Saturday, November 25, 2017

AFL: Kats Outlast Predators, 37-28

NASHVILLE-The Nashville Kats held off a valiant effort by the Orlando Predators in a 37-28 win dutring Week 13 of the AFL season.

RW Warden fumbled the opening kickoff for the Predators, and Jose Killian recovered for the Kats at the Orlando 23-yard line. Five plays later, Curt Wardlaw threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Damien Holden giving Nashville a 7-0 lead with 12:06 left in the first quarter. Following a Predators' punt, the Kats took two plays to strike again. Wardlaw fired an 85-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Falk extending the lead to 14-0 with 7:58 left in the first. Orlando would answer back, driving 85 yards on 9 plays. Woodrow Richardson threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah O'Connell making it 14-7 with 4:11 to go in the first quarter.

The teams would trade punts into the second quarter. Then, Richardson was picked off by Lincoln Bingham and he ran it back 19 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-7 with 14:22 to go in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Warden found a seam and raced 89 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-14 with 14:05 left in the half. Nashville's next possession was thwarted when Wardlaw was intercepted by Artie Damon at the Orlando 46-yard line. The Predators could not take advantage, however, as Richardson was stripped of the ball by RW Burns and Jaureen Karnes recovered for the Kats at the Nashville 21-yard line. The teams would trade punts, then Nashville looked to add to their lead. But Daniel Stevenson's 32-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked. Orlando consequently drove 52 yards on 7 plays, ending with Abel White kicking a 43-yard field goal to make it 21-17 with 30 seconds to go in the second quarter. Oliver Osler would fumble the ensuing kickoff, and Eddy Guess fell on it for the Predators at the Kats' 31-yard line. The turnover set up a 48-yard field goal by White with 4 seconds remaining to make it 21-20 at halftime.

Nashville opened the second half by driving 77 yards on 6 plays. Wardlaw finished the drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Alza Chipman to make it 28-20 with 11:26 left in the third quarter. After an Orlando punt, the Kats were stymied on three plays starting from the Predators' 37-yard line. But still, Stevenson was able to connect on a 54-yard field goal to extend the lead to 31-20 with 8:24 left in the third. The Predators would answer with a 6-play, 67-yard drive. Richardson would throw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Stewart Lamons, and a successful 2-Point Conversion made it 31-28 with 5:23 to go in the third quarter. Nashville would answer with a 7-play, 48-yard drive, and Stevenson would kick a 43-yard field goal to make it 34-28 with 1:42 remaining in the third.

Orlando looked to take the lead on their next drive, but D.J. Giles fumbled the ball, and Lando Reynolds reutrned it 21 yards to the Nashville 32-yard line.The Kats punted the ball away, and the Predators again looked to find the end zone. But this time, Caleb Doering lost the ball and Tamlin Lake recovered for the Kats at the Nashville 35-yard line. The Kats looked to put it out of reach, but Darius Talie intercepted Wardlaw and ran it back 26 yards to the Predators' 43-yard line. Orlando was turned away on fourth down in Nashville territory, and then the Kats drove 30 yards on 7 plays, ending with Stevenson kicking a 44-yard field goal to make it 37-28 with 1:42 remaining in the game. Bingham picked off Richardson to snuff out Orlando's last attempt to score.

Nashville (8-5) gained 428 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 175 yards on 34 carries. Osler led the team with 133 yards on 23 carries. He also caught 3 passes for 60 yards. Osler also broke the AFL single-season rushing record set by San Jose's Alan Sale last season (1,066 yards after 13 games). Wardlaw was 15-of-29 passing for 270 yards, 3 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 17 yards. Vittorio Swane caught 3 passes for 41 yards. The Kats visit the Chicago Rush next week.

Orlando (2-11) gained 368 yards of total offense. The Predators ran for 62 yards on 19 carries. Richardson led the team with 26 yards on 3 carries. He was 24-of-36 passing for 347 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked seven times, losing 41 yards. Doering led with 5 receptions for 46 yards. Leonard Irving caught 4 passes for 100 yards. The Predators visit the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.

Friday, November 24, 2017

AFL: Storm Beat Force, 30-10

TAMPA-The Tampa Bay Storm pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat the Georgia Force 30-10 in a Week 13 AFL game.

After trading punts to start the game, Tampa Bay would go on a 7-play 48-yard drive. Jefferson Taylor would throw a 12-yard touchdown pass on a halfback option to Burton Carmon giving the Storm a 7-0 lead with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter.

