Will the Rattlers go all the way?

Over the weekend, local Dallas-Fort Worth football teams advanced to the second round of the Texas United Football League playoffs.  DFW area teams are showing the firepower and talent in one of the oldest and most competitive leagues in this part of the country.

The number one seeded Collin County Rattlers were able to put the first round behind them by knocking off the Texarkana Warriors 28-8.

The DFW Xpress upset the fourth seeded Arkansas Red Hawks (Pine Bluff, AR) on the road 28-21.  The Xpress entered as a number 13 seed.

The number nine seeded Hunt County Longhorns easily blew past the East Texas Storm 50-0.  Are the defending champs peaking at the right time?

Finally, the Fort Worth Avengers kept their second title run alive by knocking off the Vernon Texans 34-33.

The wins by the DFW are teams means 4 of the 8 teams left in the playoffs are local teams.

Terry Barber -- photo by Chase Rader

Coming into last Saturday night’s contest, both the Fort Worth Avengers and Weatherford Bullets were sitting at 3-1 along with the Abilene Gladiators for the top spot in the TUFL west division.  With Abilene playing expansion Breckenridge, the winner would likely stay in the division lead with the Gladiators.

Fort Worth dominated the first quarter.  The Avengers would start the game with favorable field position just inside their own territory at the 49.  Six minutes later, The Avengers would draw first blood with a field goal to go up 3-0.

The Bullets couldn’t do anything with their pair of possessions in the first quarter going 3 & out on both.

The Avengers would roll Weatherford the next time they touched the ball.  Terry Barber capped the drive with a QB sneak from the 3 to extend the lead to 10-0.  The drive saw Fort Worth gain 5 first downs, including 4 in a row that started the drive from their own 20.

The Avengers would find the end zone one more time in the half.  Barber hit the former University of Pennsylvania TE Brandon Clay inside the Red Zone to go up 17-0.

Weatherford gave the ball over to the Avengers on the first play of the second half with a QB – Center exchange fumble.  Fort Worth couldn’t manage a first down out of the turnover and lined up to punt.

The Bullets blocked the punt and recovered deep in their own territory.  Tyrone Donerson put the first points on the board for Weatherford on a battering run that made the score 17-7.

Weatherford would gain control one more time in the 3^rd and take advantage with a 2^nd & Goal plunge by QB Matt Long to bring the score closer at 17-14.

Mike Armstead -- Photo by Chase Rader

The ensuing Avenger possession would put the game out of reach.  After chewing up 8 minutes of clock, Terry Barber would burst into the end zone on 4^th & Goal with 7:26 left in the game to put Fort Worth ahead for the final score 24-14.

Week six’s matchups will either provide a clear leader or make a mess of the leader board in the west.  The Avengers (4-1) look for revenge for a week one loss when they host the dangerous Xpress (3-2).  Weatherford (3-2) travels to take on old rival Abilene (4-1).

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Chase Rader

Chase graduated from High School in 1999 from Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City. After high school, Chase played one season at William Jewell College in Libery, MO before serving in the Navy from 2001-2004. Currently, he lives Keller, TX with his wife and dog where his wife is a teacher at a nearby school.

Avengers tryouts October 9th

One of the region’s top semi-pro football franchises is the Fort Worth Avengers.  Originally started by Randy Rowley, the Avengers have been a mainstay for over a decade.

The latest edition of the Avengers is ran by coaches Darrell Brummet, Elijah Davis and wide receiver Alex Martinez.

Once again, the Avengers will make the Keller Athletic Complex its home while practicing at Keller Central High School.

The Avengers look to be a force in the Texas United Football League for another season.  The Avengers have made the Northern Conference Championship game in two of the past three seasons including 2009 when they took home the TUFL crown.  The Avengers will begin the season with a fully loaded 60 man roster.

