As most of you know, I missed the entirety of last season. Since I’d gained some functionality back in my hand, I wanted to see just how far I could push things before it began to give me issues. I figured to do that, I needed to come up with a decent media series where I could really pump out some words. Then I’d push it until my hand wouldn’t let me go anymore and then call it done. I had the perfect idea in mind. In an effort to catch up and refamiliarize myself with the league and our lovely players, I decided to take a dive into some of the games I missed last season. I wanted to see who had the best performances and really had breakout games. Figured I’d list two offensive performances and two defensive performances for each, but there is no guarantee that one team won’t own both slots in a game! Unfortunately I only made it to the end of week five, but still let’s dive in!
Week 1
Liberty 23 over Butchers 10
Offense
Philadelphia: Sam Torenson - RB - Torenson decided to start this season on a high note as he made it clear he was ready to return to form as Philadelphia’s feature back. 32 touches for 157 yards and an average of 4.9 yards a carry is nothing to overlook. He imposed his dominance at the line of scrimmage early and made it clear he was not going to be stopped. Torenson picked up 11 of Philadelphia’s 19 first downs by himself and was responsible for setting up all three of their made field goals in this game.
Chicago: Ahri Espeeyeeseetee - WR - On a day in which Philadelphia’s defense was dominant and Chicago’s offense struggled to get anything going, it was Ahri who breathed life into this team. He had two huge plays, a 41 yard reception that set up Chicago for their first points of the game and a 36 yard reception on the following possession that set them up for their final points of the game. If not for these two explosive plays, its likely Chicago would have been entirely shut out in this one. Have to give him credit for being the one guy who showed up.
Defense
Philadelphia: Wayne Howyanow - LB - Pass defenses are often an underrated statistic, but when your team knocks down 15 balls in a single game and gives the opposing quarterback nightmares, you have to at least take a look at the leader of that group. Howyanow was all over the field, knocking down pass after pass and even making it into the backfield with a sack. He personally batted down five balls and it was a miracle he didn’t come up with a pick. Four of his five deflections resulted directly in punts by Chicago, making his impact unquestioned in this one.
Chicago: Oats - DE - If there was a single player who was unwilling to allow the Liberty to walk out of this one unscathed, it was Oats. Defensive linemen struggle to put up big numbers in the trenches. It's always a battle and in a league like this, you rarely get to see these guys show up time and time again. That is what makes this insane game so special. Three tackles for a loss and a sack! Four total plays made behind the line of scrimmage for a single player in a game is almost unheard of in this league. Oats stepped up to the plate and did all he could, but unfortunately the team still faltered around him.
Yeti 48 over Wraiths 20
Offense
Colorado: Wolfie McDummy - QB - After spending his entire career being the punchline of jokes, McDummy decided to start off season 20 with a bang. He absolutely exploded, completing 24 of 34 passes 317 yards and two touchdowns through the air. His 71 percent completion percentage and 119.4 quarterback rating would have been impressive enough for him to walk out of this game with confidence, but he added another 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well. McDummy was the surgeon in charge of gobbling up 88 percent of the Yeti’s offensive yardage on the day. He set up this game as a statement, making it clear that we’d be seeing a different McDummy than we’d become used to. He was completely unstoppable on the day as Colorado only had to punt a single time all day. This one absolutely had to feel good.
Yellowknife: Rayne Gordon - WR - When the Wraiths drafted Gordon, they were looking for their offensive playmaker of the future. He wasted no time in showing them that they’d gambled correctly when selecting him. In his first game action for the NSFL, Rayne racked up 108 yards and a touchdown. That wasn’t the most impressive part of his performance though. It was the fact he caught six of the eight passes thrown his way and was a consistent big play target throughout the game. Four of his six receptions went for more than 15 yards. His two shorter ones? A seven yard reception to convert a 4th and 7, setting up the Wraiths for a last second field goal at the end of the half. The other was a 7 yard reception for a touchdown. On a day in which Yellowknife was being forced to race their opposition in points, Gordon seemed to be the only one able to keep up.
