AFL Rewind: Brigade Pick Up Win No. 1
Defensive specialist Denario Smalls recorded two interceptions – returning one 39 yards for a touchdown – and recovered a fourth-quarter fumble to help the expansion Kansas City Brigade claim their first-ever win, a 45-24 decision over the Columbus Destroyers.
“We’ve got some confidence now,” Smalls said. “I think we’re about to get this train rolling. We’ve got that first win under our belts now, and I think we’ll be able to take advantage of it.”
Kansas City (1-3) had lost the first three games on its inaugural schedule by a combined 25 points. A win – no matter how ugly on the offensive side of the ball – was the only remedy.
Second-year kicker Tim Seder bailed out the a sometimes-lackluster offense by booting four field goals. It was an effective – if bitter-tasting – pill.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do,” Brigade coach Kevin Porter said. “We want to be a team that can go out and put fear in some people. We feel we have the offensive personnel to go out and make plays. We have a quarterback that can make plays. We’ve just got to continue to work at it.”
Veteran quarterback Andy Kelly completed 24 of 36 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns against two interceptions. It was just enough to send the Destroyers (1-3) to their third straight defeat.
Kelly rushed for a 1-yard TD late in the first quarter to give Kansas City a 6-0 lead. Matters would only become graver for Columbus.
Seder kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired to send the Brigade into halftime with a 21-10 advantage.
In-game injuries kept key receivers James Jordan and Calvin Spears off the field during crucial portions of the game. Yet Kelly was able to put the game out of reach by finding offensive specialist Steve Smith on a 25-yard TD pass with just under 4 minutes remaining.
Rookie offensive specialist Jerel Myers caught five passes for 71 yards and a TD for Kansas City.
“I’m not really interested in throwing 10 touchdowns a game,” Kelly said. “If I throw two, and we get the win, I’m fine with that. I’m here to win games, not passing titles.”
Wins will not be easy for Kansas City to come by in the coming weeks. The Brigade visit Georgia next (Feb. 24) before returning home to play perennial AFL power Tampa Bay (March 5) and Philadelphia (March 13).
A trip to Austin follows that rocky stretch. The still-undefeated Wranglers edged the Brigade 37-33 in Week 3.
Porter remains confident in his team’s abilities, however. Especially after seeing his defense consistently stop Columbus during this outing.
“Our defense has just been real consistent, and we’re trying to stay consistent when calling plays on defense,” Porter said. “We’re going to continue to stay aggressive. I would hope that our defense can play like that every week.
“But there are going to be games where, if we’re going to stay in them, we’re going to have to score.”
Welcome to Arena Football.
NOTES: Columbus QBs Billy Dicken and John Kaleo were a combined 17-of-33 for one TD and two INTs. … Kansas City controlled the ball for 42:28. … Columbus lost 101 yards on 12 penalties. … Kansas City rushed the ball 11 times, gaining only 11 yards. … Columbus OS Carl Bond had 75 yards and a TD on six receptions.
This article originally appeared in The (Belton, Mo.) Journal on Feb. 23, 2006.
