Blaze Roll Over Renegades 79-22

ALTOONA, IA – The Des Moines Blaze ran away with Saturday Night’s contest with the Nebraska Renegades by a score of 79-22. Des Moines racked up 359 yards rushing in the game and scored eight times by ground.

            Larry Taylor led the charge with 10 carries for 157 yards and three scores. Niel Issa added 80 yards and two scores. DeMareo Darrah, Lewis Fonderan, and Fonz Jenkins also found the end zone. Darrah and J. Heathcote hooked up for a 54-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and Jake Gardner found John Romine for an 18-yard score in the third.

“I thought we rebounded pretty well after a lackluster win last week,” Head Coach Tyrone Tyler said, referencing a 34-0 victory over the Sugar Creek Shockers in which the offense committed six turnovers. “(The Renegades) were obviously playing short handed but they have some playmakers. I think it was a good wake up call for the defense, who responded pretty well.”

The Des Moines Defense had allowed just six points in five previous league games. Quarterback Jace Wicks, tight end Ben Warren, and scat back Courtney Molten were able to move the ball as well as any group the Blaze has faced this season. Their three touchdowns is more than any offense has scored; all while the majority of them saw action on both sides of the ball.

Brandon Howard recorded a career high nine tackles to lead the team. David Rojas added six and recoved two fumbles. Cale Carlson and Heath Hill each got their first interception of the year. Clarence Foy and Courtney Ward each sacked Wicks.

The Blaze are on the road the last two weeks of the regular season, traveling to the Quad Cities to face the Raiders this Saturday evening