The first weekend of Alliance of American Football play is in the books, and the early reaction was mostly positive to the new spring football venture.
As one would expect, there were plenty of WPIAL and area college alumni that took part in the festivities. Here’s a rundown of how the local products fared in the first week of AAF action:
• Tim Lewis, Birmingham Iron head coach (Pitt)
Lewis’ Iron won its first-ever game in a fashion befitting a team run by a longtime NFL defensive coordinator. Birmingham shut out Memphis, 26-0 on Sunday.
• Dontez Ford, San Diego Fleet WR (Sto-Rox, Pitt)
Ford had three catches on three targets for 56 yards, and his 18.7 yards-per-catch average led San Diego’s receiving corps. Ford’s 32-yard catch in the first quarter was the longest play from scrimmage for the Fleet, which lost 15-6 to San Antonio.
• Scott Orndoff, Orlando Apollos TE (Seton LaSalle, Pitt)
Orndoff earned the start at tight end for Orlando, but did not catch his only target, a third-down look in the first quarter. Orlando running backs Akeem Hunt (7.3 yards per carry) and D’Ernest Jackson (7.0 yards per carry) dominated in the Apollos’ 40-6 rout of Atlanta.
• Max Redfield, Birmingham Iron SS (IUP)
Redfield started at strong safety for the Iron and recorded three tackles. The Birmingham pass defense held former Penn State and New York Jets quarterback Christian Hackenberg to 87 yards on 23 attempts.
• Ryan Winslow, San Diego Fleet P (Pitt)
Winslow had five punts and averaged 44 yards per kick with a 43.4 net average. He had three punts downed inside the 20-yard line and his longest of the game was 52 yards. Winslow was also the holder for both of San Diego’s field goals.
• Shakir Soto, San Diego Fleet DT (Pitt)
Soto made one tackle and one assist on the same drive in backup duty in the third quarter in San Antonio.
RESERVES
Jaryd Jones-Smith, San Antonio Commandos T (Pitt); Larson Graham, Birmingham Iron T (Duquesne)
INACTIVES
Brandon Hodges, San Diego Fleet G (Pitt); Darius Price, San Antonio Commanders WR (West Mifflin)
