Box Score Des Moines, IA – The Sioux Falls Storm Indoor Football team punched their ticket to the 2023 Indoor Football League playoffs on Saturday night after defeating the Iowa Barnstormers 54-47 in Des Moines, IA.

Sioux Falls never trailed in the game, but also never led by more than eight points. The Storm's largest lead of the night came in the 2^nd quarter when quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr. ran in the 4-yard touchdown to make it 33-25.

The Barnstormers responded just before half-time when running back Antonio Wimbush scored from 1-yard out to bring Iowa back within two points. Barnstormers kicker Gabriel Rui tied the game after a successful Deuce attempt dropped in to make it 33-33 at the halftime break.

The Storm offense opened up the 3^rd quarter with a quick score after Brown Jr. found wide receiver Cole Thurness on a quick pitch to the right side of the field. Thurness slipped, but recovered quickly and ran 38-yards for the touchdown. Kicker Austin Neufeld's extra point gave Sioux Falls a 40-33 lead.

The 2^nd half was back and forth with Iowa tying the game twice in the 4^th quarter. The Barnstormers evened the score for the final time with 1:00 remaining after former Storm quarterback Daniel Smith connected on a 24-yard pass to wide receiver Dom McNeil. Rui's extra point knotted the game up at 47-47.

The Storm took the lead for good with 0:20 left in regulation when Brown Jr. found wide receiver Draysean Hudson 27-yards down field for the go-ahead score.

Brown Jr. finished the night 11-for-16 for 133 yards and two passing touchdowns. The veteran signal caller also ran the ball eight times for 23 yards and three touchdowns.

Storm wide receiver's Cole Thurness and Brandon Sheperd stepped up for the injured Bryson Denley, who left the game early in the 1^st half.  The two wide receivers combined for 124 yards of total offense and two rushing touchdowns.

Thurness was the teams leading rusher on the night, carrying the ball three times for 49 yards and a score. He also hauled in three catches for 21 yards.
Sheperd ran the ball a team-high nine times for 30 yards and a rushing touchdown. The veteran receiver also snagged two catches for 24 yards.

Denley had four rushes for 16 yards and a touchdown before his departure.

Wide receiver Donnie Corley Jr. led all receivers with four catches for 55 yards and a touchdown.

The Sioux Falls win paired with a Green Bay Blizzard loss on Saturday night guaranteed a playoff birth for the Storm. It will be the first trip back to the IFL playoffs for Sioux Falls since their 1^st round exit during the 2021 season.

The Storm return home next Saturday (7/15/23) to host the Massachusetts Pirates in the regular season finale. Massachusetts lost to Northern Arizona (37-32) on Saturday night leaving the door open for Sioux Falls to potentially host a 1^st round playoff game.

If the Storm win at home against the Pirates and Quad City loses on the road at Tulsa, Sioux Falls would leapfrog the Steamwheelers and Pirates into the #2 seed in the Eastern Conference and would host the Pirates in the opening round.

If Sioux Falls loses or Quad City wins, the Storm would be the #4 seed and would travel to Frisco for 1^st round of the IFL playoffs.

The Sioux Falls Storm will host the first annual Storm Alumni Night on Saturday, July 15th, presented by Orthopedic Institute and Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital.

The night will include special appearances from former Storm players, coaches, and staff members who will be honored on the field during halftime of the Storm's game against the Massachusetts Pirates.

Fans will also have the chance to get autographs and pictures from Storm Alumni at the game. Fans are encouraged to wear their favorite Storm jersey's and t-shirts from past season's to help celebrate the night.

The July 15^th matchup will also be the final regular season home game for Head Coach & General Manager Kurtiss Riggs, who announced he will be stepping down at the end of the 2023 season.

Follow the Storm on social media @siouxfallsstorm for updates on which Storm Alumni will be in town for this one night only event.

Doors open inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center at 6:00 PM CT, with a special autograph session scheduled with 2023 Indoor Football League Hall of Fame Inductee's Parker Douglass and Tyler Knight inside the main lobby.

Tickets are still available for the July 15th matchup, with prices starting as low as $9.50 per ticket. There are several excellent group packages still available.  Contact the Sioux Falls Storm Ticket Office at 605-838-9009 or visit the website at siouxfallsstorm.com for more information.