Much more than a team

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

With 1:42 left in the third quarter it happened.

Manchester Wolves kicker Connor McCormick just made a routine extra point making the score 41-41, but I knew what the extra point really meant.

If you’ve read my articles in the past you already know what I’m getting at, and it’s a simple statistic that has determined the outcome of every Green Bay Blizzard game this season.

Coming into the second-round game with the Wolves, the Blizzard was 12-0 when holding a team to 40 points or less, and 0-5 when allowing 41 points or more.

So, as I sat and glared at the scoreboard in the Resch Center on Saturday night, I realized this was the moment that would determine the story of the Blizzard this season.

The statistic and tempo of the game had me feeling this would be the end to the run at an ArenaCup for the Blizzard, but I also knew this was a team that had come so far in 2008.

This was a team with the No. 1 defense in arenafootball2, which was capable, and often did, shutdown an opponent’s offense.

This was a team that went through three quarterbacks before finding a leader in Collin Drafts, and a playmaker in Gino Guidugli.

This was a team that became only the sixth franchise in af2 history to record 50 sacks in a season, and was led by the lineman of the year Joe Sykes.

This was a team that had the first player in arena football history to score 10 touchdowns and record 10 sacks in ironman Gus Tyson.

This was a team that had the face of the franchise, ‘Superman’ Robert Garth, come back to Green Bay where he belongs.

This was a team that won in my opinion the toughest division in af2 from top to bottom, the Midwest Division.

This was a team that led the af2 with eight players on the All-af2 team.

Lastly, this was a team, but I started to realize in the fourth quarter it was something more than that.

At the end of the game on Saturday night when I watched Wolves quarterback Brian Jones run into the end zone for the two-point conversion, and ultimately the 55-54 win, I knew what the loss meant and began to understand what I was watching all season.

It meant there wouldn’t be a third-straight trip to the American Conference Championship game, and the Blizzard was 0-6 when an opponent scored 41 points or more.

Yes, a simple statistic could tell you the outcome of every Blizzard game this season, but it doesn’t tell you the story of this team.

Because as I leaned against the boards and said my goodbyes to the team I had gotten to know so well, I realized I wasn’t watching a team all season, the 2008 Green Bay Blizzard was a family.

A family that opened its doors for me to be a part of it.

Green Bay welcomes back quarterback

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

You’re probably sick of hearing about Green Bay quarterbacks, but it’s been a popular story for media publications across the country, so why not stick with that theme here at ArenaFan.

Recently a former Green Bay quarterback asked the franchise if he could return to the team after deciding to leave, but was told by management and the head coach that the team had moved on.

But when another former Green Bay signal caller did the same thing a few weeks ago, he got a different response from the team.

Ok, maybe comparing Gino Guidugli to Brett Favre is a bit of a stretch, but when you are in a position to win a championship, a smart franchise would allow the quarterback that gives it the best chance to win play if he wants to.

That’s what the Green Bay Blizzard has done, unlike the team that plays across the street.

Guidugli was the Blizzard’s starter for most of the regular season last year. In his last three starts the offense scored 69, 77 and 74 points, and he had the team in position to win the Midwest Division with a win in the regular season finale against the Mahoning Valley Thunder.

Guidugli never played in the game because the Canadian Football League’s British Columbia Lions signed him.

The Blizzard lost to Mahoning Valley 70-50 without Guidugli, but would win two playoff games before losing in the American Conference championship against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers.

Even in the two-playoff wins, however, you could tell Guidugli’s presence was missed as the Blizzard scored only 39 and 37 points.

This season the Blizzard has relied on a dominating defense, which finished the regular season number one overall in arenafootball2, while the team searched for a signal caller.

Meanwhile, Guidugli was released from the B.C. Lions and signed with the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League to backup Aaron Garcia in the playoffs.

After the eventual ArenaBowl champions, the Philadelphia Soul, knocked the Dragons out of the playoffs Guidugli decided to not sign a deal for next season to be a backup because he felt he could start in the AFL with more experience at the af2 level.

This led him back to Green Bay after he made the call to Blizzard owner Brian Noble, who was happy to welcome him back to compete for the starting job.

Guidugli joined the team with one week left in the regular season, and impressed the coaching staff enough to give him the job over Collin Drafts, who was 6-3 in games that he appeared in.

In the nine games with Drafts at the helm, however, the offense scored 50 points only three times, and lost twice to the Lexington Horsemen by one point.

So, one year after leaving the Blizzard for the CFL, Guidugli found himself back with the Blizzard in the same situation he was in a year ago, a chance to win the Midwest Division by beating the Mahoning Valley Thunder.

