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A7FL Week 3 – Rematch of Last Years Champions Featuring Trenton BIC vs Paterson U

by
A7FL Staff
April 12, 2023

GAME DAY UPDATES

GAME 1
1:30 PM ET – Asbury Park, NJ

FINAL Trenton BIC [20] Paterson U [26]

Last year’s championship rematch had an immeasurable amount of hype leading up to it, with one of the biggest questions being how Paterson U quarterback Carlos Croslin would fare against the talented and disruptive BIC defense. The Paterson U had some success moving the ball in the first quarter, but they would be stalled by the BIC defense each time. The same could be said for the BIC, as you can see the familiarity between both teams and how they had to grind for every inch.

In the second quarter, it looked like we would see our first score of the game, but Marcus “Hard Body” Mckinney came up with a massive forced fumble as the BIC tried to punch it in from the one-yard line. The U would start the ensuing drive from their own one-yard line and drive it all the way down the field and score on an Angelo “Snages Sosa” Lewis 31-yard jet sweep, putting the U up 6-0. The next throw-off to the always dangerous Ashante “Hollywood” Worthy would set up the BIC on the U’s nine-yard line. BIC would throw the ball on their next play to Worthy, who would get in the endzone and fumble, but the BIC would recover. After a huge hit by Deon Davis denied BIC quarterback Sterry Codrington on the one-point conversion, the score would remain tied 6-6 with 5:42 left in the second quarter. On the U’s final drive before the half, Markeith “Dot Boss” Williamson would score a touchdown on a pretty pass from Kareen Moon to go up 13-6 while snagging the momentum going into the second half.

Throughout the first half, you could feel the intensity on the field through the television. Each and every yard was a grind to get, and the first half of this game is exactly how you would think a championship rematch would be.

SECOND HALF

The third quarter saw both defenses dig their heels in and not budge an inch while delivering big hits to wear down the opponents’ offense. The BIC started to unravel a little bit halfway through the third, as Codrington, Worthy, and running back Courage Mozie could be seen having heated exchanges on the sideline. The U held the ball for most of the third quarter, and you could see their offensive line had begun to wear down the BIC defense. This was more than evident on the U’s final drive of the quarter, as they ran the ball down the BIC’s throat and scored on a 20-yard quarterback keeper by Kareen Moon making the score 20-6. But you can never count out the reigning champs, especially when they have Ashante Worthy. Worthy would take the following throw-off back to the house, helping the BIC close the gap to 20-12 going into the fourth.

The BIC looked much more composed on their first drive of the fourth, eating up over ten minutes of clock and steadily advancing the ball at their own pace. Following a key fourth-and-six conversion on a pass from Codrington to Mozie, Codrington would throw a touchdown to Q Bell and tie the game with a two-point conversion. The U would get one last chance to win the game, and they would take full advantage with a quarterback run from Kareen Moon. Moon would front flip into the endzone as the U would flip the zero to a one in the loss column for the defending champion Trenton BIC in an all-time classic A7FL game. Final: Paterson U 26 Trenton BIC 20

GAME 2

4:30 PM ET – Asbury Park, NJ

FINAL Silk City Animals [34] Rahway Shnow Tribe [20]

The Silk City Animals came into this game with the highest point differential through the first two weeks (+53), but the Rahway Shnow Tribe came into the game with no fear. The teams had a verbal exchange before the opening throw-off and the energy was up from there. The Animals would receive the opening throw-off and quarterback Quattrell Huffin showed why he’s one of the best in the league with his arm and his legs, leading his team down the field and setting up Mitchell “Money Making Mitch” Jenkins for a two-yard rushing touchdown for the opening score of the game. After forcing a three-and-out, the Animals offense went right back to work. A promising drive was stalled by three straight incompletions and the Shnow Tribe would get the ball back. The Shnow Tribe’s offense stalled once again and did not show any signs of life on their first two drives, only going backwards for -4 yards.The Animals would take their 7-0 lead going into the second quarter.

The Animals offense looked unstoppable on the ground during their first drive of the second quarter, but miscues in the passing game made the drive longer than necessary but still ended in a Silk City passing touchdown from Huff to Louis “Lou Shiesty” Nieves to extend their lead to 14-0. On the Shnow Tribe’s first drive of the quarter, they managed to get to the Animals side of the field until Huff ended the drive with an interception. The defenses would step up for both sides until the halftime buzzer, with the score remaining 14-0 with the Animals in front.

