By Patrick Murphy Jr.
Green Bay Press-Gazette correspondent
The Green Bay Bombers are getting used to making quick work of their Professional Indoor Football League opponents.
Quarterback Jay McDonagh threw three touchdown passes and added another on the ground in the first half as the Bombers took a 34-8 halftime lead Saturday night and claimed a 55-40 win over the Minnesota Monsters.
Despite a shaky second half, Green Bay held on and remained unbeaten at 2-0 before 3,965 boisterous fans at the Brown County Arena.
The Bombers have outscored the opposition 67-17 in the first half of their two regular-season games. McDonagh said the quick starts are critical to the team's success.
"We want to get ahead and let our defense play with the lead," said McDonagh, who was 20 of 32 for 253 yards and six touchdowns on the night. "Hopefully we can keep doing that throughout the season."
The Bombers' defense came up with big plays early in the contest to set the tone for the rest of the game. First, Green Bay defensive tackle Darrick Bolton blew through the Monsters' offensive line and sacked Minnesota quarterback Stacy Jamison for a safety to give the Bombers a 17-8 lead.
Middle linebacker Kelly Schmitt said the defense had something to prove after allowing a touchdown on the Monster's first drive.
"Don't come into our house and think you're going to run up and down the field because you're not going to," Schmitt said.
After a Bryan Mader field goal put Green Bay up 20-8, the defense held Minnesota on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, setting the stage for McDonagh and wide receiver Heath Garland.
On 3rd-and-14 from the Green Bay 10, McDonagh hit Garland for a 34-yard gain to the Minnesota 6. Two plays later, McDonagh found Garland in the end zone.
Defensive back, B.J. Breecher, who helped limit Jamison to just seven yards passing in the first half, credited the entire defensive unit.
"Our front three flew all over the place," Breecher said. "We were opportunistic, scrappy and we came up with turnovers.
"The defense is the catalyst for enthusiasm. If you keep their offense off the field, you'll win the game."
The Monsters took advantage of three Green Bay turnovers in the second half to pull within 48-32 early in the fourth period, but wide receiver Chris Perry hauled in his fourth touchdown reception with 9:02 to play, sealing the victory.
Perry credited McDonagh and his receiving mates for his big night.
"It's all about teamwork and unity," Perry said. "All of our receivers did well, not just me. And Jay's an outstanding quarterback."
Minnesota 8 0 10 22 40 Green Bay 20 14 14 7 55 First Quarter GB-12:23-Chris Perry 9 yd pass from Jay McDonagh, Bryan Mader PAT 7-0 Min- 8:40-Ricardo Jones 4 yd run, Jones 2pt run 7-8 GB- 5:08-Perry 12 yd pass from McDonagh, Willie High 2 pt pass 15-8 GB- 3:18-Darrick Bolton sacked Stacy Jamison, safety 17-8 GB- 0:13-Mader 36 yd field goal 20-8 Second Quarter GB- 5:43-Heath Garland 6 yd pass from McDonagh, Mader PAT 27-8 GB- 3:23-McDonagh 5 yd run, Mader PAT 34-8 Third Quarter Min-11:34-Jones 2 yd run, Betton pass from Jamison 34-16 GB- 9:04-Perry 9 yd pass from McDonagh, Mader PAT 41-16 GB- 5:36-Garland 36 yd pass from McDongah, Mader PAT 48-16 Min- 2:53-McDonagh sacked by Harper for safety 48-18 Fourth Quarter Min-13:50-Mylai Tenner 26 yd fumble return, Jamison 2pt run 48-26 Min-12:10-Jones 3 yd run, 2 pt conversion failed 48-32 GB- 9:02-Perry 13 pass from McDonagh, Mader PAT 55-32 Min- 6:28-Hicks 20 yd pass from Jamison, Betton pass 2pt 55-40 Team Stats Madison Texas First Downs 17 11 Rushing 2 5 Passing 14 5 Penalty 1 1 Rushing Attempts 15 19 Yards Rushing 29 63 Passing Yards 253 135 Passes Attempted 32 27 Passes Completed 20 12 Had Intercepted 1 2 Total Offensive Plays 47 46 Total net Yards 282 198 Fumbles: Number-Lost 2-2 0-0 Penalties: Number-Lost 9-33 6-27 Kickoff Returns: No.-Yards 5-104 5-113 Possession Time 3rd Down Conversions 3-4 1-6 4th Down Conversions 0-0 0-1 Sacks by: Number-Yards 2-15 2-5 Interception Returns: 2-20 1-20 Fumble Returns: 0-0 2-28 Individual Stats Rushing-GB-Willie High 4-14, McDonagh 9-23-1, Perry 2-(-1); M-Jones 9-39-3, Ray Betton 2-4, Jamison 6-24, Hawkins 1-(-1), Opstead 1-(-3) Passing-GB-McDongah 20-32-253-6-1; M-Jamison 12-27-135-1-2 Pass Receiving-GB-Perry 9-99-4, Garland 5-99-2, High 4-35, Mike Whitehouse 1-11, Joe Banda 1-9; M-Ryan Hubbard 2-14, Hawkins 4-41, Raylen Hicks 3-66-1, Ray Betton 2-10, Jones 1-4 Field Goals-GB-Mader 1-1 made 36; M-Opstead 0-2 (missed 57, 30) PATS-GB-Mader 6-6 Kickoff Returns-GB-High 4-89, Perry 1-15; M-Marshall 3-70, Rodney Heath 2-43 Missed Field Goal Returns-GB-Perry 1-11 Interceptions-GB-Shaheed 1-20, Derf Reese 1-0; M-Rodney Heath 1-20 Attendance 4123
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