Commanders eke out 19-15 win over Salt Lake in AAF action

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (March 23, 2019) With 1:54 remaining in the game, the Salt Lake Stallions trailed by two after their only touchdown of the night. Going for the two-point conversion, quarterback Josh Woodrum targeted wide receiver DeMoenay Pierson-El for the tie; with the pass picked off by San Antonio Commanders' De'Vante Bausby. The fleet footed corner back ran the ball back, scoring two points to seal the deal and give San Antonio a 19-15 win over Salt Lake at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The win pushes the Commanders to a 5-2 record, good enough for first place in the Western Conference of the Alliance of American Football.

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

In the first quarter, the Stallions got the ball past the goal line with a Taylor Bertolet 32-yard field goal at the 9:17 mark in the first quarter. They took possession of the ball to start the game; moving it 53 yards before the drive stalled; as they settled for three points. The Commanders responded four and a half minutes later with a 75-yard drive that ended when quarterback Logan Woodside (above right) with a 21-yard pass to wide receiver Mekale McKay for the first touchdown of the game. The conversion attempt failed when a Woodside pass to Greg Ward, Jr. was incomplete.

You can view a photo slideshow from the game, 

by Darla S, Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography 

by clicking here.

Salt Lake evened the score early in the second quarter when Bertolet booted a 53 yarder. After some back-and forth play, San Antonio got the ball back on a Woodrum interception by corner back Duke Thomas. He returned the ball 25 yards to the Commanders' 29-yard-line. Woodside the mounted a 65-yard drive that resulted in a 23-yard field goal by Nick Rose to make the score 9-6 at the half. The Stallions evened the score after 4:40 of play, in the third quarter, when Bertolet added a 52-yard field goal to his scoring tally for the evening. San Antonio scored their second touchdown when Marquise

Photo by
Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

Williams came off the bench after Woodside left the game with a shoulder injury. He engineered a nine-play, 70-yard drive; concluding with a 36-yard pass to running back Trey Williams (shown left) for the score. The successful conversion; a pass from Willians to Ward, Jr. pushed the Commanders total to 17.  

Salt Lake cut the San Antonio lead to two after their late touchdown, with the final score being posted after the interception on the conversion attempt.

Early in the first quarter, on a second-and-two play, quarterback Stallions' Josh Woodrum handed the ball to running back Terron Ward for the first down. On the play, Ward was stopped by linebackers Joel Lanning and Shaan Washington. Lanning injured his shoulder on the play and left the game. He was checked by team physicians and returned to the game in the third quarter.