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Nicholas Ernst

2021 Week 1 Recap: Stepping Towards Normalcy

Updated: Apr 4, 2021

Crowds Had to be Limited but the Alliance is Back

Gilbert Leads Apollos to Victory in the Snow

February 14, 2021

St. Louis, MO - This game saw the Apollos face the toughest opponent any Florida team could face–cold snowy weather. Actually, that could be said for both teams, because this was a very low-scoring affair early on. The score at halftime was 6-3; neither team could get much going. The weather was playing a role; there were some embarrassing drops including a muffed punt return that probably wouldn’t have happened in more ideal conditions.


The second half then happened, and the offenses finally warmed up more. Both teams traded scores, making it 14-11. Then the Apollos grabbed one more touchdown, and the Stallions never responded. Despite the weather, it didn’t really stop the teams from leaning on their quarterbacks–particularly with the Apollos and QB Garrett Gilbert, who has been one of the best at the position so far in the league.


For the Apollos, Gilbert would certainly be a standout as he helped lead the team to a win by going 22-for-32 with 244 yards and one touchdown pass. However, WR Charles Johnson had arguably the biggest day as he pulled in nine catches for 105 yards. Elsewhere, RB Akeem Hunt led the Apollos with 86 rushing yards and a TD on 19 carries.

There weren’t a lot of big standouts for the Stallions. QB Paxton Lynch, who went 16-for-22 and 161 yards, didn’t play badly but wasn’t particularly remarkable either. RB Matt Jones had a good day on the ground, though, getting 101 yards on 17 carries to lead both teams on the day. RB Christine Michael got in the end zone for the lone Stallions touchdown as well.


The Apollos defense once again did play a good role in helping their team get the win. Although LB Perry Riley led the team with five tackles, DL Bjorn Werner would have to be the biggest standout as he got two sacks, one tackle for a loss and a forced fumble. DL Earl Okine also pitched in three tackles for a loss and one sack of his own.


The Stallions defense did a decent job at holding the Apollos down for the first half, although they gave way in the second half. LB Josh Banderas led the team with seven tackles, while LB Vontaze Burfict had two tackles for a loss (out of the team total of six). The only sack by the Stallions defense was split between DL Vic Beasley and DL Jarvis Jones.


Apollos - 20 Stallions - 11

(0-0)ORL: QB Garrett Gilbert - 22/32 244 yards, 1 TD, RB Akeem Hunt - 19 carries, 86 yards, WR Charles Johnson - 9 catches, 105 yards

(0-0)STL: QB Paxton Lynch - 16/22 161 yards, RB Matt Jones - 17 carries, 101 yards, RB Christine Michael - 16 carries, 66 yards, 1 TD, WR Kevin White - 6 catches, 75 yards


Guardians - 34 Dragons - 24

(0-0)NY: QB Josh Freeman - 25/36 326 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Orleans Darkwa - 27 carries, 105 yards, WR Charone Peake - 4 catches, 68 yards, 1 TD, WR Brandon Burks - 5 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD

(0-0)SEA: QB Geno Smith - 16/33 224 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, RB CJ Prosise - 20 carries, 121 yards, RB Thomas Rawls - 12 carries, 66 yards, 2 TDs, WR Devier Posey - 5 catches, 104 yards, WR TJ Graham - 3 catches, 32 yards, 1 TD


Brigade - 35 Fleet - 38

(0-0)BAL: QB Brett Hundley - 16/28 224 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, RB CJ Anderson - 32 carries, 206 yards, WR Paul Richardson - 3 catches, 82 yards, 2 TDs, WR Leonte Carroo - 4 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD

(0-0)SD: QB Colin Kaepernick - 17/20 213 yards, 2 TDs, RB Kapri Bibbs - 30 carries, 182 yards, RB Kalen Ballage - 19 carries, 51 yards, 3 TDs, WR Martavis Bryant - 3 catches, 52 yards, 1 TD, WR Braxton Miller - 4 catches, 47 yards


