Normally i would have a blog about racing but mother nature seemed
like she wanted to ruin everybody's plan to go racing this weekend as
she virtually won every night this weekend.
Friday Night Rain Outs: Ryan Ashton Racing Season Opener at
Marshalltown, Casey's General Stores Night at Iowa State Fairgrounds,
Karsyn's Krusaders 40 for Corn Belt Clash Late Models at Davenport, Fan
Friendly Opener/Modified Special at Lee County, Weekly Points Night at
Chateau Raceway in Lansing (MN), JPR Towing of Winnebago Night at
Fairmont (MN)
Friday Night Racing: Jackpot Weekend at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood (NE) and Spring Fling at Salina Speedway in Salina (KS)
Saturday Night Rain Outs:Wild
Rose Casino/Groen Builders Night at Algona, Practice Day at Adams
County, Season Opener at Boone, IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series
Special at Hamilton County (ppd to Sunday), Practice Night at Knoxville
(ppd to Friday April 20th), Season Opener at Moutain Dew Bloomfield
Speedway, Jackpot Weekend at I-80 Speedway in Greenwood (NE), Corn Belt Clash at Peoria (IL) (ppd to Sunday), Warren County Speedway in Indianola
Saturday Night Racing (partial or complete show):
Open/IMCA Modified Special at West Liberty, Doc360 Sprint Invaders
& IMCA Modified Special, Hawkeyeland Outlaw Super Bomber Showdown at
Jackson County in Maquoketa, Weekly Points Night at Deer Creek Speedway
Sunday Night Rain Outs:Fisher Towing Season Opener at Benton County Speedway, Practice Day at CJ Speedway, Eggduro 200 at Farley,
IMCA Deery Brothers Summer Series Secial at Hamilton County, Season
Opener at Raceway Park in Jefferson (SD), Quincy Raceways, Quad City
Speedway in East Moline (IL)
Sunday Night Racing: Charlie Hart Memorial at I-35 Speedway in Mason City, Corn Belt Clash at Peoria (IL)
With
very little racing happening this weekend because of the weather i
decided to head to Wells Fargo Arena and watch the Iowa Barnstormers
(2-2) play against the Arizona Rattlers (3-1). Barnstormers were 0-2 at
home going into the game.
This game was a wild and
crazy game until the final horn expired. The game started with a
turnover that resulted in a touchdow and had things like a severe
thunderstorms knocking power out for about 15 minutes and then the fire
alarms went off because of a power surage that also delayed the game for
15 minutes.
Arizona Rattlers won the coin toss and deferred to the 2nd half so the Barnstormers got the ball first but on the opening kickoff, Iowa's return man Jesse Simpson would fumble the ball in the endzone and the Rattlers would recover the ball in the endzone and take the lead only :07 into the game.
Iowa would answer back with a 14 yd TD Pass from J.J. Raterink to Jesse Schmidt to tied it up with 9:59 left in the first. Rattlers would come back and take the lead with 5:48 left by a 2 yd TD pass from Nick Davila to Maurice Purify, Arizona on top 14-7 at that point. Iowa would come back and score again with 2:19 left in the 1st on a 4yd run by Rodney Filer, the extra point would be missed so Arizona holds on to the lead 14-13.
In the 2nd quarter now it was Arizona Rattlers striking first with a 13 yd TD pass from Davila to Andrae Thurman with 12:38 left in the 2nd, Arizona leads 21-13. Iowa would strike back within 1 with a 25 yd TD pass from Raterink to Schmidt at 10:02 left in the 2nd to make the score Arizona 21-20.
Shortly after that with about 7:38 to go the Arena would lose power and there would be a delay of about 15 minutes but as soon as the arena received power it caused a power surage and set off the fire alarms for another 15 minutes. When the action resumed Arizona would score again with 5:08 left on a 6 yd pass from Davila to Odie Armstrong.
Iowa would answer back with :49.8 left on a 3 yd pass from Raterink to Schmidt to make it Arizona 28-27. Arizona would score again with :35.8 left in the 2nd on a 1 yd pass from Davila to Purify, PAT would be missed by Chris Gould so Arizona on top 34-27. After several defensive penalites on Arizona with less than :10 to go and 2 of them with :00 left and then they call a timeout. The Barnstormers however Iowa would answer with a 2 yd TD pass from Raterink to Schmidt, Craig Camay PAT kick was good so the score was tied 34-34 at the half.
