Sharks Beat Wolfpack on Burley’s Debut

After an abrupt coaching change mid-week, the undefeated Jacksonville Sharks (10-0) took the field against the winless Dayton Wolfpack (0-7). The result was as expected, as Jacksonville outscored Dayton 45-6 to run out 77-32 winners.

In a bit of an early surprise, the Wolfpack matched the Sharks score for score throughout the first half, and early on held a 12-6 lead. Devin Wilson, however, immediately had other ideas. Wilson stretched his arms out into the end zone for a touchdown and a quick, one-point lead.

In what would be one of the bigger Dayton highlights of the night, DeMarcus Sweat caught a pass where he was wide open thanks to Micheaux Robinson slipping, and the Wolfpack took what was their final lead of the night, 18-13.

Damien Fleming, who had a comfortable night in the pocket, used intermediate routes on the next drive, ending it with a touchdown pass to Darryl Thompson. After the defense made two quick sacks, the second resulting in a fumble, Derrick Ross took it from there. Ross, the workhorse of the first half, scored from 10 yards out. Nick Belcher missed the extra point, but his night quickly turned around.

Sweat kept Dayton in the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion catch, but when Fleming ran into the end zone untouched soon after, the crowd of over 9,100 felt the rout was on.

Erick McIntosh started the second half with a pick-six, the first of 34 unanswered points by Jacksonville in the third and fourth quarter. In that run, only four players scored: Ross, Belcher with two deuces, Maurice Williams, and a safety on a Damien Jacobs sack in the end zone. McIntosh nearly scored again, but nearly ran into his own man on another interception.

Dayton did score late to bring the deficit to 66-32, but another Fleming scramble, another deuce, and another safety showed why Jacksonville has yet to lose in their NAL tenure.

The Sharks look to maintain a perfect record and clinch the #1 seed in the penultimate game of the season against the High Country Grizzlies. Kickoff for the second game in a three-game home stand is set for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 10.

Columbus Lions Shut Out Dayton Wolfpack, 77-0

The Columbus Lions knew they had to take care of business against the lowly Dayton Wolfpack, and to say they took care of business in tonight’s game is a large understatement. After getting off to a slow start, the Lions exploded in the last three quarters to blast the Wolfpack 77-0.

The Lions would score their only points of the first quarter when Darren Daniel connected with Jarmon Forston to put Columbus up 7-0. After the Wolfpack turned it over on downs, the Lions took advantage. Daniel found Gregory Hollinger in the end zone to extend the Lions lead to 13-0.

Dayton would turn the ball over again when Kyle Griswould recorded yet another interception to give Lions the ball back. The Lions would take control when Tristan Purifoy caught two consecutive touchdowns to put the Lions up 25-0. Griswould would get his second interception of the half, which would set up a Lions touchdown that gave them a commanding 32-0 lead.

After the Lions recovered a fumble, Hollinger would score on the ground to give Columbus a 39-0 lead at halftime. Daniel would be taken out after the Lions dominating first half, and Columbus didn’t slow down in the second half. Mason Espinosa would throw two touchdowns in relief of Daniel. Columbus would end up defeating the Wolfpack 77-0. Hollinger and Purifoy both had three touchdowns for the Lions. The Wolfpack won’t play again until June 3, when they play the Jacksonville Sharks in their season finale.

The Lions will get a little bit more of a challenge next week when they travel to take on the High Country Grizzlies.

Lehigh Valley Steelhawks Dominate Dayton Wolfpack, 68-6

The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks hosted the Dayton Wolfpack at the PPL Center in Allentown, PA on Saturday night. Lehigh Valley was looking for their fourth win in a row while Dayton was still searching for their first win of the season.

The Steelhawks would strike first when Warren Smith Jr found Darius Prince on a deep pass on the second play of the game. On their first play from scrimmage, Dayton would fumble and Lehigh Valley would recover. They would capitalize with a touchdown to Warren Oliver. By the end of the first quarter, Lehigh Valley held a 28-0 lead.

The first score in the second quarter back when Smith threw a touchdown to on a third and goal with about three minutes left. After a touchdown to Brandon Renford with 33 seconds left extended the lead to 40-0, Antonio Brown picked off a Dayton pass with 11 seconds left. Renford’ second touchdown in under a minute gave the Steelhawks a 47-0 halftime lead.

A pick-six to start the second half extended the lead go 53-0. Looking to go up 60-0, Lehigh Valley fumbled the ball near the goal line and Dayton recovered. They would score on the following play and the score after three was 53-6.

They would go on to win by a final score of 68-6. Both teams are on a bye week next week. The six points Lehigh Valley gave up is the lowest amount of points they have given up in franchise history.

Georgia Firebirds Hold Off Dayton Wolfpack, 35-32

The Georgia Firebirds hosted the Dayton/Atlanta Wolfpack on Saturday night. This was Georgia’s first home game in several weeks.

Georgia got off to a 9-0 lead fast in this game. That would prove to be the score at the end of the first quarter.

Georgia would turn the ball over twice on their first two drives of the second quarter. The Wolfpack were unable to capitalize on both recoveries, fumbling the second one in their own end zone for a Georgia touchback.

The Wolfpack would score a touchdown at the end of the first half to make the halftime score 9-7. They would take the lead with a rushing touchdown to begin the second half.

Georgia would score to take the lead back. Leading 29-26 with a little more than three minutes left, the Firebirds scored to put the game away. They would go on to win by a final score of 35-32. Georgia will play the High Country Grizzlies next week. The Wolfpack will take on the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks.