Former CIAA/LC QB Drew Powell leads Iowa Barnstormers Over Sioux Falls Storm for Indoor Football League Championship

DES MOINES, Iowa -- After 18 seasons, the Iowa Barnstormers can finally hang a championship banner high in the rafters of Wells Fargo Arena.

The ‘Stormers were firing on all cylinders most of Saturday night during the Indoor Football League title game, or the United Bowl, and took care of the Sioux Falls Storm with a thrilling 42-38 win in Des Moines.

Their championship banner will join existing division and conference champions banners, in addition to the Kurt Warner Hall of Fame one.

How sweet it is.

“All this stuff that’s going on, it’s going to pass by. Some people might not know who the Iowa Barnstormers 2018 team was, but when you come in this arena and you look up at that rafter, it goes down in history,” Iowa quarterback Drew Powell said.” So for me to go down in history with these guys — you can’t even make up dreams like this. I’m just thankful.”

Powell, the recently named IFL MVP, led the 'Stormers down the field in less than 3 minutes for what proved the be an exhilarating game-winning drive. It was capped by a bruising and dramatic Jamal Tyler touchdown run.
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The Barnstormers were down 38-35 heading into the final drive. Tyler’s go-ahead touchdown came with just 13 seconds left in the game.

“Jamal has been incredible this whole season. That last touchdown was determination and that’s the story of his whole career with us,” Iowa coach Dixie Wooten said.

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SIDE NOTES
Assistant Coach Nelson returned to the Iowa Barnstormers staff for his second season as the Defensive Line Coach and Special Teams Coordinator.  While coaching at Livingstone College, Nelson earned the opportunity to coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011 as part of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship. With the Steelers, Nelson was able to gain experience as a special teams coach.  Coach Nelson served as the running backs coach, video coordinator and director of football operations at Livingstone.  Nelson is an alum of Clemson.

HBCU Players on the IFL Champion Barnstormers include:

# Name Position Height Weight Date of Birth College
2 Drew Powell QB 6' 3" 220 lbs 12/08/1994 Livingstone College
5 Sheldon Augustine WR 5' 10" 181 lbs 04/30/1990 Langston University
77 Brandon Haskin OL 6' 4" 315 lbs 02/26/1990 Tennessee State

The  Barnstormers most famous player was Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner (2017) and is the only person inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Arena Football Hall of Fame (2011).  Warner played for the 'Stormers in 1995–1997.

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