A close game really isn’t a surprise when two teams with identical records square off against each other.

For three quarters, the Mustangs and Iowa were separated on the scoreboard by a razor-thin margin. But things changed in the fourth quarter, and Milwaukee (6-11) treated the Bradley Center crowd to near perfect indoor football. The Mustangs dominated Iowa (5-12) in the final frame, and managed an 83-49 win in their final home game of the season. The 83 points was a Milwaukee franchise record for most points in a game.

With 44 seconds left in the game, Justin Lawrence picked off an Iowa pass in the middle of the field and scampered 10 yards for touchdown. The interception capped an outstanding fourth quarter of that saw the Mustangs explode for 41 points.

Lawrence’s pick-six came just seven seconds after Marcus Everett picked off an Iowa pass in the middle of the field and sprinted four yards into the end zone.

“We’ve been playing big all season,” said Everett. “We’ve been getting stops and turnovers. Tonight just showed how explosive the offense, defense and special teams can be. We’ve been trying to put a game like this together all season.”

With 1 minute 54 seconds left, Milwaukee quarterback Gino Guidugli threw a perfect strike to receiver Ernest Smith over the middle. Smith ran into the end zone untouched for a 24-yard score that gave the Mustangs a commanding 70-49 lead.

Mykel Benson’s second touchdown of the game, a three-yard run, put Milwaukee ahead 49-42 at the start of the fourth quarter. And on the next Iowa series, Everett scooped up a Barnstormers fumble at the three-yard line and took it into the end zone for a 56-42 lead with 12:51 left.

With 11:13 on the clock, Jesse Schmidt hauled in his third touchdown pass of the game, an 8-yard strike from quarterback Bryan Lee-Lauduski, to pull the Barnstormers within 56-49. But Smith snagged a 22-yard touchdown pass at the 7:46 mark to give the Mustangs a 63-49 cushion. Dwayne LeFall’s fumble recovery with 2:22 left in the game helped seal the deal for Milwaukee and set up Smith’s third touchdown of the game.

Guidugli was outstanding. The quarterback connected on 22 of 31 passes for 278 yards and six touchdowns. Smith caught six passes for 128 yards.

Iowa led the game in the first half. Errick McCown hauled in a 12-yard pass from Lee-Lauduski with just 12 seconds left in the first half to give Iowa a 35-26 advantage. But Garrett Lindholm booted a 34-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer to pull the Mustangs within 35-29 at the break.

JLS Ironman of the Game: Milwaukee LB/WR Marcus Everett

Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Milwaukee QB Gino Guidugli

Spalding Highlight of the Game: Milwaukee DL Dwayne LeFall’s kick recovery for a touchdown off the netting

Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: Milwaukee LB Marcus Everett

NiFTy Playmaker of the Game: Iowa WR Jesse Schmidt

Cutter Catch of the Game: Iowa WR Jesse Schmidt’s first 1^st quarter touchdown catch

National Guard MVP of the Game: Milwaukee WR/LB Marcus Everett