Defense:
Colorado: Bubba Thumper - DT - Thumper has quietly become one of the biggest defensive weapons in the league. After his rookie season, it looked like he might struggle a bit to gain some traction in the NSFL, but he’s been nothing but a stud since. In his four tackle, two sack appearance he imposed his will on the Yellowknife offensive line and made it clear that nothing on his side of the line was going to make it through. His two sacks combined resulted in 13 yards of loss for the Wraiths and both killed drives. His other two tackles were at the line of scrimmage on running plays, allowing less than a yard on both attempts. He ultimately ended three drives all on his own and on a day when Yellowknife desperately needed to make the most of every drive to keep pace, Thumper can be pointed to as the man who stuffed them.
Yellowknife: Giannis Kroustis - DT - On a day in which Yellowknife’s defense looked entirely overwhelmed by the onslaught of McDummy, there was only one man who even remotely seemed interested in slowing down the Yeti. Kroustis stands alone here because he alone was responsible for the only two stops the Wraiths made all day. His six yard sack caused the Yeti to punt and gave this defense the most brief of rests. He also made a key tackle on third down, forcing the Yeti to attempt a long field goal in which they missed. It is difficult to give this defense much credit at all after allowing 48 points, but had it not been for Kroustis’ efforts it was likely this game would have been even uglier.
Outlaws 35 over Hawks 24
Offense
Arizona: Jay Cue - QB - Welcome to the NSFL Jay Cue! Who could have possibly seen this coming? He had a few rookie moments in his debut game with two interceptions, but he more than made up for it. He completed 24 of 36 passes for 377 yards and five touchdowns! To compliment his 67 percent completion rating and terrifying air raid, he also led Arizona in rushing with 56 yards. The Outlaws trusted Cue to come in and run this offense and he absolutely hit the ground running as he absolutely thrashed the Hawks secondary. Cue was allowed to develop nicely in the DSFL and after being arguably the best quarterback in history at that level, it must have been exciting to show that he was capable of converting that over into the next level of play. This was an insane game by the young star and I’m sure we’ll see many more like it in the future.
Arizona: Willie B. Hardagain - WR - Any time you see a quarterback exploded like Jay Cue did, it is usually complemented by a huge game from a wide receiver. I’d have liked to have mentioned anything the Hawks did well on offense here, but frankly that’d be a disservice to the game Hardagain put up here. Five catches, 102 yards, and two scores was enough to turn heads. Every single time Hardagain touched the ball in this game, it was a highlight. He caught all five passes remotely thrown in his direction, all five receptions went for more than 10 yards, and both of his touchdowns were massive plays that came off of passes of 24 yards and 30 yards. This man put on an absolute clinic in this game and was likely one of the single most impressive games for a receiver in the entire season. You can never expect this kind of efficiency and when it does actually happen, you usually end up with lopsided games like this one.
Defense
Arizona: Galf Wilf - LB - It is often difficult for defensive rookies to get a foothold at the NSFL level. More times than not, you don’t really see their production explode until their sophomore season. Wilf was unwilling to wait. He flexed his range in this one and showed his ability to be a sideline to sideline playmaker. 11 tackles, a sack, two pass deflections, and an interception all combined for a very complete game by Wilf. He made his presence known all over the field and made every play a struggle for the Hawks offense. Seven offensive drives were killed by Wilf. His presence was felt all game long despite imposing himself early and killing two drives in the first quarter alone. The Hawk punted the ball six times, five of them were because Wilf forced them to come up short. You can’t ask for much more when you get this kind of effort from a rookie player.
Baltimore: Fabricio Baldari - DE - When Baldari’s name comes up, it is hard to think of anything other than consistency. Upon entering the NSFL, Baldari had an incredible rookie year that distinguished him as a top play maker on the defensive line. Since then, he has done nothing but produce week after week. This game was no different as he once more made an opposing offensive line look silly. I’ve mentioned before that it is pretty rare to see a player get more than two plays behind the line in this league, so it is always remarkable when you see a game like this one. Baldari racked up five total tackles, one for a loss, and two sacks. He allowed a single yard all night when Arizona tried to come his way and was a big reason why they had to rely so heavily on Cue. Unfortunately for Baldari, he is only one player and despite his best efforts, he alone couldn’t stop the kind of day that Cue was determined to have.
