Apollos Make the 4th Quarter Comeback in London
Orlando Apollos Repeat for Alliance Championship #2
May 29, 2022
Orlando, FL - The Orlando Apollos won their second AAF Championship on the strength of a 4th quarter surge that pushed them from a 1-point deficit to a 14 point margin of victory. In a truly exciting championship game, both teams played outstanding football. Orlando overcame a shaky start to surge past the San Diego Fleet, with the big play Apollos offense hitting on two huge plays to overcome the Fleet defense. Trailing 17-14 at the half, and 22-21 at the end of the 3rd, Orlando took control in the 4th.
From the onset, the San Diego Fleet tried their best to imitate the defensive strategy of fierce 4-man pass rush paired with shell zone coverage to contain the big play. It was a strategy that Orlando was ready for and found ways to break down using double moves and crossing patterns to find big plays. To start the game San Diego got the ball, but after a 3-and-out on offense the Fleet had to punt. QB Garrett Gilbert tried to use play action against the Fleet, but DL Damontre Moore was unphased and caught Gilbert in the endzone for a safety. Getting the ball back, San Diego quickly added to their lead as QB Colin Kaepernick found his WR Marquis Lee on a 35-yard scoring play.
QB Gilbert and the offense were able to move the ball effectively, dinking and dunking against the deep zone, until QB Gilbert found WR Jalin Marshall for a 9-yard score. On the next possession, QB Kaepernick faked a pitch to WR Lee and found WR Deon Cain open on a slant for a second score and the 15-7 lead.
After a touchback on the kickoff, 1st and 10 from the 25, Orlando ran a crossing pattern that was followed by a play that left WR Charles Johnson open on the far sideline, and QB Gilbert hit him in stride and 75 yards later Orlando was right back in it at 15-14.
The first half finished with the slim 15-14 San Diego lead. Orlando received the second half kick, and it took them only 4 plays to score due to a blown coverage leading to a 64-yard gainer by WR Donte Moncrief. Moncrief was down at the 6 and on the next play, RB Akeem Hunt found pay dirt to give Orlando their first lead.
QB Kaepernick and the Fleet countered with a time consuming drive that finished with RB Kalen Ballage jumping over the pile from the two yard line to put San Diego back on top, 22-21.
QB Gilbert again found the deep ball, this time on a well-designed flea-flicker, that fooled the safeties and left WR Charles Johnson again open for a long score. WR Johnson raced 62 yards for the go-ahead score, and when RB De"Veon Smith punched in the 2-point conversion, Orlando had a 29-22 lead.
After a fumbled snap, Orlando then put all doubts to rest as QB Gilbert led the Apollos down the field and found TE Jordan Leggett for a 2 yard score. San Diego mounted a fierce drive, but needing a TD, they went for it on 4th and 2 from the 15 but Orlando LB Terrence Garvin stood up RB Ballage at the line of scrimmage to get a turnover on downs and essentially end the game. Orlando, with the win, becomes the first AAF team to garner two Championships.
Apollos - 36 Fleet - 22
(9-3)ORL: QB Garrett Gilbert - 19/25 340 yards, 4 TDs, RB Akeem Hunt - 19 carries, 73 yards, WR Charles Johnson - 6 catches, 163 yards, 2 TDs, WR Jalin Marshall - 9 catches, 96 yards, 1 TD, WR Donte Moncrief - 6 catches, 113 yards
(9-3)SD: QB Colin Kaepernick - 20/29 227 yards, 2 TDs, RB Kapri Bibbs - 19 carries, 90 yards, RB Kalen Ballage - 11 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD, WR Martavis Bryant - 9 catches, 90 yards, WR Marquis Lee - 3 catches, 74 yards, 1 TD