Blizzard Escape Late Charge by Wild

2010-06-05 - 

Green Bay, Wis. – The Green Bay Blizzard offense got off to a slow start against the Wichita Wild but they made up for it in the second half. The Blizzard defense stepped up at critical parts of the game to help lead the Blizzard to a 40-38 victory.

Green Bay got off to a quick start, scoring on their first drive of the game. Quarterback Willie Copeland moved the Blizzard down the field and found wide receiver Scott Burnoski wide open in the end zone to put the Blizzard up 7-0.

The Blizzard looked to be taking control of the game when they started a drive on the 19 yard line after Wichita turned the ball over on downs. The drive stalled for the Blizzard and Green Bay had to settle for a field goal attempt but Tino Amancio missed the attempt.

The Wild came back and scored a touchdown right before the first quarter ended. Wichita fooled the Blizzard defense and threw a screen pass that they took for a 39 yard gain. They capped the drive off on a quarterback draw. This tied the game up at 7-7.

The Blizzard broke the tie on their first drive of the second quarter. Only taking a few seconds off the clock Amancio redeemed himself for the miss and put a field goal right down the middle to put the Blizzard back ahead 10-7.

The Wild would not trail for long as they would march down the field on their next drive. Wichita had to score twice after the first time they scored was waved off because of a penalty. That did not stop them from scoring on the next play to take the lead 13-10. The Wild would get the ball back in great field position after a fumble by Copeland. Wooten Rushed in a touchdown to extend the lead of the Wild to 19-10.

Green Bay cut into the lead on the following drive. Copeland found Burnoski wide open in the back of the end zone his second touchdown of the game. This brought the Blizzard within two points at 19-17 but that would not last long as the Wild would score as time expired before halftime. Wooten found Cllinton Solomon in the back of the end zone and as he went up to catch it and was tackled over the wall but Solomon hung on for a touchdown and took Wichita’s lead to 26-17.

The Blizzard were the first to score in the second half when Copeland found a hole and rushed for a touchdown to bring the the score to 26-24. On the kickoff following the touchdown, Amancio drilled a Wichita Wild player in the back and the Blizzard recovered. But, Amancio missed a field goal on the drive and Green Bay still trailed 26-24.

Once the fourth quarter started the Blizzard were looking to take the lead and within seconds the Blizzard had the lead. Amancio hit a field goal to go ahead 27-26. After a turnover on downs for Wichita, Copeland found Derek Deardorff for a touchdown pass to extend the Blizzard lead to 34-26.

On the next position for the Wild Wooten found a receiver open to put the score at 34-32 and the Wild went for a two point conversion. The conversion failed and the Blizzard held on to a slim lead of 34-32.

Green Bay extended their lead late in the fourth quarter to 37-32. The lead did not look like it would last long but the Wild fumbled with 50 seconds left and it was recovered by the Blizzard. Green Bay could not run out the clock but Amancio made a field goal to extend the Blizzard lead to 40-32.

On the last drive of the game, Wooten under threw a wide receiver. He redeemed himself on the next pass and moved the Wild down to the two yard line. Wooten found a wide receiver crossing over the middle for a touchdown to bring the Wild closer at 40-38. The Wild needed the two point conversion to send the game to overtime but Wooten’s pass was incomplete. Green Bay held on to win 40-38.  

Green Bay remains at home next week when they are in the middle game of a three game home stand. They play the West Michigan ThunderHawks on the Online Trading Academy Field on June 12. Kickoff is set for 7:05

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