Copperheads 30 over Second Line 13
Offense
Austin: Easton Cole - QB - The quarterback of the Austin Copperheads has been developing at his own pace. We’ve seen him slowly get better and better with each passing season and everyone knew it would only be a matter of time before Cole really showed his ability to command this Copperheads offense. It is quite possible that he silenced all doubters by kicking this season off with such a dominant performance against one of the better defenses in the NSFL. For all of you at home taking notes, this moment should have been the one where the league was put on notice for what was to happen this season. Cole completed 29 of 43 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Mix this effort with his seven carries for 77 yards and Cole was allowed to control the flow of this offense for 55 total plays in this game. 55 times Austin leaned on him and he produced on 65 percent of those plays. I would take that any day. He was constantly pressured all day by an incredible New Orleans defensive front and was taken down five times in this contest, but it never seemed to phase him as he delivered dime after dime. Ice cold. Cole is becoming a true threat behind center in this league and I’m certain that the NSFL will start to notice.
Austin: Rod Tidwell - WR - If it was Tidwell’s goal to make his quarterback look good in the season opener, he more than got his wish. Tidwell made his mark as one of the league’s premier receivers right from the start in this one. He hauled in seven passes and all seven went for either first downs or touchdowns. Each play seemed to be flashier than the last as he racked up 115 yards on the day, averaging 16 yards a catch. Any time that Cole needed a play made, he looked Tidwell’s way and Tidwell didn’t even think about disappointing. Oh, did I mention touchdowns? Tidwell hauled in three scores in this game, two of which came on electric deep ball receptions of 32 and 34 yards. The man continuously burned the secondary of the Second Line and through four quarters, the opposition simply couldn’t figure him out. Tidwell turned out to be a top three receiver last season and it all started with the show he put on against the Second Line.
Defense
Austin: Chase Jensen - S - It is no secret that New Orleans leans heavily on their run game. When they aren’t able to get free when rushing, their offense tends to falter and struggle. Jensen authored a masterful game from the secondary to ensure that the New Orleans run game never really gained steam. Nine of his 12 tackles came in run support as he consistently came down to stop Second Line runners from getting free once they made it past the line. He allowed runners less than 3.5 yards a carry when he came down in support and he recovered the only turnover forced by Austin all game long. He was all over the field and he smothered everything that was thrown at him with a single 10 yard run by T?riki being his only negative play of the night. No player had more impact in stifling New Orleans than Jensen himself.
New Orleans: Blake Faux - DT - While New Orleans found their secondary getting shredded on a regular basis, their defensive line was not handled so easily. They kept the pressure on Easton Cole all night and made sure he was picking himself up off the ground more often than not. Leading this group was Faux with his five tackles and two sacks. Faux didn’t let a runner get past him a single time all night and he made sure Cole felt his presence every time the quarterback dropped back to pass. He led this frenzied line in a heroic effort, but unfortunately the receivers of the Copperheads proved to be too much for the Second Line’s secondary. They found holes and bailed out Cole repeatedly, ensuring that he never really felt the pressure that New Orleans was trying to put on him. Despite Faux’s best efforts, the defense as a whole just fell short.
Otters 37 over Sabercats 3
Offense
Orange County: Franklin Armstrong - QB - At this point in his career, Armstrong is no stranger to the limelight. He’s a walking highlight reel waiting to happen and he has made it very clear to the league that he is the top playmaker the NSFL has. His uncanny ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs makes Armstrong a dual threat that no one can ignore. On this night he completed 19 of 30 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns while tacking on another 26 yards on the ground. It wasn’t one of his best nights, but the fact that as 112.1 quarterback rating seems like a down night for Armstrong just goes to how what we’ve come to expect of him. He hit five different receivers for passes that went longer than 10 yards and also had a 10 yard rush, reminding everyone that Armstrong is a danger to make a big play anywhere on the field any time he drops back to pass. He was efficient and consistent the entire night and kept the Sabercats defense honest and off balance. Hard to imagine that he’s just now entering his prime.
