Jesse Dyess 
Courtesy Knight Hawks Facebook
Duke City (2-3) 26 (2-2) Vegas Knight Hawks 50
The biggest news of the week was the announcement that Nate Davis was being traded to the San Diego Strike Force. The Nate Davis trade had a very clear impact on the course of this game. The Vegas Knight Hawks blew out the Duke City Gladiators 50-26. Aaron Aiken and Demry Croft (received in the trade) only managed 4 of 14 for 11 yards passing. Tim Whittfield was the only thing of note on offense for Duke City, running for 53 yards and a touchdown, and another 9 receiving yards. Roderick Chapman and Zachary Hannibal both had interceptions in an otherwise poor defensive performance.
While Duke City’s passing attack couldn’t get going, Vegas quarterback Joe Mancuso had a great game. Mancuso throws 222 and 5 Touchdowns through the air, with 16 yards rushing and another 2 touchdowns. Quentin Randolph led all receivers with 6 receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Receivers Caleb Holley and Jordan McCray had two touchdowns each in the blowout. Malik Honeycutt was the Knight Hawk defender of the game, with 4.5 tackles and 2 pass breakups.
Duke City has the week off to go back to the drawing board before traveling to Texas to take on the Frisco Fighters, and
Sioux Falls Storm (2-2) 55 Green Bay Blizzard (2-3) 47
In contrast to Duke City and Vegas, This was a great game that went down to the wire. Sioux Falls managed to avenge last week’s loss. Storm quarterback Lorenzo Brown quite literally put the team on his back in this game. He would throw for 121 on 13 of 16 and 2 touchdowns. He also added 44 yards and 4 rushing touchdowns in the win. Donnie Corley leads all storm wideouts with 44 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns. Kick returner Bryson Denly had a 53-yard touchdown return, and Eric Jackson leads all storm defenders with 8 tackles.
Green Bay quarterback Ja’rome Johnson continues to wow and surprise in his rookie debut. He threw for 162 and 3 touchdowns but would be intercepted twice. However, the running game was his big contribution. The dual-threat quarterback ran for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. Running back Terrance Smith would add 2 more rushing touchdowns. Marquise Irvin was the only receiver of note with 4 receptions for 50 yards and 2 touchdowns. Treyvaughn McNeil would come up with 8.5 tackles in the loss.
After avenging last week’s loss, Sioux Falls hosts the Quad City Steamwheelers next Saturday. Green Bay will attempt to get back to .500 in 2 weeks when they host the Massachusetts Pirates.
Arizona Rattlers (2-3) 42 Frisco Fighters (5-0) 52
Arizona continues to struggle without former MVP quarterback Drew Powell. Against Frisco, they fell behind 21-6 early. The Rattlers managed to scrape back into the game, at one point only down 39-34, before Frisco put the game out reach. Quarterback TJ Edwards continues to shine, throwing for 192 yards and 3 touchdowns, and running for another 50 and a touchdown. Phazione McClurge led all fighters with 5 receptions for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns. Micheal LoVett was a real difference maker for the Fighters defense with 2.5 tackles and 2 interceptions.
Jorge Reyna continues to perform admirably in place of Powell, He would throw for 250 yards and 6 touchdowns, but on less than 50 percent completion, and with 2 interceptions. Isaiah Hustons 9 receptions for 136 and 4 touchdowns puts him in player of the week consideration. Dillon Winfrey’s 8 tackles and a pass break up were tops on a defense that struggled.
the Frisco Fighters will have the week off before taking on the Duke City Gladiators in week 8, and the Arizona Rattlers will travel to Tulsa looking to go back to .500.
Tulsa Oilers (1-3) 54 Iowa Barnstormers (0-4) 48
In a battle of teams that were still looking for their first wins, it would go down to the wire, but Tulsa wound up taking the game. Vince Espinoza of the Oilers drove the offense with 122 yards passing, 4 Touchdowns, and another 17 yards on the ground. 4 different Oilers had a touchdown in this game, but Harvey Bennett was the best wide receiver with 3 for 32 and a touchdown. On Defense Eric Sadlers 2 sacks, and Britto Tutt’s interception went a long way to securing the win. Britto Tutt also contributed on special teams with a 47-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
For Iowa I don’t know what’s more impressive, the fact that Jonathan Bane threw for 4 touchdowns or that he only completed 6 passes all game. Antonio Winbush led a very potent rushing attack with 16 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown. Caleb Smith would be the best receiver on the day for the Barnstormers coming down with a 35-yard touchdown catch. Eric Johnson had the defensive play of the day Iowa, coming up with a 43-yard pick-six.
