Blizzard edges Bloomington

ASHWAUBENON – The Green Bay Blizzard couldn’t have asked for a better start to the second half of its season. Read the rest

Below are things that didn’t make the printers from Saturday night’s victory

Quick hits

-69 points scored was a season-high total and the most allowed by the Bloomington defense this season.

-Green Bay took a 3-2 lead in the all-time series, where the home team has won each time so far.

-La’Ron Council has two 100-yard rushing games this season, while there has yet to be a Blizzard receiver to reach the 100-yard plateau.

-One would have thought Bloomington learned its lesson last season when B.J. Hill had four TD returns, but the Edge gave up a 55-yard score on a kickoff to Hill in the fourth quarter.

-Scary moment in the third quarter when newly-signed defensive back Zach Gallow collided with the wall and was slow to get up following a 25-yard touchdown catch by David Brown in the third quarter.

-Defensive back Kenny Viser made five tackles and showed his versatility when he caught  a 15-yard pass on the first play of the fourth quarter, setting up Donovan Porterie’s 1-yard keeper.

-Each squad dropped interceptions. B.J. Hill and Greg Jackson each had picks in their sights near the goal line for the Blizzard, as did Edge linebacker Ameer Ismail.

The Hammer returns

After trying out for CFL teams and getting signed by the Calgary Stampeders, linebacker Greg Jackson returned to the team on Saturday and made a team-high eight tackles.

It was Jackson’s first game since the home-opener against Cedar Rapids on March 9. The University of Memphis alum was taken off the IFL other league transfer list on April 26, but his CFL rights remain with Calgary.

Stacking the D

While the Packers were busy loading up on defensive players in the draft across the street, the Blizzard also loaded up on defense on Saturday night.

Coach Robert Fuller opted to have 11 defensive players in his lineup and nine on the offensive side in addition to kicker Adrian Trevino. Green Bay dressed four defensive linemen (P.J. South, Jordan Lardinois, James McClinton, Junior Aumavae), two linebackers (Trevor Glomski and Greg Jackson) and five defensive backs (Aaron Moore, B.J. Hill, James Romain, Zach Gallow, Kenny Viser) to help offset the high-octane offense of Bloomington.

Meanwhile, the only offensive backup that dressed was quarterback A.J. Toscano, who held for Trevino on field goals and extra points.

It was an interesting move considering an injury to one of the three receivers or running back La’Ron Council would have pushed either Viser or Hill to offense in an emergency role. It could have also forced Glomski into the backfield on more downs than just short-yardage and goal line situations as a blocking fullback.

The benefits, though, were visible in the second quarter when a fresh defensive front got after quarterback Dusty Burk, recording all three of its sacks for the game. One had to wonder what would have happened if the half didn’t come up because the defense had the Edge on the ropes in the final 2 minutes of the second quarter.

Dusting off Burk

Coach Fuller said coming into the game that Dusty Burk was playing as well as he has ever seen him play and was concerned about the savvy veteran.

After being the team’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons, the 32-year-old quarterback was sharp again on Saturday night, completing 24 of 39 passes for 232 yards and seven TDs with no interceptions.

Burk was Bloomington’s quarterback for the better part of its existence, leading the franchise to a championship in 2008.

Familiar faces

Former Blizzard players Tim Mueller and Antonio Ficklin were suited up for the Edge.

Mueller, a St. Norbert alum who played the past two seasons with the Blizzard, was playing left tackle on the Bloomington offensive line. Ficklin, who last played with Green Bay in 2007, was uncharacteristically quiet, recording two tackles on the defensive line.

Playoff positioning

Based on its mantra of going 1-0 each week, the Blizzard coaches and players shouldn’t pay attention to the following.

With the victory, Green Bay (6-2) is now a half game behind Bloomington (7-2) for the No. 2 seed in the United Conference. Four teams make the playoffs in each conference this year in the 16-team IFL with the top two in each receiving home games. The Blizzard can virtually take a two-game lead over Bloomington with a win this Saturday because it would gain the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Meanwhile, the No. 4 seed still remains with Lehigh Valley, but things have gotten much tighter after the Steelhawks lost to Chicago on Saturday night.

