Post by 50yardfan on Jul 7, 2011 22:34:34 GMT -5
Game Preview - Blizzard and Storm Battle for Conference Title
Who: #2 Green Bay Blizzard (12-3) at #1 Sioux Falls Storm (14-1)
When: Saturday, July 9 7:15pm
Where: Sioux Falls Arena - Sioux Falls, SD
Blizzard Update: Green Bay has played one game in the last three weeks, a 68-51 victory over the Reading Express in the Conference Semi-Finals on June 25th. As the number two seed in the United Conference, the Blizzard received a first round bye in the playoffs and also had the 4th of July weekend off. Against Reading, Jameel Sewell returned to the starting lineup at quarterback. Sewell's seven touchdowns and big plays by the defense late in the fourth quarter led the team to a win. During the regular season, Green Bay beat Reading twice by a combined score of 134-59, but this contest was much closer. The key to the game was the 4th quarter. The Blizzard defense made several key stops in the final period, but none was bigger than a safety made by defensive lineman Jeremiah Price. The two points made it a two score lead for the Blizzard at 60-51 with 1:39 left in the game. Sewell would add a late touchdown run to seal the victory. On the night, Sewell completed 14-of-28 passes for 200 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed nine times for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Agim Shabaj caught five passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Greg Jackson and Jeremiah Price led the Blizzard. Jackson collected 10 tackles and made 1.5 tackles for loss. Price made 3.5 tackles-for-loss, including 2.5 sacks and forced one fumble.
Storm Update: Sioux Falls had the same playoff schedule as the Blizzard, only playing one game in the past three weeks. The Storm topped the Omaha Beef 52-39 in Conference Semi-Final play. The Beef snapped the Storm's 13 game winning streak two weeks earlier in the regular season finale. Instead of using revenge as motivation, the Storm focused on correcting mistakes en route to the playoff victory. Storm linebacker Brian McIntire had a game-high 14 tackles and a blocked extra point. Quarterback Chris Dixon, named IFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year earlier in the week, finished 17-25 passing with 191 yards and five scores and rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Carl Sims caught six balls for 100 yards and three touchdowns.
Series: Green Bay and Sioux Falls met for the first time on May 15, 2011. The Blizzard struggled to score touchdowns and settled for six field goals in the game and were defeated by the Storm 57-38.
Stats: Sioux Falls leads the IFL in scoring at 73 points per game. Green Bay ranks third with 54.6 points per game. Both teams are also strong on the defensive side of the ball. The Storm defense is second in the IFL with 32.6 points per game and the Blizzard rank sixth with 36.2 points per game. Green Bay and Sioux Falls rank second and third in interceptions with 34 and 33 respectively. A key to the game will be the play of Green Bay's defensive line against the Sioux Falls offensive line. The Storm has two All-IFL lineman and they do not allow many sacks. The Blizzard ranks second in the IFL with 38 sacks and will need to get pressure on quarterback Chris Dixon. (Based on final regular season statistics)
Notes: Green Bay and Sioux Falls were represented strongly on the 2011 All-IFL Team. The Blizzard had two players named to the first team (Defensive Back Arkeith Brown, Kick Returner B.J. Hill) and two second team selections (Defensive Lineman James McClinton, Kicker Josh Shene). Hill was also named the 2011 IFL Special Team Player of the Year and Brown was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Storm had four players named first team (Quarterback Chris Dixon, Wide Receiver James Terry, Offensive Lineman Myniya Smith, Center Charlie Sanders) and three named to the second team (Running Back James Jones, Defensive Lineman Tommy Chavis, Ironman Stewart Franks). Dixon was also named the 2011 IFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
Watch: All IFL contests broadcast during the 2011 season are available live online and can be accessed through the Blizzard website www.greenbayblizzard.com and www.b2livetv.com. Fans will need a high speed Internet connection to watch live IFL action. Archie's Pub in De Pere is the official home to watch all 2011 Blizzard away games on the America One Network. Archie's will use the America One Networks online video feed to play the games live on multiple large flat screen televisions. Archie's Pub is located at 600 George Street in De Pere.