SECOND HALF

The Shnow Tribe would get the ball to start the second half and they would drive it right down the field with quarterback Jamal Williams taking over for Jonathan Keel. They opened the half with a three-yard rushing touchdown from Marquis Suge to close the gap quickly to 14-6 with 10:51 left in the third. The Shnow Tribe had some serious momentum building as Huff would throw his first interception of the season, but it was overturned as the Shnow Tribe had eight men on defense during the play. On the same possession, Huff would hop on his bicycle for a rushing touchdown to make the score 21-6. That score would hold going into the fourth quarter.

Both offenses started the fourth quarter with some fireworks. Only 16 seconds in, Marquis Suge rumbled for a 64-yard touchdown to bring the Shnow Tribe within nine. The ensuing Animals possession, Huff delivers a beautiful ball to Lou Shiesty for another receiving touchdown of the 57-yard variety. After a failed fourth down attempt for the Shnow Tribe, the Animals offense took over at the Shnow Tribe 20-yard line. The flood gates started to open up on the Shnow Tribe as Huff would throw another touchdown, this time to Issic “Baby Joker” Gomez to expand the lead to 34-12. The Shnow Tribe managed to garner some confidence going into Week 4 as they would score with 1:10 left in the game. Despite the final score, the Animals looked like the much more dominant team in this Week 3 matchup. Final: Silk City Animals 34 Rahway Shnow Tribe 20

GAME 3

7:00 PM ET – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

FINAL Vegas Force [6] vs Las Vegas Insomniacs [37]

PREGAME LOOK FORWARD

With our initial holiday bye week behind us, the path to the A7FL Championship hosted by A7FL Nevada comes to a fork in the road for several teams taking center stage on the Games Of The Week.

GAME 1 – 1:00 PM – 2022 A7FL CHAMPIONSHIP REMATCH

A 2022 Championship game rematch in the A7FL New Jersey Division starts this week’s broadcast. The Paterson U are eyeing revenge as they battle the defending A7FL Champions, the Trenton BIC.

While the BIC was able to defeat the U three times on the road to their second A7FL title, including an epic title game that saw the U two points and a yard away from their third straight A7FL title.

Despite losing key pieces in the off-season, the addition of former Baltimore players Carlos Croslin and Angelo Lewis Jr have bolstered the U to an undefeated record and eyes on their fifth straight A7FL championship appearance.

Meanwhile, the Trenton BIC, still undefeated and still moving closer towards a desired third straight A7FL Championship game appearance, are still adjusting from being the hunters to the hunted.

Walking out of the first two weeks with wins that could be described as “too close for comfort,” this showdown between two of the league’s cornerstone teams will be another significant test for the team anchored by Sterry Codrington, Ashante Worthy, and the formidable Bell Brothers.

GAME 2 – 4:00 PM ET – SILK CITY ANIMALS vs. RAHWAY SHNOW TRIBE

Two games into what he considers his final act in the A7FL, former MVP and multi-time A7FL Champion Quatrell Huffin makes his Games Of The Week debut for 2023 as he and the Silk City Animals face off with the Rahway Shnow Tribe.

The addition of Huff and other former Paterson U talent has paid dividends for a once-maligned Animals team that have started off their season 2-0 for the first time in their history.

When the clock strikes 4pm on Sunday, Huffin and Co. will battle a Rahway team that has benefited from the addition of 2022 A7FL DPOY, Issac Negron at linebacker, and Jonathan Keelz stepping into the Quarterback role.

Walking into Week Two 1-1 after a loss to the Paterson U on opening day and bouncing back against the Boston Omegas, the team named after NFL All-Pro Dion Dawkins looks to have an All-Pro day and knock Huff and the Animals off the leaderboard and diminish any chances of them making it out of the Eastern Conference.

GAME 3 – 7:00 PM ET – VEGAS FORCE vs. LAS VEGAS INSOMNIACS

Ending our slate is our weekly trip to the Silver State, as two of the teams eyed as front runners in the West duel for the first time in 2023, as the Vegas Force battle the Las Vegas Insomniacs.

Featuring 2022 A7FL NV MVP and national MVP candidate Anthony “RTC” Wilkerson at running back, Scooter Hamilton at Quarterback, and depth at nearly every key position, especially the 3-on-1 throw-off, the Insomniacs are a day and night picture to what fans saw in the 2022 season and the Fall Brawl exhibition season earlier this year.

While the Insomniacs are undefeated with wins over the dangerous SickWidIt expansion squad and a decisive victory over the PitBosses, the Force were unable to defeat SickWidIt when they faced off in Week Two but handed the PitBosses a damaging loss to start 2023.

Can Curtis Jones and Rock Briscoe help the Force back to the top of the standings in Nevada, or will they be kept up late at night by Wilkerson and the Insomniacs?

We answer these questions and watch the best spring football LIVE this Sunday!