When the Avengers step on the field, they will call on a number of veterans as well as talented newcomers.  Returning the quarterback the offense is Terry Barber.  He will be aided, on the offensive side of the ball, by Quinten “Q” McKinney, Mike Holmes, Nicc Frazier and Alex “Alexxx” Martinez.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Avengers will line up with returning stars Tim Williams, Dimitrius Bulreson and Kalef Ashton.  The Avengers defense has consistently been one of the best in the league for the past few seasons.

The Avengers will begin their season, Saturday, February 26 at Cedar Hill against the DFW Xpress. Kickoff will be 6:30 p.m.

Xpress vs. Avengers

Fort Worth Avengers Information

www.dfwavengers.com
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Avengers Schedule

Schedule

The Fort Worth Avengers’ Lady Avengers will be holding tryouts on February 12, 2011 in Saginaw, TX.  If you are interested in dancing for the Lady Avengers, contact Mrs. Watts 817-456-8722 or Eboni Gray 817-557-1941 or by email below.

E-mail: avengerscheerlead@att.net or eboniemail@yahoo.com

To find out more about the auditions, you can visit their website for more information by clicking the link below.

DFWAvengers.com

Avengers tryouts October 9th

The Fort Worth Avengers will be hosting the final tryout of the year for the 2011 season.  The Avengers are looking to get back to the TUFL Championship game which they won just two years ago.  If you are looking for a team to play for, then you might want to tryout for the Avengers.

October 9, 2010

Avengers Tryouts/Workout 5 p.m., Richland High, Richland, TX, $30 fee.

The Avengers are getting ready for the Charity Bowl games in December.

(text for additional info 972-904-1187)

The helmets-and-shoulder pads practice start  October 18, 2010, Monday and Thursday evenings (time to determined) at the  same location. The Avengers football club is looking for quality players not quantity.

Avengers vs. Stampede in the 3rd quarter of the Ronald McDonald Bowl

According to Robin Brummett, team secretary, the Avengers raised enough money to sponsor a room at the Ronald McDonald House in Fort Worth for an entire year.  In addition, they raised enough money to help fund the suppers the Avengers regularly host at the house. Also, the Avengers took up two big boxes of food to donate to the House pantry.

Nevertheless, there was a game to be played.  The North Texas Stampede was the opponent for the Avengers at Fossil Ridge High School, and the Stampede was looking to avenge the North Conference Championship game from the Spring.  And, for a half, it looked like they were on their way.  The Stampede jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead.

In the second half, the Avengers came back under the direction of new quarterback Pat Fields.  Former quarterback Terry Barber has moved to calling plays, and the Avengers played three different quarterbacks.  Fields tossed two touchdown passes to Quentin McKinney, and McKinney hit Alex Martinez on a receiver-reverse-pass to lead the comeback in the second half.

After the Martinez touchdown catch, the Avengers had the point-after blocked, but the Stampede was called for twelve men on the field.  With the game tied at 20 and the ball on the goal line for the PAT, the Avengers decided to go for two.  A quarterback sneak got the two points and the Avengers won 22-20.

In spite of the exhibition status, the game had the feel of a playoff game.  Head coach and Stampede owner Patrick Porter was upset with the twelve men on the field call after the referee waved his player on the field.  Further, he disputed that the Avenger quarterback broke the plane.  These two team have solidified their rivalry in the past couple of years.

Check out the video shot by Sonny Easley of TUFL.

Fans can get in the game a little bit cheaper with a canned food to help stock the Ronald McDonald House’s pantry.  Click on the pdf file below to print out a coupon.

The game will start at 7 p.m. and will be played at Fossil Ridge High School.

Ronald_Mcdonald_House_Coupon

New director Mele Watts will oversee the tryouts.  They will take place in Arlington at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center St. Arlington, TX 76004.

