstormers got on the board in the second half after a 5-play, 34-yard drive. SB Rhoads ended the drive with a 39-yard field goal to make it 9-3 with 11:59 to go in the third quarter. Milwaukee's ensuing drive came to an inglorious end when Counts was stripped of the ball, and Emilio Shipp recovered for Iowa at his own 43-yard line. Following a nine-play, 50-yard drive, Rhoads would connect on a 24-yard field goal to make it 9-6 with 4:15 left in the third.
On the Mustangs' next drive, Philbrook would miss a 52-yard field goal attempt. The teams would trade punts, then Iowa marched on an 11-play, 79-yard drive. Damron finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Travers to give the Barnstormers a 13-9 lead with 7:09 to go in the fourth quarter. Punts would be traded, then Milwaukee got the ball at their own 23-yard line with 38 seconds left in the game. A 67-yard pass from Baskerville to Weldon Elmore put the ball on the Iowa 10-yard line. The Mustangs hurried to the line, and with eight seconds to go, Baskerville threw a square out to Counts just outside the end zone. Shipp would knock Counts out of bounds, and the clock ran out.
Iowa (5-3) gained 266 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 37 yards on 27 carries. Powell Ramos led the team with 47 yards on 12 carries. Wilcox's mishandled snaps went down as two carries for negative-23 yards. Damron was 22-of-38 passing for 236 yards and a TD. He was sacked once for a 7-yard loss. Travers was the leading receiver with 8 catches for 76 yards and a TD. The Barnstormers host the Orlando Predators next week.
Milwaukee (4-4) gained 359 yards of total offense. The Mustangs ran for 81 yards on 24 carries. Counts led the team with 33 yards on 8 carries. Baskerville was 22-of-35 passing for 284 yards and an INT. He was sacked twice, losing 6 yards. C.C. Cage led the receivers with 5 catches for 69 yards. Elmore caught 4 passes for 108 yards. Next week, the Mustangs will host the Nashville Kats.
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