Another Weekend, Fleet and Iron Move On
Fleet Knock Off Favored Commanders
May 20, 2018
San Antonio, TX - It was all San Diego Sunday night as the Fleet dominated the San Antonio Commanders, 31-11, at SDCCU Stadium. Sunday’s matchup marked the second game between the teams this season, and revenge for San Diego after the Fleet fell to San Antonio during the first week of the season.
Despite Sunday’s impressive win, San Diego’s start was ugly. On the first snap of the game, San Antonio corner Ras-I Dowling hauled an interception, and on the next play Commanders’ quarterback Tim Tebow found WR Devier Posey for a 47-yard touchdown and an early 8-0 lead. With minutes to go in the first quarter, Fleet quarterback Colin Kaepernick connected with WR Charles Johnson for a 3-yard touchdown, which shifted the game’s momentum. Tebow went on to throw a pick six, handing the Fleet a 14-8 lead with just under 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter.
Kaepernick then capped an 11-play, 84-yard drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Johnson, giving the Fleet a 22-8 lead at half-time. The Fleet’s strong defense kept the pressure on Tebow in the third, as San Diego looked to build steam.
Head coach Mike Martz said before Sunday’s game, “We’re small, compared to the rest of the league, but they’re strong and have great speed and I think the details, all the things that make you really good on defense, they execute very well. And they’ll continue to get better every week.”
Fleet - 31 Commanders - 11
(10-2)SD: QB Colin Kaepernick - 17/25 193 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Kapri Bibbs - 12 carries, 122 yards, 1 TD, RB Bishop Sankey - 13 carries, 75 yards, WR Braxton Miller - 5 catches, 83 yards WR Charles Johnson - 4 catches, 50 yards, 2 TDs
(11-1)SA: QB Tim Tebow - 16/27 172 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB Karlos Williams - 7 carries, 75 yards, WR Devier Posey - 4 catches, 91 yards, 1 TD
Iron Ride Richardson for Chance at a Championship
May 21, 2018
New York, NY - The Guardians, in typical fashion, started off strong. They ate up nearly 10 minutes of the first quarter with short passes and rushing plays. Still, their ability to chew clock was ultimately ineffective.
Birmingham was able to capitalize on turnovers all game, scoring another field goal in the second quarter off of a Guardian QB Josh Freeman interception to go up 12-6. Iron RB Trent Richardson also managed to find his way to the end zone for his second touchdown of the day off of another interception. That touchdown was ultimately followed by a two-point conversion, also hauled in by Richardson, to bump the score to 20-6.
Up 14 points, the Iron remained relentless. Richardson powered through once again for a handful of short gains, culminating in his third touchdown of the game.
Iron Head coach Tony Dungy complimented Defensive Coordinator Tim Lewis, saying that he may have done the best job any defense had done all season against the potent Guardians passing attack.
Guardians - 10 Iron - 28
(11-1)NY: QB Josh Freeman - 28/48 328 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs, RB Orleans Darkwa - 13 carries, 56 yards, WR Hakeem Nicks - 10 catches, 114 yards, 1 TD, WR Rueben Randle - 6 catches, 83 yards
(9-3)BIRM: QB Tahj Boyd - 17/31 160 yards, 1 INT, RB Trent Richardson - 16 carries, 86 yards, 3 TDs, WR Greg Ward - 9 catches, 84 yards, WR Kaelin Clay - 4 catches, 58 yards