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Iowa Barnstormers football
Jul. 30th, 2018 04:04 pmIt wasn't that long ago I shared a post about seeing the Iowa Barnstormers Indoor Football League team.
I caught one more game before the season was over. The closing game of the season- The Barnstormers took down the Cedar Rapids Titans 59-45.
This was the story of two teams. The Barnstomers took the momentum of 2017 and turned it into the team's first Championship season ever (After the season, they went on to win the Indoor Bowl). For a team that doesn't get national attention, it was exciting to see them capture the city's attention. Meanwhile, Cedar Rapids is a team looking for a new owner, and only had 4 wins in their last two seasons. The IFL itself is hoping to expand to 12 teams by 2020, but had been pared down to six.
As I mentioned, it's unlikely you will see future stars. Maybe two dozen IFL alumni have broken into the NFL, and only Fred Jackson is a recognizable name. That said, if there ever was a breakout star, Barnstormers QB Drew Powell sure seems like it. He occasionally platoons with Grant Rohach, and it was Rohach who played the first game I watched this season. That said, Powell is an exciting player to watch and I was glad to see him.
Playing at the traditionally Black North Carolina school Livingstone College, it would make sense that this would be a good way to get eyes, and that he did as he won the IFL MVP. He threw 3 touchdowns, but showing his skills, he also ran 58 yards and scored on his feet.
Brady Roland (who played locally at the small Grand View College) caught two of those touchdowns, and was on his way to being named to the all-IFL team for the season. Donavon Williams, the tailback from Sam Houston State had two scores as well.
It has been exciting to see this team be embraced. Arena/Indoor football has seen better days, but it is still alive and well in Iowa.
I caught one more game before the season was over. The closing game of the season- The Barnstormers took down the Cedar Rapids Titans 59-45.
This was the story of two teams. The Barnstomers took the momentum of 2017 and turned it into the team's first Championship season ever (After the season, they went on to win the Indoor Bowl). For a team that doesn't get national attention, it was exciting to see them capture the city's attention. Meanwhile, Cedar Rapids is a team looking for a new owner, and only had 4 wins in their last two seasons. The IFL itself is hoping to expand to 12 teams by 2020, but had been pared down to six.
As I mentioned, it's unlikely you will see future stars. Maybe two dozen IFL alumni have broken into the NFL, and only Fred Jackson is a recognizable name. That said, if there ever was a breakout star, Barnstormers QB Drew Powell sure seems like it. He occasionally platoons with Grant Rohach, and it was Rohach who played the first game I watched this season. That said, Powell is an exciting player to watch and I was glad to see him.
Playing at the traditionally Black North Carolina school Livingstone College, it would make sense that this would be a good way to get eyes, and that he did as he won the IFL MVP. He threw 3 touchdowns, but showing his skills, he also ran 58 yards and scored on his feet.
Brady Roland (who played locally at the small Grand View College) caught two of those touchdowns, and was on his way to being named to the all-IFL team for the season. Donavon Williams, the tailback from Sam Houston State had two scores as well.
It has been exciting to see this team be embraced. Arena/Indoor football has seen better days, but it is still alive and well in Iowa.
