AFL looks to regroup in week two
Brian Belefski
Saturday May 4, 2024
Week one of the 2024 Arena Football season was a tumultuous rollercoaster ride. One can only imagine what the founder of the sport, Jim Foster, probably thought of the league revamp filled with ups and downs.
Let's start with the good news. Albany's 62-59 thrilling overtime win over Orlando was what the aforementioned Foster envisioned for the sport. MVP Arena drew a respectable crowd of 4,784, especially considering how that market was treated in the NAL under previous owner Antonio Brown last season.
Another positive was the return of the Nashville Kats. Although they've moved a few blocks from Bridgestone Arena, the set-up that they had at the Municipal Auditorium was well received and the Kats beat the fledgling Minnesota Myth 47-12.
On the flip side was the Philadelphia Soul game against the Louisiana Voodoo. In a contest that made national headlines for all the wrong reasons, the game-play system in Lafayette, LA was not up to professional standards and the once patented AFL net system was a hanging debacle. On top of that, Philadelphia played with a replacement team of semi-professionals from the AAL2's Dallas Falcons, after reportedly only three Soul players from training camp made the trip. The league has been silent about the situation and the Voodoo ended up winning 53-18 in a non-competitive game.
Philadelphia (0-1) is slated to play Minnesota (0-1) on Sunday for the Myth's inaugural home game at the Target Center. No word regarding the Soul roster has been announced.
Week 2 games to watch
In what is a must-see matchup, Nashville (1-0) plays at Albany (1-0) on Thursday at 8 p.m. The Kats are led by Ramone Atkins at QB, who had four passing touchdowns last week. Nashville's trio of defensive backs of Sedevyn Gray, Derrick Jones and Trae Meadows, which completely shut down Minnesota, will look to stop Albany's receiving trio of Darius Prince, Marquel Wade and Daquan Patten.
A mid-week scheduling change has Billings playing Washington on Sunday. It will be a reunion of sorts for Billings Head Coach Cedric Walker. Walker's first head coaching job was in Everett, with the Everett Hawks of the af2 in 2007. The Outlaws are coming off a 66-26 domination over Wichita, where QB Isaac Harker threw for seven touchdowns.
Another scheduling change has Georgia (0-1) playing at Oregon (1-0). The Blackbears were guided by QB Connor Kaegi's five touchdown passes in their 47-40 week one victory over Washington.
Orlando (0-1) hosts West Texas (1-0) on Sunday at 1 p.m. and the Predators are looking to avoid an 0-2 start. Despite blowing a 16-point lead against Albany, E.J. Burts' team had the look of a top team in the league. The QB matchup between Predators Drew Powell and West Texas' Jonathan Bane could be the top showdown of passing pivots this season. Orlando fans will recognize Lonnie Outlaw coming back to town. The 6-foot-7 towering receiving, played for the Predators in the NAL last season and is coming off a week 1 three touchdown performance.
Iowa (1-0) is looking to remain undefeated and head on the road to face a young, but talented SW Kansas (0-1). The Rampage will have to find a way to stop SW Kansas receiver Todd Athey, who was unstoppable with three touchdown receptions.
Monday night football
Salina (1-0) heads to Wichita (0-1) for a rare Monday night game. After taking a 43-19 lead against SW Kansas, the Liberty held on to get their opening win 43-40. Part of the success was the tandem of QB Charles McCullum to receiver Demarius Washington. Washington accounted for 73 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
Off the nets
Orlando Predators kicker Dylan Barnas, scored the first ever deuce in the Arena Football League. The new rule for the league, which has been previously used by various indoor leagues, awards two points to the kickoff team if the ball is successfully kicked between the goal posts.
In Iowa's 58-28 win over Rapid City, Rakeem Cato's touchdown pass to receiver Jaylen Schleicher was featured as the No. 3 play of the day on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10. Schleicher made an incredible one-handed touchdown, toppling over the endzone border into the stands. The Ironman rookie WR/LB from Winona State also had an interception on defense.
In West Texas' 51-28 win over the Georgia Force, defensive specialist Christophe Page had two interceptions to tie for the league lead after week 1. Nashville DB Trae Meadows also compiled two interceptions against Minnesota.
Five of the eight games in week one had a scoring differential of 23 or more points.
Due to scheduling changes, the Rapid City Marshals were issued a bye week for week two. Louisiana is also on bye after they were supposed to host the Georgia Force.
Welcome to the NFL
Nashville Kats receiver Cade Brewer signed with the San Francisco 49ers as a tight end for their upcoming mini-camp. Brewer had three receptions for 58 yards in week 1 and was an All-Big 12 honorable mention at Texas in 2021.
Southwest Kansas Storm center Desmond Bland was signed to the New Orleans Saints. The 6-foot-4 295-pound former University of West Florida offensive lineman can play both guard and center.