San Jose: Quindarius Tyerucker - RB - There wasn’t a lot for the Sabercats to get excited about opening night, but at least Tyerucker gave them a glimpse of light. His 24 carries for 98 yards was just good enough for him to average more than four yards a carry. Their passing game struggled the entire game and it was on Tyerucker to strap the team to his back and carry it himself. He did his absolute best as he converted seven of San Jose’s 12 first downs himself and never had a single play go backwards. Unfortunately, he only really broke free on two plays beyond 10 yards and despite his consistency, you can’t keep pace with Armstrong four yards a time. Still, at least he showed some fire and gave San Jose a reason to be optimistic in the pit of a one sided game that had them on the losing side.
Defense
Orange County: Jaylen Storm - S - This one was too easy. With Orange County’s offense not being as explosive as they’re used to, they had to lean a little more on Storm’s side of the ball. He made sure that their faith was rewarded with a mixture of solid run coverage with four of his six tackles being within two yards of the line of scrimmage and impressive coverage when he had to go deep, even picking off Wright and returning it for a score of his own. Storm has been a centerpiece for this Orange County defense for a long time now and he always seems to make plays when they need him most. He’s become a leader of this defense as he’s developed and Orange County must love being able to get plays like this out of him.
Orange County: Korrin Abernathy - CB - Pass defense was the name of the game for Orange County in this one. Wright had an impossible time finding receivers all game long and Abernathy was a big part of that. As of entering season 20, Abernathy was still one of the younger guys on this roster, but he was no stranger to big plays. He has been consistent his whole career and he’s a key piece to one of the best secondaries in the league. He showed it in this one as he forced two incompletions that led to punts and capped off his night by making the single biggest highlight play of the night. On San Jose’s first drive of the third quarter, they looked like they might be driving. They neared the 50 yard line, but before they could pass it Abernathy picked off Wright and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. It was the play that put the nail in the coffin for this game and one that Abernathy will never forget. This defense was lock down all night, but it was Abernathy’s play that put a nice little cap on an incredible night.
Week 1
Liberty 23 over Butchers 10
Offense
Philadelphia: Sam Torenson - RB - Torenson decided to start this season on a high note as he made it clear he was ready to return to form as Philadelphia’s feature back. 32 touches for 157 yards and an average of 4.9 yards a carry is nothing to overlook. He imposed his dominance at the line of scrimmage early and made it clear he was not going to be stopped. Torenson picked up 11 of Philadelphia’s 19 first downs by himself and was responsible for setting up all three of their made field goals in this game.
Chicago: Ahri Espeeyeeseetee - WR - On a day in which Philadelphia’s defense was dominant and Chicago’s offense struggled to get anything going, it was Ahri who breathed life into this team. He had two huge plays, a 41 yard reception that set up Chicago for their first points of the game and a 36 yard reception on the following possession that set them up for their final points of the game. If not for these two explosive plays, its likely Chicago would have been entirely shut out in this one. Have to give him credit for being the one guy who showed up.
Defense
Philadelphia: Wayne Howyanow - LB - Pass defenses are often an underrated statistic, but when your team knocks down 15 balls in a single game and gives the opposing quarterback nightmares, you have to at least take a look at the leader of that group. Howyanow was all over the field, knocking down pass after pass and even making it into the backfield with a sack. He personally batted down five balls and it was a miracle he didn’t come up with a pick. Four of his five deflections resulted directly in punts by Chicago, making his impact unquestioned in this one.
Chicago: Oats - DE - If there was a single player who was unwilling to allow the Liberty to walk out of this one unscathed, it was Oats. Defensive linemen struggle to put up big numbers in the trenches. It's always a battle and in a league like this, you rarely get to see these guys show up time and time again. That is what makes this insane game so special. Three tackles for a loss and a sack! Four total plays made behind the line of scrimmage for a single player in a game is almost unheard of in this league. Oats stepped up to the plate and did all he could, but unfortunately the team still faltered around him.
