Apollos vs Roughnecks for the 2021 Crown
Apollos are Declared the Beasts of the East
May 15, 2021
Birmingham, AL - With the score sitting at 17-7 in the late third with Birmingham on top, Orlando seized the moment and took the game. QB Garrett Gilbert hit TE Ben Koyack for a 6 yard score to make it a one possession game. Birmingham backup RB LaDarius Perkins caught a screen pass, and went 18 yards before Apollos' LB Terrance Garvin hit him from behind and caused a fumble that fellow LB Perry Riley scooped up to end the third quarter.
QB Gilbert would turn the turnover into a quick touchdown when he found WR Jalin Marshall for a 9 yard score and the team's first lead. Now trailing, 21-17 Birmingham QB Tahj Boyd found Orlando's DB Jalen Collins with his first interception of the game. Orlando K Younghoe Koo would add 3 points before giving the ball back to QB Boyd.
QB Boyd would put together a nice drive before once again having a pass land in the arms of a Apollos' defender, this time it was DB Keith Reaser who snagged the errant pass.
QB Gilbert would then put the game away with a picturesque drive that took the remaining 8:08 off the clock and ended with a 1 yard plunge from backup RB Antonio Andrews.
Apollos - 31 Iron - 17
(10-2)ORL: QB Garrett Gilbert - 28/39 310 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Akeem Hunt - 12 carries, 52 yards, RB Antonio Andrews - 10 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD, WR Charles Johnson - 6 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD, WR Jalin Marshall - 7 catches, 77 yards, 1 TD, WR Donte Moncrief - 5 catches, 66 yards, 1 TD
(11-1)BIRM: QB Tahj Boyd - 15/28 171 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Trent Richardson - Trent Richardson - 31 carries, 121 yards, 1 TD, WR L'Damian Washington - 4 catches, 48 yards
Roughnecks Establish Themselves as the Best in the West
May 16, 2021
Los Angeles, CA - QB PJ Walker threw for two TDs while RB D'Onta Foreman added another two scores on the ground in a dominant first half that saw the Roughnecks jump on top 28-13.
However, QB Josh Johnson found WR AJ Jenkins at the start of the third quarter for a 12 yard, and after adding a Field Goal, the Wildcats closed the third quarter with only a 28-23 deficit.
Following an Houston Field Goal, the Wildcats added another one of their own. With the score now, 31-26, DB Aaron Grymes came up huge with an interception and after a solid return the Wildcats took over in plus territory with the chance for the lead. QB Johnson marched down the field, and hit WR DaVaris Daniels for a 14 yard go-ahead touchdown pass.
With only 1:20 left on the clock, Los Angeles made a huge mistake as he kicked the ball out of bounds and gave the Roughnecks a shortened field while only being down one. QB Walker got started right away as he hit WR Sammie Coates for a 37 yarder down the seam. After back to back 7 yard runs from RB Karlos Williams, QB Walker approached the line looking to spike the ball and setup the game winning field goal, but Houston ran a fake spike, caught Los Angeles off-guard and hit WR Jaelen Strong for the game winning touchdown pass. The 61,367 Wildcats fans in attendance were still in shock as the Roughnecks ran off the field as if they stole something.
Roughnecks - 37 Wildcats - 32
(9-2)HOU: QB PJ Walker - 37/50 456 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB D'Onta Foreman - 15 carries, 55 yards, 2 TDs, RB Karlos Williams - 9 carries, 47 yards, WR Cam Phillips - 10 catches, 129 yards, 1 TD, WR Sammie Coates - 8 catches, 120 yards, WR DaMarkus Lodge - 6 catches, 80 yards, 1 TD, WR Jaelen Strong - 9 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD
(10-2)LA: QB Josh Johnson - 25/42 360 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Spencer Ware - 16 carries, 48 yards, WR DaVaris Daniels - 7 catches, 98 yards, 1 TD, WR AJ Jenkins - 5 catches, 67 yards, 1 TD, WR Nelson Spruce - 4 catches, 63 yards, 1 TD
The games have been played but I got busy at school today, and I’m always busy on Wednesday nights so the results won’t be posted until tomorrow night.