Iron’s loss spoils shot at Battle of Unbeatens
Spurrier’s Apollos 4-0 after trick-play 2-pointer
The Alliance of American Football’s anticipated Week 5 Battle of the Unbeatens hit a snag.
Coach Steve Spurrier’s Orlando Apollos did their part in Week 4 by raising their record to 4-0 with a 20-11 win against the Salt Lake Stallions. But the previously unbeaten Birmingham Iron fell to 3-1 after being upset 12-11 by the San Antonio Commanders.
The Apollos have shown the AAF’s most dynamic offense, averaging 385 yards and 29.5 points per game. Garrett Gilbert is the only AAF quarterback with more than 1,000 yards passing. His 1,071 yards are 274 yards more than anyone else in the league.
Although the meeting between the Apollos and Iron has lost some of its luster, it is still an important game in deciding the Eastern Conference race. It will match the AAF’s best offensive team against the league’s best defensive team. The Iron have given up 33 points in four games. The game will be telecast at 2 p.m. ET Saturday on TNT.
The Apollos were the top winner in Week 4, and the Iron were the No. 1 loser. Here are other winners and losers:
Winner: Atlanta Legends running back Denard Robinson. The former Jacksonville Jaguars player scored his first touchdown of the season on a 9yard run. He should be a differencemaker in this league.
Loser: Birmingham. Have to make the Iron a double-loser because their attendance of 6,539 was their lowest of the season. In two previous home games, they drew over 17,000.
Winner: Legends quarterback Aaron Murray. The former Georgia standout replaced injured Matt Simms in the first quarter and threw for 254 yards and ran for 53 to lead Atlanta to its first win.
Loser: Offense. We could use more scoring. Five of the eight teams scored 14 or fewer points over the weekend. No team scored 30. The Commanders won 12-11 and the Legends won 14-11.
Winner: Memphis Express. Earned their first win. Linebacker Drew Jackson had 13 tackles and an interception to lead the way for former NFL coach Mike Singletary.
Loser: Arizona Hotshots receiver Rashad Ross. He’s been a dynamic force, ranking second among league receivers with 254 receiving yards. But he made a poor decision in reversing his field on a short reception near his goal line. He was tackled in the end zone for the first safety in AAF history.
Winner: Another Spurrier trick play. Spurrier’s creativity is one of the AAF’s best assets. On a two-point conversion, the 73-year-old ordered a fake sweep, with a quick toss to a back, who then passed to a receiver. It worked.
Loser: The Western Conference. No team has taken charge. Three teams are 2-2. The Hot Shots should have taken command but lost to Atlanta.