Yeti 48 over Wraiths 20
Offense
Colorado: Wolfie McDummy - QB - After spending his entire career being the punchline of jokes, McDummy decided to start off season 20 with a bang. He absolutely exploded, completing 24 of 34 passes 317 yards and two touchdowns through the air. His 71 percent completion percentage and 119.4 quarterback rating would have been impressive enough for him to walk out of this game with confidence, but he added another 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground as well. McDummy was the surgeon in charge of gobbling up 88 percent of the Yeti’s offensive yardage on the day. He set up this game as a statement, making it clear that we’d be seeing a different McDummy than we’d become used to. He was completely unstoppable on the day as Colorado only had to punt a single time all day. This one absolutely had to feel good.
Yellowknife: Rayne Gordon - WR - When the Wraiths drafted Gordon, they were looking for their offensive playmaker of the future. He wasted no time in showing them that they’d gambled correctly when selecting him. In his first game action for the NSFL, Rayne racked up 108 yards and a touchdown. That wasn’t the most impressive part of his performance though. It was the fact he caught six of the eight passes thrown his way and was a consistent big play target throughout the game. Four of his six receptions went for more than 15 yards. His two shorter ones? A seven yard reception to convert a 4th and 7, setting up the Wraiths for a last second field goal at the end of the half. The other was a 7 yard reception for a touchdown. On a day in which Yellowknife was being forced to race their opposition in points, Gordon seemed to be the only one able to keep up.
Defense:
Colorado: Bubba Thumper - DT - Thumper has quietly become one of the biggest defensive weapons in the league. After his rookie season, it looked like he might struggle a bit to gain some traction in the NSFL, but he’s been nothing but a stud since. In his four tackle, two sack appearance he imposed his will on the Yellowknife offensive line and made it clear that nothing on his side of the line was going to make it through. His two sacks combined resulted in 13 yards of loss for the Wraiths and both killed drives. His other two tackles were at the line of scrimmage on running plays, allowing less than a yard on both attempts. He ultimately ended three drives all on his own and on a day when Yellowknife desperately needed to make the most of every drive to keep pace, Thumper can be pointed to as the man who stuffed them.
Yellowknife: Giannis Kroustis - DT - On a day in which Yellowknife’s defense looked entirely overwhelmed by the onslaught of McDummy, there was only one man who even remotely seemed interested in slowing down the Yeti. Kroustis stands alone here because he alone was responsible for the only two stops the Wraiths made all day. His six yard sack caused the Yeti to punt and gave this defense the most brief of rests. He also made a key tackle on third down, forcing the Yeti to attempt a long field goal in which they missed. It is difficult to give this defense much credit at all after allowing 48 points, but had it not been for Kroustis’ efforts it was likely this game would have been even uglier.
Outlaws 35 over Hawks 24
Offense
Arizona: Jay Cue - QB - Welcome to the NSFL Jay Cue! Who could have possibly seen this coming? He had a few rookie moments in his debut game with two interceptions, but he more than made up for it. He completed 24 of 36 passes for 377 yards and five touchdowns! To compliment his 67 percent completion rating and terrifying air raid, he also led Arizona in rushing with 56 yards. The Outlaws trusted Cue to come in and run this offense and he absolutely hit the ground running as he absolutely thrashed the Hawks secondary. Cue was allowed to develop nicely in the DSFL and after being arguably the best quarterback in history at that level, it must have been exciting to show that he was capable of converting that over into the next level of play. This was an insane game by the young star and I’m sure we’ll see many more like it in the future.
