Game Preview: Quad City Steamwheelers at Green Bay Blizzard | May 31 - Green Bay Blizzard (2024)

The Green Bay Blizzard (7-2) are home this Friday, May 31st at 7:05 PM CST, hosting the Quad City Steamwheelers (4-4) in their second matchup of the season. The Blizzard defeated their Eastern Conference rivals earlier this season, 32-24 in the Quad Cities of Illinois and Iowa. Green Bay will travel to Moline, IL again on June 22nd.

Green Bay returns home from a battle with the Iowa Barnstormers last Friday, using a strong 4th Quarter to propel them past the Barnstormers, 54-40. The Blizzard battled back and forth with a scrappy Iowa team until the defense surrendered zero points in the final 15 minutes and pulled away with the help of Harry Ballard III, the Blizzard Player of the Game, who hauled in seven receptions for 124 yards and two touchdowns on the night!

The Steamwheelers enjoyed a week off after narrowly defeating those same Barnstormers the week before, 57-55, in the "Battle of 1-80." Quad City kicker Kyle Kaplan played the hero by nailing a 49-yard field goal as time expired to give the Steamwheelers their fourth victory of the season. That kick, along with 18 additional points on the night, earned Kaplan Week 10 IFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Historians who count each franchise's existence in the af2 will argue that Green Bay holds a slight 13-12 advantage in the series. As IFL foes since 2019, the Blizzard are 5-4 against their closest geographical rival.

If the Steamwheelers wish to steal a win at the Resch, they will need to put pressure on Green Bay's defense and slow down its pass rush. The Blizzard currently rank 1st in the IFL in Red Zone Defense (allowing the opponent to score only 69% of the time once in the Red Zone), Opponent 3rd Down Conversions (allowing opponents to convert on 3rd Down only 33% of the time) and Sacks (18; five more than the next-closest team)! Scean Mustin ranks 2nd in the IFL with 5.5 Sacks, leading the charge for Green Bay up front. Quad City will also need to stop Green Bay's quarterbacks. Through the air and with his feet, Max Meylor has accounted for 38 of Green Bay's touchdowns this season. Skyler Perry led the Blizzard to victory over Quad City in his lone start at quarterback; his athleticism and can-do spirit has led the Green Bay coaching staff to utilize him as a return man and wideout in certain situations. Meylor even connected with Perry for a 10-yard touchdown strike in last week's victory in Des Moines! The Stemwheelers will have to work hard against an Offensive Line composed of Trent Clark, Elias Marte, Desmond Thomas, and Ethan Culberson, who have allowed the 3rd-fewest Sacks (5) in the IFL to date!

Conversely, the Blizzard defensive front will need to stress a Steamwheelers O-Line that has given up one fewer Sack on the season (4) than Green Bay. To treat the 90s Night crowd to a home win, Green Bay will also need to be diligent on special teams, as Quad City boasts two recent IFL Special Teams Players of the Week in Kyle Kaplan and always-dangerous return man WR Jarrod Harrington. Harrington was recognized by the league after his Week 9 performance in Sioux Falls, returning five kicks for 127 yards and one score.

The Blizzard rock back to the 1990s on Friday night, featuring Wet Possum, a local '90s & '00s Rock Party Band, outside of the Resch Center starting at 5:15 PM and '90s SINGO all game long, with fabulous prizes up for grabs. Fans can enjoy Hot Pockets and drink specials throughout the night and participate in a '90s Costume Contest! Add a 7-2 Blizzard team battling against an Eastern Conference rival, and this night should be "all that and a bag of chips!"

Secure you tickets here!

Written By: Ryan Napralla