Guidugli helped the Blizzard do that by beating the Thunder 61-13, but the Thunder wasn’t the toughest opponent either considering it finished the season 3-13 and its quarterback, Ray Marrow, was making his first af2 start.

The true test to find out if Guidugli could get the Blizzard offense on track came last Friday in the opening round of the af2 playoffs against the Lexington Horsemen.

It’s safe to say Guidugli and the offense passed the test.

Guidugli was 14-of-19 for 206 yards passing for five touchdowns and rushing for another leading the Blizzard to a 65-37 win over the Horsemen.

The Blizzard defense remained dominant as well, collecting a franchise-record 10 sacks.

The Blizzard appears to be peaking at the right time, and with Guidugli back, has a full arsenal of weapons to continue its push for an ArenaCup title.

The Blizzard will host the Manchester Wolves this Saturday at the Resch Center, which is located across the street from Lambeau Field.

When you cross Oneida Street in Green Bay you’ll find a professional football team on each side of the street.

One team is struggling to make a decision about a quarterback because it is more concerned about the future, and another that is trying to win a championship now. 

Getting defensive, but not offensive

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

It seems like it has been the same story for the Green Bay Blizzard all season long, the offense struggles, but the defense dominates.

That held true again on Friday night as the Blizzard (10-5) defeated the Louisville Fire 33-20 in front of 7,110 fans at the Resch Center.

Green Bay is now 10-0 when it holds an opponent to 40 points or less, but the Blizzard defense did more than just hold the Fire offense to only 20 points, it provided more statistics than the offense, something that doesn’t happen a lot in arena football.

The Blizzard defense recorded eight sacks, three interceptions, two fumbles, two safeties and one fumble return for a touchdown.

Defensive end Odell Willis was responsible for most of the havoc the defense caused. After being picked up off waivers from the Peoria Pirates two weeks ago, Willis made his presence felt with his new team by getting three sacks—two for safeties.

Willis’ success came as a result of his speed and game planning by Blizzard defensive coordinator Doug Lytle. 

Lytle switched Willis with defensive tackle Quartez Vickerson in the second quarter to allow Willis, who is 245 pounds, to be matched up against Fire center Joe Washington, who is 340 pounds, and the results speak for themselves.

Willis enjoyed the most success, but Vickerson recorded two sacks of his own, and defensive end Joe Sykes also got two, which puts his season total at 18.5 and first in arenafootball2. 

Mac linebacker Gus Tyson was credited with one sack, but his one sack helped make arena football history.

Tyson came into the game with 9.5 sacks and 10 touchdowns. The one sack allowed him to become the first player in AFL or af2 history to record at least 10 sacks and 10 touchdowns in a season, or as this writer calls it, arena football’s version of a double-double.

In attendance to see this dominating defensive performance were former Blizzard linemen Jason Hardee and Robert Boss. Each is playing in the AFL now, Hardee with the New York Dragons and Boss with the Chicago Rush, but Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee felt the two should be worried about their jobs after watching the Blizzard defensive line apply pressure all night.

The pressure up front helped defensive back Rusty Midlam, who played with the Fire last year, get three interceptions against his old team.

“We had a blast,” Midlam said. “We were just running around making plays and we had fun tonight, and that’s the biggest thing, when we don’t have fun we don’t play well, and we had fun tonight and it showed.”

While the Blizzard defense was having fun, the quarterbacks for both teams were having trouble completing passes.

Fire quarterbacks Danny Southwick and Nick Roberts combined to throw for only 165 yards and two touchdowns, but the Blizzard quarterbacks didn’t fair well either.

Brian Villanueva got his first start with the team, and was the fifth starting quarterback the Blizzard has used this season.

Villanueva’s first four passes were incompletions that he overthrew to open receivers, and he finished 7-of-15 for 75 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Collin Drafts took over in the second half. He started the last seven games, and has been the team’s most effective quarterback this season because he usually doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.

That’s what Drafts did in this game because he was 8-of-14 for 83 yards and his only touchdown came on the ground, but he didn’t fumble or throw an interception, which was enough to win.

“Everybody’s offense struggles from time to time,” Willis said. “The more chances you give them, the better.”

The Blizzard are running out of chances, however, and another offensive performance like the one against the Fire could get the Blizzard knocked out of the playoffs.

The statistic mentioned earlier about how the Blizzard is 10-0 when it holds an opponent to 40 points or less, also has a flip side to it. The Blizzard is 0-5 when it allows an opponent to score 41 points or more.

Regardless of where and who the Blizzard end up playing in the playoffs, it’s likely the offense will have to come through.

“It’s a new energy, a new life,” Willis said after the game when he talked about getting the chance to come to Green Bay after being in Peoria, but his words also can be used for what the playoffs could mean for the Blizzard.

It’s a new energy, new life and a chance to write a new story. 