Valor - 17 Wildcats - 39

(0-0)DC: QB Dalton Sturm - 11/25 131 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Lorenzo Taliaferro - 22 carries, 137 yards, WR Rashod Ross - 3 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD

(0-0)LA: QB Josh Johnson - 21/41 335 yards, 3 TDs, RB Spencer Ware - 20 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD, WR DaVaris Daniels - 4 catches, 80 yards, 2 TDs, WR AJ Jenkins - 5 catches, 78 yards


Express - 27 Conquerors - 34

(0-0)MEM: QB Trey Lance - 22/32 378 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Zac Stacy - 31 carries, 146 yards, 1 TD, WR Shaq Evans - 6 catches, 154 yards, 1 TD, WR Brandon Gibson - 8 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD

(0-0)LV: QB Ryan Mallett - 20/37 290 yards, 4 TDs, RB Isaiah Crowell - 17 carries, 138 yards, WR Corey Coleman - 4 catches, 88 yards, 1 TD, WR Brandon Coleman - 4 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD, TE Troy Fumagalli - 4 catches, 54 yards, 2 TDs


Iron - 45 Alphas - 41

(0-0)BIRM: QB Trevor Lawrence - 33/48 430 yards, 3 TDs, RB Trent Richardson - 32 carries, 141 yards, 3 TDs, WR L'Damian Washington - 9 catches, 110 yards, 1 TD, WR TJ Jones - 6 catches, 101 yards, 1 TD

(0-0)CHI: QB JT Barrett - 14/32 121 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, RB Jacques Patrick - 28 carries, 173 yards, 2 TDs, RB De'Veon Smith - 13 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD, WR Antonio Callaway - 4 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD


Blues - 31 Roughnecks - 27

(0-0)MIA: QB EJ Manuel - 19/32 327 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Denard Robinson - 24 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD, WR Leonard Hankerson - 3 catches, 66 yards, 2 TDs, WR Malachi Jones - 3 catches, 63 yards

(0-0)HOU: QB PJ Walker - 26/41 268 yards, 2 TDs, RB Karlos Williams - 22 carries, 102 yards, 1 TD, WR Cam Phillips - 10 catches, 108 yards, 1 TD, WR DeMarkus Lodge - 7 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD


Soul - 24 Renegades - 41

(0-0)PHIL: QB Cody Kessler - 20/37 261 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Alfred Blue - 24 carries, 89 yards, RB Wendell Smallwood - 5 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD, WR DeAnthony Thomas - 6 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD, WR Jordan Matthews - 3 catches, 48 yards, 1 TD

(0-0)DAL: QB Landry Jones - 34/44 414 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT, RB Cameron Artis-Payne - 28 carries, 88 yards, WR Brice Butler - 11 carries, 160 yards, 2 TDs, WR Jazz Ferguson - 5 catches, 62 yards, WR Terrence Williams - 3 catches, 39 yards, 1 TD


Storm - 27 Commanders - 31

(0-0)TB: QB Blake Bortles - 26/40 299 yards, 1 TD, RB Alex Collins - 23 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD, WR Kelvin Benjamin - 4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD, WR Rashad Greene - 4 catches, 61 yards

(0-0)SA: QB Tim Tebow - 12/19 185 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Kenneth Farrow - 25 carries, 178 yards, 2 TDs, RB David Cobb - 20 carries, 82 yards, WR MeKale McKay - 4 catches, 67 yards, WR Greg Ward - 4 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD


Defenders - 31 Vipers - 33

(0-0)ATL: QB Cardale Jones - 21/31 334 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Corey Clement - 19 carries, 76 yards, WR Justice Liggins - 5 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD, WR Justin Hardy - 4 catches, 76 yards, 1 TD

(0-0)MEX: QB Brock Osweiler - 14/21 192 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs, RB Jeremy Hill - 30 carries, 217 yards, WR Josh Doctson - 4 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD, WR Rashard Higgins - 3 catches, 64 yards, 2 TDs


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