A Tale of Two Quarterback Competitions

Of all the quarterback competitions in arena football in 2018, two stick out above the rest – the Cape Fear Heroes and Columbus Lions.

Cape Fear won the Supreme Indoor Football (SIF) championship game, but also played two quarterbacks during the season. Both Ryan Bach and Daryll Clark saw action.

Clark started May 6 against the Cap City Bulls and led the Heroes to a win. The following week, Clark was injured against the Triangle Torch and was placed on injured reserve. Bach took over and led the Heroes all the way to the title.

“My mindset is being the starting quarterback for the Heroes and [I] am willing to put in the work to make sure that happens,” Bach told Inside the Arena.

In Columbus, Mason Espinosa started the season for the Lions in 2017 before eventually being benched for Darren Daniel. Daniel would have an impressive outing, but it would be Espinosa who would be under center through the Lions playoff run into the inaugural National Arena League title game. Unfortunately, they fell just yards short of a title as they fell to the Jacksonville Sharks.

Competing with him for the starting job this season will be former Corpus Christi Rage quarterback Kyle Cool. Cool didn’t do so well with the Rage, but the Rage didn’t do well as a team. This is a 180 for Cool as he looks to win the starting job in the competition against Espinosa.

“I plan to come to camp prepared and ready to work for that spot,” Cool told Inside the Arena in a recent interview. “It should be a fun competition and fun training camp all around. I am looking forward to my new opportunity in Columbus in 2018 with a top-tier organization in this league.”

Cape Fear and Columbus, of course, play in two different leagues. But like every team in every sport, there is only one goal, no matter who the quarterback is – win the championship.

Cape Fear Heroes Sign Quarterback Ryan Bach, Wide Receiver/Defensive Back Chad Walcott

The Cape Fear Heroes have signed two players in the last two days. First, they re-signed quarterback Ryan Bach. Bach played with the team in only a few games last season when they were in the Supreme Indoor Football (SIF).

Bach took over after starting quarterback Daryll Clark suffered a high ankle sprain against the Triangle Torch on May 12. Unfortunately for Bach, he also suffered an injury in the same game and would miss several weeks.

He returned June 3 against the Southern Steam. In their SIF semifinal against the Cap City Bulls, he threw for 264 yards as they defeated Cap City 63-14 to advance to the SIF championship game.

Against the 6-1 Triangle Torch, Bach threw for three touchdowns as they pulled off the upset, 30-24, to win the SIF title. He was named the game’s MVP for his performance. Now, he will have a chance to lead Cape Fear to a win in the first ever American Arena League title game.

Shortly after signing Bach, the Heroes announced that they signed wide receiver/defensive back Chad Walcott. Walcott played with the Torch the last two seasons. In 2016, he caught 12 touchdowns in seven games. He stepped up in 2017, recording 18 touchdowns in 12 games. The performance earned him 2017 SIF Offensive MVP of the Year and an all-star selection.

If you can’t beat them, join them. Cape Fear defeated the Torch in the SIF title game in 2017. Now, both teams will compete against one another in the AAL.