Tulsa takes their 1-3 record home to host the struggling Arizona Rattlers this weekend, and the Barnstormers will travel up north to take on the Massachusetts Pirates.
Massachusetts Pirates (2-1) 44 Quad City Steamwheelers (3-1) 49
The Quad City Steamwheelers take their 3rd win of the season despite being down by 4 at the half. Quad City quarterback E.J. Hilliard continues to light it up. In this edition, he was 13 for 19 for 169 and 4 touchdowns, with another 47 on the ground and a touchdown. Jerron McGraw was his favorite target for this game going 7 for 73 and 2 touchdowns. On defense, Marquise Hendrix would lead the team with 8 tackles, and Darreon Jackson would come up with the Steamwheeler’s only turnover.
For the Pirates, quarterback Anthony Russo was good in a losing effort. He was 12 of 20 for 161 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jimmie Robinson continues to shine on the ground rushing for 42 and 2 touchdowns. Isaac Zico was Russo’s favorite target this game, getting 65 yards and a touchdown on 4 catches. Defensively Ezekiel Rose was the pirate of the game with 2 tackles for loss and 2 sacks on 5.5 tackles.
Next week, Massachusetts looks for their 3rd win, hosting the winless Iowa Barnstormers, and Quad City will travel to take on the Sioux Falls Storm.
San Diego Strike Force (2-3) 51 Tucson Sugar Skulls (3-1) 44
It’s been a great week for the San Diego Strike force, days after aquiring Nate Davis from the Duke City Gladiators, they pull off the upset of the previously undefeated Tucson Sugar Skulls. Down 37-31 on the last play of the game, San Diego State quarterback Rudy Johnson completes a 43 yard hailmary to Kentrez Bell brought the game into overtime. A few plays later a 17 yard pass to Marques Rodgers seals the upset.
Rudy Johnson finished the game 20 of 37 for 218 and 4 touchdowns. His two favorite targets, Kentrez Bell and Marques Johnson, ended up with 69 and 76 yards respectively, each with 2 touchdowns. Clayton Glascow was the man for the Strike Force defense, with 7 tackles, half a tackle for loss, and a half sack.
Forthe Sugar Skulls, Ramone Atkins was phenomanal going for 164 and 3 touchdowns. Running back Mike Jones added 56 yards on the ground and 3 touchdowns. Carrington Thompson and Dylan Person both had 67 yards receiving, Thompson with 2 touchdowns, and Person with 1. In a losing effort, Mike Minter was the defender of the game, with 5 tackles and a forced fumble.
San Diego looks to get back to .500 with this week when they host the Bay Area Panthers, and the Tucson Sugar Skulls attempt to regain their winning ways May 6th against the Northern Arizona Wranglers.
Northern Arizona Wranglers (2-2) 13 Bay Area Panthers (2-2) 47
This game was ugly from the word go. Northern Arizona made far too many mistakes, fumbling 4 times. They also allowed an onside kick to be returned for touchdown. Dalton Sneed would go for 82 yards passing and a touchdown, running for another 51 and a score. Running back Justin Rankin also ran for 46 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nih-Jer Jackson led all Panther receivers with 34 yards receiving and a touchdown. He also had a kick return for touchdown on an onside kick. On a defense that played lights out, it’s hard to pick a standout, but Trevaughn Grants 2 sacks and a forced fumble stand out.
Garrett Kettle was the lone bright spot in a very forgettable Wranglers performance. He went 11-22 through the air for 160 and a touchdown. Garrett also led all rushers with 77 and a touchdown. Jarrod Ware Jr. led all receivers with 6 receptions and 91 yards. Daniel Wright had 6 tackles on defense, leading all Wranglers.
The Wranglers will attempt to get to 3-2 with a game against the Vegas Knight Hawks, and the Bay Area Panthers will play the San Diego Strike Force on Sunday.
