Nelson Scores Four Touchdowns as Valor Fall, 36-27, in Albany
May 4, 2019 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Washington Valor News Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Washington Valor (0-2) fell, 36-27, to the Albany Empire (2-0) Saturday night at Times Union Center in Albany, NY. Led by quarterback Arvell Nelson's four total touchdowns (one passing, three rushing), the Valor outgained Albany 258-252 in total yards in the loss.
Washington looks to rebound next Saturday, May 11 against the Atlantic City Blackjacks at 7 p.m. at Capital One Arena, the team's first of six home games this season. Prior to the game, the Valor will unveil their ArenaBowl XXXI banner, commemorating last season's championship run. The game will be broadcast live on Monumental Sports Network, NBC Sports Washington and ESPN3.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Empire QB Tommy Grady
Empire WR Malachi Jones
Empire LB Terence Moore
19-31 passing, 246 yards and five touchdowns
Six receptions, 119 yards and two touchdowns
5.5 total tackles (five solo) and one interception
VALOR NOTES & QUOTES
Rookie wide receiver Dezmon Epps, coming off a record-setting 200-yard, four-touchdown game in Week 1, wasted no time getting back into the endzone. Epps hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Nelson on the game's opening drive. Four of his five receiving touchdowns this season have been 30+ yards.
Wide receiver Jared Dangerfield led the team with 94 receiving yards and set a new career high with nine receptions, topping his previous high of seven.
For the second straight week, linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson led the Valor in total tackles. Jackson's eight tackles fell one short of tying his career high.
Nelson has accounted for all 12 of the team's touchdowns this season - eight in Week 1 and four in Week 2.
Nelson recorded three rushing touchdowns against the Empire, his fifth game with multiple rushing touchdowns since joining the Valor last season.
For the second consecutive week, all five wide receivers on the Valor roster caught at least one pass.
With a three-yard reception early in the second quarter, Valor wide receiver Reggie Gray moved into a tie for 13th place on the AFL's all-time receptions list. He now has 843 career receptions.
Nelson threw for 250 yards and now sits just eight yards shy of 10,000 for his career heading into Week 3.
VALOR HEAD COACH BENJI MCDOWELL
On the game in general:
"The defense came out early and got three stops tonight. Normally, that's enough to win in this league. We just didn't put enough points on the board as a team. We have to change some things in terms of how we operate in the red zone and keep momentum in our hands going forward."
On what the team needs to do differently to get a win:
"We just have to play better, we have to score more, and we have to take advantage of the opportunities that we're given. There were plenty of chances. We just have to take advantage of them."
On what the team will focus on heading into Week 3:
"Our focus this week is on winning. Not just the game. Winning each day, each possession and each play. That's what it comes down to. That's how you have to prepare."
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Arena Football League Stories from May 4, 2019
- Nelson Scores Four Touchdowns as Valor Fall, 36-27, in Albany - Washington Valor
- Empire Settles Unfinished Business against Valor - Albany Empire
- Blackjacks Secure First Win in Franchise History - Atlantic City Blackjacks
- Destroyers Fall Just Short in Atlantic City, 42-35 - Columbus Destroyers
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