Commanders are the 2019 Alliance Champions
San Antonio Crowned Champions in Tampa
May 26, 2019
London, England - Birmingham started the game with excellent field position, as San Antonio WR Tandon Doss fumbled the opening kickoff, and the Iron took over on the Commanders 18-yard line. However, the Commanders defense shut down the Iron offense, and San Antonio jumped on a muffed field goal attempt (the first of 6 Iron turnovers on the day). The teams traded possessions, with San Antonio taking over just before the end of the first quarter.
Commanders QB Tim Tebow hit WR Greg Ward with a 69 yard touchdown pass to give San Antonio a 7-0 lead at the close of the 1st quarter. On the Iron' next possession, QB Tahj Boyd was intercepted by Commanders DB Bacarri Rambo who returned his second pick of the game for the score. Rambo would add a third interception later in the second quarter, setting up a 14 yard pass from Tebow to WR Devier Posey, giving San Antonio a 21-0 lead and all the offense it would need.
Birmingham tried, but could not come back in the second half, as the Commanders won in front of a raucous London crowd of 61,108 fans. The Commanders' win turned out to be the first shutout in AAF Championship game history. Bacarri Rambo's 3 interceptions easily earned him the Alliance MVP award, the first time a defensive player has been honored.
Iron - 0 Commanders - 21
(10-2)BIRM: QB Tahj Boyd - 13/23 118 yards, 4 INTs, RB Trent Richardson - 21 carries, 49 yards, WR L'Damien Washington - 3 catches, 51 yards
(9-3)SA: QB Tim Tebow - 14/20 178 yards, 2 TDs, RB Kenneth Farrow - 27 carries, 130 yards, WR MeKale McKay - 8 catches, 80 yards, WR Greg Ward - 1 catch, 69 yards, 1 TD
CFL's Montreal Franchise in Trouble
May 31, 2019
Montreal, CANADA - Robert C. Wetenhall, owner of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, surrendered ownership of the franchise to the league, after attempting to pursue a sale of the team since the 2018 season. The Canadian Football League announced that they would be controlling and operating the team on it's behalf while searching for a new ownership group.
Wetenhall announced with him facing old age, and worsening conditions on field (the team has missed the playoffs for four straight seasons) and off field with worsening attendance team and league wide while facing exponentially growing financial losses, it was time for him to move on.
There was also a report that the Alouettes lost $12M in 2018 and a total of $25M since 2016.
Kenny Robinson Becomes Possible Trail Blazer for Alliance
June 1, 2019
Stamford, CT - After initially entering the NCAA transfer portal last week, West Virginia University First Team All-Big 12 sophomore safety announced that he would be forgoing the rest of his collegiate eligibility and entering the Alliance Draft in November to help provide financially for his family's needs. Robinson was expelled from WVU after a student code of conduct violation involving academic fraud following his impressive sophomore season.
Robinson plans to enter the 2020 NFL Draft, after completing his rookie season with the AAF. He announced that he chose the AAF to help his mother who was diagnosed with cancer, and because the league would pay for his online college courses so he could finish his degree.
Farrow, Hurts, Davis, Darkwa Honored with Alliance Awards
June 8, 2019
Stamford, CT - San Antonio RB Kenneth Farrow was named the league's Most Valuable Player of the 2019 season after leading the Commanders to the league championship while also leading the Alliance in rushing touchdowns with 15 and finishing 2nd in yards with 1397 yards. Houston Roughnecks' QB Jalen Hurts was named the Rookie of the Year after throwing for 2441 yards and 22 TDs in only 9 starts while Los Angeles WR DaVaris Daniels and New York Guardians RB Orleans Darkwa tied for the Offensive Player of the Year award after leading the lead in receiving yards and rushing yards respectively.
Passing Leaders -
Paxton Lynch, St. Louis Stallions - 3001 yards, 14 TDs, 13 INTs
Colin Kaepernick, San Diego Fleet - 2987 yards, 20 TDs, 7 INTs
EJ Manuel, Miami Blues - 2849 yards, 19 TDs, 10 INTs
Josh Freeman, New York Guardians - 2576 yards, 30 TDs, 8 INTs
BJ Daniels, Seattle Dragons - 2463 yards, 14 TDs, 14 INTs
Jalen Hurts, Houston Roughnecks - 2441 yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs
Brock Osweiler, Cleveland Gladiators - 2384 yards, 17 TDs, 14 INTs
Ryan Mallett, Las Vegas Conquerors - 2328 yards, 15 TDs, 7 INTs
Landy Jones, Dallas Renegades - 2319 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs
Tahj Boyd, Birmingham Iron - 2155 yards, 15 TDs, 5 INTs
Rushing Leaders -
Orleans Darkwa, New York Guardians - 1483 yards, 11 TDs
Kenneth Farrow, San Antonio Commanders - 1397 yards, 15 TDs
Trent Richardson, Birmingham Iron - 1396 yards, 9 TDs
Jeremy Hill, Cleveland Gladiators - 1314 yards, 5 TDs
Jacques Patrick, Chicago Alphas - 1261 yards, 9 TDs
Zac Stacy, Memphis Express - 1228 yards, 8 TDs
CJ Anderson, Columbus Generals - 1191 yards, 4 TDs
Lorenzo Taliaferro, Washington Valor - 1142 yards, 12 TDs
Alfred Blue, Philadelphia Soul - 1106 yards, 5 TDs
Kapri Bibbs, San Diego Fleet - 1100 yards, 11 TDs
Cameron Artis-Payne, Dallas Renegades - 1056 yards, 7 TDs
Thomas Rawls, Seattle Dragons - 1048 yards, 7 TDs
Branden Oliver, Los Angeles Wildcats - 1001 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving Leaders -
Davaris Daniels, Los Angeles Wildcats - 1278 yards, 10 TDs
Martavis Bryant, San Diego Fleet - 1203 yards, 12 TDs
Leonard Hankerson, Miami Blues - 1126 yards, 7 TDs
Rashod Ross, Washington Valor - 983 yards, 8 TDs
Kelvin Benjamin, Tampa Bay Storm - 979 yards, 6 TDs
Cam Phillips, Houston Roughnecks - 972 yards, 7 TDs
TJ Graham, Seattle Dragons - 910 yards, 6 TDs
Hakeem Nicks, New York Guardians - 897 yards, 11 TDs
Terrelle Pryor, St. Louis Stallions - 872 yards, 10 TDs
Josh Doctson, Cleveland Gladiators - 845 yards, 6 TDs
AJ Jenkins, Los Angeles Wildcats - 841 yards, 8 TDs
Terrence Williams, Dallas Renegades - 828 yards, 5 TDs
Donte Moncrief, Orlando Predators - 826 yards, 10 TDs
L'Damien Washington, Birmingham Iron - 802 yards, 8 TDs
Brandon Coleman, Las Vegas Conquerors - 801 yards, 5 TDs
Antonio Callaway, Chicago Alphas - 777 yards, 5 TDs
Kevin White, Miami Blues - 744 yards, 6 TDs
Sammie Coates, Houston Roughnecks - 725 yards, 7 TDs
Braxton Miller, San Diego Fleet - 724 yards, 5 TDs
TJ Jones, Birmingham Iron - 719 yards, 5 TDs