Week 1 Results – A7FL 2020 Back In Motion Tournament Presented by Salus

Hawks 19 vs. BIC 18

Sunday’s nightcap showed the world what to expect in the 2020 A7FL Back in Motion Tournament Presented by Salus. The game was a defensive showcase and points weren’t easy to come by for either team. At the same time, it was a nail-biter that had everything imaginable: walk-off catches, some scraps, double fumbles, and even a “hair tackle.”

Things opened up hot with NJ Hawks QB and A7FL legend Corey “CP3” Price showcasing his talents to his former team by leading the Hawks offense down the field for a quick score on the game’s first possession. BIC promptly answered with an electric 3-on-1 return for 6.  After these first scores, things settled down and we saw the defenses start to take control of the game. Both CP3 and A7FL newcomer and BIC QB Jelen Crooms answered the heavy pressure and good coverage with some chain-moving plays with their legs.

BIC ran behind former league MVP Jahleel “Courage” Mozie all night who didn’t let the longer than usual layoff make him any easier to bring down.  For the Hawks, Mike “Sweetness” Liberti and Khaleel “MambaStackz” Greene kept coming up with some clutch plays on both sides of the ball. The teams brought a mix of veterans and new faces to the 2020 Tournament, but ultimately experience came out on top.

The game was tied at the end of the 4th quarter 12-12 and headed into overtime. After a BIC score but failed extra point attempt, the Hawks trailed 18-12 and looked like they were on the brink of taking the loss.  But then CP3 did what we’ve become accustomed to seeing over the years by stringing together big plays in big moments, using both his arm and legs. After scoring a clutch touchdown with a crazy improvised run to tie the score, CP3 looked to pass on the PAT and after scrambling to avoid the BIC pressure passed an open MambaStackz in the endzone for the walk-off winner. Final score: Hawks over BIC 19 to 18. 

Paterson U 38 vs. Renegades 24

Although the final score only showed a 2-touchdown difference, Paterson U dominated this matchup all the way. The U squad is absolutely loaded offensively — including stars Kareen Moon, Joel “Jumpman” Rivera, Adrian Rodriguez, and QB Quatrell “Huff” Huffin — and their talent shined bright in this inaugural game of the A7FL’s 2020 season.  With high hopes coming into the tournament and a track record to back it up, Paterson’s performance on Sunday demonstrated why many observers pick them as the team to beat.

While all that talent made The U’s day a little easier, Huff’s presence at quarterback put constant pressure on the Renegades.  He may be the best QB in the tourney, which is saying something given the talent across the league and especially since his Sunday night counterpart was A7FL veteran standout Cory Hammond.

Hammond (who also spent some time in the A7FL’s announcer booth last season doing his best Romostradamus imitation) joined the Renegades this season to add his veteran presence.  No doubt Hammond’s steady hand kept the Renegades in the game, although the U’s defensive pressure repeatedly forced Hammond outside of the pocket which is not the best use of his drop-back passing skills.

It was the first game back after the nation’s COVID-19 lockdown, so it’s fair to cut the Renegades some slack. Along with Price, they have some real talent to build on: Edy Petiote showed he’s still a big-play machine and David Petterson should be solid moving forward in the tourney. But it’s also fair to give Paterson U the respect that they earned with their performance. Although the final score showed only a 14-point difference, the outcome was never in doubt as The U dominated play from start to finish.

All in all, we saw some trick plays, a Renegades team that will only improve, and a dominant Paterson U squad that is legitimately stacked. Next Sunday, Patterson will take their offensive machine to face the BIC, who bring a tough defense and something to prove after a difficult loss in Week 1.  Meanwhile, the Renegades will look to regroup as they face Week 1 upset winners the Hawks. A7FL football is back!