The Blizzard, known primarily for their stifling defense in an
overwhelmingly offense-driven league, showed that they can also put
points on the board, as they did early and often in their 57-34 win
over the Steamwheelers. Blizzard QB Ronnie Gordon had a stellar game
against his former team, as he threw 5 TD passes and ran for 2 more
scores on his way to being named Schutt Offensive Player of the
Game.

Gordon got things started right away, when he teamed up with OS
Randall Lane – another former 'Wheeler – less than 5 minutes into
the game for a 10-yard TD. Only 3 minutes later, Gordon scored again
on a 4-yard TD run to give the Blizzard a 13-0 lead. (A model of
consistency, the Blizzard has begun all three of their games this
season with a 13-0 first quarter lead over their opponents.)

The Steamwheelers would come back strong, and the teams would trade
scores through halftime: a 20-yard TD pass from Steamwheelers QB Tim
Hicks to OS Tim Dodge; a 21-yard TD pass from Gordon to WR/DB Luke
Leverson for the Blizzard; Hicks to Dodge for an 8-yard TD; another
Gordon rushing TD, this time from 6 yards out; Hicks to WR/DB Bo
Smith for a 6-yard TD; Gordon to WR/DB Bobby Boyer for a 23-yard TD.

The Blizzard would go into the locker room up 33-20, and whatever
Head Coach Bob Landsee said during intermission inspired them to
come out swinging. The Blizzard would score 17 straight points to
open the second half, breaking the game open with a 24-yard field
goal by K Wade Tydlacka, a 16-yard scoring strike from Gordon to
WR/LB Robert "Superman" Garth and a 6-yard TD pass from Gordon to
Leverson. The flurry of points led to a 50-20 lead and a shell-
shocked Steamwheelers team.

Hicks would get the 'Wheelers back in the scoring swing with a 24-
yard TD pass to WR/LB Jack Walker, Jr., but the Blizzard would
answer in a flash, unleashing a one-man wrecking crew on
the 'Wheelers defense: FB/LB Matt Pagel. In only 2 plays, Pagel
would put the Blizzard back on the scoreboard, first by exploding
with a 30-yard run to the QC 3-yard-line, then hammering his way
into the end zone on the very next play. The TD would close out the
scoring for the Blizzard, putting them ahead 57-27.

The 'Wheelers would add one more score, a 14-yard TD pass from
backup QB Matt Pike to WR/LB Alfonso Pugh with just :41 seconds left
on the clock. It proved to be too little, too late, however, as the
final gun would sound and the Blizzard would come away with the 57-
34 victory and a 2-1 record. With the loss the Steamwheelers would
fall to 0-2 for only the second time in their history, and the first
time since 2003.

The Blizzard didn't just get the job done on the offensive side of
the ball – the defense did their part as well. They snared 3 INTs,
one each by WR/DB Dontrell "Quick" Jackson (32-yard return), OL/DL
Jason Hardee (no return), and DS Edward Kwaku (15-yard return), who
also added a fumble recovery (no return). After recording no sacks
in the win over the Wolves, the Blizzard opened the floodgates with
5 against the 'Wheelers: OL/DL Robert Boss had 1.5, OL/DL Terence
Taylor and WR/DB Covell Crosby each had 1.0, and OL/DLs Whitney
Bell, Brett Huyser and Jason Hardee had 0.5 each.

Gordon finished the game a rock-solid 15-of-25 for 177 yards and 5
TDs, with no INTs. Lane led the Blizzard in receiving, with 5
catches for 69 yards and 1 TD, and Pagel's 2 rushes for 33 yards and
1 TD paced the Blizzard running game.

For the Steamwheelers, Hicks went 21-of-36 for 244 yards and 4 TDs,
with 3 INTs. Walker led Steamwheelers' receivers with 9 catches for
122 yards and 1 TD, while FB/LB A.J. Novak could muster only 2
rushes for 3 yards and no TDs.