The American Conference Eastern Division title was up for grabs
Friday night at the Resch Center as Green Bay Blizzard squared off
against the Louisville Fire. Both teams came into the game with
identical 9-6 records, but it was much more than a Division Title
that was hanging in the balance. Multiple playoff scenarios that
were question marks before the game were to be answered upon the
conclusion. All eyes around the af2 focused in on this pivotal match
up that drew 7,184 rowdy Blizzard fans. The game was billed "The
Showdown in Titletown," and it well-exceeded expectations.

Louisville received the opening kickoff and drew first blood when QB
Brett Dietz followed his line for a 1-yard TD run. Green Bay
answered Louisville's call on their first possession, as FB/LB Jeff
Cogell plowed his way into the end zone to tie up the game at 7-all.
Louisville jumped out ahead on their following possession when a
former Blizzard player, WR/DB Lance Taylor, took a pitch from Dietz
and scored on a 2-yard run. The Blizzard were only able to answer
with a 26-yard field goal from K Dallas Pelz, and at the end of the
first quarter, the Fire led 14-10.

The Fire offense ignited in the second quarter, scoring three
consecutive TDs before allowing the Blizzard to get in the end zone.
QB Brett Dietz accounted for all three of those scores as he hit
WR/LB Dennis Fryzel for a 25-yard score and then followed that up
with a 10-yard strike to OS Rob Mager. He finished off the offensive
explosion with a 1-yard scoring run of his own. As halftime
approached, the game looked bleak for the Blizzard, but they would
reverse the trend in the second half.

To open the third quarter, Blizzard QB James MacPherson matched
Dietz on the ground as he rushed his way into the end zone to cut
the Fire lead to 15. Green Bay then looked to catch the Fire Special
Teams off guard as K Dallas Pelz attempted an onside kick. The
Blizzard played it well but the Fire were quick to react as DS
Kabote Sikyala fielded the bouncing kick at the 14-yard line and
returned it for a TD, giving the Fire a 39-17 lead. Both teams
traded scores one more time before the end of the third quarter, and
going into the final quarter, Louisville led by 16, 46-30.

The Fire opened the fourth quarter as Dietz hooked up with Fryzel
for the second time, putting Louisville ahead by 23. Then the
Blizzard came to life. The home town faithful didn't let up for even
a minute, as the Resch Center shook with more than 7,000 people
cheered their Blizzard on to a comeback.

QB James MacPherson found WR/LB "Superman" Robert Garth for a 3-yard
touchdown pass and then the two hooked up again for a 2-point
conversion as Garth took the handoff from MacPherson and ran it in.
Green Bay refused to let the game slip away, as not only the
Division Title was on the line, but also a first round bye and home
field advantage through to the American Conference Championship
game.

WR/DB Luke Leverson was the man called upon for a 3-yard scoring
run, and once again, the Blizzard proved that the reward outweighs
the risk as they converted a second consecutive two point
conversion. MacPherson then hit WR/LB Gerald Harris to put the
Blizzard within seven, 53-46.

With a head of steam and maximum momentum behind them from the
electric crowd inside the Resch Center, the Blizzard attempted
another onside kick and recovered it. They hit pay dirt one more
time as MacPherson delivered a 7-yard strike once again to Garth.
Needing only an extra point to tie up the game at 53 apiece, the
Blizzard special teams pulled a gutsy call to take advantage of a
reeling Fire defense. MacPherson settled down to one knee to accept
the snap, and instead of placing down the hold, took it himself
around the end and dove from three yards out, stretching across the
goal line to convert the two point try and put the Blizzard ahead
for the first time in the game, 54-53.

The already ecstatic crowd reached a deafening crescendo looking for
a defensive stop – and the Blizzard delivered. With only 34 seconds
remaining in the game, the 7,184 fans inside the Resch Center made
the foundation shake as Louisville set up for a game-winning 34-yard
field goal. As the kick sailed wide left, the thousands inside the
arena nearly blew the roof off the Resch. All the Blizzard players
and coaches jumped for joy as the clock showed triple zeros and
Green Bay was crowned American Conference East Division Champion for
the first time in franchise history.

The win gave the Blizzard a final regular season record of 10-6,
giving them their best-ever record and highest win total in
franchise history. They will enter the playoffs as the #2 seed, and
will enjoy a first-round bye in the playoffs. They will return to
the Resch Center on Friday, August 11th for their first-ever home
playoff game, as they set their sights on ArenaCup7. The af2
Championship game is being held for the first time ever in San Juan,
Puerto Rico on Saturday, August 26th.