In the directory of rivalries in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, I’m not sure that the one between the Fort Worth Avengers and the North Texas Stampede is at the top, but its intensity has been just as strong nonethless. The two teams know each other very well, and they have a history in the playoffs.
Last year, in the conference semi-finals, the Avengers, led by veteran quarterback Terry Barber, rallied in the fourth quarter to pick up the win. Just a few years ago, the Stampede were playing in the TUFL Super Bowl. This year, the two teams have not played, but the players are very familiar with one another.
The two teams, however, have taken different routes to the North Conference Finals. For the Stampede, the season almost seemed lost. Entering in to Mother’s Day weekend, the Stampede had to win and the Weatherford Bullets had to lose in order to make the playoffs. The Stampede was able to get the win over the Vernon Jaguars, and, the following week, the Abilene Gladiators beat the Bullets giving the 6-4 Stampede a berth in the TUFL playoffs.
Their reward for making the playoffs? A first round match-up with the defending TUFL Champions and 2009 Co-Central Division champs, the Hunt County Longhorns. The Longhorns was everyone’s favorite to win the TUFL again, but the the Stampede had different ideas.
The Stampede delivered an almost improbable upset knocking off the number one seed Longhorns 32-31 with their defense stopping two Hunt County drives inside six minutes left to play in the game.
The following week, the Stamped travaled to Shreveport where they knocked off the number thwo seed Port City Jaguars 19-12. Once again, the Stampede relied on its hard working defense to preserve the win.
The Avengers entered the playoffs 9-1 and Co-Champions of the Central Division with the Longhorns, but were given a third season due to tie-breakers.
The Avengers were matched up aginst the very talented Texas Xtreme in the first round of the playoffs coming away with a 31-17 victory. In the second round, the Avengers held on to a 36-34 against the Abilene Gladiators.
The game should present some good match-ups. The Stampede are led on defense by defensive ends Willie Freeman and Chris Square, both with NFL type size. For the Avegers, the offensive line is led by stellar tackle, Greg Dolan, a former Texas Longhorn who has wowed everybody in the league. The match-up between Dolan and the defensive ends for Stampede should be among the best.
Both teams are led by big, strong quarterbacks. Few quarterbacks are bigger, anywhere, than Stampede QB Josh Lanfear. Lanfear stands about 6 foot 4 and weighs about, depending on who you ask, over 250 pounds. Lanfear will make use of receivers Demarcus Bates and Shannon Whitfield. Lanfear will also use the running of David Smith and Lamar Hanks to help move the chains.
For the Avengers, they rely on Barber at quarterback, to help keep the chains moving. He counts on a balanced attack, and he will get the ball in the hands of Alex Martinez on third downs to help pick up the first down. Several members of the Avengers offense are explosive, but few are as explosive as receiver Quinten “Q” McKinney. The talented receiver is a big play-maker for the Avengers.
On defense, the Avengers use several players to get the job done. They are anchored up front by Gartrelle Cooper, Brandon Clay, Dawayne “Train” Vanderwork, and Detron Forbes. Linebackers David Constance, Aaron Armour and Fernando Castaneda help lead the second line of defense.
The Avengers will host the Stampede at Keller’s High School at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
