Empire hosts Baltimore Brigade

ALBANY, N.Y. » The Streak will end -- for one AFL team Saturday night as the AFL’s Albany Empire hosts the Baltimore Brigade at the Times Union Center, 7 p.m. tonight.

The Empire (4-2) and Brigade (5-1) are both on four-game winning streaks with Albany coming off a 48-21 win over the Washington Valor. In their first meeting, Baltimore edged Albany, 52-49 on April 28.

In his first game against Baltimore, Empire quarterback Tommy Grady completed 24-of33 passes for 253 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.

Wide receiver Joe Hills hauled in 11 receptions for 108 yards and four touchdowns versus the Brigade in Week 3. Rookie wide out Malachi Jones added an additional eight catches for 109 yards and a score. Jones and Hills currently rank second and third in the League in receiving yards.

Defensive end Joe Sykes sacked Baltimore quarterback Randy Hippeard twice last time the two teams faced off. Terence Moore

leads the Empire on defense. he seven-year veteran earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 7 for his 10 total tackles, one tackle for-aloss, two pass break ups, and 37-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Hippeard had a day against Albany, going 28of-41 passes for 290 yards and seven touchdowns. For the year, Hippeard has completed 134-of-193 throws for 1,438 yards, and 28 touchdowns while adding nine rushing attempts for 40 yards and two touchdowns.

Wide receivers Brandon Collins, Milton Williams, and Quentin Sims continue to be Hippeard’s go-to receivers for 2018 as the trio combined for 193 yards on 16 receptions and four touchdowns against the Empire in Week 3.

Collins brought in three receptions for 33 yards, Williams caught six passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns while, Sims hauled in seven catches for 60 yards and two scores.

The Baltimore defense is anchored by defensive back Virgil Gray tallying 45.0 total tackles, one tackle for-a-loss, seven pass break ups, nine passes defended, and two interceptions.

The Albany Empire block party begins at 4 p.m. on South Pearl Street with team warm-ups beginning at 5:52 p.m. with kick-off set for 7 p.m.