Out Numbered But Not Out Scored

The DFW Xpress traveled to San Antonio this past weekend to face a Mavericks team that was looking to avenge an early season lost to the Xpress by a score of 19-6. What the Mavericks received was another lost, this time to an Xpress team that only brought 19 players to go to war with. The team brought key players and 14 out of their 22 starters just so happened to make the trip. The team brought key starters like team leader in receptions Chris Choice who had 7 catches for over 100 yards and a T.D. 3 out of 4 offensive lineman, and 2 out of 4 starters in the secondary. The Mavericks started off the scoring first with their second possession to take the lead 6-0, that would be all the scoring the Xpress would give up, the defense which only gives up an average of 11 pt's a game, went to work forcing 5 turnovers and making several plays in the Mavericks backfield. The Xpress got on the score board when wide receiver Larry Cooper took a hand off and went 22 yards untouched for a touchdown, James Roberts then added a 2 pt conversion and the Xpress took the lead 8-6 and never looked back. QB Tre Fields had another bad game this time throwing 6 interceptions, he did manage to score 2 rushing T.D's and throwing for another score, James Roberts rushed for over 70 yards in his first game as the featured back. Defensive player of the year nominee Jeremy Rutherford broke the Xpress total team record with 3 sacks, which brings his sack total to 15 with 1 game left, the record was 12 set by Montrel Grace in 2008 season. In the end the Xpress manhandled the Mavericks to a final score of 30-6. The Xpress will play the ATX Tigers this weekend in a critical game for playoff positioning for both teams. The Tigers come in with a very aggressive run game and the Xpress have not yielded a 100 yard rusher this season and are ranked # 1 against the run. Stay tuned to see what happens.

Xpress Derailed by Drillers

What was hyped as the game of the year, turned out to be just that. The Drillers came in 6-1 and the Xpress 6-1. The Drillers came in as the highest scoring offense in the league, The Xpress had the second highest scoring offense in the league. The Drillers were ranked #3 in rushing offense, the Xpress was ranked #1 against the run. The Xpress ranked #3 in passing offense, and the Drillers were ranked #1 against the pass. The Xpress started off fast QB Tre Fields hit T.E. David Steele with a 28 yard pass completion, then he hit WR Chris Choice on an 18 yard strike, then WR John Pope on a 15 yard completion, to get the Xpress down to the 1 yard line, then Fields scored on a QB sneak, to start the scoring off and giving the Xpress a 6-0 lead. After both teams played excellent defense and both offenses continued to have problems scoring, Fields found WR Rashard Manning down the right sideline for a 55 yard T.D. pass to put the Xpress up 12-0. Coach Vernon then called for a squib kick but the teams kicker made a mistake and the Drillers were able to kick a 45 yard F.G. before the half and make the score 12-3. But as in all football games you have to play 2 halves! The Drillers came out on fire and scored early in the second half, and narrowing the Xpress lead to 12-10 with just under 11 mins after several miscues by both offenses, the Drillers were able to get the ball back with just under 4 mins to go, and went the length of the field, with the help of the Xpress defense missing several tackles on key 3rd down plays, The Drillers drove all the way down to the Xpress 4 yard line and with 1 second left on the clock kicked a 21 yard F.G. as time expired.

Xpress Roll over Venom

The Xpress roll over the Plano Venom this past Easter weekend. What many thought would be a very good game started off as just that,until after halftime then the route was on! The Xpress got on the board first with QB Tre Fields hooking up with Wide out John Pope on a 12 yd T.D. pass, the extra point was no good, and the Xpress lead 6-0. On the Venoms next drive the Venom went down field and scored on a T.D. a 30 yard pass to Mike Tuner, the Venom went for a 2 point conversion and the play was successful, and the Venom took an early lead 8-6. Both teams went back and fourth with neither scoring any other points until with less then 3 mins left to go in the half and Fields hooking up with veteran wide out Chris Choice on a 22 yard T.D. pass the extra point was no good and the Xpress went in to halftime leading 12-8. The second half was all Xpress. The team scored the next 23 unanswered points and the route was on. Fields went back to work this time hitting his T.E. David Steele on an 8 yard T.D. pass. The Xpress defense held the Venom in check forcing several Venom turnovers 4 interceptions and 3 fumbles, including 7 sacks. The defense was missing starting MLB Sam Crawford who was sick with the flu, and starting DE Jeremy Rutherford who is nursing a bruise calf. That didn't stop the Xpress defense, who continue to lead the league in forced turnovers. New stars emerged in the game rookie Chris Hicks had 2 int, 5 tackles, 1 pass defensed. CB Kedrick Ford had 2 int, and Damion Collins with his first defensive T.D. of the season. Fields threw his 4th T.D. this time he hooked up with wide out Rashard Manning on a 75 yard T.D. to blow the game wide open. Sherrod Borens got in the scoring race also this time with a 50 yard T.D. run late in the game to put the game totally out of reach. The Venom scored with less then 7 mins to go in the game to make the final score Xpress 42 the Venom 14. The Xpress next home game will be 4/18/09 against the 6-1 West Texas Drillers.