The teams would again trade punts into the second quarter, then Tampa Bay drove 25 yards on 6 plays. Johnny Quincey kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 9:31 to go in the second quarter. The exchange of punts continued until Emmit Quasar fumbled and Bo Bull recovered for the Force at the Storm 28-yard line. Georgia lost a yard on four plays, and Wilbur Ahmad kicked a 46-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 1:47 to go in the half.

The Storm looked to score a touchdown at the start of the second half, but Ward Hilton picked off an Orval Stanley at the Force 8-yard line. But on the ensuing Georgia drive, Yannel Gansz was picked off by Allie Navarro who streaked 39 yards to the Georgia 5-yard line. Three plays later, Willie Zachary scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 17-3 with 11:14 left in the third quarter. The Force answered with a 9-play, 82-yard drive. Prince David scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 17-10 with 5:54 to go in the third.

Tampa Bay answered with a 13-play, 51-yard drive ending with Quincey connecting on a 25-yard field goal to take a 20-10 lead with 14:48 remaining in the fourth quarter. After a Georgia three-and-out, the Storm drove 43 yards on 8 plays, and Quincey connected on another 25-yard field goal to make it 23-10 with 9:15 to go in the fourth. The teams would trade punts, then in the final minute, Gansz's pass was intercepted by Drake Cushing who ran it back 34 yards for a pick-six to make it 30-10 with 46 seconds to go in the game.

Tampa Bay (8-5) gained 344 yards of total offense. The Storm ran for 154 yards on 41 carries. Taylor led the team with 64 yards on 18 carries. Stanley was 14-of-28 passing for 188 yards and 1 INT. He was sacked once for a 10-yard loss. Carmon was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 88 yards and a TD. Next week, the Storm will visit the Iowa Barnstormers.

Georgia (7-6) gained 207 yards of total offense. The Force ran for 61 yards on 18 carries. Clem Foulks led the team with 29 yards on 7 carries. Gansz was 15-of-31 passing for 173 yards and 2 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 27 yards. Tinker Trice was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 58 yards. Next week, the Force will visit the Dallas Desperados.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

AFL: Dragons Edge Firebirds, 30-28

UNIONDALE, NY-The New York Dragons took the lead in the last two minutes, and held off the Albany Firebirds 30-28 in Week 13 of the AFL season. As a result, the Grand Rapids Rampage are one win away from wrapping up the AFL Eastern Division.

The teams traded punts to start the game, then Albany got the first break when Butler Stonewall recovered a Faron Emerson fumble at the New York 11-yard line. After three plays netted eight yards, Wally Dancer kicked a 20-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 7:18 left in the first quarter. The Dragons would respond with a 7-play, 68-yard drive. George Larron would score on a 6-yard touchdown run to give New York a 7-3 lead with 3:13 left in the first.

After the Firebirds punted at the end of the first quarter, the Dragons were on the move again, driving 70 yards on 7 plays. Jose Trust ended the drive with a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 10:53 to go in the second quarter. Albany punted on their next drive, and New York looked to extend their lead, but Trust missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. Following the miss, the Firebirds drove 57 yards on 10 plays. Dancer kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 7-6 with 1:54 remaining in the half. Melvin Betts fumbled the ensuing kickoff for the Dragons, and Travis Edgar recovered for Albany at the New York 34-yard line. Three plays later, Sinbad Gargaro hit Tico Ponder for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds to go giving the Firebirds a 13-10 halftime lead.

Albany punted to open the second half, then New York went on a 7-play, 59-yard drive. Emerson threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Barry Starr reclaiming the lead for the Dragons at 17-13 with 10:40 left in the third quarter. After another Firebirds' punt, the Dragons moved 43 yards on 9 plays. Freddy Ashercraft finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 24-13 with 4:27 to go in the third. Albany struck back with a 7-play, 53-yard drive, ending it with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Gargaro to Anthony Long. The 2-Point Conversion was good, and the Firebirds trailed 24-21 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.

The Dragons would punt, then Gargaro would get picked off by Omar Wheeley who ran it back 39 yards to the New York 45-yard line. Following a 10-play, 47-yard drive, Trust kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it 27-21 with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter. The Firebirds would take four plays to travel 69 yards, the final 43 coming on a Ponder touchdown run to give Albany a 28-27 lead with 6:58 remaining in the fourth. The teams traded punts, and the Dragons were fortunate to start at midfield. After a four-play, 15-yard drive, Trust drilled a 52-yard field goal to give New York a 30-28 lead with 1:37 remaining in the game. The Firebirds couldn't convert a fourth down, and the Dragons ran out the clock.

