Crystal Bowl 53: Redemption for Stars or Bulldogs new era?

Crystal Bowl 53 | Bristol Bulldogs vs Hallas Stars | Sunday 5th March 2023

This year’s Crystal Bowl could be the second time lucky for Hallas, losers of last year’s finale to the 96ers.

In their way are the 15-3 Bristol Bulldogs. The Dogs had the best record and looked the strongest and most balanced team throughout the campaign. Their Offence is run by QB Brad Robinson, who has come a little out of his shell these past two years and is considered more than a game manager. Receivers Edgerious Jones and Dennis Morales are quick and deadly threats, whilst Running Backs Lamar Hall and Angelo Elliot are a perfect match in the backfield.

The Stars have Chase Hand at the helm with great targets , veteran Amani Sanders, Kobe Snider, Kevin Grandmont and super-veteran Anchor (TE) Bob Lloyd. They added youth to the running game with Antonio Smith. Defensively, the Stars have a good front seven and superstar secondary. The Bulldogs are no slouches defensively either.

As with most of these games, the cliche of it being won in the trenches between the lines seems very relevant.

We’re looking forward to seeing the two teams collide on Sunday 5th.

Crystal Bowl XLVIII: The Game

Crystal Bowl XLVIII: The PFL Championship 2017-18|

  ROCHESTER TROJANS 28
  NEW JORG 96ERS 41

	1	2	3	4	ET	FT
OAKLAND	7	14	0	7	–	28
CHAKOTA	14	7	3	17	–	41

From the Cherry Bowl Stadium, Granada.

1st Quarter:
NJ – Johnson 17 pass from Sierra (Gold XP); 0-7
NJ – Brown 25 pass from Sierra (Gold XP); 0-14
ROC- Shell 16 pass from Bruce (Turner XP); 7-14
2nd Quarter:
NJ – Jammer 29 interception return (Gold XP); 7-21
ROC- Shell 2 run (Turner XP); 14-21
ROC- Philips 27 pass from Bruce (Turner XP); 21-21
3rd Quarter:
NJ – Gold FG 37; 21-24
4th Quarter:
NJ – McKeown 89 fumble recovery return (Gold XP); 21-31
NJ – Brown 18 pass from Sierra (Gold XP); 21-38
ROC- Philips 60 pass from Bruce (Turner Kick);28-38
NJ – Gold FG 25; 28-41

The Rochester Trojans turned the ball over five times in a slightly one-sided second half performance at the Cherry Bowl stadium. QV Ryan Bruce threw four interceptions- all to POTG WB Edgar Jammer, one returned for a pick six.

The ‘Sixers started off at breakneck speed, being 14-0 after two Kurt Sierra touchdown tosses; to Johnson and Brown. The Trojans first three possessions ended with three and outs and an interception. They started off running away from DE Vin Marshall and his pass rushing prowess. They were playing in to the New Jorg Defence’s hand- who dared them to throw the other side to – Jammer.

Following Frank Bowman’s fumble, the Trojans got one back with a Ray Shell catch and run for sixteen yards. The Trojans then gave up the pick six, before rallying with a Shell running TD and Ryan Bruce’s pass to Philips. It was tied at 21 at the half.

After the halftime show featuring Ellie Winters and Monstersauce, the game restarted with defences on top. Vin Marshall and the ‘Sixers front seven locked down the Trojans.
It took a defensive play to open the game back up, and it happened following Ray Shell’s fumble. The ball popped up into the hands of Defensive End Marco McKeown, who returned it 89 yards for the score.

Kurt Sierra then topped the day off with a second scoring pass to Asante Brown. The Trojans pulled one back when Philips broke through for a 60 yard score.

The New Jorg 96ers were crowned the champions of the PFL for the third time. With that defence, how many more can they get?

Miners lose QB Mullen for the season

San Andreas Miners QB Brandon Mullen broke his jaw in the game against Hallas Stars last night. He is expected to have surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

He is the second high profile QB to go down this season, with the Adelphia Phoenix missing Matt Kelly for 6-8 weeks with a broken finger in his throwing hand.

The Miners lost the game and fell to 4-5, leaving their season in jeopardy.

Ravens 6-0 Not getting any love?

Oakland Ravens | PFL | Season 2017-18

By Ryan Solis, PFL Reporter.

The Oakland Ravens are the only undefeated team after six rounds of the PFL season. They have been the only truly consistent team this year, so why have they not been getting the love and appreciation that Landor were getting last year?

No Razzle Dazzle?

The main difference between the 2016 Landor Knights and the 2017 Oakland Ravens is showmanship. You had the capital city, bright lights, a little bit of styling and profiling, dabbing, charisma. The Ravens have been saying and doing the right things- just it has been a little too low-key for TV! Some say boring, even. Tom Tomkowski, or ‘TOM2’ is a brand, but he’s been playing to the part lines, been a team player. This is a very good thing, but it doesn’t raise the profile. That is how the Ravens seem to like it, though.

Option Kings?

Tom Tomkowski is a good all-rounder. The team have been successfully implementing triple option and read-option plays into their schemes. With a league that apart from a few prefer the air-raid passing attacks, this is a novelty. You played against it in UFB, but not so much in the PFL. This is showing to be a good option for the Ravens so far.

Defensive Showing?

The Ravens’ defence has played very well to date, only conceding 67 points in six games, 7 points of the 74 came from a kick return. They have shown a lot of discipline in sticking to their roles and allowing the combined talent to shine. This reminds me a lot of the New England Patriots ‘do your job’  mantra. So far, so good.

Only five games in

Part of the lack of hype has been that we are only six games in, less than a third of the season played out. The hype will definitely grow if they continue to win as the weeks go by. No one is expecting an  18-0 team in this new 16 team set-up. You play everyone nowadays. My thoughts are that the team are happy flying a little under the radar, just taking things week by week.

Without making headlines or seeking attention, the Ravens are clearly doing it their way- as a team. Best of luck to them.

QB Kelly breaks finger, out for 6-8 weeks

PFL | Adelphia Phoenix | Matt Kelly

Adelphia Phoenix QB Matt Kelly injured a finger in his throwing arm in last nights game versus the Caligara Bulldogs. Kelly is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, depending on how his throwing action can cope with any necessary adjustments.

Greg Wayne, who took over in the first quarter, is expected to deputise, despite his poor outing in Caligara. Wayne couldn’t complete 50% of his passes and the team only gained 10 first downs in three and a half quarters with him at the helm.

Knights make PFL History: 16-0

Sunday 15 January 2017 | Melboro Giants| New Chester Knights

   NEW CHESTER KNIGHTS   17
 MELBORO GIANTS   16

It wasn’t pretty but the New Chester Knights made history last night with their 17-16 victory over the Melboro Giants in a snowy and icy Melboro.

Elijah Brooks struggled for three quarters (5/15, 76 yrds, 1TD 1 INT) and was then KNOCKED OUT of the game. HE suffered a concussion and will not play in next weeks game. PFL Officials confirmed it was a legal hit by Leon Stanley that took Brooks out of the game.

Ryan McKenzie ran for 184 yards on a night that defences dominated, causing four turnovers apiece. Giants’ QB Chase Hand was up against a tough pass defence and struggled even more than Brooks did ( 10/24, 108 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT).

Like we said, it wasn’t pretty, but it was effective. The Knights have made history as the first team in PFL history to win their first sixteen matches. Whether they attempt to go all out for 18-0 (especially without Brooks) is the next question.