Mistakes cost Destroyers in home finale
Empire 49, Destroyers 18
first-place Albany Empire in an Arena Football League game Sunday at Nationwide Arena.
Fabian Guerra scored on a stretch play and then ran in a two-point conversion on a fake extra-point try to give the Destroyers an 8-7 lead before an amped-up, season-best crowd of 9,275.
But during a noisy team promotion, Guerra's conversion run was negated by an illegal motion penalty, the ensuing extra-point kick failed and things went downhill fast for the Destroyers.
Reigning league MVP Tommy Grady passed for 256 yards and five touchdowns, and the Empire steamrolled the Destroyers 49-18 in the home finale. Malachi Jones and Quentin Jones each hauled in three TD passes for Albany.
“It’s so frustrating,” Destroyers coach Matthew Sauk said. “We talked all week about how we wanted to come out and get the momentum and get our crowd into it. That penalty ... well, that’s been our year in a nutshell. That was one of many mental mistakes that killed us today.”
On the next play from scrimmage after the failed point-after, Grady hit Jones on a 40-yard touchdown play that looked way too easy.
Albany (9-2) recovered its onside kick, and on the next play Grady took advantage of a massive breakdown by the Destroyers and found Sims wide open across the middle on a 32-yard TD catch and run.
The momentary 8-7 lead suddenly became a 21-6 deficit in a matter of seconds.
“That’s the first time all year we’ve made mistakes like that on defense,” Sauk said. “On those deep plays, the guys just weren’t where they were supposed to be. That’s a top-flight offense we’re going up against, and you can’t make mental mistakes like that or they’ll take you apart.”
After coming up empty in the red zone for the first of three times, the Destroyers (1-10) watched Grady connect with Jones on another long TD strike.
Things went from bad to worse quickly for the Destroyers in the second quarter.
Rookie quarterback Grant Russell, a Newark and Ohio Dominican product, had his ankle rolled up on and he was carted off the field.
He is likely lost for the season finale at Washington on Saturday.
Then, following a late hit and some trash-talking, Guerra was ejected along with Empire defensive back Terrance Smith for fighting.
Replays showed Guerra, a standout receiver/returner, taking three punches to the head while barely responding.
“We talked all week about how you can’t react on situations like that,” Sauk said. “That just kills a team when you lose a playmaker like Fabian.”
Liam Nadler, who had played only sparingly, replaced Russell and passed for 147 yards and a touchdown.
In Guerra’s absence, Walnut Ridge and Wisconsin product Rob Wheelwright emerged with four receptions for 40 yards. He also scored on a 2-yard run.
Kenyattus Cook made six receptions for 76 yards and a TD to pace the Destroyers.
“That’s why you have to be ready to play at all times,” Wheelwright said. “It felt good to be able to play in front of the home crowd, but mental mistakes on both sides of the ball really hurt us today. It seemed like (the Empire) knew a lot of our plays and were calling them out at the line.
“You’ve got to credit Albany. They do such a good job of running their plays and getting their receivers open. Hopefully, we can do the same sort of thing next year.”
Grady leads the AFL with 2,901 yards and 64 TDS. Jones leads the league in receptions (91) and yardage (1,367), and Sims in touchdowns (27).
Also making contributions for the Empire were backup quarterback Mason Espinosa of Ohio Wesleyan and defensive end/linebacker Aaron Tiller of Licking Heights. Espinosa threw a TD pass.
“This is the first time I’ve gotten to play in my hometown since 2013,” said Tiller, who played at Southern University and has bounced around in several leagues. “I’ve been waiting for a long time to play in front of friends and family, and it was sort of surreal for me.”