New York (3-10) gained 388 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for 144 yards on 36 carries. Larron led the team with 67 yards on 14 carries and a TD. Emerson was 19-of-29 passing for 259 yards and a TD. He was sacked twice, losing 15 yards. Chase Hamil was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 74 yards. Next week, the Dragons visit the Arizona Rattlers.

Albany (6-7) gained 331 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 123 yards on 20 carries. Ponder led the team with 55 yards on 7 carries and a TD. He also led with 8 receptions for 74 yards and a TD. Gargaro was 22-of-37 passing for 208 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was not sacked in the game. Next week, the Firebirds visit the San Jose Sabercats.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

AFL: Grand Rapids Knocks Out Detroit, 27-19

GRAND RAPIDS-The Grand Rapids Rampage defeated the Detroit Drive to knock them out of contention of the AFL Eastern Division with a 27-19 victory in Week 13.

The first quarter did not feature any scoring. The teams traded punts on their first possession, then Detroit looked to get on the board. But Cletis Frayer's 43-yard field goal attempt sailed wide. After a Grand Rapids punt, the Rampage would get the ball back when Ves Gaskins picked off Lou Couch early in the second quarter and returned it 31 yards to the Drive 13-yard line. Three plays later, Toby Harrell scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to give Grand Rapids a 7-0 lead with 12:46 to go in the second quarter.

After Gaskins picked Couch off again at the Rampage 45-yard line, they went on an 8-play, 45-yard drive. George Tibbs ended the march with a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 8:15 remaining in the half. The Drive turned the ball over again, as Couch was sacked by Marvin Tyles who stripped the ball away at the Grand Rapids 48-yard line. Herbert Shipley finished off the subsequent 9-play, 52-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to take a 17-0 lead with 1:18 to go in the second quarter. Detroit finally got on the scoreboard after marching 50 yards on 5 plays. Frayer would kick a 47-yard field goal with 2 seconds left, and the Drive trailed 17-3 at halftime.

Grand Rapids punted on their first possession of the second half, then the Drive moved 62 yards on 14 plays. Frayer ended it with a 23-yard field goal making the score 17-6 with 6:35 left in the third quarter. The Rampage punted again, then Detroit drove 71 yards on 8 plays. Couch hit Ahmed Sohn for an 18-yard touchdown pass, but the 2-Point Conversion failed, and the Drive trailed 17-12 with 23 seconds left in the third.

The Rampage would respond on their next possession, driving 67 yards on 9 plays. Curtis Wayne finished it with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Kinzer making it 24-12 with 10:16 to go in the fourth quarter. Following a Detroit punt, Grand Rapids moved 34 yards on 12 plays. Tibbs would kick a 43-yard field goal extending the lead to 27-12 with 4:07 to go in the fourth. The Drive quickly moved for a score, going 63 yards on 6 plays. Couch would hit Dave Huntley for a 4-yard touchdown pass to make it 27-19 with 2:16 remaining in the game. The Rampage went three-and-out, and Detroit had one more chance to score, but were turned away on fourth down at midfield.

Grand Rapids (8-5) gained 252 yards of total offense. The Rampage ran for 103 yards on 36 carries. Harrell led the team with 61 yards on 14 carries and a TD. Wayne was 13-of-18 passing for 149 yards and a TD. He was not sacked in the game. Nikolai Vilmer was the leading receiver with 4 catches for 49 yards. The Rampage visit the Colorado Crush next week.

Detroit (5-8) gained 378 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 106 yards on 28 carries. Patch Brolie led the team with 33 yards on 8 carries. Couch was 21-of-33 passing for 298 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 26 yards. Sohn led the receivers with 9 catches for 130 yards and a TD. Next week, the Drive visit the Los Angeles Avengers.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

