Chicago Alphas and Memphis Express Move on to Championship
Dragons Can't Shake Off Rust
April 29, 2017
Seattle, WA - The Seattle Dragons didn't look like the 9-0 team that started the season, they looked like a team that hasn't played a meaningful game of football in three weeks. They dug themselves a hole early, and they're not built to make a comeback. Give all the credit to a Chicago team that took advantage of early gifts and then leaned on a strong defense and rushing attack to finish off the game.
The first half consisted of two tipped balls that resulted in two Dragon QB Jake Locker interceptions that the Alphas converted into a 21-6 halftime lead. The Dragons bounced back a bit in the third quarter to end the stanza with only a 21-19 deficit thanks to a missed extra point. After a three and out from Chicago, the Dragons RB Phillip Tanner and a 22 yard touchdown run gave the Dragons their first lead that had the 52,075 Seattle faithful sighing some relief. The two point conversion only aided that belief as their team went up 27-21.
However, it was a great time for Alphas QB Aaron Murray to get his first touchdown pass of the game, the young QB went 4/5 on the final drive for 69 yards and hit WR Marquess Wilson for a 19 yard touchdown on a post. The Alphas pulled the upset!
Alphas - 28 Dragons - 27
(7-3)CHI: QB Aaron Murray - 13/19 249 yards, 1 TD, RB Ryan Mathews - 20 carries, 123 yards, 2 TDs, WR Shaq Evans - 6 catches, 87 yards, WR Marquess Wilson - 5 catches, 54 yards, 1 TD
(9-1)SEA: QB Jake Locker - 22/32 247 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Phillip Tanner - 13 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD, RB Chris Polk - 11 carries, 54 yards, WR TJ Graham - 4 catches, 81 yards, 1 TD, WR Ricardo Lockette - 4 catches, 81 yards
Manziel and Express Revenge Early Season Loss in OT
April 30, 2017
Memphis, TN - Both teams got the ball twice in the first quarter and both teams got two Field Goals, while both teams got the ball twice in the 2nd quarter and we saw the Iron get a three yard TD pass from QB Boyd to TE Kyle Miller and a 69 yard WR Marcus Thigpen scoring rush, while the Express scored on two TD passes from QB Manziel to Baldwin for 26 yards and one to TE Kory Sperry for 7. The game was a 20-20 tie at the half.
No scoring took place in the third quarter, but each team got 10 in the 4th to take the game into Overtime. Manziel hit WR Jon Baldwin with 26 seconds left to put the game there. In the extra period, QB Boyd made his first real mistake of the game when an errant pass landed in the arms of Express DB Macho Harris. Three RB Zac Stacy carries later and the Express relied on K Tom Obarski and his leg to take the team to the championship, and he delivered the 37 yarder.
Iron - 30 Express - 33
(7-3)BIRM: QB Tahj Boyd - 17/34 207 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Trent Richardson - 26 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD, WR Kaelin Clay - 6 catches, 79 yards, 1 TD
(8-2)MEM: QB Johnny Manziel - 21/31 259 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, RB Zac Stacy - 19 carries, 117 yards, 1 TD, WR Brandon Gibson - 6 catches, 71 yards, WR Jon Baldwin - 4 catches, 61 yards, 2 TDs