NAL News and Notes:
Joe Everson to Perform National Anthem
PORTLAND- The Maine Mammoths host their fifth home game Saturday, June 30, at 7:00 pm (ET) against the Carolina Cobras at the Cross Insurance Arena.
The Mammoths got their first home win during their last home game against the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks 62-36 for Superhero / Education Appreciation Night. Last week the Mammoths fell to the Jacksonville Sharks on the road 51-21. This week the Mammoths look to bounce back with another home victory.
Military Appreciation Night
The Maine Mammoths reserve this night to honor all of our active duty military, retired, veterans, and their families. During the game the Mammoths will honor hometown heroes that served in our armed forces. We will have the combat veteran motorcycle association in attendance as well as K9’s On the Front Line!
Buy One Get One Free Tickets!
Salute our soldiers by attending Military Appreciation Night this Saturday. All fans can get a buy one get one free ticket (Not valid for burgundy seating). Call 207-228-1138 or click here for tickets: www.naltickets.com/mammothssinglegametickets . You may also get this offer at the arena box office.
Artist Joe EversonThe Mammoths are pleased to announce that renowned artist Joe Everson will attend Saturday’s game to perform the national anthem while producing a special patriotic painting titled “Iwo Jima.” Everson is also painting a second patriotic painting that will be revealed during the game. Both of Joe Everson’s paintings will be available for auction after the game and all proceeds will go to the Veteran Tickets Foundation.Mammoths look to spark a home win streak this Saturday
PORTLAND- The Maine Mammoths (2-8) host the Carolina Cobras (7-3) in Week 13 in what will be the teams’ second and final time facing each other. The Mammoths were looking to pick up a hot streak, as they defeated the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (0-9) two weeks ago, but that was abruptly put to an end as the Jacksonville Sharks (7-4) defeated the Mammoths 51-21.
The last time the Mammoths and Cobras played each other, Mammoths Quarterback Jonathan Bane threw 18-of-37 for 217 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. His top receiver on the night was Edgar Poe Jr. with six receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. Shortly behind Poe Jr. was Derrick Macon with five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Devin Wilson totaled five receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown. Those three receivers averaged over 10 yards per catch on the night. Fullback Desmond Maxwell rushed the ball two times and got no yards, however, he caught the ball one time for seven yards.
In their victory against the Steelhawks two weeks ago, Jonathan Bane, for the Mammoths, tossed for 237 yards on 16 completions for five touchdowns and one interception, which was one of his best games in the season so far. Devin Wilson was the star of the show, racking up nine catches for 145 yards and all five touchdowns from Bane. Rob Brown caught five passes for 62 yards. Edgar Poe Jr. had one catch for 20 yards, and Devante Jenkins totaled one reception for 10 yards.
The Mammoths look stronger than what their record shows, but will they be able to prove that against the #2 Cobras this weekend?
Saturday's game will be shown on YouTube Live and will be posted on the team’s social media pages. That will provide all the information on how to watch the game live on your phone or your computer.
The next Mammoths game after this weekend is on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at 7:00 pm (ET) at the Cross-Insurance Arena as they host the number three Columbus Lions (6-3) for Halloween In July.
Week Thirteen Game Preview: Sharks vs. Steelhawks
Sharks hoping to finish off sweep on Steelhawks
JACKSONVILLE- The Jacksonville Sharks (7-4) travel to Allentown, PA this weekend to face the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (0-9). This is the second and final time that the Sharks have faced the Steelhawks, each team having the home field advantage once. The first time these teams met, the Sharks dominated the Steelhawks 44-17 in Jacksonville, Florida. This week, the Steelhawks are at home and are improving. Could they possibly get a victory this weekend against the Sharks?
