The Green Bay Blizzard (6-2) travel to Des Moines, Iowa this Friday, May 24th, to face the Iowa Barnstormers (2-6) for their third matchup of the season. Kickoff at Wells Fargo Arena, scheduled for 7:05 PM CST. 

Green Bay cruises into this week's matchup off a big Eastern Conference victory against the Frisco Fighters. After a back-and-forth first half, the top-ranked Blizzard defense took control of the game, only allowing one score in the second half. Green Bay scored nine total touchdowns and came away with a convincing win, with a final score of 67-38. 

Iowa returns home after a close loss to the Quad City Steamwheelers last Friday. A game in which neither team led by more than eight points and had 12 lead changes came down to the final seconds. Quad City kicker Kyle Kaplan nailed a 49-yard field goal as time expired to secure the 57-55 victory. 

This is the third time this season that the Blizzard and the Barnstormers go head-to-head. Green Bay has been victorious in the previous matchups, with both wins coming at home. In the most recent game against Iowa, Green Bay went blow-for-blow with the Barnstormers, but when the final whistle blew, it was the Blizzard ahead, 40-33. With the two wins over Iowa this year, Green Bay has bought the all-time series within a game, with the Barnstormers hanging on to a 15-14 record. The all-time series would be tied for the first time since 2017 with a Blizzard win on Friday. 

If Green Bay wants to come home with a win, they will first need to stop Iowa wide receiver Quian Williams. Williams is fourth in the league in receptions per game (4.9) and fifth in average yards per game (56.6). The Blizzard also will need to contain the Barnstormers quarterback Kyle King, who is coming off his best game of the season, where he threw for 260 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, Green Bay will have to watch out for defensive lineman Ty Tate, who is tied for the league lead in fumbles recovered (2). The Blizzard defense will also have to try and keep the Barnstormers out of field goal range as kicker Gabriel Rui is third in points scored among kickers (62).

For Iowa to defend their home turf, they will need to try and stop the Max Meylor show. Meylor is second in the IFL in average points per game (14.6) and third in the league in total points scored with 102. The Barnstormers will also have to try to corral Green Bay running back EJ Burgess, Jr, who had four rushing touchdowns against Frisco last Saturday. Iowa must disrupt the Blizzard defense, as they are first in points allowed (266) and average points allowed per game (33.3). A big part of the Green Bay defense are defensive linemen Rafiq Abdul-Wahid and Scean Mustin, both top 10 in the league in sacks. 

Blizzard fans are invited to enjoy Friday's game at D2 Sports Pub Stadium District (788 Armed Forces Dr. Green Bay, WI 54304) for the official watch party. Fans can also enjoy the game from the comforts of their own homes and on their preferred devices through YouTube or Caffeine TV.

Written By: Seth Kluck