A story that could talk about a dominating defense, potent offense and a championship team.

The af2 from top to bottom

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

I know what you’re thinking Arena Football League fans, there is only one game left in the AFL season and you still want to watch more arena football.

Luckily for you there is arenafootball2, and if you haven’t been paying attention to the af2, here’s the storylines, trends and players that you should know about with two weeks left before the playoffs began.

American Conference

1. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (12-2)

Lost to the Quad City Steamwheelers in the opening game of the season. Then they got quarterback Ryan Vena back, and have been tough to beat ever since. The Pioneers have AFL-type talent at every position, and have won 19-straight home games (including playoffs). The last time they lost at home was on July 8th of the 2006 season against the Florida Firecats. The Pioneers can win on the road too. They beat the Firecats in Florida a few weeks ago to claim the top spot in the American Conference.

2. South Georgia Wildcats (10-4)

The only thing you need to know about the Wildcats is they traveled across the country and handed the Spokane Shock its only loss of the season. South Georgia is in position to claim the South Division, but have to travel in the last two weeks of the regular season with games at Peoria and a crucial match up, which could be for the division title, at Tennessee Valley. The Wildcats feature one of the best trios of receivers in the af2 in Antwone Savage, Buchie Ibeh and P.J. Perry.

3. Lexington Horsemen (9-5)

Lexington has dominated other indoor leagues the past few years, and has enjoyed success in its first af2 season. It’s easy to say that any arena football team is only as successful as its quarterback, but it is especially significant for Lexington and Eddie Eviston. When Eviston is firing on all cylinders this team is capable of beating the best the af2 has to offer, but he’s struggled holding onto the football at times, and fumbled away a game against in-state rival Louisville earlier this year. In fact, the only things that may stop Lexington from making it to the ArenaCup may be a mistake by Eviston or seeing the Fire in the playoffs, the Horsemen are 0-3 against its in-state rival.

4. Florida Firecats (9-5)

The Firecats have one of the most experienced teams in the af2. The team has won four straight South Division titles with the help of veteran quarterback Chris Wallace and wide receiver Magic Benton, who recently returned to the team, but South Georgia and Tennessee Valley are hungry and may have passed them up in talent too.

5. Green Bay Blizzard (9-5)

One statistic tells the story of the Blizzard this season. The team is 9-0 when it allows 40 points or less, but it is 0-5 when it allows 41 points or more. However, if you are looking to watch defense in the arena game this is the team to watch, and keep an eye on defensive end Joe Sykes. He’s second in the af2 in sacks with 16.5.

6. Tennessee Valley Vipers (9-5)

The Vipers started the season 0-3, and it seemed they were headed toward the worst season in franchise history. Then head coach Dean Cokinos parted ways with ineffective quarterback Andy Hall and picked up Kevin Eakin, and the Vipers have been one of the hottest teams ever since. The Vipers also have a dominant pass rusher in defensive end Eric Scott, who leads the league in sacks with 17.5.

7. Manchester Wolves (7-7)

Many people felt the Wolves were going to compete for the East Division title when it hired Danton Barto as head coach. Barto was the head coach that led the Memphis Xplorers to the ArenaCup championship in 2005, but it remains to be seen whether he can have similar success in Manchester. The Wolves could be a dangerous team in the playoffs because they are healthy heading down the stretch and have a veteran leader in defensive back Dahn Singfield, who was with Memphis in 2005, and rookie quarterback James Pinkney is playing well.

8. Quad City Steamwheelers (7-7)

This is easily the most inconsistent team in the af2. When quarterback J.J. Raterink doesn’t make mistakes the Steamwheelers are probably one of the best teams in the league, but too often his erratic throws and decisions have cost Quad City games. Also, head coach Troy Biladeau was expecting big things from defensive ends Adam Vogel and Roy Ravenell, but so far this season they have combined for only 10.5 sacks. The pieces are in place for the Steamwheelers to make a run though, and like Manchester has a victory over the Pioneers this season.

9. Louisville Fire (7-7)

The Fire is a big, physical team. Demetrius Forney is a force at fullback and defensive tackle, and wide receiver Lonnell Dewalt, 6’6, is tough to defend in the red zone. The Fire is second in the af2 in rushing yards with 661 and have scored the most touchdowns on the ground, 37, which is eight more than the next closest team. Defensive back Matt Forbes is also second in the af2 with 14 interceptions. The problem for the Fire is finding a quarterback.

10. Albany Conquest (5-9)

Albany’s record isn’t a reflection of its talent. The Conquest had gotten off to a 3-1 start, and then two of its players were invited to rookie camps with NFL squads. Wide receiver Anwun Williams got a tryout with the New York Jets and offensive lineman Jacob Hobbs was signed by the New York Giants, but decided to come back to the Conquest and pursue a career in the AFL. Turnovers on the field are probably the reason for the Conquest’s record, but losing two of its most talented players during the middle of the season had to affect the team.

