Pre-season Game 2 (4/17/99): Albany vs Iowa @ Moline, IL.

TD bombs flatten 'Birds

MOLINE, Ill. -- Aaron Garcia threw for five touchdowns, all in the first half, staking the Barnstormers to a quick 34-19 lead.

Iowa went on to down the Albany Firebirds 60-39 Saturday night in an Arena Football League preseason game before 6,792 fans at The Mark.

Garcia completed 13-of-22 passes for 146 yards as the Barnstormers put the game away in the opening two quarters.

Iowa, which led 14-12 at the end of the first quarter, used a 20-7 second quarter to pull away. Garcia threw TD passes to Carlos James (six yards), Rodney Filer (31 yards) and Kevin Swayne (two yards) in the second quarter.

Back-up quarterback Matt Sherman completed 12-of-19 passes for 146 yards and two scores in the second half for the Barnstormers. The Firebirds got a fine performance from wide receiver Eddie Brown in the loss. Brown hauled in seven passes for 87 yards and three TDs. Brown's three scores came in the first half on throws from Mike Pawlawski, who completed 12-of-20 passes for 153 yards, three scores and two interceptions.

Albany's Jeff Loots and Tony Corbin took turns at quarterback in the second half. Loots completed 3-of-6 passes for 62 yards and one TD and Corbin was 0-for-6.