Daily League News & Notes

Arena Football League

Net10 Wireless Dream Team Voting Opens

The NET10 Wireless Arena Football League has opened voting for the 2013 NET10 Wireless Dream Team, the League office announced today.

Two nominated dancers from each team will compete on ArenaFootball.com for the opportunity to represent their team at ArenaBowl XXVI on August 17 in Orlando. One dancer from each team will be selected by fans to serve on the NET10 Wireless Dream Team, perform at ArenaBowl XXVI and make appearances during the ArenaBowl Championship Week in Orlando.

Voting begins today and will conclude on Monday, July 8th. Fans can cast their ballots at www.arenafootball.com/dreamteam.

Indoor Football League

Storm Win Over Blizzard

The Sioux Falls Storm (3-2) defeated the Green Bay Blizzard (1-5) for the seventh consecutive time on Sunday afternoon with a 48 to 29 victory in Sioux Falls. This game also marked the return of longtime Storm quarterback Terrance Bryant. Bryant won four straight championships for the Storm as quarterback from 2005-2008.

Green Bay was unsuccessful on their opening drive of the game as they were held to a 3 and out followed by a missed field goal attempt. Sioux Falls scored on their first offensive drive led 45 yards by Terrance Bryant. It was capped off with a 5-yard touchdown run by Tory Harrison. Parker Douglass made a 53-yard field goal for the Storm on their next possession giving the Storm a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Storm offense continued its success in the second quarter as Bryant connected with wideout Mike Tatum for a 5-yard touchdown pass. This was Bryant's first touchdown pass since being back with the Storm and the Storm led 17-0 in the middle of the second.

On the Storms next offensive drive, Harrison broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run to make it a 24-0 Storm lead. Bryant took the Storm down on the following possession and found wideout James Terry for a 9-yard touchdown pass. Green Bay found a bit of a spark on their next possession when Donovan Porterie found B.J. Hill on a last second 4-yard touchdown pass. The Storm led at halftime with a score of 31-7. Sioux Falls began the third quarter with the football but turned it over on a fumble. Green Bay took advantage of the mistake as Porterie found Hill again on 7-yard touchdown pass to make it a 31-14 game with the Storm leading.

The Storm answered on the following possession when Bryant connected with Tatum on an 11-yard touchdown pass giving Sioux Falls a 38-14 lead. The Blizzard scored next with Porterie throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to wideout Ryan Balentine making it 38-21 Storm lead at the end of the third quarter.

First play of the fourth quarter Douglass made a 21-yard field goal for the Storm increasing Sioux Falls lead to 41-21 over the Blizzard. The Storm defensive came up big on a block leading to an 11-yard touchdown pass from Bryant to Terry making it 48-21 Storm.

Green Bay was able to get a safety on Sioux Falls late in the fourth quarter to make it 48-23 game with Sioux Falls leading. Green Bay put up more points after the safety when Porterie connected with Hill for a 47-yard touchdown. Green Bay missed the two-point conversion but it cut the score to 48-29 Storm lead.

Bryant ended the game with 107 yards and four touchdowns with a 59% completion percentage for the Storm. This game marks the twenty-sixth straight home win for the Sioux Falls Storm. The Storm will travel to Tri Cities next week to take on the Fever with a 9:05 kick off. Sioux Falls returns home to the Storm Shelter on April 20 for a 7:05 battle with the Colorado.

Lone Star Football League

Stars Fall in Heartbreaker 75-74

The New Mexico Stars hosted the Laredo Rattlesnakes at home Saturday night in front of 2,600 fans, but lost in a thriller 75-74.

The Stars were headlined by rookie QB Brendan Crawford who finished with 136 yards passing, 21 yards rushing, and 5 touchdowns on the night. Crawford found WR Dexter Manley for a 37-yard pass to start the 2nd quarter for a touchdown. Manley finished with 3 catches for 70 yards, 2 TDs and a botched FG interception he returned for the score and tied the game at 61-61.

"It's always tough to lose a game, but to lose at home and by 1 point is heartbreaking" said WR Joshua Floyd after the game. "It's not just about the players; our fans, our coaches, and our owners... we wanted to give them a win so bad. We'll work on things this week and we WILL be ready to take on Abilene next week and get back to .500." Floyd took a kickoff 50 yards for the score early in the 3rd quarter, and finished with 35 yards receiving, 110 return yards and 2 TDs.

Following the game both teams took a knee in the middle of the field for a post-game prayer, and then Stars players mingled with the fans, posed for pictures, and signed every last autograph wanted. The mood in the stands was electric and the endzone was filled with excitement as at one point the Red Menace was seen lifting a kid in the air to celebrate a Stars touchdown.

Next week the Stars travel to Abilene to take on the 1-1 Bombers with a 7:05 PM kick-off. Dexter Manley (foot) and Tray Hardaway (sprained MCL) were injured in the game, and both players are considered questionable for next week's game.