Oviedo, FL – Atlanta Legends inaugural season got underway on Saturday night at Spectrum Stadium at the home of the Orlando Apollos in a disappointing performance in all facets of the game. Their most successful drive of the game came on their first one, after that it went downhill as the Apollos pilled it on in a 40-6 loss for Atlanta.
The Apollos started with possession and didn’t pose any threat at all on their first three play to the Legends. Orlando quarterback Garrett Gilbert overthrew his receiver badly on his first pass and then underthrew Akeem Hunt on 2nd down and then had an errant pass short out of bounds on third down, resulting in a quick three and out.
On the Legends first possession, they were able to pick up a 3rd down conversion as Matt Simms connected with Tarean Folston in the backfield and he was able to make his way outside and pick up the 1st down. Then on a second straight 3rd down, Simms rolled out to his left looking to buy time to find a receiver. With the defense in hot pursuit, Simms threw one on a line to Seantavius Jones for a 24 yard gain to make it 1st and 10 at the Orlando 48.
Despite the success moving the ball on third down, three times, the Legends drive would stall out as they approached the red zone and settled for a 38-yard Younghoe Koo field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 6:10 left in the 1st quarter.
The Apollos were able to get into Legends territory on their ensuing possession. However, the Atlanta defense stood tall and force a punt right afterward. This gave Atlanta possession at their own 16-yard line for their second possession. That possession however ended in the first 3 and out of the Legends franchise.
Then the tide turned as the Apollos offense took the field. On a 2nd and 8 from the Orlando 26 yard line, Gilbert connected with Charles Johnson for a gain of 23 yards. Then a 15-yard penalty for an illegal defense was called, tacking on an extra 15 yards to the end of the play. This set up the Apollos with a 1st an 10 at the legends 36-yard line. Then four plays later, Gilbert connected with Jalin Marshall with a laser to the endzone for the 26-yard score. The two-point conversion was good and the Legends suddenly found themselves trailing 8-3 with 14:14 left to play in the 1st half.
Momentum continued to sway in favor of the Apollos as Simms was picked off by Terence Garvin at the Legends 35 yard line. Four plays later, it was De’Veon Smith taking it in for the 1-yard score as Orlando took a 16-3 lead after the conversion with 11:55 left in the 1st half.
The Legends ensuing possession would result in a 3 and out. However, on the punt was muffed by the Apollos and recovered by Atlanta at the Orlando 32 yard line. After getting down to the 9-yard line, the would settle for another Koo field goal, this time coming from 27 yards, to make it a 16-6 game with the Apollos on top and 7:20 left in the 1st half.
Orlando then drove back down the field almost seamlessly, getting back into the red zone, threatening to take a three-score lead, they would elect to go for it on 4th and a half yard at the ATL12 yard line, but the Legends D stood tall. This gave the legends a chance to draw close ahead of the end of the half.
The Legends were not able to move the ball, other than two penalties they picked up. They would then elect to go for it on 4th and 1 from their own 41-yard line and were unable to convert.
This would give the Apollos the ball at the ATL 41 with only 20 seconds left on the clock. On the first play from scrimmage pass interference was called against Atlanta, setting up a 1st and goal for Orlando at the ATL 5 yard line. Then the Apollos showed off with their own version of the “Philly Special” as Jalin Marshall took a pitch and connected with Gilbert who was wide open in the right side of the endzone for the score.
At the half, it was all Orlando as they had a 22-6 lead over the Legends. QB Simms was just 8 of 17 passes for 77 yards and 1 pick for the Legends, Folston led the team in rushing with a dismal 16 yards. Jones led the team in receiving yards with 32.
To start the 2nd half, the Legends were able to get into Orlando territory but were forced to punt after facing a 4th and 6 at the Apollos 37 yard line. Then Orlando went on a methodical 12 play 79-yard drive that ate 7:09 off the clock and was capped by a 33 yd field goal from Elliott Fry to make it 25-6 for the Apollos.
The lack of offensive production continued for the Legends as they were whisked quickly off the field after a 3 and out. The defense was able to hold strong, however, on the punt, Ervin Phillips muffed the punt and the Apollos recovered. This set Orlando up with a 1st and 10 at the Legends 35 yard line.
It then took just two plays as Gilbert connected with D’Ernest Johnson for a 33 yard TD as the Apollos put the ice on the game with a 31-6 lead after another missed conversion and only 13:25 left to play.
It got worse for the Legends on their next possession as Simms was picked off for a 2nd time by Folston. This time, however, Folston took it 51 yards the other way for an Apollos TD. This made it 37-6 after the failed conversion with 11:07 left to play.
After the Apollos added on a field goal to make it 40-6, the Legends made a switch at quarterback to get Aaron Murray a few reps. His performance ended in a red zone interception, that put an end to the misery for Atlanta as Orlando took a knee and ran out the final seconds.