• Who: Fun, outgoing, spirited, energetic, women who want to audition for the hottest dance team in the Texas United Football League (TUFL). Must have transportation to all games and rehearsals in the DFW area.
• When: Saturday August 29, 2009. (Time: 9:00am-1:00pm) Registration begins at 9:00am. Choreography 9:45-10:45am – Final Team will be announced at 1:00pm
• Where: Bob Duncan Center: 2800 S. Center St. Arlington, TX 76004.
• Age Requirements: Candidate must be a high school graduate or 18 years of age by August 29, 2009. Must bring driver’s license to audition.
• Registration: For forms and tryout location information, go to Fort Worth Avengers official website www.dfwavengers.com then follow the menu on the left and click on Dance Team for details.
• Audition Day: Bring a recent photo (non-returnable) and $20.00 application fee. Acceptable payment methods: Cash or Money Order (make payable to Lady Avengers).
• Audition-Day Information: Must wear midriff top, dance shorts, or dance pants, flesh-tone tights, and dance or athletic shoes. Hair and make-up should be game day ready prior to arrival.

**Please Note** No food provided so please bring a snack and drink.

For more information, visit the Fort Worth Avengers website, dfwavengers.com.

We will have more information about the game and the win by Monday morning.  Congratulations to the Avengers!

Emerson Settle had a big night for the Avengers

“Big heart.  He won’t give up,” said defensive coordinator Dan Hunt of Settle after the game.  Settle, at times, looked as though the the night was over for him as he came to the sidelines in pain.  “Wouldn’t give up; made the plays when we needed it; kept coming back.  His knee was bothering him all night, but he knows what the game is.”

With the win, the Avengers become the Northern Conference Champions, giving them that elusive championship.  In spite of being among the oldest of the teams in the TUFL, a championship had eluded them.  On Saturday, June 13, the Avengers will travel to Prairie View A&M to play the Edinburg Landsharks at Blackshear Field.

For the Stampede, it is the end of a terrific playoff run.  The Stampede slipped in at the number 8 seed and promptly knocked off the number 1 seed Hunt County Longhorns.  Then, as if that weren’t enough, the Stampede traveled to Shreveport to knock off the number 2 seed Port City Jaguars.

“We came together as a family and did what we had to do,” said Stampede head coach Freeman.  “We actually started playing Stampede football.  The season didn’t even speak for us as far as what we were capable of doing.  We had a couple of games slip. . . . we didn’t play like we were supposed to.”

“I think the team stepped up, period,” said Coach Freeman when asked about the difference in the playoffs. “It wasn’t just one person.  The team came together and our motto was to ‘play as one,’ and that’s what we did, played as one.”

The championship run is quite an achievement for long-time semi-pro football player and first year head coach Darrel Brummett.  “We’ve got an awesome group of guys.  I can’t ask for anything better.  Awesome group of guys.”

“I didn’t expect to be the head coach this year, but my body is broken down after playing 13 years of semi-pro football,” said Brummett Saturday night, taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane. “Starting off with the Texans, going to the Mid-Cities Rush, going to the (Dallas) Diesel, and then playing for the Crowley Cougars and then the Avengers.”

“I’ve played center all of my life; we have one of the best offensive lines I’ve ever seen in this league,” Brummett said.

Members of the Avengers celebrate their championship

The first half of the Northern Conference Championship game was rather undramatic, but with 3:56 left in the half, quarterback Terry Barber engineered a touchdown drive just before halftime.  Aided by a late hit, the Avengers marched down the field, starting from their own 15 yard line.

With 27 seconds left in the half, Barber found Chuck Steward over the middle for a screen that scored the first touchdown of the game.  The PAT was no good, and the Avengers led 6-0 at halftime.

The second half was more of the same as the Avengers were content to use their running game to grind out a clock-draining win.  After a fumble recovery by D. Burleson, the Avengers marched toward their second and final score.

With 6:22 left in the third quarter, Tyrelle Staples burst through for a 10 yard touchdown.  Cedrick Miller added the two point conversion, and the Avengers had a 14-0 lead.

The Stampede made it into the red zone at the end of the third quarter, but came up empty when a fourth and goal pass from quarterback Josh Lanfear was broken up by cornerback Tim Williams.

Congratulations to the Avengers and the Stampede for great seasons.