11. Iowa Barnstormers (5-9)

The Barnstormers’ return hasn’t been successful on the field, but the thing that speaks volumes about this franchise is the fan support it continues to get even though the team has a losing record as the team is among the league leaders in attendance, averaging 9,174. Iowa has been on the wrong side of a number of close games this year, and head coach John Gregory won’t let that happen again next year. It’s great to have the Barnstormers and the cowbells back.

12. Peoria Pirates (4-10)

The Pirates’ return to the af2 has been less than stellar. Coach Bruce Cowdrey, who won an ArenaCup with Peoria in 2002, came back to head Peoria, but he has failed to find the types of players that fit his system, especially on the offensive and defensive lines, but the one constant has been Phil Brock Jr., one of the most electric players in the af2. 

13. Mahoning Valley Thunder (3-11)

The Thunder’s second season isn’t what the team had in mind. Quarterback Josh Swogger, who is a local product, was supposed to lead the team to the playoffs, but he got injured early and the team couldn’t recover. The Thunder is, however, one of the best running teams in the af2 and feature fullback Tim Murphy who rushed for 95 yards against the Pioneers.

14. Daytona Beach Thunderbirds (2-13)

The Thunderbirds probably exceeded most people’s expectations for this club because many expected the team to go 0-16, as the opening day roster featured virtually no players with af2 experience. Herkie Walls was the head coach at the start of the season, but he stepped down and Gary Compton took over and managed to acquire some talent to get a couple of wins and make the best of a bad situation.

National Conference

1. Spokane Shock (13-1)

The Spokane Shock’s greatest advantage heading into the playoffs is its location in the great northwest, far away from some of the other top teams in the af2. The team has home field advantage throughout the playoffs pretty much wrapped up, which would include the ArenaCup this year, as there is no neutral site for the game. On the field, the Shock has gotten stronger with the addition of AFL veteran Etu Molden. It’s also baffling that teams continue to throw at defensive back Sergio Gilliam, who has set the af2 single-season interception record with 16.

2. Tulsa Talons (11-3)

The defending ArenaCup champions looked like, well, the defending ArenaCup champions for most of the season, until a few weeks ago when quarterback Justin Allgood suffered an injury. Allgood may return for the playoffs, but the team has struggled without him, losing its last two games. The good news for Tulsa is AFL veteran quarterback John Fitzgerald was brought in to replace Allgood and he looked good in his first game for the Talons even though the team didn’t win.

3. Austin Wranglers (8-6)

The Wranglers are enjoying success in their first af2 season, and much of it can be credited to quarterback Andy Hall. Hall started the season with Tennessee Valley, but things didn’t work out and Austin was happy to give him the reigns of the Wrangler offense. It’s also helped the team is in the division that doesn’t have Spokane or Tulsa.

4. Arkansas Twisters (10-4)

If you are looking for a team that could spoil the ArenaCup hopes of Tulsa and Spokane, then this is probably your best bet. Head coach Chris Siegfried and quarterback Kyle Rowley know Spokane pretty well because the two won the ArenaCup in 2006 with the Shock. The Twisters also have the Talons’ number too. Arkansas has beaten Tulsa six of the last seven times (including playoffs). Wide receivers Chris Denney and Jamaal Perry are among the league leaders in most receiving statistics and are first and second respectively in receptions per game, as both average over nine catches a game.

5. Lubbock Renegades (8-6)

Lubbock started the season 7-2, but has fallen fast. The team should be able to make the playoffs, but its last two regular season games are on the road. Then in the playoffs the Renegades will be on the road too, and three straight road games will likely catch up with them. Quarterback Robert Kent will have to play his best in order for the Renegades to advance.

6. Central Valley Coyotes (8-6)

The Coyotes are 5-2 in their last seven games, and have been right on the heels of beating Spokane, losing to the Shock 42-40 and 56-54. The Coyotes are also at home in their last two regular season games against Boise and Tri-Cities, which will allow them to sleep in their own beds before they began life on the road in the playoffs. Wide receiver Tonae Martin is the team’s biggest weapon; he’s among the af2 leaders in touchdowns.

7. Boise Burn (8-6)

The Burn has been a hot and cold team. The team has had a 4-game winning streak, a 4-game losing streak and is currently on a 3-game winning streak. The trend shows the team is probably do to start a losing streak, which will get the Burn knocked out of the playoffs, but after beating Florida this past weekend maybe not. 

8. Amarillo Dusters (7-7)

The team went into the bye a few weeks ago feeling good about its chances at making the playoffs after upsetting the Tulsa Talons, but during the bye the playoffs became an afterthought.

