The Iowa Barnstormers took down their rivals from Wisconsin on Saturday using a brigade of trick plays.
The team got off to a hot start with a lateral pass to 2014 NAIA all American wide receiver, Brady Roland. Roland looked for a double pass, but ended up taking the ball to the other side of the field for a first down.
Barnstormers feast on trick plays to rout rival Green Bay
Chris Bowden caught a ten yard pass for Iowa’s first touchdown as Brady Roland followed with a two point conversion. Lamans Casimier took the toss and completed Roland’s conversion.
Iowa gave up a quick touchdown to Green Bay, but responded later in the quarter with an interception returned to the half yard line. Nallenweg sneaked in for a score. Directly after, Iowa squibbed a kick that was never caught for Green Bay, and recovered the ball in the end zone for a second straight touchdown.
Through the second quarter, Brady Roland made even more noise catching two touchdowns for 24 and 39 yards.
“We’ve known to run [the lateral play] since early this week,” Roland said. “We’ve been doing alright, we’re 2-3 now and the offense is really starting to click.”
Iowa went into the second half with two points less than there season high of 50 – leading Green Bay 48-34.
After the half, injuries began to surface for Iowa. DL Sean Daniels bent his leg backwards while going after a fumble in the 3rd quarter. Later, OL Alex Gonzalez hurt his ankle – and became the second OL on the roster to be inactive. This forced DL Ryan Smith to move to the OT position.
“It’s tough always having injuries, but at the same time Coach Brannen is a great coach, keeping us prepared for all types of injuries and situations,” Smith said. “I came in prepared, kind of ready to know my responsibility, exactly what I needed to do, but it is different.”
Smith stepped up in his position, and so did the rest of the offensive line as they did not allow a sack the rest of the night.
Iowa returned to the trick plays late in the game, or what one might call an unscripted trick play. While Lemans Casimier was being tackled near the goal line, WR Johnny Thomas was standing in the end zone. Casimier fumbled the ball (or at least what it will go down as in the stat book) as it went straight to Thomas for a touchdown.
That put Iowa up by three scores and the Barnstormers never looked back, taking a 75-64 win.
“I’m just blessed that we got the victory, we’ll keep working hard and growing as a team, and we should be good,” Smith said.
