Nick Moore
If everything is in fact bigger in Texas, the Orlando Apollos may reflect on their comeback win at San Antonio later this year as their biggest triumph.
When San Antonio defensive tackle, Joey Mbu, returned Apollos quarterback Garrett Gilbert’s fumble eight yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, the Commanders took their second 12-point lead of the game, 29-17.
The Apollos then rallied off 20 unanswered points to close the game with a 37-29 victory.
Gilbert, a former Texas Longhorn, finished the game completing 19-of-28 passes for 393 yards – an astonishing 20.7 yards per completion. Wide receiver Charles Johnson, who spent three seasons in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings, led the Apollos with seven catches, 192 yards and a touchdown. Jalin Marshall added four catches, 84 yards and a touchdown.
With the game tied at 29 late in the fourth quarter, Apollos defensive back and former Florida Atlantic Owl, Keith Reaser, returned Commanders quarterback Logan Woodside’s interception 39 yards up the sideline for the game-clinching score. The play silenced the reported 29,176 fans in attendance, a current AAF record.
“It was just as loud as Rocky Top (Tennessee) to tell you the truth, and I know the Swamp (Florida) is maybe a little bit louder than here.” Quote dynamo and Apollos head coach, Steve Spurrier, said following the game. You can take the ‘Ole Ball Coach’ out of college football, but you can never take college football out of the ‘Ole Ball Coach’.
The Apollos are just one of three undefeated teams remaining in the Alliance. The Birmingham Iron (2-0) earned a 12-9 Week 2 win over the Salt Lake City Stallions to currently share the Eastern Division lead with the Apollos.
The action continues in Week 3 as the Apollos return to Spectrum Stadium to host the Memphis Express Saturday night at 8PM.
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