Arizona: Willie B. Hardagain - WR - Any time you see a quarterback exploded like Jay Cue did, it is usually complemented by a huge game from a wide receiver. I’d have liked to have mentioned anything the Hawks did well on offense here, but frankly that’d be a disservice to the game Hardagain put up here. Five catches, 102 yards, and two scores was enough to turn heads. Every single time Hardagain touched the ball in this game, it was a highlight. He caught all five passes remotely thrown in his direction, all five receptions went for more than 10 yards, and both of his touchdowns were massive plays that came off of passes of 24 yards and 30 yards. This man put on an absolute clinic in this game and was likely one of the single most impressive games for a receiver in the entire season. You can never expect this kind of efficiency and when it does actually happen, you usually end up with lopsided games like this one.
Defense
Arizona: Galf Wilf - LB - It is often difficult for defensive rookies to get a foothold at the NSFL level. More times than not, you don’t really see their production explode until their sophomore season. Wilf was unwilling to wait. He flexed his range in this one and showed his ability to be a sideline to sideline playmaker. 11 tackles, a sack, two pass deflections, and an interception all combined for a very complete game by Wilf. He made his presence known all over the field and made every play a struggle for the Hawks offense. Seven offensive drives were killed by Wilf. His presence was felt all game long despite imposing himself early and killing two drives in the first quarter alone. The Hawk punted the ball six times, five of them were because Wilf forced them to come up short. You can’t ask for much more when you get this kind of effort from a rookie player.
Baltimore: Fabricio Baldari - DE - When Baldari’s name comes up, it is hard to think of anything other than consistency. Upon entering the NSFL, Baldari had an incredible rookie year that distinguished him as a top play maker on the defensive line. Since then, he has done nothing but produce week after week. This game was no different as he once more made an opposing offensive line look silly. I’ve mentioned before that it is pretty rare to see a player get more than two plays behind the line in this league, so it is always remarkable when you see a game like this one. Baldari racked up five total tackles, one for a loss, and two sacks. He allowed a single yard all night when Arizona tried to come his way and was a big reason why they had to rely so heavily on Cue. Unfortunately for Baldari, he is only one player and despite his best efforts, he alone couldn’t stop the kind of day that Cue was determined to have.
Copperheads 30 over Second Line 13
Offense
Austin: Easton Cole - QB - The quarterback of the Austin Copperheads has been developing at his own pace. We’ve seen him slowly get better and better with each passing season and everyone knew it would only be a matter of time before Cole really showed his ability to command this Copperheads offense. It is quite possible that he silenced all doubters by kicking this season off with such a dominant performance against one of the better defenses in the NSFL. For all of you at home taking notes, this moment should have been the one where the league was put on notice for what was to happen this season. Cole completed 29 of 43 passes for 305 yards and three touchdowns. Mix this effort with his seven carries for 77 yards and Cole was allowed to control the flow of this offense for 55 total plays in this game. 55 times Austin leaned on him and he produced on 65 percent of those plays. I would take that any day. He was constantly pressured all day by an incredible New Orleans defensive front and was taken down five times in this contest, but it never seemed to phase him as he delivered dime after dime. Ice cold. Cole is becoming a true threat behind center in this league and I’m certain that the NSFL will start to notice.
Austin: Rod Tidwell - WR - If it was Tidwell’s goal to make his quarterback look good in the season opener, he more than got his wish. Tidwell made his mark as one of the league’s premier receivers right from the start in this one. He hauled in seven passes and all seven went for either first downs or touchdowns. Each play seemed to be flashier than the last as he racked up 115 yards on the day, averaging 16 yards a catch. Any time that Cole needed a play made, he looked Tidwell’s way and Tidwell didn’t even think about disappointing. Oh, did I mention touchdowns? Tidwell hauled in three scores in this game, two of which came on electric deep ball receptions of 32 and 34 yards. The man continuously burned the secondary of the Second Line and through four quarters, the opposition simply couldn’t figure him out. Tidwell turned out to be a top three receiver last season and it all started with the show he put on against the Second Line.
