Post by 50yardfan on May 22, 2011 12:24:21 GMT -5
The Blizzard returned home Saturday night to face the Reading Express for the second time this season at the Resch Center and were looking to rebound from a tough road trip last weekend in Sioux Falls that ended in defeat.
Green Bay was able to control the game throughout, leading much of the contest and defeated the Express 72-40 in front of 4,862 fans at the Resch Center. With the win, the Blizzard moved back into first place atop the Great Lakes Division and clinched a playoff berth.
The Blizzard offense enjoyed arguably its best night of the 2011 season scoring 72 points, amassing 265 yards of total offense and averaging 6.9 yards per play in the win.
Running back Andrew Verboncouer got the Green Bay offense rolling early when he took a pass from quarterback Willie Copeland 44 yards for a touchdown. On the play, Verboncouer ran out of the backfield and was wide open on the left sideline where he caught the pass from Copeland and ran untouched to the end zone.
Following a defensive touchdown by Express defensive back Jesse Cooper, Copeland found a wide open Lonnie Sanders, streaking down the right sidelines for a 30-yard touchdown to put Green Bay ahead 14-7 with 3:07 remaining in the first quarter.
Shortly after, the Express responded when quarterback Chris Malleo scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. The Blizzard answered the Express touchdown by scoring on the first play of the following series when Copeland connected with wide receiver Bryan Pray for a 34-yard touchdown.
Over the next two series, Green Bay added a defensive touchdown on a Josh Jones 12-yard interception return and 19-yard field goal by Josh Shene to increase their lead to 31-14 with 3:12 remaining in the second quarter.
Verboncouer scored his second touchdown of the first half, a 1-yard run, when he took a pitch from Copeland and bounced into the end zone. The Blizzard lead was 38-21 at halftime.
Green Bay outscored Reading 10-6 in the third quarter and stretched their lead to 48-27. Blizzard defensive back B.J. Hill led the scoring with an interception he returned 35 yards for a touchdown.
The Blizzard added 24 fourth-quarter points to close the scoring and seal the victory. Green Bay received three touchdown passes of 25, 19 and 13 yards from Copeland to wide receiver Agim Shabaj in the quarter.
For the game, Shabaj caught eight passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Copeland completed 14-of-31 passes for 268 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, Blizzard linebacker Greg Jackson collected 12 tackles. Linemen Jeremiah Price and James McClinton added 1.5 sacks.
The Blizzard travel to La Crosse next Friday to face the Spartans. Game time at the La Crosse Center is 7:00 p.m.
Green Bay was able to control the game throughout, leading much of the contest and defeated the Express 72-40 in front of 4,862 fans at the Resch Center. With the win, the Blizzard moved back into first place atop the Great Lakes Division and clinched a playoff berth.
The Blizzard offense enjoyed arguably its best night of the 2011 season scoring 72 points, amassing 265 yards of total offense and averaging 6.9 yards per play in the win.
Running back Andrew Verboncouer got the Green Bay offense rolling early when he took a pass from quarterback Willie Copeland 44 yards for a touchdown. On the play, Verboncouer ran out of the backfield and was wide open on the left sideline where he caught the pass from Copeland and ran untouched to the end zone.
Following a defensive touchdown by Express defensive back Jesse Cooper, Copeland found a wide open Lonnie Sanders, streaking down the right sidelines for a 30-yard touchdown to put Green Bay ahead 14-7 with 3:07 remaining in the first quarter.
Shortly after, the Express responded when quarterback Chris Malleo scored on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. The Blizzard answered the Express touchdown by scoring on the first play of the following series when Copeland connected with wide receiver Bryan Pray for a 34-yard touchdown.
Over the next two series, Green Bay added a defensive touchdown on a Josh Jones 12-yard interception return and 19-yard field goal by Josh Shene to increase their lead to 31-14 with 3:12 remaining in the second quarter.
Verboncouer scored his second touchdown of the first half, a 1-yard run, when he took a pitch from Copeland and bounced into the end zone. The Blizzard lead was 38-21 at halftime.
Green Bay outscored Reading 10-6 in the third quarter and stretched their lead to 48-27. Blizzard defensive back B.J. Hill led the scoring with an interception he returned 35 yards for a touchdown.
The Blizzard added 24 fourth-quarter points to close the scoring and seal the victory. Green Bay received three touchdown passes of 25, 19 and 13 yards from Copeland to wide receiver Agim Shabaj in the quarter.
For the game, Shabaj caught eight passes for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Copeland completed 14-of-31 passes for 268 yards and six touchdowns.
Defensively, Blizzard linebacker Greg Jackson collected 12 tackles. Linemen Jeremiah Price and James McClinton added 1.5 sacks.
The Blizzard travel to La Crosse next Friday to face the Spartans. Game time at the La Crosse Center is 7:00 p.m.