After a week of having to deal with the media questioning if there will be a Championship hangover and is this team aging too fast. The Red Dragons were set to take on a London Bulldogs team that was primed and ready for the spotlight, with veteran QB. Timmy Merritt at the helm and a fresh face roster and Superstar rookies ready to make their RFL debuts (TE. Reggie Streeter, DE. Drew Brewer, CB. Shaquille Tiller), this game had all the makings of a showing out party for London as they had the champs traveling across the pond so the table was set for them to sneak in an upset.
The Red Dragons got the ball to start the game looking to quiet the crowd out the gates and that they did. After a near 3 and out where Savoy scrambled to extend the drive, the next play saw FB. Warren Stoerner and LT. DeMarcus DeGrate get great blocks on the left side to bust open a hole for CJ Bobo to bust through for a 56 yard TD and now the stage was set for the champs to roll.
But wait….. This Bulldogs team is feisty and ready for a fight. After the opening possession, the defense settled in and were able to contain Savoy and the Red Dragons offense the remainder of the first half (time ran out before half with the Red Dragons in the redzone) holding them scoreless the rest of the way. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs offense they too had to go up against a defense that liked to hit and fight as well and they were only able to come away with 6 at the half. Coming into the game if you would have told Coach Reid he would be down by 1 at the half, I think he would have taken it but after the first half they had and having the Red Dragons on the ropes and not being able to take advantage he knew it could have been a different story. Coach Reid stated “I’m not ready to say our defense is great by any means. However, we have a young, hungry group of players here.” That they do, this roster is full of young talented players and as Coach continues to teach these guys how to win and be big in the moment they will excel.
For week 1 the moment and the second half just got too big for the Bulldogs as they were held scoreless in the second half behind some costly turnovers with (interceptions by Bobby Boucher and Jack Jack Higgins (also 7 tackles, 1 sack) and also a huge strip sack by DT. Corp that led to a scoop and score from Mike Luke) and lack of production in the running game as the Red Dragons defense were able to hold them to 68 total rushing yards on the day with the majority of those coming in the first half.
The biggest key for the Red Dragons in this game was consistency out of both lines of scrimmage groups, the Bulldogs are very talented up front but also very young and Coach Davis felt this is where the game could be won. "A huge point of emphasis on any Coach Davis led team will be how the big boys do and this team embodies that grit that Coach Davis loves in his line play." The offensive line showed well opening up gashing holes for CJ Bobo who carried most of the load on the day. Coach Davis likes to ride the hot hand in his backfield as on any given day either of the 3 guys can crank it up and today Bobo played like a guy who wanted to show the running back room that he is still the lead dog (22 carries 172 yards 2 TDs) Fender and Ninadino III combined for only 3 carries on the day although 1 of those was a 2 yard TD run by Powerback Ninadino III. The passing game was nothing spectacular today and Savoy was inaccurate at times as the Bulldogs D played and schemed him very well. He did complete 20 passes to 6 different receivers led by WR. Andrew McIntosh with 6 for 77 yards (Rookie and 1st Rd. Draft Pick TE. Tyler Henderson did get his 1st RFL catch logged) but it is the threat of his scrambling ability and addition to the running game that makes him so special and dangerous. Savoy had 205 passing yards no TDs 1 interception (rookie CB. Shaquille Tiller made an amazing catch) and was sacked 3 times and fumbled the ball twice. But, he added 93 yards rushing which took the Red Dragons total to 267 yards on the day.
The biggest key for the Red Dragons in this game was consistency out of both lines of scrimmage groups, the Bulldogs are very talented up front but also very young and Coach Davis felt this is where the game could be won. "A huge point of emphasis on any Coach Davis led team will be how the big boys do and this team embodies that grit that Coach Davis loves in his line play." The offensive line showed well opening up gashing holes for CJ Bobo who carried most of the load on the day. Coach Davis likes to ride the hot hand in his backfield as on any given day either of the 3 guys can crank it up and today Bobo played like a guy who wanted to show the running back room that he is still the lead dog (22 carries 172 yards 2 TDs) Fender and Ninadino III combined for only 3 carries on the day although 1 of those was a 2 yard TD run by Powerback Ninadino III. The passing game was nothing spectacular today and Savoy was inaccurate at times as the Bulldogs D played and schemed him very well. He did complete 20 passes to 6 different receivers led by WR. Andrew McIntosh with 6 for 77 yards (Rookie and 1st Rd. Draft Pick TE. Tyler Henderson did get his 1st RFL catch logged) but it is the threat of his scrambling ability and addition to the running game that makes him so special and dangerous. Savoy had 205 passing yards no TDs 1 interception (rookie CB. Shaquille Tiller made an amazing catch) and was sacked 3 times and fumbled the ball twice. But, he added 93 yards rushing which took the Red Dragons total to 267 yards on the day.
We know how Coach Davis wants his team to play, they are going to run the ball then run some more and when a play needs to be made have faith that his receivers are ready to shine and on defense prepare to get hit. Smash mouth football on both sides of the ball is this teams identity, they know it, the city of San Diego knows it, the RFL community knows it, and the league knows it.
