Bowling Green Blitz running back Carlos Quarles is tackled by a Columbus Fire defender on Saturday at Matt Rzepka Field in Auburn. The Blitz won the game 21-14. Photo by Joe Imel

The Bowling Green Blitz had revenge on its mind Saturday in a matchup with the Columbus Fire. During last seasons 15-1 run through the Ohio Valley Football League, the Fire was the only blemish in an otherwise sparkling season. Our theme in practice all week was that old James Brown song The Big Payback, wide receiver and offensive coordinator Joey Stockton said. That loss tarnished our rings a little bit. Stockton provided much of the offense and the defense forced a late interception for a 21-14 win at Matt Rzepka Field in Auburn. The victory allowed the Blitz to keep pace with the conference leading Evansville Vipers and kept the Blitz franchises perfect home record intact. We just signed a contract to play the Fire every year, because they are a real good team, head coach Kaelin Byrd said. Its a great challenge for us. Last year they upset us. It is sweet that we get them on our home field and get revenge, but every game we play is important now. With two losses, regardless of who we play we have to approach the game with the standpoint of weve got to win. The Blitz (3-2) struck first when Chris Glass blocked a punt, which gave the offense the ball at the 16-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Weston Vernon connected with Stockton for a 15-yard TD. Sam Hartford kicked the extra point for an early 7-0 Blitz lead. Columbus answered late in the first quarter with 37-yard TD pass from Clarence Royal to Calvin Wade. Royal found tight end Adam Beane in the corner for a two-point conversion, giving the Fire an 8-7 advantage. The lead would last for two plays. The Blitz answered with a 54-yard touchdown run by Jamie Kyle on the final play of the first quarter, giving Bowling Green a 13-8 lead. Vernon and Stockton connected for the second time with a 66-yard scoring strike during the first second-half possession. Tyrone Dunn ran in the two-point conversion for a 21-8 Blitz lead. Columbus answered with an eight-play, 61-yard drive. Wilbur Brown finished off the drive with a two-yard run, cutting the Blitz lead to 21-14 with 6:45 to play in the third quarter. Both teams had chances to score again late, but the defenses held. The Fire threatened midway through the fourth quarter, but the Blitz defense stopped them at the 24-yard line. Bowling Green moved the ball into Fire territory twice in the final minutes, but both drives ended with turnovers. The Blitz defense forced three turnovers and held the Fire offense offense to 208 yards. Stockton paced the Blitz offense with eight catches and 148 yards. Byrd said he was pleased with the win, but still was concerned with his offense. The offense is getting better every week, but when we get in scoring position, that seems to be when our mental mistakes happen, Byrd said. Thats how we lost last year. We got the ball inside the 10-yard line four or five times and came away with no points. The same thing happened tonight. Our offense doesnt play smart when we get down to the goal line. That is something weve been working on and will continue to work on. The Blitz return to action Saturday at Memphis against the Extreme. Bowling Green defeated Memphis 27-20 on June 29 and Byrd said his team will be ready for the rematch. We were unprepared the first time we played them, Byrd said. We were unfamiliar with their personnel because they didnt release their roster until the day they played us. Now that weve seen them play, we can prepare. We know its going to be another good game, but we expect to win.