EVERETT – Maybe these guys are playing in the wrong league.
The Tennessee Valley Vipers compete in arenafootball2, but does a team that has limited two opponents to 21 points and another to 27 really belong in the pass-first-play-defense-later af2?
The Vipers played unbeaten and top-ranked Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on May 18 and held the No. 1 scoring team in af2 (averaging 61.2 points per game) to just 34 points in a four-point loss.
Tennessee Valley, which went 3-13 in 2006 when it joined the af2 along with Everett, started out 4-2 this year.
But the loss to W-B/Scranton started what became a five-game losing skid, which the Vipers finally halted with a 35-33 victory over the Alabama Steeldogs last Saturday. Now defense-oriented Tennessee Valley (5-7) needs to claim its fourth road win today at the expense of the host Everett Hawks (3-9) to have a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
When the Vipers win, they generally do so with their opportunistic defense that has forced 34 turnovers (14 interceptions and 20 fumble recoveries).
The defensive unit has an impressive college football pedigree.
Defensive back Troy Graham, who leads Tennessee Valley with 64.5 tackles, played at North Carolina State. Linebacker John Cousins, a USC product, is No. 2 with 50.5 tackles.
DB’s Quinten Burrell and Carlos Campbell both played at Notre Dame and lineman Arouk Adelekan (Houston), an all-af2 selection in 2006, leads his team with seven sacks.
Most of the Vipers’ struggles have occurred on the other side of the line. They rank No. 26 in af2 in scoring (38.2 points per game) and No. 28 in total offense (216.9 yards per game).
In eight games quarterback Chris Gunn, who rushed for 47 yards, including a critical 6-yard fourth quarter touchdown run to clinch the victory over Alabama last Saturday, is just 81-for-169 passing with 24 touchdowns, six interceptions and an underwhelming passer rating of 90.9.
The chief target of Gunn, a second-year player from the University of North Alabama, is Travis Blanchard (83 receptions, 991 yards, 13 TDs).
Everett, despite being relegated to a spoiler role after being eliminated from the playoff chase in last Saturday’s 54-41 loss at Stockton, has risen to No. 9 in total offense behind quarterback Jason Campbell.
In addition to Josh Richey who leads af2 with 1,462 receiving yards and can set a league record with his ninth consecutive 100-yard game today, the Hawks boast veterans Phil Goodman (70 receptions, 784 yards, 16 TDs) and LaMonte Jones (30 catches, 327 yards, eight TDs).
Diminutive rookie receiver Warren Holloway has 29 receptions for 320 yards and five scores.
The Hawks are No. 5 in total defense, led by the pass-rushing tandem of Johnny Jackson (7.5 sacks) and Chuck Jones (7 sacks).
Sweet home (north) Alabama: Despite the geographic implications of its name, the Tennessee Valley is actually located in north Alabama. The football franchise is located in the area’s economic hub, high-tech Huntsville, which is home to the Marshall Space Center, Boeing and many other cutting edge technology, space and defense industries.
Pioneers continue to roost atop poll: For a record 11th consecutive week W-B/Scranton (12-0) is No. 1 in the af2 coaches poll. The Rio Grande Valley Dorados (11-1) are No. 2, followed by Florida (10-3). Arkansas (9-3) rose to No. 4 after its 45-39 overtime victory over previous No. 2 Tulsa. The Talons (10-2) dropped to No. 5.
Burrell has strong football ties: Vipers’ DB/WR Quinten Burrell was a Notre Dame team captain as a senior in 2004 and is the great-grandson of the late, legendary Grambling State football coach Eddie Robinson.
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