Jersey Flight vs Carolina Cobras Preview
May 28, 2021 - National Arena League (NAL)
Jersey Flight News Release
TRENTON -Â The Jersey Flight will play their inaugural NAL game tonight at 7pm against the Carolina Cobras. The Flight joined the NAL prior to the 2020 season and have been waiting nearly two years to make their NAL debut.
The Flight enter week one after two weeks of training camp in Lawrence, NJ. Veteran quarterbacks Warren Smith and Danny Southwick competed for the starting job in camp. Ultimately Smith was named the week one starter and will make his first start in Trenton since 2014 tonight.
Smith is very familiar with his receiving core having previous experience with most of the pass catchers on the roster. Jared Dangerfield had an outstanding camp and will look to build on his 2019 season when he was a top ten AFL WR. Tyron Laughinghouse is a former NAL champion and All-NAL WR who is eager to face off against his former team in week one.
Larry Beavers is a well known name in arena football and is looking to add another ring to his legacy. Emery Sammons was a late addition to the Flight but had a great camp and appears to still be the impact player he was with the Philadelphia Soul.
The Flight WR's will face off against a stout Cobras secondary. Joe Powell was a 1st Team All-Arena DB in 2019 and had been signed to the CFL in 2020. Micheux Robinson is a veteran who has been playing the middle at a high level for years. Kenny Veal is a physical DB who returns to the Cobras for the 2021 season.
Smith will throw behind one of the best offensive lines in the league, anchored by Trenton native Keith Newell. Newell will be the TE and is eligible to catch screen passes. Center Jakobi Smith and OG Nate Isles have NFL experience and were both in the AFL last season. NAL veteran and Ironman Jeremiah Zene Jr will play fullback and look to make an impact on the ground.
The Flight defense is headlined up front by former Philadelphia Soul DE Sean Daniels. Daniels looked explosive in camp and will be a nightmare for opposing QB's. Longtime AFL vet Calvin Fance is one of the more versatile and powerful pass rushers in the sport.
DE/LB Nick Haag is the newest addition to the Flight. Haag is an arena vet who played for the Atlantic City Blackjacks in 2019. Ironman Armonti Carey joins the Flight from the Orlando Predators and will be a presence at NG. Former Temple DE and Bordentown native Zack Mesday will make his pro debut tonight.
The Cobras OL is highlighted by New Jersey native and NAL veteran Dashawn Johnson. Johnson is one of the best fullbacks in the sport and will once again anchor the Cobras.
The Flight have an all-star secondary led by former Soul DB Dwayne Hollis. Hollis has embraced the role of the secondary's leader and has been instrumental in teaching young DB's.
Former Albany Empire DB's Tevin Homer and Cheatham Norrils reunite in Trenton and will look to build of their 2019 success when they won ArenaBowl 32. Jack LB Brian Price impressed in camp and returns to the Flight after being a member of the team in 2018.
The Cobras are expected to start former Philadelphia Soul QB Patrick O'Brien. O'Brien is considered one of the top prospects in arena football after spending a year learning from Clint Dolezel and Dan Raudabaugh. He and Cobras WR BJ Bunn will look to build on the chemistry they built as rookies with the Soul.
Thyron Lewis is an arena football vet best known for his time with the Cleveland Gladiators. Lewis won an NAL championship in 2017 with the Jacksonville Sharks. Kendrick Ings is one of the most explosive playmakers in the sport and had a good season with Atlantic City in 2019. Julius Gregory is a former Tampa Bay Storm and Washington Valor receiver who can also play Jack LB at a high level.
The Flight and Cobras will face off tonight at 7pm. Tickets to attend the game at Cure Insurance Arena are still available. The game will be broadcasted live on the NAL YouTube page.
The Jersey Flight are a professional Arena Football team based in Trenton, New Jersey. The Flight are a proud member of the National Arena League (NAL). Home games are played at Cure Insurance Arena in Trenton. The team is owned by New Flight Enterprises, LLC. Follow the team @JerseyFlight on Instagram & Facebook, and @JerseyFlightfFBTwitter.
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