Clark and Xpress part ways

The Xpress and Clark part ways after 1 game. Bryson Clark was signed by the Xpress last week in a move that both sides thought it would be good move for the organization. What turned out to be a great re-signing for the franchise lasted 1 game and the marriage is over. We the Xpress thought in bringing in Clark it would bolster our wide receiver group, it did but when we signed Clark we let it be known to him that he would not be coming in as a focal part of the offense but as a extra part in our strong offense. Clark managed to play one game and in that game he had 1 catch for 20 yards and did not get a chance to contribute much more. So after 1 game Clark notified one of the team captains and decided he wanted to opt out of his contract. After several attempts by the front office to talk to Clark and with him not returning calls the Xpress decided to let him leave. The Xpress organization and players wish him well with whom ever he decides to sign with are re-sign with.

Xpress sign practice squad player

April 7Th 2009, The Xpress make move by releasing 3rd team runningback Leland Fowler and activating DB Nick Nobles in a move that will help make the kick coverage better. Coach Vernon was asked why he released Fowler? coach Vernon replied, Fowler just didn't work with the teams system and he just wasn't the type of back the team could use at this time right now, but if he clears waivers we would gladly bring him back to camp when camp starts. With us activating Nick it brings the team another hard hitter to a defense that is already ranked in the top 3 of the league, Nick is fast and will help upgrade the kick coverage team. Stay tuned for more to come as the Xpress move closer to their quest in the chase for the Magnum Cup.

Xpress move to 5-1

The game that was hyped at the beginning of the season as the game of the year, turned out to be a one team show. The Xpress dismantled the Seminoles 34-14 and the Xpress showed why they are one of the premier teams in the Metroplex. The first play from scrimmage QB Tre Fields hooked up with wideout Rashard Manning on a 50 yard completion, 2 plays later RB Rocky Frank scored on a 17 yard run to put the Xpress up 7-0. The Seminoles offense took over at their own 40 yard line got to the Xpress 40 yard line where the Xpress defense tighten up forced the Seminoles into a punt situation, then the Xpress offense went to work again, this time moving the ball on the ground and in the air. The offensive line did some excellent blocking and once again Frank scored, this time from 22 yards out and putting the Xpress up 14-0 before leaving with a knee injury. The defense turned out another excellent game with 2 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. The Xpress defense got in on the scoring as well Rookie Sherrad Borens scored on a 90 yard punt return an Xpress and NMLF Record. Gabriel Langley forced a fumbled scooped it up and as he was being tackled he lateraled the ball to Livingston who raced up the sideline for additional 50 yard and the T.D. which pushed the score to 28-0. And the game was pretty much over at the point. The Seminoles scored a defensive T.D. right before the half on a Tre Fields fumble in the endzone making the score 28-6 and giving the Seminoles a little bit of confidence. In the second half the Xpress offense couldn't get much going the Seminoles defense came up with another Defensive T.D. this time after a Richard Mack fumble that cut the lead to 28-14. After the Seminoles kicked off and the Xpress offense got the ball back, the offense put the ball in R.B. James Roberts hands giving him the ball on the ground the next 4 out of 5 plays and and him totalling 33 yards rushing on those carries set up the last T.D. of the game this time Fields play action to Roberts set up a 45 yard strike to Manning for a T.D. that sealed the game and finished out the scoring 34-14.