Game Recap: Green Bay Blizzard at Orlando Pirates | July 5, 2026

Happy belated birthday, America! The IFL is celebrating by scheduling the 13th all-time meeting between the Green Bay Blizzard (11-2) and the Orlando Pirates (8-5). The series is split with six wins apiece, and both teams are riding two-game win streaks. Green Bay has already clinched a playoff spot and currently sits atop the Eastern Conference. A win will guarantee at minimum the #2 seed and would host a home playoff game. The Pirates, meanwhile, sit in the #3 seed and have not quite clinched a postseason berth as four teams are fighting for the final two playoff spots. Who will take the all-time series lead in tonight's contest? Let's unpack the action from the Sunshine State.

The Blizzard needed zero time to settle in as their first play on offense went for six as QB Liam Thompson found WR Trevon Alexander. The home team would respond with a deep shot from QB Paxton DeLaurent to WR Nyqwan Murray. Green Bay's next drive featured two intermediate connections between Thompson and WR Draysean Hudson that totaled 31 yards and the touchdown to finalize the drive. The Blizzard defense stepped up in the redzone on back-to-back plays. The first was forcing a fumble on a read-option keeper by DeLaurent that stayed with Orlando, and the second was an immediate pressure by DL Tevaughn Grant that forced DeLaurent to throw an incomplete pass on third down. Kicker Josh Gable did convert on the field goal attempt. As the end of the first approached, Green Bay faced a 3rd and 17 from their own 8, and Thompson heaved it up between defenders, and Hudson came down with the 36-yard reception. The Blizzard were threatening to score as the quarter concluded. Green Bay led 14- 10 after one.

On the other side of the quarter break, the Blizzard were unable to overcome a penalty and settled for a successful field goal by K Andrew Mevis. Mevis would immediately turn around and knock through the Deuce on the kickoff. Orlando WR Thomas Owens took a screen pass 12 yards for the score on the next offensive possession. Green Bay's next drive was all rushing plays as Thompson scrambled his way into the endzone. Then, Mevis nailed his second deuce of the game. The Pirates would again respond with another touchdown to Owens on a free play after the Blizzard jumped offsides. Orlando opted to go for two points, but Green Bay would hold the Pirates out of the endzone. Orlando followed up the failed two-point try with a failed onside kick recovery, setting up Green Bay in great field position as the one-minute warning approached. Wanting to avoid giving Orlando back-to-back possessions as they would receive the second-half kickoff, the Blizzard drained the entire one-minute warning. It came down to a 4th and goal from the one with only two seconds remaining. Last week's IFL Offensive Player of the Week, RB Kairee Robinson, powered his way through the trenches and crossed the plane for a touchdown. Green Bay led 35-23 at the half.

Similar to how Green Bay scored in one play on their first play of the game, Orlando does the same on the opening play of the second half. RB Pooka Williams took it 30 yards to the house. The Pirates would again fail on the two-point try. Green Bay would get into a goal-to-go situation after a Thompson 24-yard run. On 4th down, Thompson got wrapped up by Pirates defenders, but managed to shove the ball into the back of the endzone and fell into the hands of Hudson for an incredible touchdown. The Pirates again answered as they drove to the Blizzard one yard and DeLaurent waltzed his way in for six. The following Green Bay sequence would come up empty as Mevis hits the upright on the field goal attempt. Orlando would capitalize on a 45-yard rush by Pooka Williams. The Pirates recaptured the lead with that score and led 43-42 as the third quarter was nearing a close. That score would hold as Green Bay was driving to conclude the third frame.

The final stanza began, and Green Bay would stall out. Mevis did convert the field goal; Green Bay reclaimed the lead, which would be traded back and forth until the end. DeLaurent led another drive down the field and capped it off on a strong 10-yard scramble, breaking through several Blizzard tacklers. Now trailing in the game, Green Bay dinked and dunked their way down the length of the field, and Trevon Alexander, in motion, took the handoff across the goal line. The Pirates had the ball, down by two with two minutes remaining, hoping for the walkoff winner. However, on a crucial play, DeLaurent pitched the ball to his running back before being tackled, and the ball would hit the ground and be recovered by DB Marcus Hillman. Green Bay was able to successfully run a few plays for positive yards and bleed out the remainder of the clock. Green Bay sank the Pirates and walked out victorious 52-50.

Orlando fell to 8-6 and will travel to San Antonio on Saturday, July 11th, as their playoff aspirations took a hit. Green Bay improved to 12-2 and secured at a minimum the #2 seed and WILL host a playoff game. Want the full "what-if" scenarios on clinching the #1 seed? Tune into the Cold Front podcast on YouTube with IFL-broadcaster, Joey Bonadonna, and cohost BJ Steffen on Thursday evening as they will most certainly discuss the path to the #1 seed. Green Bay hits the road again next week as they head down to Des Moines, IA, to take on the Barnstormers. Kickoff is set for 4:00 PM CDT on Saturday, July 11th. The game will also be streamed on Yahoo! Sports.

Written by: Tyler Klackner