Iowa Barnstormers

The Iowa Barnstormers were the first franchise to ever move from the AFL to indoor football. The Barnstormers did not retain their AFL roster, and thus struggled to a 6-8 regular season record behind the arms of Rob Nallenweg and Taylor Genuser. The two combined for just 40 scores and a whopping 26 interceptions. In five games, the team scored 23 points or less, actually defeating Billings 20-17. Four of the wins came in the final six weeks, as the Barnstormers showed signs of improvement. The second year in indoor football did not mark improvement for the Barnstormers, as they posted a 4-12 record. Three quarterbacks--Donovan Porterie, Brion Carens, and Travis Partridge, combined for 3,318 yards, 62 touchdowns and 19 picks. Brady Roland led all receivers with 1,062 yards and 21 touchdowns. After a 3-1 start to the season, Iowa would lose ten of their last twelve, frequently allowing 50+ points. One glaring statistic was that opponents ran for over 1,500 yards against the Barnstormers. Travis Partridge led the team for all of the 2017 campaign, passing for 2,389 yards, 47 scores and 14 interceptions. He also ran for 700 yards and 24 scores. Brady Roland led all receivers with 911 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jamie Bender, DaeJohn Love, and Dee Maggitt Jr. each picked off five passes, as the Barnstormers defense picked 23 passes. The team went 13-3 in the regular season, dropping a 70-13 decision to Sioux Falls, but qualifying for the playoffs in the final week over Wichita Falls, the only team to defeat Sioux Falls in the regular season. Iowa traveled to Sioux Falls and fell for a third time, 66-32. The 2018 Barnstormers would exact their revenge on Sioux Falls. It began with an 11-3 regular season. Drew Powell quarterbacked the team, throwing for 1,604 yards, 34 touchdowns and four interceptions. He ran for 961 yards and 23 touchdowns. Brady Roland led all receivers with 793 yards and 20 scores. Bryce Enyard led the defense with eight of the team's 18 interceptions. Iowa won at Sioux Falls and Sioux Falls won both meetings in Iowa, including a last second safety that ended the game when the Iowa kickoff returner mistakenly ran backwards into the end zone and was tackled. After blasting by Nebraska in the first round of the playoffs, Iowa hosted Sioux Falls, upset winners over Arizona, for the United Bowl. Iowa overcame a fourth quarter deficit and won 42-38 on an eight yard touchdown run by Jamal Tyler with thirteen seconds left. The Barnstormers went 12-2 in 2019 but fell in the semifinals to Sioux Falls, who would go on to win the United Bowl. Daquan Neal quarterbacked the team, with Ryan Balentine being his top receiver. The team suffered another first round loss in 2021 after a 6-6 regular season. Daquan Neal returned in 2021 to throw for 1,833 yards and 29 scores. Elad Covaliu ran for 12 scores and 399 yards. Darius Peterson quarterbacked the team in 2022, passing for 2,004 yards, 36 scores and 18 INTs. Kentrez Bell caught fifteen touchdowns on 32 balls. Despite an up and down year, the Barnstormers won three of their final four to qualify for the playoffs. Iowa fell at Frisco 64-39 in the first round. The 2023 season was a rare dud for the Iowa franchise, as they went 3-12 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Dan Smith and Zach Reader split the most time at the QB position. Reader threw for 875 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Smith passed for 1,017 yards and 19 scores. The Barnstormers struggled all year long, usually scoring in the 20s or 30s, minus an 80-41 explosion against Quad City and a 73-43 drubbing of Massachusetts.