Arizons strikes first in the 3rd quarter on a 15 yd TD pass from Davila to Kerry Reed with 12:11 left, Gould's kick was missed so Arizona only leading 40-34. Iowa would respond back with 8:41 left on a 3 yd pass from Raterink to Schmidt, Camay's kick was no good so the score was tied again at 40-40. Arizona would be unable to answer and would turn the ball over to the Barnstormers. The Barnstormers would take the lead with 2:48 to go in the 3rd on a 38 yd TD pass from Raterink to Schmidt, Camay's kick was good and the Barnstormers would take the lead 47-40 as the 3rd quarter would come to and end.
In the 4th and final quarter it was Arizona striking first with 12:59 left on a 6 yd TD pass from Davila to Purify, the game would be tied 47-47 after Gould's kick. Iowa would come back again and score on a 6 yd TD pass from Raterink to Chris Matthews with 7:09 left. Arizona would get the ball back but Davila would throw his 2nd Interception of the game and give it back to Iowa so i would take the clock down to :57.9 left and kick a 25 yd FG by Camay. Iowa would have the lead now 56-47. Arizona would respond back with :30.4 left on 4 yd TD pass from Davila to Purify to make the score 56-54.
Arizona would try an onside kick but Iowa would recover and get a first down and be able to run the clock out. Iowa would move to 3-2 on the season and 1-2 at home this season. Iowa Barnstormers are on the road next week against the Utah Blaze, a team they lost at home back on March 17th.
Game started at 7:07pm and finished at 10:37pm. If you want to see photos i took from the game last night go to: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150802764141215.465104.502511214&type=1
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
14:50 Arizona Rattlers TD Caldwell fumble return (Gould kick) Arizona Rattlers 7-0
09:59 Iowa Barnstormers TD Schmidt 14 yd pass from Raterink (Camay kick) Tied 7-7
05:48 Arizona Rattlers TD Purify 2 yd pass from Davila (Gould kick) Arizona Rattlers 14-7
02:19 Iowa Barnstormers TD Filer 4 yd run (Camay kick failed) Arizona Rattlers 14-13
2nd Quarter
12:38 Arizona Rattlers TD Thurman 13 yd pass from Davila (Gould kick) Arizona Rattlers 21-13
10:02 Iowa Barnstormers TD Schmidt 25 yd pass from Raterink (Camay kick) Arizona Rattlers 21-20
05:08 Arizona Rattlers TD Armstrong 6 yd pass from Davila (Gould kick) Arizona Rattlers 28-20
:49.8 Iowa Barnstormers TD Schmidt 3 yd pass from Raterink (Camay kick) Arizona Rattlers 28-27
:35.8 Arizona Rattlers TD Purify 1 yd pass from Davila (Gould kick failed) Arizona Rattlers 34-27
:00 Iowa Barnstormers TD Schmidt 2 yd pass from Raterink (Camay kick) Tied 34-34
3rd Quarter
12:11 Arizona Rattlers TD Reed 15 yd pass from Davila (Gould kick failed) Arizona Rattlers 40-34
08:41 Iowa Barnstormers TD Schmidt 3 yd pass from Raterink (Camay kick failed) Tied 40-40
02:48 Iowa Barnstormers TD Schmidt 38 yd pass from Raterink (Camay kick) Iowa Barnstormers 47-40
4th Quarter
12:59 Arizona Rattlers TD Purify 6 yd pass from Davila (Gould kick) Tied 47-47
07:09 Iowa Barnstormers TD Matthews 6 yd pass from Raterink (Camay kick failed) Iowa Barnstormers 53-47
:57.9 Iowa Barnstormers FG Camay 23 yd field goal Iowa Barnstormers 56-47
:30.4 Arizona Rattlers TD Purify 4 yd pass from Davila (Gould kick) Iowa Barnstormers 56-54
Attendance: 7, 921
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the game – Jesse Schmidt (Iowa)
JLS Ironman of the Game – Jason Simpson (Iowa)
Riddell Defensive player of the game – Derek Pegues (Iowa)
Cutters Catch of the Game – Chris Matthews (Iowa)
Spalding Highlight of the Game – Derek Pegues INT return (Iowa)
Iowa Barnstormers Schedule
March 12 @ Spokane Shock Win 69–63
March 17 Utah Blaze Loss 49–69
March 31 Chicago Rush Loss 61–62
April 06 @ Pittsburgh Power Win 55–42
April 14 Arizona Rattlers Win 56–54
April 20 @ Utah Blaze
April 28 San Jose SaberCats
May 06 @ Chicago Rush
May 12 Kansas City Command
May 19 @ Jacksonville Sharks
May 25 Spokane Shock
June 01 Cleveland Gladiators
June 09 @ Arizona Rattlers
June 16 @ San Antonio Talons
June 30 Pittsburgh Power
July 07 @ Kansas City Command
July 14 @ San Jose SaberCats
July 21 San Antonio Talons
