ROSEMONT, IL-The Iowa Barnstormers claimed the season tie-breaker over the Chicago Rush with a 48-30 victory in Week 11 of the AFL season and are now tied with the Rush for first place in the AFL Central Division.
The fireworks started early, as Zach Allen fielded the opening kickoff, and returned it 91 yards for a touchdown giving the Rush a 7-0 lead 16 seconds into the game. The Barnstormers would answer back going on an 8-play, 80-yard drive. Norm Damron finished the drive with a 30-yard strike to Chesley Miller for a touchdown to tie the game at 7 with 11:39 left in the first. After a Chicago punt, Iowa would march 83 yards on 10 plays, ending with a 3-yard touchdown run by Lars Witt to take a 14-7 lead with 4:38 left in the first quarter. The Rush came back, taking two plays to score. Hershel Kimbrell fired a 70-yard touchdown pass to Kendall Falcinelli tying the game at 14 with 4:05 left in the first.
The Barnstormers would score again, driving 56 yards on 10 plays. Powell Ramos scored on a 2-yard run to make it 21-14 with 14:02 left in the second quarter. The defenses settled down for a bit after that, as the teams traded punts until late in the quarter. The Rush would take the ball and drive 26 yards on 10 plays, and Dete Justen kicked a 48-yard field goal to make it 21-17 with 4:25 left in the half. Iowa then drove 51 yards on 12 plays, ending with SB Rhoads kicking a 52-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining to give the Barnstormers a 24-17 halftime lead.
Early in the second half, Arman Wilcox mishandled a snap on a punt for the Barnstormers and was forced to fall on it at his own 6-yard line. The Rush could only manage three yards on three plays and settled for a 20-yard field goal by Justen to make it 24-20 with 12:06 remaining in the third quarter. On Iowa's next possession, Damron was picked off by Spike Abel at the Barnstormers' 35-yard line. Again, the Rush couldn't make movement on their drive, and settled for a 52-yard field goal by Justen to make it 24-23 with 10:31 remaining in the third. The Barnstormers would answer back with a 9-play, 52-yard drive that ended with Ryan Travers scoring on a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 31-23 with 6:14 to go in the third quarter. After a Chicago punt, Iowa would march downfield again, going 56 yards on 6 plays. Damron would hit Travers for a 22-yard touchdown pass to take a 38-23 lead with 1:43 left in the third.
The Rush would answer that drive by going 84 yards on 11 plays. Kimbrell finished the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Kale Colby that made it 38-30 with 12:16 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Barnstormers would punt on their next drive, then Chicago's next drive was thwarted when Jim Dant picked off Kimbrell and return it 15 yards to the Rush 35-yard line. After going 31 yards on 7 plays, Rhoads kicked a 21-yard field goal to make it 41-30 with 3:45 to go in the fourth quarter. Chicago punted on their next possession, and a 53-yard run by Weldon Taber set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Ramos to make it 48-30 with 1:32 remaining.
Iowa (7-4) gained 456 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 194 yards on 45 carries. Ramos led the team with 76 yards on 20 carries and 2 TD. Damron was 21-of-32 passing for 272 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked once for a 10-yard loss. Travers led the receivers with 5 catches for 62 yards and a TD. The Barnstormers visit the Arizona Rattlers next week.
Chicago (7-4) gained 256 yards of total offense. The Rush ran for 45 yards on 13 carries. Lonnie Clements led the team with 25 yards on 5 carries. Kimbrell was 16-of-33 passing for 239 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 28 yards. Marty Margerum led the receivers with 5 catches for 32 yards. Next week, the Rush will visit the Colorado Crush.
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