SIOUX FALLS, SD - The Sioux Falls Storm lost their second straight game after a 47-57 loss to the Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday, June 19.
The Storm would be the first to score with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Nate Chavious, taking an early 7-0 lead. The Barnstormers answered with back-to-back touchdowns to take a 7-13 lead at the end of the first quarter; the first touchdown was a one-yard rushing touchdown by Elad Covaliu then a 21-yard rushing touchdown by Dequan Neal.
The Barnstormers began the second quarter with an interception. The Barnstormers would capitalize and extend their lead to 7-20 after a 34-yard rushing touchdown by Elad Covaliu. The Storm answered back with a four-yard rushing touchdown by Nate Chavious, cutting the lead to 14-20. The Barnstormers then extended their lead to 14-23 after a 32-yard field goal by Gabriel Rui. The Storm answered with a five-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Armstrong to Jordan Smith, bringing the score to 21-23. The Barnstormers ended the half with a 21-33 lead after a one-yard rushing touchdown by Dequan Neal then a 34-yard field goal by Gabriel Rui.
The Barnstormers extended their lead to 21-40 to start the third quarter after a two-yard rushing touchdown by Elad Covaliu. The Storm responded with a two-yard sweep by Brandon Sheperd, bringing the score to 28-40. The Barnstormers would end the quarter with a 28-43 lead after a 48-yard field goal by Gabriel Rui.
The Barnstormers extended their lead to 28-50 to start the fourth quarter after a 45-yard pass to Carrington Thompson from Dequan Neal. The Storm answered with back-to-back touchdowns to cut the lead to 40-50; the first touchdown was a five-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Armstrong to Alonzo Moore and then a 33-yard touchdown pass from Tommy Armstrong to Brandon Sheperd, both two-point conversions were unsuccessful. The Barnstormers answered with a four-yard pass to Carrington Thompson from Dequan Neal, bringing the score to 40-57. The Storm would end the game with a four-yard rushing touchdown by Nate Chavious, bringing the final score to 47-57.
Storm quarterbacks Tommy Armstrong completed 9 of 14 passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns along with 20 rushing yards while Lorenzo Brown completed 9 of 17 passes for 79 yards along with 21 rushing yards. Running back Nate Chavious had 23 rushing yards and three touchdowns along with 14 receiving yards. Wide receivers Brandon Sheperd had 89 reception yards and one touchdown along with 18 rushing yards and one touchdown, Jordan Smith had 27 reception yards and one touchdown, Alonzo Moore had 26 reception yards and one touchdown and Damian Ford had 17 reception yards. Linebacker Marquis Hendrix led the Thunder Defense with seven total tackles. Defensive linemen Gershom Ejoni had two tackles for loss and Ricky McCoy had one tackle for loss. Defensive back Jermaine Robinson had one pass break-up. Kicker Chase Vinatieri made five out of five extra points.
The Sioux Falls Storm return home on June 26 for their Team Edith Breast Cancer Night. The Storm will face the Bismarck Bucks for a 7:05 PM kickoff at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.
