WAFL Game Notes: Week 4

WAFL Game Notes: Week 4

Boston Maulers (1-1) @ Queen City Corsairs (1-2)

Thursday January 23 / 7:45pm CST / Guy B. Mayo Memorial (92,746)

Storylines:

The Maulers and Corsairs both relay on their running. Bam Bam Thunderman and Tony Henderson have been icons with their teams for the last three years that has helped the two teams combine for seven rushing touchdowns this season.

Boston is best in the WAFL at taking care of the football – just one turnover in two games. The Maulers offense has had big improvement from 2012. The team is #2 in points per game but strangely enough is bottom five in total, passing and rushing offensive yards.

Key Matchup:

The Maulers and Corsairs are last and next to last, respectively, in rush defense. Henderson and Thunderman should both have great impact days but the one that makes the biggest difference may lead his team to victory.

Difference Maker:

Luscious Sanders has been out of control. His five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns leads the league in both categories and Joseph Redfeather has never been known to make the best decisions in key situations. Sources say that Henderson’s carries are expected to spike but the odds Sanders doesn’t make his impact on this game are exceptionally thin.

Cincinnati Sentinels (3-0) @ Louisville Wolfpack (1-2)

Saturday January 25 / 1:30pm CST / Unitas Stadium (61,008)

Storylines:

Cincinnati and Louisville will meet in London on the day the first WAFL official game was played in 2011 on January 25, 2011. London was where the first WAFL test game was played. The Sentinels are undefeated but not without some luck and Hail Mary’s along the way while the Wolfpack’s offense has been upsetting in losses. 

The Sentinels have won their first three games with offense. They are top five in points per game, total yards and passing yards. These two teams are far from mistake free. Louisville has committed the third most penalties (15) and both teams have turned the ball over 9 times, an average of three per game.

Key Matchup:

Louisville has the fifth best rushing offense while the Sentinels boast the fourth worst rushing defense. This may be the game that Tiquan Collins and the Louisville run game finally gets going.

Difference Maker:

In both Louisville’s losses, they have allowed big offensive plays that have crushed any momentum they had. If any player will make a difference in this game, it will be Dustin McKnight on the outside. If he creates separation and allows Joe Sloan to let it fly, the Wolfpack could be staring at 1-3.

Los Angeles Immortals (3-0) @ Cleveland Stallions (0-2)

Saturday January 25 / 3:00pm CST / Cleveland Stadium (102,329)

Storylines:

It’s the Cleveland Stallions home opener Saturday and Cleveland’s second season has not gotten off to the start they would have hoped for. The Stallions have lost two games by a combined 49 points in 2013 and, while they have racked up the yards, the team is just not producing points, averaging 10 points per game (lowest average in the league).

The Immortals defense has been unbelievable. The team is giving up just 6.67 points per game, almost eight points less than any other team. They are a top three defense in every category and shut out Louisville last week. The 288 rushing yards allowed is less than half of what Queen City has allowed on the ground.

Key Matchup:

The only problem with Los Angeles this year has been their passing attack. The Immortals are averaging a league low 95.33 passing yards per game, more than 50 yards less than any other teams average. Cleveland’s defense gives up a league high 290 passing yards per game. If the Stallions win this battle, they could have a chance at pulling an upset and keeping it close.

Difference Maker:

For Cleveland to get the win, Jason Timbers will have to get his wide outs involved. Vance probably won’t find much success against LA so it’s up to Timbers to rack up the yards and force LA to play from behind, something that the Immortals would rather not do.

Minnesota Spartans (2-1) @ St. Louis Hornets (2-0)

Saturday January 25 / 4:30pm CST / Hardees Stadium (75,005)

Storylines:

The Hornets are playing their third straight home game to open up 2013. With a win, St. Louis would match the three wins they claimed in 2012. Minnesota just acquired star wide receiver Marcus Berry from Las Vegas this week, giving backup Nate Kemp another target to throw to. Kemp had over 250 passing yards in his debut last week against the Diablos.

