San Diego Game Notes at Memphis
February 27, 2019 - Alliance of American Football (AAF)
San Diego Fleet News Release
San Diego Fleet (2-1) at
Memphis Express (0-3) Saturday | March 2 | 1 PM (PT)
Bleacher Report Live
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Memphis, Tenn.
HEAD COACH .........................Mike Singletary
AAF Record (1 season) .......................0-3 (.000)
NFL Record (3 seasons)..................18-22 (.450)
NCAA Record ...............................................n/a
HEAD COACH ............................... Mike Martz
AAF Record (1 season) .......................2-1 (.667)
NFL Record (6 seasons)..................53-32 (.624)
NCAA Record ...............................................n/a
SERIES NOTES: This is the first meeting between these two teams... Mike Martz worked as offensive coordinator under Mike Singletary in San Francisco for nine games after the latter was promoted to head coach during the 2008 season. Despite the 49ers posting a 5-4 record in the span, Martz was let go following the season.
SAN DIEGO COMMANDS THE REMATCH WITH SAN ANTONIO
The San Diego Fleet (2-1) remained undefeated at home following a 31-11 rout of the San Antonio Commanders (1-2) at SDCCU Stadium on Feb. 24. An interception by the Commanders and a touch- down pass from QB Logan Woodside on the first two plays of the game set the Fleet behind, 8-0, just 19 seconds into the contest. However, the deficit did not last long as San Diego posted 28 unanswered points over the next 41:14 of play. QB Philip Nelson and WR Nelson Spruce got things started when they hooked-up for the first of their two touchdown connections with 3:11 to go in the first quarter. The Fleet took the lead for good just over seven minutes later on pick-six by LB A.J. Tarpley that covered 27 yards into the end zone. The play marked the first defensive score in team history. In the third quarter, RB Ja'Quan Gardner recorded the longest scoring play in AAF history when he sprinted for an 83-yard touchdown run. He concluded the night with 122 rushing yards - the highest single-game total in the league this season. Nelson finished 17-for-25 for 193 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
THE CONSTANT GARDNER
RB Ja'Quan Gardner (Humboldt State) was named The Alliance of American Football Offensive Player of the Week on Tuesday after his record-setting performance against San Antonio on Sunday. Not only did the 23-year-old notch the longest scoring play in Alliance history with an 83-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, Gardner also set a league single-game rushing record with 122 yards (on just 12 carries).
Additionally, he added a pair of catches for 21 yards. After posting 104 rushing yards against Atlanta (Feb. 17), the native of Ceres, Calif., now owns the top-two, single-game rushing totals in the league this season and is the only Alliance player with back-to-back, 100-yard rushing performances. Gardner's league-best total of 281 rushing yards is 93 yards clear of the second-best mark (188; Zac Stacy, Memphis) and his average of 8.0 yards per carry is the highest among all players with 10+ rushes this season.
IF I COULD BE LIKE 'MIKE'
Middle linebacker A.J. Tarpley (Stanford) was named The AAF Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday after reversing the tide Sunday. His 27-yard touchdown on an interception return in the second quarter proved to be the game-winner (San Antonio held an 8-6 lead at the time). The pick was the first of the year for Tarpley and the defensive score marked the first in Fleet history. The 26-year-old also finished with five tackles - one for a loss - and a pass defended. The former Buffalo Bill now owns 13 tackles through three games. More on Tarpley's triumphant return to football appears on the following page.
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Alliance of American Football Stories from February 27, 2019
- Salt Lake Stallions Weekly - Salt Lake Stallions
- Week 4 Game Time Changes - San Diego Fleet
- Orlando Apollos Week 4 Game Notes - Orlando Apollos
- San Diego Game Notes at Memphis - San Diego Fleet
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