DES MOINES, IA-Ev Blansett and Weldon Taber each had big second halves in turning a close game with the Chicago Rush into a 57-20 blowout win for the Iowa Barnstormers in a Week 4 AFL game.
The first quarter began with the two teams feeling each other out, as the punters dominated the early going, but a fumbled punt return by Chicago's Rusty Robusito at his own 42 was recovered by Iowa's Josh Everett. The recovery would set up a 50-yard field goal by SB Rhoads to put the Barnstormers up 3-0 with 5:42 remaining in the first. On the Rush's ensuing possession, Lonnie Clements would return the kickoff into Iowa territory, and the Rush would then march 37 yards on 10 plays. Dete Justen finished the drive with a 24-yard field goal with 38 seconds remaining in the first to tie the game at 3.
Davlin Coggins of the Barnstormers would take the ensuing kickoff and return it 65 yards to the Chicago 28. But Blansett would get intercepted by Harlan Fears at the 2-yard line, thwarting the drive. But the Rush would go three-and-out and Winn Burnett would be forced to punt 9 yards deep in his end zone. The punt was blocked, and Orrin Gillette of the Barnstormers would fall on it in the end zone for a touchdown and a 10-3 Iowa lead with 12:41 remaining in the second quarter. Chicago would take the ball on the ensuing possession and drive 56 yards on 7 plays. Justen would kick a 41-yard field goal with 9:14 left in the half to make it 10-6. On Iowa's next drive, they moved the ball 63 yards on 10 plays, ending the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run by Powell Ramos to go up 17-6 with 4:23 remaining in the second. The Rush would strike back, as Clements would rip off a 63-yard touchdown run with 2:40 left in the half to make it 17-13. The Barnstormers went three-and-out on their next possession, and the punt went out of bounds at Chicago's 4-yard line. Two plays later, Chicago's Arman Drummond was sacked in the end zone for a safety with 43 seconds left in the half, and the Barnstormers went into the locker room up 19-13.
Iowa got the ball to start the second half, and wasted no time in establishing their offensive firepower. The 6-play, 64-yard drive ended with a bang as Blansett hit Coggins with a 51-yard bomb to make it 26-13 with 12:42 to go in the third. The Rush were forced to punt, and Iowa embarked on a 13-play, 54-yard drive that ended with Rhoads kicking a 43-yard field goal to put Iowa up 29-13 with 4:52 remaining in the third. Drummond threw a pass on third down that was intercepted by Stew Fugundo of the Barnstormers and returned to the Chicago 30-yard line. On the next play, Blansett threw a 30-yard touchdown to Isaiah O'Connell to extend Iowa's lead to 36-13 with 3:06 remaining in the third quarter.
From that point on, the Barnstormers were in cruise control. After a Chicago punt, Iowa rattled off a 10-play, 85-yard drive featuring mostly running plays. Taber put an exclamation point on the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run with 10:30 to go in the game, making it 43-13. Chicago had some fight left in them, as they drove 65 yards on 9 plays. Drummond scrambled in from the 1 to make it 43-20 with 6:25 left in the game. The Rush attempted an onside kick, but Iowa recovered, and the Barnstormers drove 41 yards on just 3 plays, with Taber plowing 36 yards for another touchdown and made it 50-20, Barnstormers with 4:54 left. Adding insult to injury, Robusito fumbled the ensuing kickoff for the Rush and Rhoads recovered at the 27-yard line. Five plays later, Ramos scored his second rushing touchdown, this one from 3 yards out, to make it 57-20 with 2:08 remaining in the game. Mercifully, the game ended shortly thereafter,
Iowa (2-2) gained 419 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers gained 147 yards rushing on 29 carries, mostly in the fourth quarter. Tabor gained 77 yards on 9 carries with 2 TD. Ramos carried 12 times for 54 yards and 2 TD. Blansett went 23-for-33 passing for 289 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 17 yards. O'Connell led Barnstormer receivers with 8 catches for 95 yards and a TD. Coggins caught 2 passes for 71 yards and a TD. The Barnstormers will host the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.
Chicago (1-3) gained 257 yards of total offense. The Rush gained 116 yards rushing on 21 carries. Clements led the Rush with 102 yards rushing on 9 carries with a TD. He also led Chicago with 5 receptions for 66 yards. Drummond was 15-for-27 passing for 167 yards and 1 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 26 yards. The Rush travel to Dallas next week to face the Desperados.
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