The Sioux Falls Storm were met on Saturday night by their division rivals, The Iowa Barnstormers, at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. The Storm returned to Indoor Football League action after a bye week holding a 2-6 record. The Barnstormers entered the week with a 2-7 record, both in the division's basement.
 
The Storm and Barnstormers got off to a blazing fast start, scoring 34 combined points in the first quarter and 59 combined points over the first half—eight of the nine drives in the first half ended in touchdowns.
 
The Barnstormers made a surprise signing announcement prior to the start of the game, deciding to sign and start former Sioux Falls Storm QB Daniel Smith. Smith made waves in Sioux Falls earlier this season when he led the Tulsa Oilers to a big win over the Storm in March, throwing for 169 yards and five TDs in one of the best QB performances of the season by any player.
 
Smith did not miss a beat early as the Barnstormers leaned on him heavily; he threw for 5 of 6, 74 yards, and two touchdowns before Iowa even attempted a running play. Iowa's quick-strike air attack took the momentum out of the otherwise effective Storm offense in the first half.
 
The Storm capped off four methodical touchdown drives in the first half, led by veteran QB Lorenzo Brown Jr., who was making his third start and fourth appearance for the Storm this season.
 
Despite Brown's steady presence in the four TD drives, it was the lone failed drive of the half for Sioux Falls that seemed to turn the tide. Brown threw an interception that led to a Barnstormers touchdown moments later. That drive was the difference in the first half, as the score ended 33-26 in favor of the Barnstormers at the intermission.
 
The Storm defense saved their big stops for the second half, including a stop on Iowa's first drive of the second half and a huge goal line stop to start the fourth quarter.
 
The second half was dominated by defensive play on both sides as the Storm held the Barnstormers to just 14 points in the last two quarters, and Iowa held the Storm to just three touchdowns on their four offensive drives in the second half.
 
The Storm looked to capitalize on a goal line stop to start the fourth quarter, with the Barnstormers holding just a one-point advantage in the 40-39 game, but it wasn't in the cards. Lorenzo Brown was walloped by a Barnstormer defender early in the fourth quarter, and that caused him to throw an arrant pass deep down the field, which Jalaan Owens easily intercepted. It was the second interception of the night for the Storm QB.
 
The Barnstormers turned that turnover into a touchdown and went up 47-39 off of Daniel Smith's fifth TD pass of the game.
 
The Storm were able to score a touchdown at the one-minute warning, but a tipped pass fell incomplete on the two-point conversion attempt, leaving the Storm down by two. A failed deuce attempt by Dean Sarris sealed the Storm's fate, and they lost 47-45 in devastating fashion.
 
Despite the loss, the Storm offense had a lot of bright spots to celebrate.
 
Five separate players each had a rushing touchdown as the Storm shared the love on the ground in the red zone. Lorenzo Brown (4 carries for 20 yards), Carlos Thompson (3 carries for 19 yards), Bryson Denley (3 carries for 12 yards), Keshawn Williams (5 carries for 10 yards), and Draysean Hudson (1 carry for 9 yards) all had one touchdown on the ground.
 
Carlos Thompson hauled in both of the Storm's receiving touchdowns in the loss. Thompson finished the night with three total touchdowns to go along with 38 receiving yards and 19 rushing yards. Kentrez Bell caught three passes for 27 yards in his first game back from injury and Draysean Hudson also had two catches for 26 yards for the Storm.
 
Lorenzo Brown Jr. finished the game with 12 completions on 21 attempts and 113 passing yards. He also had two touchdowns and two interceptions on the night. It was a rough night for the star veteran, especially compared to his fellow QB in the game, Daniel Smith, who had another monstrous game against the Storm defense.
 
Smith finished the night 18-for-26 for 179 yards and five touchdowns, along with one interception.
 
Smith's top receiver was Keshawn Taylor, who caught nine passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Quian Williams also caught five passes 58 yards and a touchdown, along with two kick returns for 76 yards and a return touchdown.
 
Bryson Denley was effective in the kick return game for the Storm, returning five kicks for 111 yards.
 
Defensively Elijah Reed and Amin Black finished the night tied for the team lead in tackles with seven each. Rome Weber recorded a pair of pass breakups and Laronji Vason-McCoy had an interception and a return for 36 yards.
 
The Sioux Falls Storm will continue their homestand next weekend when they host the Vegas Knight Hawks. The game is scheduled for Saturday, June 8^th at 7:05 PM CT inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. Doors open at 6:00 PM with the pregame show getting underway at 6:45 with starting lineups and the national anthem.
 
The Sioux Falls Storm Lightning Girls Cheer Team will also be hosting their annual Youth Cheer Camp on Saturday, June 8^th. There are still spots available for boys and girls ages 4-12. Registration is $49 and comes with an official camp t-shirt and a camper ticket for the Storm game later that night. Parents and family will have the opportunity to purchase tickets at a discounted rate.  The Lightning Girls encourage parents to register their kids ahead of time to guarantee t-shirt size.
 
Fans can purchase tickets to any of the Storm home games during the 2024 season by purchasing tickets at the KELOLAND Box Office located inside the main lobby of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center or by visiting ticketmaster.com.