AFL Week 12 Standings

EASTERN DIVISION W L T PF PA HOME
Grand Rapids Rampage 7 5 0 284 241 4-2
Albany Firebirds 6 6 0 256 261 4-3
Detroit Drive 5 7 0 258 247 3-4
New York Dragons 2 10 0 213 325 1-5
SOUTHERN DIVISION W L T PF PA HOME
Nashville Kats 7 5 0 297 250 3-3
Tampa Bay Storm 7 5 0 262 296 3-3
Georgia Force 7 5 0 246 267 3-4
Orlando Predators 2 10 0 258 325 2-5
CENTRAL DIVISION W L T PF PA HOME
Iowa Barnstormers 7 5 0 344 272 3-2
Chicago Rush 7 5 0 288 293 3-3
Milwaukee Mustangs 6 6 0 275 269 1-4
Dallas Desperados 6 6 0 286 298 4-1
WESTERN DIVISION W L T PF PA HOME
San Jose Sabercats 8 4 0 317 250 3-2
Colorado Crush 7 5 0 300 302 3-3
Los Angeles Avengers 6 6 0 272 260 1-4
Arizona Rattlers 6 6 0 266 268 3-3
Week 12 Scores (Home Team in ALL CAPS)
ORLANDO 28, Detroit 3
Grand Rapids 20, NASHVILLE 17
GEORGIA 16, Albany 7
TAMPA BAY 31, New York 30
COLORADO 34, Chicago 24
SAN JOSE 38, Dallas 9
ARIZONA 28, Iowa 18
Milwaukee 23, LOS ANGELES 18
Week 13 Games
Detroit (5-7) at Grand Rapids (7-5) (Rampage -9)
Albany (6-6) at New York (2-10) (Firebirds -5)
Georgia (7-5) at Tampa Bay (7-5) (Storm -6)
Orlando (2-10) at Nashville (7-5) (Kats -4)
Chicago (7-5) at Dallas (6-6) (Desperados -2)
Iowa (7-5) at Milwaukee (6-6) (Mustangs -2)
Arizona (6-6) at Los Angeles (6-6) (Rattlers -1)
Colorado (7-5) at San Jose (8-4) (Sabercats -7)

Playoff Picture
National Conference
Nashville at Grand Rapids
American Conference
Iowa at San Jose

AFL: Mustangs Hold On, Beat Avengers 23-18

LOS ANGELES-Garrett Counts scored a pair of touchdowns, and the Milwaukee Mustangs kept the Los Angeles Avengers from scoring late in a 23-18 victory in a Week 12 game.

The Mustangs would punt to open the game, then the Avengers drove 55 yards on 9 plays. Willie Guess finished it off with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Chip Kindrick to take a 7-0 lead with 9:06 to go in the first quarter. Milwaukee punted again, then a Kindrick fumble was recovered by Yousef Checkers at the Los Angeles 25-yard line. Three plays later, Bruce Baskerville threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Romine tying the game at 7 with 3:18 to go in the first.

The Avengers would punt on their next drive, and down it at the Mustangs 2-yard line. On the very next play, Carlisle June would sack Baskerville in the end zone for a safety giving Los Angeles a 9-7 lead with 14:36 left in the second quarter. On LA's ensuing possession after the safety kick, a bad snap on a fourth down punt forced Nino Schwarz to throw a hurried pass to Caleb Jessen that fell incomplete, giving Milwaukee the ball at the Avengers' 29-yard line. Five plays later, Counts hauled in a 4-yard touchdown pass from Baskerville and the Mustangs were up 14-9 with 10:33 left in the half. The Avengers would then march 80 yards on 17 plays, and Kindrick would score on a 7-yard touchdown run with 3:05 left. The extra point was no good, and the teams went into halftime with Los Angeles leading 15-14.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle. Both teams punted to open the half, then the Avengers threatened to get on the board, but Carmon Grimes missed a 53-yard field goal. Following the miss, the Mustangs drove 36 yards on 9 plays. Rock Philbrook connected on a 38-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining in the third to take a 17-15 lead.

Both teams traded punts early in the fourth quarter, then the Avengers would go on a 6-play, 41-yard drive that ended with Grimes kicking a 45-yard field goal to retake the lead, 18-17 with 9:01 left in the fourth quarter. After trading punts again, the Mustangs embarked on an 11-play, 62-yard drive. Counts put the cap on the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run. Milwaukee couldn't convert for two, and the score was 23-18 with 2:10 left in the game. Los Angeles started the ensuing possession at their own 36-yard line and ultimately faced a fourth-and-2 at the Milwaukee 20-yard line with 59 seconds left. Guess was forced out of the pocket and was stopped a yard short at the 19 and the Mustangs ran out the clock.