The Steelhawks defense held Sharks Quarterback Adrian McPherson to 7-of-17 for 98 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, which was one of his worst games as a Shark. The Sharks leading receiver in catches and yards was Chris Gilchrist with three receptions for 41 yards and one touchdown, which ties Kendal Thompkins in touchdowns, who had one reception for 40 yards, and one touchdown. Derrick Ross had one of his best games as a Sharks leading up to that point with 11 rushes for 44 yards and two touchdowns. The defense put a beating on the Steelhawks quarterback, which is why the Sharks were able to put a dominating 44 points on the board against the Steelhawks 17 points. Jermiah Price led the Sharks in tackles and sacks (6.5 tackles, four sacks). Charlie Hunt had a great game, totaling two interceptions for a combined 59 yards and one touchdown.
The Sharks had a sloppy game on offense in Week Six, but they have beat the top teams in the league since then and proved that they can and will do a much better job, as they crushed the Mammoths last weekend in the second half to earn their 100th victory.
If the Sharks defeat the Steelhawks this week, they will finish complete their sweep against the Steelhawks and put them at 0-10 on the season, which would be the worst record in NAL history.
Pirates look for Sweep vs. Columbus
For the first time in franchise history the Massachusetts Pirates (8-3) will take the field in Columbus, Georgia in sole possession of first place in the National Arena League when they face the Lions (6-3) in the Columbus Civic Center this Saturday at 7:00 pm.
The Pirates lead the season series two games to none with both wins coming in the DCU Center in Worcester, MA in thrilling fashion. Both ended with quarterback Sean Brackett throwing a touchdown pass to wide receiver Lavon Pearson in the closing seconds.
In the May 6 contest the Pirates trailed by 15 points in the second half. Brackett’s 10 yard pass to Pearson with five seconds to play secured a 44-37 victory. In the June 16 game Pirates defensive back Kiante Northington forced a fumble and Darryl Render recovered it with 24 seconds left. There was 4.4 seconds on the clock when Pearson caught a two yard slant and dove over the goal line for a 62-55 win.
The Pirates enter the game on a three game winning streak coming off a 53-34 win over the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks in a game where seven Massachusetts receivers caught passes and Brackett threw seven touchdown passes. Columbus defeated Carolina last weekend 57-55 as Quayvon Hicks ran for 60 yards and three scores and Jarmon Fortson added three TD receptions.
The Pirates are third in the NAL in scoring and points allowed, averaging 54.1 points per game on offense while yielding 44 a contest. The Lions rank second in the league scoring 55.8 a night and allow 45.9 a game, fourth best in the NAL.
The game will feature two of the league’s top quarterbacks in Brackett and Mason Espinosa. In 10 games Brackett has completed 184 of 311 attempts (59.2%) for 2,284 yards with 54 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Espinosa is completing 67 percent of his passes (200 of 297) with 50 TD’s and three interceptions for 2,235 yards in nine games.
If you are looking for offensive production look no further than the Pirates Bones Bagaunte who leads the NAL with an average of 122.4 total offensive yards per game and the Lions Durron Neal, second at 115.1 per contest.
The NAL’s top rusher is Hicks who has 250 yards and ten touchdowns on 62 carries. The Pirates are hoping to slow him down with the addition of R.J. Roberts. In his first game as a Pirate Roberts posted three and a half sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal against Lehigh Valley.
The receivers on both teams are among the leagues’ best in several categories. Devonn Brown of Massachusetts tops the NAL averaging 19.5 yards per catch and total receiving yards (791) while the Lions Fortson has the most receptions (64) and receptions per game (8.0).
Brown leads the Pirates with 17 touchdowns on with 41 receptions for 791 yards. Mardy Gilyard has 48 receptions for 455 yards and 12 scores, Lavon Pearson 47 catches, 587 yards and 14 TD’s and Bones Bagaunte 33 grabs for 332 yards and nine touchdowns. The Lions receivers are just as impressive. Fortson tops his team with 64 catches for 553 yards and 18 TD’s, Triston Purifoy has caught 60 balls for 739 yards and 11 scores and Durron Neal has compiled 47 receptions for 710 yards and 19 touchdowns.
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