United Conference standings

Sioux Falls 8-0

Bloomington 7-2

Green Bay 6-2

Lehigh Valley 4-4

Omaha 3-5

Chicago 3-6

Cedar Rapids 2-6

Reading 1-7

Green Bay (0-0) vs. Bloomington (7-1)

Last week is last week, and it's a new week with a new set of challenges. Listen to a new episode of FrostBite wtih Mitch and Andrew.

Blizzard cut down Slaughter

The Green Bay Blizzard took down the Chicago Slaughter, 63-36, on Friday night.

In the process, running back LaRon Council took down the franchise's single-game rushing record. Council tallied 104 yards on 19 carries to break the previous record of 98 set by Randy Bell in 2010.

It's a significant milestone for the 10th-year franchise, but also keep in mind the first seven seasons the Blizzard played in arenafootball2, which doesn't cater to the running game.

The 5,346 in attendance at the Resch Center was also the biggest crowd since the new owners took over for the 2010 season.

More to come over the weekend.

Jackson to CFL

It's official.

Linebacker Greg Jackson is headed up north. The second-year Blizzard linebacker was placed on the league-transfer list on April 12 and will be entering training camp with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.

Jackson played in the Blizzard's first three games of the season, tallying 23 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three interceptions.

Last season Jackson led the Green Bay defense and was third in the IFL with 113 total tackles. He also compiled seven sacks, forced a fumble, returned an interception for a touchdown and recorded a franchise-record 14 tackles against La Crosse on May 7.

Meanwhile, Trevor Glomski has taken over the Mac linebacker position for Jackson.

Back to Blizzness

After being out of the loop and unable to sit down for some updates over the past month, it’s time to hop back in the saddle during the stretch run of the season.

Following a crazy schedule to start the season that included four of the first five games being on the road and two byes in three weeks, the Blizzard will play its first home game in a month on Friday. It will also be the first at the familiar confines of the Resch Center since the home opener was at the Brown County Arena.

Also, listen to a new episode of FrostBite which incluces an interview with Blizzard coach Robert Fuller.

Here’s the cliff notes version about what to look for on Friday when the Blizzard (4-1) plays host to the Chicago Slaughter (1-5).

-Green Bay quarterback Donovan Porterie’s status

He sustained a pulled groin on the first drive last week at Cedar Rapids and played through it, completing 9-of-18 passes for 116 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, which were returned for scores. The pick-sixes were in part due to Porterie’s inability to step into his throws, but he showed a lot of toughness, especially during a quarterback sneak for a score in the fourth quarter. Receiver Scott Burnoski came in briefly during the first quarter and completed two passes, including a TD. As of this moment, the Blizzard doesn’t have a backup quarterback on the roster.

-Chicago’s running game

The Slaughter has a new receiving core this season and has been relying heavily on the ground game. In a 73-45 loss to the defending champion Sioux Falls Storm last Sunday, Chicago rushed for an astounding 132 yards on 38 carries. The ground game is led by former Illinois running back Daniel DuFrene, who in his second season with the team has 237 rushing yards and 11 TDs.

Quarterback Juice Williams, another former Illini player, also is a dangerous weapon as a runner under center. Williams splits time with Perry Patterson. The two combined last week to complete a dreadful 2-of-13 passes for 21 yards and three interceptions.

-Familiar with Fuller?

Chicago has a pair of players who Blizzard coach Robert Fuller coached in Fairbanks last season in running back Dre Gibbs and receiver Tony Taylor. However, both have been inactive the past two games (Won’t find out why until Friday). Gibbs was the leading rusher in the IFL last season.

-Don’t look at the Slaughter’s 1-5 record

Since both teams joined the IFL in 2010, Chicago is 4-2 against the Blizzard. Slaughter head coach and former Bear Steve McMichael does a good job of getting his team to play its best against Green Bay. Chicago has lost five straight since winning its season opener against Bloomington. However, its five losses came against teams that are a combined 15-7, and other than its last loss against the Storm, each defeat has been within single digits. Meanwhile, the Blizzard’s four straight victories have come against teams that are a combined 4-11.