Milwaukee (6-6) gained 247 yards of total offense. The Mustangs ran for 64 yards on 26 carries. Manolo Gage led the team with 39 yards on 9 carries. Baskerville was 21-of-30 passing for 197 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked twice, losing 14 yards. Romine was the leading receiver with 7 catches for 62 yards and a TD. The Mustangs host the Iowa Barnstormers next week.

Los Angeles (6-6) gained 296 yards of total offense. The Avengers ran for 118 yards on 27 carries. Kindrick led the team with 52 yards on 12 carries and a TD. Guess was 24-of-34 passing for 197 yards and a TD. He was sacked three times, losing 19 yards. Keifer Dance was the leading receiver with 10 catches for 95 yards. The Avengers host the Arizona Rattlers next week.

Monday, November 20, 2017

AFL: Rattlers Beat Barnstormers, 28-18

PHOENIX-The Arizona Rattlers continued to try to keep pace in the AFL Western Division with a 28-18 victory over the Iowa Barnstormers in a Week 12 game.

Montrose Gulley fielded the opening kickoff for the Rattlers and returned it 61 yards to the Barnstormers' 37-yard line. Kadeem Raburn hit Shelby Lerti on a flag pattern, but the ball was jarred loose, and Seth Waltrip fell on it at his own 2-yard line. Iowa then drove 91 yards on 15 plays, ultimately settling for a 24-yard field goal by SB Rhoads to take a 3-0 lead with 6:19 to go in the first quarter. Arizona answered with a 9-play, 63-yard drive. Stomp Navarro finished off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to take a 7-3 lead with 2:09 remaining in the first. Davlin Coggins returned the ensuing kickoff into Rattlers' territory, and the Barnstormers drove 46 yards on 4 plays. Norm Damron threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Weldon Taber on the final play of the first quarter to give Iowa a 10-7 lead.

On 3rd-and-9 from the Arizona 10, Nigel Tuck would burst through the line and sack Raburn in the end zone for a safety to extend Iowa's lead to 12-7 with 13:28 to go in the second quarter. Corben Marvell returned the ensuing safety kick 62 yards to the Rattlers' 24-yard line. After netting 13 yards on 8 plays, Rhoads kicked a 28-yard field goal to make it 15-7 with 10:21 to go in the half. Raburn would fumble a snap on Arizona's next drive, and Leif Whitten recovered for the Barnstormers at the Iowa 42-yard line. Two plays later, Damron would mishandle a snap, and Madison Prunty recovered for the Rattlers at the Arizona 41-yard line. After a 9-play, 55-yard drive, Burt Hamrick kicked a 21-yard field goal to make it 15-10 with 1:55 to go in the second quarter. The Rattlers' defense struck when Abdul Hanna picked off Damron and returned it 16 yards to the Barnstormers' 37-yard line. Arizona gained 19 yards on 2 plays, and Hamrick kicked a 35-yard field goal to make it 15-13 at the half.

The Rattlers opened the second half getting the ball at their own 25, and marching 75 yards on 7 plays. The final 46 yards came on a touchdown run from Melvin Jones to give Arizona a 20-15 lead with 11:21 remaining in the third quarter. The Barnstormers punted on their next drive, then Raburn was picked off by Farrell Companis who took it back 11 yards to the Rattlers' 26-yard line. But on the next play, Ryan Travers fumbled the ball and Claud Fagan recovered at the line of scrimmage. Arizona would punt, and the Barnstormers drove 31 yards on 10 plays. Rhoads would kick a 43-yard field goal to make it 20-18 with 8 seconds to go in the third.

Arizona began the fourth quarter with a 7-play, 53-yard drive that ended with Raburn hitting Jones for a 21-yard touchdown pass. The 2-Point Conversion was good, and the Rattlers led 28-18 with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter. The teams traded punts, and Iowa was turned away on fourth down with under two minutes to go to give Arizona their fourth straight win.

Arizona (6-6) gained 327 yards of total offense. The Rattlers ran for 186 yards on 34 carries. Jones led the team with 65 yards on 4 carries and a TD. Raburn was 14-of-20 passing for 161 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 20 yards. Aaron Sidney was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 48 yards. Next week, the Rattlers visit the Los Angeles Avengers.

Iowa (7-5) gained 321 yards of total offense. The Barnstormers ran for 68 yards on 22 carries. Powell Ramos led the team with 38 yards on 9 carries. Damron was 28-of-37 passing for 277 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 24 yards. Travers was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 44 yards. The Barnstormers will visit the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.