Defense
Austin: Chase Jensen - S - It is no secret that New Orleans leans heavily on their run game. When they aren’t able to get free when rushing, their offense tends to falter and struggle. Jensen authored a masterful game from the secondary to ensure that the New Orleans run game never really gained steam. Nine of his 12 tackles came in run support as he consistently came down to stop Second Line runners from getting free once they made it past the line. He allowed runners less than 3.5 yards a carry when he came down in support and he recovered the only turnover forced by Austin all game long. He was all over the field and he smothered everything that was thrown at him with a single 10 yard run by T?riki being his only negative play of the night. No player had more impact in stifling New Orleans than Jensen himself.
New Orleans: Blake Faux - DT - While New Orleans found their secondary getting shredded on a regular basis, their defensive line was not handled so easily. They kept the pressure on Easton Cole all night and made sure he was picking himself up off the ground more often than not. Leading this group was Faux with his five tackles and two sacks. Faux didn’t let a runner get past him a single time all night and he made sure Cole felt his presence every time the quarterback dropped back to pass. He led this frenzied line in a heroic effort, but unfortunately the receivers of the Copperheads proved to be too much for the Second Line’s secondary. They found holes and bailed out Cole repeatedly, ensuring that he never really felt the pressure that New Orleans was trying to put on him. Despite Faux’s best efforts, the defense as a whole just fell short.
Otters 37 over Sabercats 3
Offense
Orange County: Franklin Armstrong - QB - At this point in his career, Armstrong is no stranger to the limelight. He’s a walking highlight reel waiting to happen and he has made it very clear to the league that he is the top playmaker the NSFL has. His uncanny ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs makes Armstrong a dual threat that no one can ignore. On this night he completed 19 of 30 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns while tacking on another 26 yards on the ground. It wasn’t one of his best nights, but the fact that as 112.1 quarterback rating seems like a down night for Armstrong just goes to how what we’ve come to expect of him. He hit five different receivers for passes that went longer than 10 yards and also had a 10 yard rush, reminding everyone that Armstrong is a danger to make a big play anywhere on the field any time he drops back to pass. He was efficient and consistent the entire night and kept the Sabercats defense honest and off balance. Hard to imagine that he’s just now entering his prime.
San Jose: Quindarius Tyerucker - RB - There wasn’t a lot for the Sabercats to get excited about opening night, but at least Tyerucker gave them a glimpse of light. His 24 carries for 98 yards was just good enough for him to average more than four yards a carry. Their passing game struggled the entire game and it was on Tyerucker to strap the team to his back and carry it himself. He did his absolute best as he converted seven of San Jose’s 12 first downs himself and never had a single play go backwards. Unfortunately, he only really broke free on two plays beyond 10 yards and despite his consistency, you can’t keep pace with Armstrong four yards a time. Still, at least he showed some fire and gave San Jose a reason to be optimistic in the pit of a one sided game that had them on the losing side.
Defense
Orange County: Jaylen Storm - S - This one was too easy. With Orange County’s offense not being as explosive as they’re used to, they had to lean a little more on Storm’s side of the ball. He made sure that their faith was rewarded with a mixture of solid run coverage with four of his six tackles being within two yards of the line of scrimmage and impressive coverage when he had to go deep, even picking off Wright and returning it for a score of his own. Storm has been a centerpiece for this Orange County defense for a long time now and he always seems to make plays when they need him most. He’s become a leader of this defense as he’s developed and Orange County must love being able to get plays like this out of him.
Orange County: Korrin Abernathy - CB - Pass defense was the name of the game for Orange County in this one. Wright had an impossible time finding receivers all game long and Abernathy was a big part of that. As of entering season 20, Abernathy was still one of the younger guys on this roster, but he was no stranger to big plays. He has been consistent his whole career and he’s a key piece to one of the best secondaries in the league. He showed it in this one as he forced two incompletions that led to punts and capped off his night by making the single biggest highlight play of the night. On San Jose’s first drive of the third quarter, they looked like they might be driving. They neared the 50 yard line, but before they could pass it Abernathy picked off Wright and returned it 46 yards for a touchdown. It was the play that put the nail in the coffin for this game and one that Abernathy will never forget. This defense was lock down all night, but it was Abernathy’s play that put a nice little cap on an incredible night.