One Season, Two Dynasties

In just a two year span, we’ve gone from one arena football league – the Arena Football League – to three in the AFL, the National Arena League and American Arena League. While there isn’t a possibility of one being born in the AAL, there’s a chance two dynasties are born at the end of the summer – one in the AFL and one in the NAL.

The Philadelphia Soul will be looking for their third consecutive ArenaBowl title this season. Of course, like the other three AFL teams, they have a 25 percent chance of winning it all. A third consecutive title would give them the title of a dynasty. 

It won’t be an easy road for the Soul. They’ve possibly lost quarterback Dan Raudabaugh for the season with a torn labrum. Wide receiver Shaun Kauleinamoku was also placed on IR.

As for the other teams, Baltimore has already beaten Philadelphia led by quarterback Randy Hippeard, the opposing quarterback in last season’s ArenaBowl, and the Albany Empire and Washington Valor are also becoming bigger threats.

The Empire have made a big turnaround since their Week 1 blowout loss to the Soul. They are led by quarterback Tommy Grady, who also has a history against the Soul. Washington is looking like they could make a big turnaround with a new head coach and a new quarterback.

For Philadelphia, ArenaBowl XXXI will be played on Saturday, July 28. Columbus’ chance at the National Arena Bowl will come between Saturday, Aug. 25 and Monday, Aug. 27.

In the NAL, the Columbus Lions will be looking to crown themselves a dynasty, as well. They’ve have a different journey than Philadelphia, however. They won their first title since 2010 in 2015 while a team in the Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL). They moved to American Indoor Football (AIF) in 2016, where they also went on to win the title.

In their first season in the NAL, which was also the league’s first year, the Lions ad advanced to the National Arena League title game, now known as National Arena Bowl. While on their potential game-winning drive, the Lions fumbled the ball away and lost to the Jacksonville Sharks in the title game.

They still have a chance this season to make themselves a dynasty, however. With a win in National Arena Bowl II, they would have their third title in four years, just like the dynasties of the New England Patriots in the 2000s and the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s.

It won’t be easy. Two expansion teams in the Carolina Cobras and Massachusetts Pirates are showing that they are just as talented as they are.

NAL Now Episode XII: Pirates Put Down Lions Late, Maine Lashes Out on Lehigh Valley, Coach Billy Back

Jose breaks down another exciting NAL weekend with a Lions-Pirates match up for the ages and looks forward to what to expect from Jacksonville and Carolina coming off their bye weeks. Plus an interesting look at the playoff picture and special guest Carolina Cobras head coach Billy Back discusses everything from being the new team in town to what’s the go-to victory drink. All this and MORE on this episode of NAL Now.

(6/19/18)

Inside The Arena Social Links:

Stephen Ur     Jose Bahena

Click Here For More Episodes

Audio Provided By:

 Bensound Music

 

Arena Football League Week 10 Power Rankings

4. Washington Valor

After getting their first win over the defending champions on their home turf, many thought Washington was on the better of a second-half comeback on the season. That proved to be wrong when they were clobbered in Baltimore on Friday night against the Brigade. 

The Valor are on verge for a four-win season. They may make the postseason, but they will see an early exit, no matter who their opponent is.

3. Philadelphia Soul

Philadelphia won one of the most exciting games in AFL history Saturday night, overcoming a 12-point deficit with 38 seconds left to win as time expired. The win over Albany was their second of the three matchups. So why are they third instead of second?

Albany may have lost, but they outplayed the Soul for just about the entire game. Also, that win in Philadelphia to snap the Soul’s 20-game home win streak is big for any team. 

2. Albany Empire

This offense is one of the most explosive ever seen. They have a trio of star wide receivers in Joe Hills, Collin Taylor and Malachi Jones. Their quarterback, Tommy Grady, is also one of the best to play the game of arena football. Not only that, but they were two plays from having a commanding season series lead over the top team on our list. 

1. Baltimore Brigade

With Albany’s loss and their win over Washington, Baltimore is one step closer to clinching homefield in the first round of the postseason. If the season ended now and Baltimore won the two playoff games, they would undoubtedly host ArenaBowl XXXI. It’s looking that way now with three weeks left in the regular season.   

National Arena League Week 11 Power Rankings

6. Lehigh Valley Steelhawks

Congratulations, Lehigh Valley. You are now officially halfway through your imperfect season and have officially solidified your spot on the bottom of this list the rest of the season.

5. Maine Mammoths

If it weren’t for their two wins over the Steelhawks, Maine would be right there with them in the winless group. Maine has not been able to beat Jacksonville, Massachusetts, Columbus or Carolina this season. It’s confusing how they’ve sunk this low with all the talent that they have. What is known is that it is a long shot for them to make the playoffs.

4. Columbus Lions

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Columbus went from the team to beat in the National League to a very vulnerable league. Following their hot start, they have lost twice to Massachusetts, in the same fashion, not to mention, and blew it in Jacksonville. They were also a Hail Mary from a loss to Carolina. There is much football left to be played, but Columbus has got some work to do.

3. Jacksonville Sharks

Jacksonville had a bye week to recover from their loss to the Corbas last week. Despite that loss, this is still a team that came off a five-game winning streak and have turned things around from their 1-3 start. They’ve been playing better football all around. Let’s hope that they can keep it up if they want to win back-to-back titles.

2. Massachusetts Pirates

This team went from the joke of the league, with their quarterback possibly being the son of the owner to having no fullback on their roster just prior to the season, to one of the best teams. They have one of the most dominant defenses in the league. Quarterback Sean Brackett has also shut down critics from his 2017 campaign. 

The two wins against Columbus also say a lot about what kind of team the Pirates really are. While they are one of the best teams, they have yet to beat the best.

1. Carolina Cobras

Carolina took on a Jacksonville team that had won five in a row and dominated them in every way. They have beaten the Pirates in both of the team’s two meetings this season. If it weren’t for a successful Hail Mary, they would’ve also gotten a victory in Columbus over the Lions.

This coming week, Carolina will be looking for revenge against the Lions when they travel to Greensboro. Remember what happened last time the Corbas were out for revenge.