During the bye fullback/linebacker Donte Newsome went to Huntington, West Virginia, the town where he played his collegiate career in as a member of the Marshall Thundering Herd. Tragedy struck, however, on the morning of July 5th when Newsome was shot and killed.

The team is retiring Newsome’s jersey next Monday before its game against Lubbock, and will be dedicating the rest of the season to Newsome. It’s safe to say emotions will be running high for the Dusters as they try to secure a playoff spot to honor the late-Newsome.

9. Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (7-7)

The Battle Wings knocked the Talons off their perch before the injury to Tulsa’s quarterback Justin Allgood, but for most of the season Bossier-Shreveport has failed to live up to high expectations for this season. The Battle Wings are led by two of the league’s best, fullback Jason Schule and wide receiver Chavis McCollister, but still find themselves fighting to sneak in the playoffs at the end of the season. The Battle Wings are on the road against Arkansas and Austin, making a return to the postseason tough.

10. Rio Grande Valley Dorados (6-8)

It seems the Dorados never recovered from last year when the team was 15-1, and was upset by Bossier-Shreveport in the second round of the playoffs. Quarterback Travis Cole wasn’t with the team last year, but he came to Rio Grande this season with AFL experience, however, his veteran leadership hasn’t led to much success on the field. The team has recently gotten back another AFL veteran, wide receiver Coco Blalock, who spent last season with the Dorados to try to spark the Dorados to make a run should they get in the playoffs.

11. Corpus Christi Sharks (6-8)

Head coach Michael Trigg won an ArenaBowl title both as a player and a head coach in the AFL, but has had little success in the af2 as the head coach of the Sharks. Ironman Ivory McCann is one of the more exciting players to watch in the af2. He’s electric with the ball in his hands and is a threat as a returner, defender and coming off of high-motion on offense.

12. Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (4-10)

Gary Reasons stepped down as the head coach in May, and Sparky McEwen took over, but the Yard Dawgz remained in the doghouse of the Central Division. One positive for the Yard Dawgz this season has been af2 veteran wide receiver Al Hunt, who became the third af2 player to have scored 1,000 points in his career.

13. Tri-Cities Fever (4-10)

It’s a shame the Fever haven’t found a quarterback who is talented and can stay healthy because it has a trio of veteran receivers in J.R. Thomas, LaMonte’ Jones and Phil Goodman. Jones already has a 1,000 yards receiving, and Thomas and Goodman are close to that mark as well, and the three have combined to miss only one game this season.

14. Stockton Lightning (4-11)

The Lightning has won only one home game, and at one point in the season had lost 10 of 11 games. A big reason why Stockton has struggled is the 48 sacks the offensive line has allowed, which is the most in the af2. It’s hard to win games in arena football when your quarterback, wait, quarterbacks in Stockton’s case, spend more time on their back than on their feet.

15. Texas Copperheads (2-12)

You can tell what type of season it has been when your most decorated and probably best player is your kicker. That’s the case for Texas and kicker Nick Gatto, who is among the af2 leaders in most kicking statistics. The offense, however, is the af2’s worst, scoring only 426 points.

You can catch all the af2 action for free by downloading the NiFTy af2 streaming video player on the af2 website.

Just the tip of the iceberg

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

It seems like it was just a case of a good team beating a struggling team, but the win on Friday night over the Mahoning Valley Thunder was much more than that for the Green Bay Blizzard.

The Blizzard (9-3) beat the Thunder (2-10) 69-27, and scored on all 11 of its possessions.

It’s not rare to see that happen in arena football, and often it’s considered the norm for how most successful franchises are able to beat teams with a losing record, but it’s not the norm for the Blizzard, at least not yet.

Green Bay was averaging 46.7 points per game, which ranked 15th in arenafootball2 entering Week 13 of the season.

The offense also committed five turnovers in each of its last two games, but still managed to win because of the af2’s number one ranked defense.

A good example of this was two weeks ago in the game against the Iowa Barnstormers. The Blizzard trailed 37-40 in the fourth quarter, but won 46-40. All nine of the Blizzard’s points needed to win the game were scored by the defense.

So yes, in a game built around offense, the Blizzard have been anything but the norm.

“Offensively we never clicked, until finally tonight,” said Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee.

Quarterback Collin Drafts led the offensive attack for the Blizzard, throwing for 143 yards and four touchdowns, and midway through the third quarter, with the score 45-21, he took a seat. Brian Villanueva came in and kept the offense moving, throwing for 107 yards and three touchdowns.

More importantly, neither threw an interception or fumbled a snap, two things that have stalled the offense too often this season, and was a contributing factor as to why quarterback Shane Adler was starting for the Thunder and not the Blizzard.

