Western Conference Looks Dominant Again
Guardians Stand Tall as Rest of East Fall Flat
March 3, 2019
Dallas, TX - As one of the marquee matchups of the week, the game between the New York Guardians, led by QB Josh Freeman, and the Dallas Renegades, with their own stud QB in former Steeler Landry Jones, was an energetic back and forth affair. No doubt the 47,050 in attendance were pleased with the game they watched, despite the loss. No one is going to blame Jones for the loss, as his elusive pocket presence and rocket arm led the Renegades, with 305 yards passing and 3 TD’s.
Equal to the challenge, Josh Freeman also threw for 3 scores, though on only 15-24 and 198 yards. Freeman benefitted from the deft running of former Giant Orleans Darkwa, who racked up 120 yards on 22 carries to take the early league lead in rushing. RB Andre Williams scored on a 3 yard plunge to put the Guardians up 28-24 as the 4th quarter started, one of 4 lead changes during the game. Dallas countered the Williams score, taking the ball down the field on the next drive in only 4 plays, led by a beautiful 24 yard catch on the sideline by WR Terrence Williams. Two plays later Jones hit Williams again for a 12 yard score and the Renegades were back in front, though a missed PAT did take a bit of the edge off the score.
New York, undaunted, started the next drive on their own 11 after a holding call on the kickoff return backed them up. The combination of Freeman’s passing and Darkwa’s tough running got the Sentinels in range to score with 2:07 left. Freeman was facing a 2nd and 7 from the 17 when he spotted WR Rueben Randle crossing the back of the endzone, and hit him with a perfect looping arc to the back right corner of the endzone. The Guardians led 35-30 but Jones would have nearly a full 2 minutes to get a score on the board. Dallas moved the ball initially, but at the New York 41 the need to score a TD meant going for it on 4th and 4. Jones rolled right and tried to squeeze a tight spiral in to TE Donald Parham, but the big right hand of New York LB Prince Shembo deflected the pass and ended the hopes for a comeback victory by the home team.
Guardians - 35 Renegades - 30
(2-0)NY: QB Josh Freeman - 15/24 198 yards, 3 TDs, RB Orleans Darkwa - 22 carries, 120 yards, 1 TD, WR Rueben Randle - 5 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD, WR Hakeem Nicks - 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD
(2-0)DAL: QB Landry Jones - 20/31 305 yards, 3 TDs, RB Cameron Artis Payne - 20 carries, 76 yards, WR Terrence Williams - 8 catches, 139 yards, 2 TDs, WR Jazz Ferguson - 5 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
Blues - 26 Dragons - 9
(2-0)MIA: QB EJ Manuel - 16/25 218 yards, 3 TDs, RB Denard Robinson - 30 carries, 109 yards, WR Leonard Hankerson - 6 catches, 102 yards, 1 TD, WR Kevin White - 3 catches, 47 yards, 1 TD
(1-1)SEA: QB BJ Daniels - 11/23 127 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Thomas Rawls - 22 carries, 73 yards, WR TJ Graham - 5 catches, 60 yards, 1 TD
Gladiators - 20 Conquerors - 27
(1-1)CLE: QB Brock Osweiler - 13/25 148 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB Paul Perkins - 15 carries, 106 yards, RB Jeremy Hill - 21 carries, 117 yards, WR Josh Doctson - 5 catches, 64 yards, WR Carlos Henderson - 4 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD
