Brigade Today // July 24, 2019
July 24, 2019 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Baltimore Brigade News Release
Baltimore Brigade defensive back Joe Powell runs in for a score
(Baltimore Brigade)
2019 AFL postseason schedule finalized, play begins Saturday, July 27
The Baltimore Brigade (7-5) enter the 2019 AFL postseason as the No. 4 seed to take on the No. 1 seed Albany Empire (10-2) for the home-and-home playoff series. Baltimore will play the first game of the series at Times Union Center in Albany, NY on Saturday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. and will host the Empire for the second game of the series on Saturday, August 3 at 7 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD.
The playoff seeding was finalized on Saturday night when Albany defeated the Philadelphia Soul (7-5) in the regular season finale. The loss sent the Soul to the No. 3 seed to face off with the Washington Valor (7-5) as the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The two teams with the highest aggregate scores at the end of both AFL semifinal series will advance to ArenaBowl 32 held on Sunday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m. ArenaBowl 32 will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
2019 AFL Postseason Schedule
Semifinal Game One:
Baltimore Brigade at Albany Empire - Saturday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Times Union Center (Albany, NY)
Philadelphia Soul at Washington Valor - Sunday, July 28 at 3:30 p.m. at Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)
Semifinal Game Two:
Albany Empire at Baltimore Brigade - Saturday, August 3 at 7:00 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena (Baltimore, MD)
Washington Valor at Philadelphia Soul - Sunday, August 4 at 4:00 p.m. at Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, PA)
ArenaBowl 32
Sunday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m.
BRIGADE PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE
Brigade playoff tickets are on sale now and start at just $12. Fans can purchase group or all-inclusive tickets by calling 667-930-0200 or by visiting www.BaltimoreBrigade.com. Media interested in covering the Brigade must request credentials by emailing aflcredentials@monumentalsports.com at least 24 hours prior to the start of the game or practice.
BRIGADE DEFEAT BLACKJACKS, 35-28, IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
Powell scores two, Morris connects with Williams for game-winning touchdown
SCORE BY QUARTER
1 2 3 4 FINAL
BALTIMORE 0 21 0 14 35
ATLANTIC CITY 0 7 7 14 28
The Baltimore Brigade defeated the Atlantic City Blackjacks, 35-28, after a back-and-forth fourth quarter at the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall to close the regular season Sunday afternoon. The Brigade finished the regular season 7-5 and enter the 2019 AFL playoffs as the fourth seed to take on the number one seed Albany Empire (10-2) for the home-and-home playoff series. Baltimore will play the first game of the series at Times Union Center on Saturday, July 27 at 7:00 p.m. and will host the Empire for the second game of the series on Saturday, August 3 at 7 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, MD. The team with the highest aggregate score will advance to the ArenaBowl held on Sunday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m.
The game came down to the final minute after both teams traded scores for the entire fourth quarter. Backup quarterback Shane Morris threw a 20-yard pass to wideout Milton Williams for the game-winning touchdown. Defensive back Joe Powell sealed Baltimore's victory when he intercepted Atlantic City's pass with four seconds remaining on the clock.
Powell scored two of Baltimore's three touchdowns in the first half. He also hauled in four tackles (three solo), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, one interception, and two touchdowns. Backup quarterback Morris who was switched out for quarterback Shane Boyd at the start of the half, completed seven passes for 61 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Boyd finished with 16 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown.
COACH'S CORNER
Brigade Head Coach Omarr Smith After Atlantic City Win:
Comments on game performance
"It was a very interesting week that translated into a very interesting game. There are some guys who really stepped up, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Joe Powell and our defensive lineman played well. Our offensive line did a great job of protecting. There are a lot of things we can get better at, we were sloppy. We have to find a way to clean that up, but we won the game and that was our mission."
Comments on Joe Powell's performance
"Joe is an absolute playmaker. Considering who we had on offense, he started at wide receiver today. That's a testament to him and his athletic ability and his leadership to go out and try to make any play that he could. He was great on special teams and defensively he made some significant plays. A lot of people will give him credit for the interception at the end of the game, but the play before that was huge. If he wasn't just a ball hog and made the play that he did, they could have scored and that would have been a whole different outcome of the game. The little things that Joe Powell does in addition to the big things are remarkable."
Comments on facing Albany in the playoffs
"We need to have a gut check offensively. Playing against Albany, they are the best team in the league at 10-2. We have to go out on the road, in a hostile environment and play the best team in the league. It's going to be a good, hard week of preparation and we'll see what happens."
BALTIMORE BRIGADE INJURY REPORT
Wide receiver Brandon Collins is out indefinitely due to a knee injury. Collins, a five year veteran, suffered a knee injury on Saturday, July 13 during the Washington game. Further updates on Collins will be provided when appropriate.
BRIGADE, MYSTICS, AND VALOR TEAM UP FOR FAMILY-TO-FAMILY CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation, the Washington Mystics (WNBA), Washington Valor (AFL) and the Baltimore Brigade (AFL) adopted eight families from The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command for their third annual Family-to-Family Christmas in July shopping trip. Mystics players Ariel Atkins and Myisha Hines-Allen, Valor players James Atoe and Fredrick Obi and Brigade players Jarell Broxton and Nias Martin shopped at the H Street Walmart Supercenter for school supplies, school uniforms, books and educational toys for Washington, D.C., families from Ward 8 on July 2. MSE Foundation purchased all the items, including gift cards for each family.
On July 17, Mystics players Atkins, Hines-Allen and Kiara Leslie; Valor head coach Benji McDowell, players Atoe and Obi and mascot Blitz; and Brigade players Joe Goosby and Caylon Weathers hosted the adopted families at a Christmas in July-themed party at the R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center at St. Elizabeths East. The families were treated to lunch courtesy of Rocklands Barbeque and Grilling Company, played games and mingled with the players and had family caricatures drawn of them. At the end of the party, each family opened and took home their presents.
The Salvation Army National Capital Area Command serves anyone in crisis in the District, Suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia. Whether it's a hot meal, help with paying a bill or a more long-term solution, every county in the region includes either a Salvation Army Corps or field office ready to help.
TICKETS:
For additional information about Brigade postseason tickets, call the Brigade Ticket Sales office at 667-930-0200 or email ticketsales@baltimorebrigade.com.
Images from this story
 Baltimore Brigade quarterback Shane Boyd drops back to pass against the Albany Empire |
 Baltimore Brigade defensive back Joe Powell runs in for a score |
Arena Football League Stories from July 24, 2019
- Brigade Today // July 24, 2019 - Baltimore Brigade
- Playoff Game One Preview - Empire vs Brigade - Albany Empire
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