Alder started three games for the Blizzard earlier this season, and was traded to Mahoning Valley for making costly mistakes.

Friday night’s game was a chance for Adler to prove that the Blizzard made the mistake of letting him go, but an early fumble by Adler was a mistake foreshadowing how his night was going to go.

Adler was pressured in the pocket throughout the game and threw off target on multiple occasions. He did manage to avoid Blizzard defensive end Joe Sykes, the af2 leader in sacks, until the end of the third quarter when Sykes came around Adler’s blind side to collect his 15.5 sack of the season.

Adler’s night would end with his second interception coming in the final minute of play, which allowed the Blizzard to run the clock out and complete a mistake free game.

The 69 points by the Blizzard was its second highest point total this season. The most the team scored was 72 against the Manchester Wolves in Week 3, but defensive and special teams’ touchdowns contributed to the scoring in the game.

The points put up in the win over the Thunder were the result of an offense finally coming together.

“There’s no science or special thing that happened this week it was just being patient and staying with the things we believe we taught, and it starting to soak in,” Landsee said.

There may not have been any science involved in the Blizzard’s offense coming together, but there seems to be a common formula for what it takes to be a top team in the af2.

Coming into the game the Blizzard was ranked fourth in the af2 Coaches’ Poll. The three teams above them, the Spokane Shock, Tulsa Talons and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, rank in the top three in scoring, while the Blizzard are not even in the top 10.

“We see a lot of the other big teams that our in first and second place that put up big wins and they are winning by a large number,” said Blizzard wide receiver Anthony Crissinger-Hill. “We felt like we had to get our offense clicking because our defense has been holding us down a lot of games and once we get our offense going and start putting up big numbers the other teams at the top will definitely notice that we are a championship contender.”

The win over the Thunder is a step to achieving that, but the focus remains on taking it one game at a time, according to Landsee, who also said the team can still improve in a lot of areas.

Blizzard Mac linebacker/fullback Gus Tyson agrees.

“It’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Tyson said about the team’s performance against the Thunder and what it’s capable of doing.

The Blizzard season is a lot like an iceberg and you don’t need to be a scientist to figure out how one is formed.

At the bottom of every iceberg is a strong foundation, which gradually builds together and peaks above the surface, with the tip at the top.

Green Bay has collected all the pieces to build a strong foundation, it’s just a matter of peaking at the right time, and being on top at the end of the season.

Blizzard fans got to see what the tip might look like on Friday night.

Green Bay's 'Mighty Warrior'

Orginally published on ArenaFan.com

In the fourth quarter of last Friday night’s game between the Peoria Pirates and Green Bay Blizzard at the Resch Center the score was 45-33. Green Bay was in the middle of a scoring drive that ultimately put the game out of reach. 

The game within the game was still going on, however, between Green Bay guard Aqua Etefia and Peoria defensive end Odell Willis.

It was a battle Etefia won by a landslide, and before the Blizzard sealed the game with its last touchdown, Etefia flexed his left bicep on the way back to the huddle.

The gesture, however, represented so much more than his personal strength and dominance.

Etefia grew up in Nigeria. He said he learned discipline and the importance of hard work from his childhood there, and is very proud of his African heritage.

Etefia’s first name, Aqua, means ‘Mighty Warrior’, which foreshadowed what he would become on the football field, as he has had to battle the critics and scouts who didn’t believe in his talent.

He moved to Miami, Fla. as a young adolescent and began playing football along with his cousin, Blizzard defensive back Edward Kwaku.

The two both spent their early childhood in Africa, but never got to know one another until both moved to southern Florida, according to Kwaku.

“He is like a big brother to me,” Kwaku said. “Kids used to tease me and say things like, ‘Weird African kid,’ but Aqua would make sure that wouldn’t happen.”

The two share their heritage, love for football and a common philosophy – hungry and humble.

“You have to be humble to wait for your blessings and your chance,” Etefia said. “But at the same time you have to be hungry, because you never know who is watching you.”

College recruits were always watching Etefia’s games in high school because the region produced so many talented players.

He recalls playing against Vernon Carey, Willis McGahee and the late-Sean Taylor. All went on to play at the University of Miami and all were first round NFL draft picks.

Etefia was recruited by a number of Division I-A schools, but recruiters looked at his height, 6’2, and decided to pass in favor of taller linemen, even though he was more talented and skilled from playing against elite talent.

He decided to go to Grambling, an all-black Division I-AA College, because he was wanted there and was personally recruited by head coach Doug Williams.

“He told me, ‘I don’t care how tall you are as long as you have heart and can play’,” Etefia said. 

Playing at Grambling still allowed him to be noticed by NFL scouts because the school has a history of producing NFL talent, even though it doesn’t compete in Division I-A.

