The Iowa Barnstormers were downed the Sioux Falls Storm 45-24 at Wells Fargo Arena on Saturday night.
The loss means the Barnstormers finish the season with a 13-3 record.
Iowa Barnstormers downed by Sioux Falls Storm, rematch set for Saturday
But, it’s not all doom and gloom for the team.
Since the Wichita Falls Nighthawks were beaten by the Nebraska Danger, Iowa will advance to the 2017 Indoor Football League (IFL) Playoffs.
This is the first time the Barnstormers will make a trip to the postseason since they did it in 2009 in Arena Football 2 (AF2), losing in the semi-finals.
“It doesn’t feel that good [right now],” quarterback Travis Partridge said. When you go to sleep at night, wake up tomorrow, the sun is going to come up. We get a chance to play the same team again.”
The Barnstormers had three touchdowns in the first half on Saturday, but didn’t earn one in the second.
“I just feel like we lost our ish,” wide reciever Lucas Hefty said. “They scored right away and we didn’t. It just felt draining.”
While the Barnstormers had Sioux Falls number in the first half, it was the direct opposite in the second. Sioux Falls capitalized on Iowa’s mistakes and walked away with the 21-point victory.
“They, made adjustments and we didn’t,” Partridge said. “I could have done a bunch of things better. We could have done a bunch of things better.”
The Barnstormers will travel to Sioux Falls next Saturday for their first-round playoff game against the Storm.
“It’s a playoff game,” coach Dixie Wooten said. “We don’t mind if we play in the front of the arena, in the back of the arena, or in the grass. We’re just glad we’re in the playoffs.”
The game kicks off at 5:05 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on YouTube.
Main photo credit: Connor Ferguson, Last Word On Sports