Unlike Louisville and Cincinnati, these two teams do not make mistakes. Minnesota has just 20 yards in penalties in three games and only four turnovers. The Hornets also have four turnovers and six penalties through two games.

Key Matchup:

Nate Kemp may have had a great game last week but will probably need the help of Ahmad Price this week against a real tough Hornets ‘d’. There’s only one problem: the Hornets have the number one rush defense in the WAFL, giving up just 85.50 yards per game. Minnesota and St. Louis are the league’s two best rushing teams through three weeks and whether Ahmad Price can break through will be crucial.

Difference Maker:

Why not. Marcus Berry. These two teams are playing so well that what may separate the Spartans from the Hornets is their new and improved wide receiving core. The Hornets aren’t known for their weapons and Marcus berry may just get the Spartans the victory.

Osaka Shoguns (1-2) @ Philadelphia Iron (2-1)

Saturday January 25 / 6:00pm CST / Shogun Battlefield (63,725)

Storylines:

Osaka will try and get their first win on the road while Philadelphia will try and win their first at home. The Iron will still be without their starting wide receiver Javier Goya and Ivan Inferno, although they did make a trade with the Hornets to acquire Mitchell Harrison, who will start Saturday. The Iron has failed to reach the end zone through the air in three games this season.

Philadelphia will try for a fourth straight game to score over 20 points. The offense averages roughly 16 points per game and has lacked explosiveness that many other teams in the WAFL have on a weekly basis. 

Key Matchup:

Conner Pyatt has a nack for being able to not only pass teams to death but run on them as well. Due to that double threat, Osaka is the fourth highest rushing team in the league. The Iron allow less than 100 yards of rushing offense total, second best in the league. If Philadelphia can capture the winning formula that Edmonton had – pressure and containment on Conner Pyatt, than the Iron will finish the game 3-1.

Difference Maker:

When Dante Houle has played well, the Shoguns have been an unstoppable force. When it all is on Conner Pyatt’s shoulders it hasn’t worked out to well for Osaka. The difference in this game will be if Dante Houle can rack up yards and plenty of carries, keeping Philadelphia on their toes. He doesn’t have to have a great game, he just has to be good enough.

Edmonton Chill (2-1) @ Las Vegas Diablos (0-3)

Sunday January 26 / 8:30pm CST / Ripley Stadium (41,031)

Storylines:

Week 4 Sony Sunday Night Football’s Game of the Week. The Las Vegas Diablos made big trades this week in a sort of last-ditch effort to fix the issues that have plagued the Diablos at the start of this year. Marcus Berry is gone and in his place are two stout defensive linemen: Andrew Hawkins and Scott Cooley. The Diablos are aiming to get more of a pass rush so their electric secondary can have an easier time down the field.

While the Chill is one of the most balanced teams in the league but mistakes have hurt them all year long, particularly by their gunslinger Bubba Jones. Edmonton has 18 penalties, highest in the league for 120 yards, second highest in the league. Their 12 turnovers is highest in the league. Vegas is second in that category, 10 turnovers in three games. Whichever teams makes the least amount of mistakes will easily be the winner in this contest.

Key Matchup:

Michael O’Connor vs. Edmonton linebackers. The Edmonton pass defense has been absolutely outstanding, tops in the league giving up just 72 pass yards per game. That is not a typo. The next best pass defense in the league is Los Angeles – giving up twice as much, 147.33. O’Connor is not much of a thrower but a couple of big hits by an unblocked Bobby Starks and Jamal McCall will have O’Connor freaking out. O’Connor needs to establish the pass as much as possible early.

Difference Maker:

Jason Dodd won player of the week last week, dominating the line of scrimmage against Osaka. Dodd has proven he can take over games before and he has another opportunity to take over this game, with a struggling rushing attack (Vegas: 14^th in rushing offense) and a struggling quarterback group.