The football program was built by legendary coach Eddie Robinson, and garnered further attention when Williams, also a Grambling alum, became the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl for the Washington Redskins.

“Wearing that black and gold at Grambling, there’s just something about it,” Etefia said.

NFL scouts worked out Etefia in the spring of 2005, but like many of the college recruiters, they measured his height and not his heart.

In 2006, he played in four games for the Manchester Wolves, and thought his playing days were over after leaving the team.

His cousin, however, wasn’t about to let that happen.

Kwaku played for the Blizzard in 2006, and before he went to NFL Europe for the 2007 season, he told the coaching staff in Green Bay about his cousin.

“I’m riding on his name, and I can’t make him look bad,” Etefia said as he recalls training camp last year with the Blizzard. 

Etefia signed with the team as a defensive tackle, but moved to guard because of a shortage of offensive linemen on the team and excelled to earn a spot with the AFL’s Georgia Force earlier this year.

Georgia has a number of former Blizzard players on its roster, and again, Etefia wanted to represent where he came from.

“I was representing Green Bay, it goes back to the ‘G’ at Grambling, because the ‘G’ stands for greatness,” Etefia said. “I represent that wherever I go.”

The Force, however, released him after a few games into the season, and Etefia found himself back in Green Bay, playing with his cousin, Kwaku, for the first time since high school.

The Blizzard offense has taken great strides since his return this season.

In four games without Etefia, the offense averaged 2.6 yards per rush and 21.5 rushing yards per game. With him it’s averaged 4.6 and 51.4.

He also hasn’t allowed a sack this year or a defensive lineman to bully his quarterback.

In the first quarter against the Pirates last Friday, quarterback Collin Drafts rolled his leg under a diving Pirate defender after throwing a pass. 

The lineman was quickly greeted by Etefia after the play, and probably got the same type of warning like Etefia used to give to those who picked on his cousin when they were kids.

“I play offensive line with a defensive lineman’s mentality,” Etefia said.

Yes, Etefia represents so much more than himself. 

He represents his African heritage, the Miami swagger, the greatness of Grambling and Green Bay, his cousin and a dream.

He is hungry and humble because you never know who is watching.

It would be wise for the team that plays across the street from the Resch Center to watch the ‘Mighty Warrior’ of the Blizzard.

Green Bay has best team performance against Brock and Peoria

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

“This is weird,” said Robert Garth as he stepped up to the podium for the post-game press conference after the Green Bay Blizzard (6-3) defeated the Peoria Pirates 51-33 at the Resch Center on Friday night.

What’s weird about it is a couple of weeks ago he was playing for the Pirates, and was the reason Blizzard kicker Bob Forstrom got a second chance to beat the Pirates with a game-winning field goal in the previous meeting between the two teams in Peoria that Green Bay won 37-36.

Garth lined up at defensive end shaded outside the tackle on Forstrom’s first attempt, which is an illegal defense in arena football, but after a couple of weeks he found himself lining up for the Blizzard once again at Jack linebacker and wide receiver.

“I had butterflies. I was dropping passes in pre-game,” Garth said about his return to Green Bay.

Garth, also known as Superman, played with the Blizzard from 2003-2006.

He was the last original member of the inaugural Blizzard team left in 2006 when Green Bay played in the ArenaCup against the Spokane Shock.

In 2007, he played for the Tri-Cities Fever with quarterback Collin Drafts, who is now the Blizzard’s starting quarterback.

Drafts saw his first action with the Blizzard at Peoria, and since then has taken command of the quarterback job.

He hopes to be the next Blizzard quarterback to lead the team deep into the playoffs after getting the job at the midway point of the season.

In 2006 James MacPherson did it. He was the signal caller for the ArenaCup team, and last year, Zeke Dixon did it too, by leading the team to the American Conference championship game.

The Blizzard is also where Georgia Force quarterback Chris Greisen learned the game of arena football before he broke the single-season record for touchdown passes in 2007 in the Arena Football League.

“I played with Greisen. I played with MacPherson,” Garth said. “Collin ranks right up there.”

Drafts was 18 of 25 for 227 yards and had five touchdowns to three different receivers, and most importantly, no interceptions against the Pirates.

His statistics from Friday’s game say a lot about his talent, but after being knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and coming back in to lead the team to the win say even more about his capabilities of being a leader for the team.

“I finally found some true heart in people,” said Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee.

Landsee was talking about the entire team, but specifically pointed out Drafts.

The Pirates (3-6), however, had the best player on the field.

Phillip Brock did everything for Peoria, but drive the bus to Green Bay.

He had eight catches for 115 yards, six rushes for 24 yards, seven kick returns for 77 yards and scored all of the Pirates’ five touchdowns.

