Wranglers Defeat Gladiators in Season Opener

Did the Austin Wranglers manage to “rustle up” a way to make the Las Vegas Gladiators crap out? Yippee ki yay and Seven-come-eleven, it’s … sorry, I thought I would try out a SportsCenter introduction for this game, but it's not going so well. This is, after all, the Score, so insert a sexual innuendo or too-smart literary reference here _______ and then I’ll just tell you the Wranglers won 57-36.

The team’s shiny new quarterback and coach are already looking like confident team leaders. QB Adrian McPherson threw for 205 yards, ran for 26, and was named offensive player of the game. And coach Brian Partlow, in a ballsy move, called an onside kick in the first quarter, and it worked. The Wranglers began the game with a 19-0 scoring run, and the Gladiators never seriously threatened to come back, staying at least two touchdowns behind for the rest of the game.

As expected, former Houston Texans wide receiver Derrick Lewis played a big role Sunday, catching two touchdown passes, including one played off the safety net behind the end zone. If you aren’t familiar with the rules catching a ball that hits the net is a perfectly legal (and totally sweet) play in the AFL. In fact most kickoffs bounce off the net, requiring the return man to catch the ball with his back to the defenders. I imagine the feeling is probably similar to tagging up in wall ball, but only if the tennis ball you get pegged with weighs 250 pounds and is suited up in full pads.

That touchdown off the net in the first brought the score to 19-0 and the Gladiators never really recovered. But for me, the play of the game had to be UT alum Lewis’ TD catch in the fourth quarter. Sure the game was pretty much won at that point, but the found connection between Brown and his new QB was a beautiful thing to behold. Also, that touchdown put the Wranglers past the 40 points required for all ticket holders to get free pancakes at IHOP.

On defense (yes, they do play defense in the AFL, no matter what the scores make it look like) fullback/defensive lineman Dane Krager sacked Las Vegas QB Shaun King twice, forcing two field goals (more or less the arena equivalent of a punt), and Nate Coggins caught an interception and recorded 7.5 tackles. In the NFL, the defense allowing a team to score 36 points would be cause for concern, even in a victory. In the AFL, holding the opponents to 36 points means the defense had a pretty decent day. In Soviet Russia, defense scores 36 points on you.