DETROIT-As has been their custom this season, the Detroit Drive once again had a game decided by a touchdown or less. In this case, Cletis Frayer kicked a 24-yard field goal on the final play of the game to edge past the Iowa Barnstormers 29-26 in a Week 7 AFL game.
Detroit was moving smoothly down the field early on, only for Lou Couch's pass to be intercepted in the end zone by Emilio Shipp and returned to the Iowa 18-yard line. The Barnstormers punted, and the Drive moved the ball 25 yards on 7 plays. Frayer kicked a 37-yard field goal to put Detroit up 7-0 with 4:45 to go in the first. Caleb Whitlock returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards to the Detroit 40-yard line. Four plays later, SB Rhoads kicked a 53-yard field goal to tie it at 3 with 2:38 to go in the first quarter.
Couch was intercepted on Detroit's next possession, and Shelton St. Johns returned it to Detroit's 10-yard line. Detroit answered with their own interception, as Butch Bryant picked off Ev Blansett at Detroit's 1-yard line, but Patch Brolie was stuffed in the end zone by Nigel Tuck 4for a safety to give Iowa a 5-3 lead with 14:52 to go in the second. After the free kick, the Barnstormers drove 73 yards on 10 plays. Blansett finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Flip Cravens with 9:21 to go in the half, and Iowa shot to a 12-3 lead. Detroit answered with a 7-play, 59-yard drive that ended with Frayer kicking a 37-yard field goal with 6:14 left in the second to make it 12-6. Iowa's next possession went 61 yards on 9 plays, with Rhoads kicking a 24-yard field goal to go up 15-6 with 1:48 to go in the half. The Drive responded, moving the ball 80 yards on 7 plays. Couch threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Dave Huntley with 17 seconds left to go into halftime down 15-13.
Iowa opened the second half with Powell Ramos fumbling at the Detroit 32-yard line, recovered by the Drive's Tad Adler. But two plays later, St. Johns picked off Couch for the second time and returned it to the 3-yard line. Three plays later, Blansett scrambled in from the 4 for a touchdown. A successful two point conversion put the Barnstormers up 23-13 with 11:34 remaining in the third. Detroit answered with a 9-play, 38-yard drive with Frayer making a 51-yard field goal to make it 23-16 with 7:05 left in the third quarter. Blansett was intercepted by T.T. Presley on the Barnstormers' next possession. After only gaining 6 yards on 7 plays, Frayer kicked a 31-yard field goal with 4:08 remaining in the third, making it 23-19.
Early in the fourth quarter, Rhoads missed a 55-yard field goal attempt. After that, Detroit faced a 4th-and-8 at the Barnstormers 27, and appeared to get a first down when Couch completed a 10-yard pass to Brolie, only to get called back on an illegal motion penalty. The next pass to Brolie from the 32 fell incomplete. The teams then traded punts, and Iowa was at their own 2 with 4:41 left in the game. After two running plays gained 3 yards, Blansett attempted a flair pass, but Stan Florin stepped in front of the pass and returned it for a 2-yard touchdown return with 3:17 left in the game to put Detroit up 26-23. The Barnstormers would punt just prior to the 2-minute warning, but St. Johns would pick Couch off again for the third time and return it to the Detroit 12-yard line. Three plays later, Rhoads kicked a 23-yard field goal with 52 seconds remaining to tie the game at 26. Detroit got the ball at its own 33-yard line after the ensuing kickoff. Couch hit Todd Boyce for 5 yards, Brolie gained 12 on a sweep, and then Couch threw a 43-yard pass to Vern Kelly, setting the stage for Frayer to kick the game-winning field goal with 4 seconds remaining. The 24-yarder sailed through the uprights and Detroit snapped its two-game losing streak.
Detroit (5-2) gained 407 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 83 yards on 23 carries. Brolie led the team with 49 yards on 10 carries. Couch was 25-of-38 passing for 315 yards, 1 TD and 4 INT. He was sacked once, losing 5 yards. Huntley led the Drive receivers with 9 catches for 102 yards and a TD. Kelly caught 5 passes for 103 yards. Next week, the Drive visit the Grand Rapids Rampage, who beat them 20-17 in Week 5.
Iowa (4-3) gained 254 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 98 yards on 25 carries. Ramos led the team with 47 yards on 14 carries. Blansett went 19-of-34 passing for 181 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 25 yards. Isaiah O'Connell led the Barnstormers with 9 receptions for 99 yards. Next week, Iowa visits the Milwaukee Mustangs in another Week 5 rematch. The Barnstormers defeated Milwaukee in overtime, 20-17.
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