“He’s probably one of the best players I’ve seen,” Garth said of his former teammate. “He’s good for the arena game because he so exciting...every time he touches the ball you got a chance of something big happening.”

The problem for the Pirates is the rest of the team totaled 36 yards in rushing, receiving and kick returns, and Brock didn’t score any of his touchdowns in the fourth quarter when the Blizzard finally pulled away from the Pirates.

The Blizzard defense couldn’t stop Brock, but held the Pirates to only 33 points and recorded four sacks. Three of those were by defensive end Joe Sykes, who now has 12.5 on the season and already has set the team’s single-season and all-time record for sacks.

Landsee, however, felt the offense stood out in this game, and called the unit’s play refreshing. He also said Drafts is the guy at quarterback, which means the weekly competition for the job has ended.

It may have taken the Blizzard half of the season to find a quarterback for the third straight season, but is that weird?

No, it’s just a habit, which fans in Green Bay won’t mind if it results in an ArenaCup championship.

Lexington becomes lead horse in the Midwest

Originally published on ArenaFan.com

Green Bay Blizzard quarterback Collin Drafts connected with wide receiver Antoine Burns for a 34-yard touchdown, which gave Green Bay a 48-43 lead over the Lexington Horsemen.

It appeared the throw accomplished two things. It would help the Blizzard remain on top in the Midwest division, and solidified Drafts, the fourth quarterback the team has used this season, as the starter. 

But the throw only did one of those things because there was still 33 seconds left on the clock.

This was plenty of time for the Horsemen offense to strike once more. On the last play of the game quarterback Eddie Eviston hit wide receiver Tavon McGee on a slant route for the game-winning touchdown, which quickly quieted the 7,258 fans at the Resch Center.

The 49-48 win over the Blizzard (5-3) puts the Horsemen (5-2) in sole possession of first place in the Midwest division and establishes the franchise, which has played the last five seasons in two different indoor leagues, as a force to be reckoned with in arenafootball2.

Eviston was 19 of 36 for 240 yards and seven touchdowns. He was also calm, cool and under center running the Horsemen offense.

The staple of that offense is the shotgun, which the team has used a majority of the time in all of its previous games, but after the first quarter against the Blizzard, head coach Mike Harmon abandoned it.

Was the change the key to winning the game? Maybe, but it completed the Horsemen’s transition from indoor to arena football.

Teams have experimented with the shotgun in the past, and many use it on occasion, but few have ever had success by using it as its base formation in the af2.

Time is precious in the arena game and every second is important. A shotgun snap takes about a half of a second to complete, which is too long. A receiver may have a step on his man by that time and the ball needs to be thrown.

The shotgun also gives defensive ends a straight shot at the quarterback by cutting down the angle of approach. When taking a snap from center a defensive end has to come around and back inside to collect a sack, but in the shotgun it’s a straight line.

But going under center didn’t seem to help protect Eviston against the Blizzard defense, which coming into this week was second in the af2 in sacks with 22.

The Blizzard added five more against the Horsemen, but it wasn’t enough to stop Eviston from connecting with his cast of receivers on a number of quick strikes.

Four different Horsemen receivers caught at least one touchdown, and three had at least five catches.

“Nobody was having a good night,” said Blizzard defensive back Nate Green.

Green Bay used four different combinations of defensive backs in the game, and most of those substitutions happened in the fourth quarter. The team was once again without Donnie Amadi because of injury, and at one point used wide receiver Steve Gonzalez at cornerback, a position Gonzalez hasn’t played heavily since college.

“Eddie knows when to throw it just as the receiver breaks and puts the ball where only his guy can get it,” Green said.

Green played for the Horsemen from 2003-2004, and was teammates with Eviston there and at Georgetown College.

Eviston is an established quarterback in the af2 for the Horsemen, but the Blizzard is still looking for its signal caller, and perhaps Collin Drafts is the guy for the job.

The Green Bay offense sputtered at times, but Drafts had an efficient night connecting on 18 of 28 passes for 259 yards and six touchdowns, but what was more impressive was his pocket awareness. He didn’t force throws and played within the offensive system.

Blizzard head coach Bob Landsee said, however, that the quarterback situation would still be evaluated by who plays best during the week in practice.

A bright spot for the Blizzard was the play of wide receiver Scott Burnoski, who had nine catches for 133 yards and four touchdowns. He’s coming off an injury and this was his second game back.

“He would probably rather have no catches and a win,” Landsee said.

The Blizzard didn’t get the win in this one and lost the division lead to the Horsemen, but if Drafts turns out to be the guy at quarterback, the game could have marked an important step in ultimately winning the Midwest division.

Because after all, there’s still plenty of time in the season to determine who wins it.