(1-1)LV: QB Ryan Mallett - 18/26 328 yards, 3 TDs, RB Terrance West - 19 carries, 76 yards, WR Jarrett Boykin - 3 catches, 74 yards, 2 TDs, WR Brandon Coleman - 4 catches, 62 yards, WR Vincent Brown - 4 catches, 56 yards, 1 TD
Storm - 24 Stallions - 30
(0-2)TB: QB Brad Kaaya - 4/14 70 yards, RB Alex Collins - 16 carries, 187 yards, 1 TD, RB Mark Walton - 22 carries, 85 yards, 2 TDs, WR Kelvin Benjamin - 1 catch, 42 yards
(1-1)STL: QB Paxton Lynch - 17/26 260 yards, 2 TDs, 3 INTs, RB Christine Michael - 18 carries, 74 yards, RB Matt Jones - 8 carries, 35 yards, 1 TD, WR Terrelle Pryor - 6 catches, 94 yards, WR Kaelin Clay - 3 catches, 73 yards, 1 TD
Predators - 28 Fleet - 31
(0-2)ORL: QB Christian Ponder - 6/14 94 yards, 1 TD, RB Akeem Hunt - 21 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD, RB Antonio Andrews - 17 carries, 77 yards, 1 TD, WR Donte Moncrief - 2 catches, 29 yards, 1 TD
(2-0)SD: QB Colin Kaepernick - 15/30 227 yards, 4 TDs, RB Kapri Bibbs - 21 carries, 153 yards, WR Martavis Bryant - 6 catches, 119 yards, 2 TDs, WR Braxton Miller - 4 catches, 64 yards, 1 TD
Iron - 17 Wildcats - 10
(2-0)BIRM: QB Tahj Boyd - 5/15 54 yards, RB Trent Richardson - 18 carries, 187 yards, RB Ladarius Perkins - 15 carries, 53 yards, WR L'Damien Washington - 2 catches, 32 yards
(2-0)LA: QB Jimmy Clausen - 15/24 247 yards, 1 TD, RB Branden Oliver - 16 carries, 52 yards, RB Kendall Hunter - 16 carries, 37 yards, WR DaVaris Daniels - 6 catches, 101 yards, WR AJ Jenkins - 4 catches, 85 yards, 1 TD
Express - 13 Generals - 19
(0-2)MEM: QB Zach Mettenberger - 7/29 98 yards, 3 INTs, RB Zac Stacy - 14 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD, RB Jeremy Langford - 21 carries, 103 yards, WR Brice Butler - 3 catches, 45 yards
(0-2)COL: QB Tyree Jackson - 12/28 151 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, RB CJ Anderson - 26 carries, 91 yards, RB Charcandrick West - 14 carries, 78 yards, 1 TD, WR Jaelen Strong - 6 catches, 74 yards
*Valor - 22 Roughnecks - 7
(0-2)DC: QB Cardale Jones - 14/17 208 yards, RB Lorenzo Taliaferro - 26 carries, 133 yards, 1 TD, WR Rashod Ross - 4 catches, 70 yards, WR Eli Rogers - 3 catches, 62 yards
(1-1)HOU: QB Connor Cook - 7/17 121 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, RB Karlos Williams - 19 carries, 63 yards, WR Cam Phillips - 2 catches, 54 yards, WR Sammie Coates - 3 catches, 48 yards, 1 TD
*Washington started backup QB Cardale Jones over Dalton Sturm
Brigade - 15 Commanders - 31
(0-2)BAL: QB Johnathon Jennings - 11/22 184 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, RB DJ Foster - 21 carries, 91 yards, WR Aaron Dobson - 4 catches, 78 yards, 1 TD, WR Leonte Carroo - 4 catches, 65 yards, 1 TD
(2-0)SA: QB Tim Tebow - 8/14 120 yards, 1 TD, RB Kenneth Farrow - 19 carries, 110 yards, 1 TD, RB David Cobb - 20 carries, 121 yards, 2 TDs, WR Greg Ward - 3 catches, 44 yards, 1 TD
Soul - 9 Alphas - 20
(0-2)PHIL: QB David Fales - 7/19 64 yards, RB Alfred Blue - 14 carries, 89 yards, WR Jordan Matthews - 3 catches, 28 yards
(1-1)CHI: QB Aaron Murray - 10/20 104 yards, 1 TD, RB Jacques Patrick - 21 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD, RB De'Veon Smith - 16 carries, 82 yards, WR Shaq Evans - 4 catches, 37 yards, 1 TD
Comments