Des Moines Blaze Football Opening Game May 7!! Come out and support.

Des Moines Blaze Football Summer Schedule

Blaze kick off 2011 This Saturday, May 7 at 7pm.

It is a great club with guys who play for the love of the game. They have done fundraisers and provide a great, affordable family activity. Come out and watch them play!

Repost from their website:

Blaze Staff - 5/2/2011

WEST DES MOINES, IA - The Des Moines Blaze kick off the2011 season Saturday evening at Valley Stadium in a home opener fitting two teams who boasted matching 9-2 records and trips to their respective league championships in 2010 as the Blaze welcome the Midwest Titans (Excelsior Springs, MO) to town.

                The Blaze offense is once again led by five year veteran DeMareo Darrah behind center Jess Mickle. Despite missing two games and tag teaming with Jared Jensen last season Darrah had a very productive year with 11 touchdowns passing and another eight on the ground. Big left tackle Spencer Jeshani returns to help Mickle anchor the O-line.

                Receiver J. Heathcote fell one catch shy of the team record and broke the previous mark in yardage (27 rec, 534 yds) only to see both smashed by the MVP caliber season fellow wideout Randy Blackford who lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns (52 rec, 965 yds,  11TD). Hybrid tight end/receiver Shawn Lents (19 rec, 353 yds) also returns as the team’s career leader in touchdowns (21). Semi-pro veteran Jordan Dahlgren and rookie Blake Henke will also contribute in the multiple look offense.

                Head Coach Tyrone Tyler looks to replace the team’s top rusher, Jerrod Gaskill, with a stable of new faces; veteran Lester Allen, the leading rusher in Iowa Lightning history, as well as rookies Dwayne Melton, James Williams and Marc Vloedman. “It may not be like seasons past where we’ve got one guy,” said Tyler. “Each of these guys has a different set of skills and we’ll use them all as needed.”

                Coach Adam Bentz will once again work his multi-look scheme around a bevy of versatile athletes. Gone are leading tackler Dylan White (76 tkls) and the league’s top interceptor Zach Smith (10 int). All-league corner Ben Bell (5 int, 2 TD) and utility player David Rojas (S/LB) lead an experienced group of veterans including Heath Hill (LB), Matt Meek (DE), Bobby Mills (S) and Shayne Spooner (DT).

Semi-pro veterans Brad Fite (LB) and Matthew Harrington (LB/DE) join the defense while newcomers Robbie Nappoli (DT), Jordan Davis (DB) and Legrand Bien-Aime (DB) look to make a name for themselves. 

“We’ve got a lot of new pieces and a lot of returning talent,” says Tyler. “Scheduling a good challenge right out of the gate is going to let us know where we stand going into league play.”

The team’s MFA (Midwest Football Alliance) schedule kicks off May 14th when they travel to visit the Sioux Falls Stallions.