Who: #2 Green Bay Blizzard (12-3) at #1 Sioux Falls Storm (14-1)
When: Saturday, July 9 7:15pm
Where: Sioux Falls Arena - Sioux Falls, SD
Blizzard Update: Green Bay has played one game in the last three weeks, a 68-51 victory over the Reading Express in the Conference Semi-Finals on June 25th. As the number two seed in the United Conference, the Blizzard received a first round bye in the playoffs and also had the 4th of July weekend off. Against Reading, Jameel Sewell returned to the starting lineup at quarterback. Sewell's seven touchdowns and big plays by the defense late in the fourth quarter led the team to a win. During the regular season, Green Bay beat Reading twice by a combined score of 134-59, but this contest was much closer. The key to the game was the 4th quarter. The Blizzard defense made several key stops in the final period, but none was bigger than a safety made by defensive lineman Jeremiah Price. The two points made it a two score lead for the Blizzard at 60-51 with 1:39 left in the game. Sewell would add a late touchdown run to seal the victory. On the night, Sewell completed 14-of-28 passes for 200 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed nine times for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Agim Shabaj caught five passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Greg Jackson and Jeremiah Price led the Blizzard. Jackson collected 10 tackles and made 1.5 tackles for loss. Price made 3.5 tackles-for-loss, including 2.5 sacks and forced one fumble.
Storm Update: Sioux Falls had the same playoff schedule as the Blizzard, only playing one game in the past three weeks. The Storm topped the Omaha Beef 52-39 in Conference Semi-Final play. The Beef snapped the Storm's 13 game winning streak two weeks earlier in the regular season finale. Instead of using revenge as motivation, the Storm focused on correcting mistakes en route to the playoff victory. Storm linebacker Brian McIntire had a game-high 14 tackles and a blocked extra point. Quarterback Chris Dixon, named IFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year earlier in the week, finished 17-25 passing with 191 yards and five scores and rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Carl Sims caught six balls for 100 yards and three touchdowns.
Series: Green Bay and Sioux Falls met for the first time on May 15, 2011. The Blizzard struggled to score touchdowns and settled for six field goals in the game and were defeated by the Storm 57-38.
Stats: Sioux Falls leads the IFL in scoring at 73 points per game. Green Bay ranks third with 54.6 points per game. Both teams are also strong on the defensive side of the ball. The Storm defense is second in the IFL with 32.6 points per game and the Blizzard rank sixth with 36.2 points per game. Green Bay and Sioux Falls rank second and third in interceptions with 34 and 33 respectively. A key to the game will be the play of Green Bay's defensive line against the Sioux Falls offensive line. The Storm has two All-IFL lineman and they do not allow many sacks. The Blizzard ranks second in the IFL with 38 sacks and will need to get pressure on quarterback Chris Dixon. (Based on final regular season statistics)
Notes: Green Bay and Sioux Falls were represented strongly on the 2011 All-IFL Team. The Blizzard had two players named to the first team (Defensive Back Arkeith Brown, Kick Returner B.J. Hill) and two second team selections (Defensive Lineman James McClinton, Kicker Josh Shene). Hill was also named the 2011 IFL Special Team Player of the Year and Brown was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Storm had four players named first team (Quarterback Chris Dixon, Wide Receiver James Terry, Offensive Lineman Myniya Smith, Center Charlie Sanders) and three named to the second team (Running Back James Jones, Defensive Lineman Tommy Chavis, Ironman Stewart Franks). Dixon was also named the 2011 IFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.
Watch: All IFL contests broadcast during the 2011 season are available live online and can be accessed through the Blizzard website www.greenbayblizzard.com and www.b2livetv.com. Fans will need a high speed Internet connection to watch live IFL action. Archie's Pub in De Pere is the official home to watch all 2011 Blizzard away games on the America One Network. Archie's will use the America One Networks online video feed to play the games live on multiple large flat screen televisions. Archie's Pub is located at 600 George Street in De Pere.