As many of you know, the hurricane season is fast approaching. Many of us will never forget the year both Hurricanes Katrina and Rita battered the gulf coast. Every year thousands are affected by hurricane damage throughout the country. That’s where teams in the Dallas-Fort Worth area come in.
Starting on July 5, 2009, we are issuing a challenge to all of the DFW football teams including Women’s (Mustangs and Diamonds), semi-pro, minor league, eight-man, and indoor football teams to donate to the American Red Cross in preparation for the hurricane season. Here is how it works.
The fan, reader, player, etc. logs on to the American Red Cross’ website (www.american.redcross.org) and choose a fund to donate from. I am encouraging you to donate to the Disaster Relief Fund, but it is your choice. Make an online donation to the Red Cross to the fund you choose. You will receive an email receipt. Simply forward a copy of the receipt to charity@dfwfootball.net. In the email or subject line, indicate the football team that you represent.
That’s it. It is that simple. I will then tally the amount of money donated to the Red Cross in the name of said team. We allow two weeks for fans, players and readers to make their donation and email the receipts to me. All receipts must be emailed to me by July 18.
Then, in August, the team that wins, will have their logo or helmet displayed along with a notation of being the Charity Challenge winners on our website. We will place it prominently along with a link to your team.
This is a great chance to do something that is good, donating to the Red Cross, and a chance to show die-hard support for you team. Are you ready?
Ft. Worth Avengers (12-1) vs. Edinburg Landsharks (13-0)
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2009 Time: 7:00pm Stadium: Blackshear Field
Location: Prairie View A&M University
The Ft. Worth Avengers will be facing Edinburg Landsharks who are coming off a 34-18 win over the Houston Colts in the South Conference Championship game &and hold a perfect 13-0 record.
This game will be for the 2009 TUFL State Championship “The Super Bowl”, which will be held on Blackshear Field at Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Tx. on June 13, 2009.
On a warm night in Keller, TX, the Fort Worth Avengers held off a determined North Texas Stampede to move on to the TUFL Super Bowl. Defensive back Emerson Settle came up with an interception at 4:45 left in the game to seal the 14-0 Avengers victory. Settle had battled knee problems all night.
Emerson Settle had a big night for the Avengers
“Big heart. He won’t give up,” said defensive coordinator Dan Hunt of Settle after the game. Settle, at times, looked as though the the night was over for him as he came to the sidelines in pain. “Wouldn’t give up; made the plays when we needed it; kept coming back. His knee was bothering him all night, but he knows what the game is.”
With the win, the Avengers become the Northern Conference Champions, giving them that elusive championship. In spite of being among the oldest of the teams in the TUFL, a championship had eluded them. On Saturday, June 13, the Avengers will travel to Prairie View A&M to play the Edinburg Landsharks at Blackshear Field.
For the Stampede, it is the end of a terrific playoff run. The Stampede slipped in at the number 8 seed and promptly knocked off the number 1 seed Hunt County Longhorns. Then, as if that weren’t enough, the Stampede traveled to Shreveport to knock off the number 2 seed Port City Jaguars.
“We came together as a family and did what we had to do,” said Stampede head coach Freeman. “We actually started playing Stampede football. The season didn’t even speak for us as far as what we were capable of doing. We had a couple of games slip. . . . we didn’t play like we were supposed to.”
“I think the team stepped up, period,” said Coach Freeman when asked about the difference in the playoffs. “It wasn’t just one person. The team came together and our motto was to ‘play as one,’ and that’s what we did, played as one.”
The championship run is quite an achievement for long-time semi-pro football player and first year head coach Darrel Brummett. “We’ve got an awesome group of guys. I can’t ask for anything better. Awesome group of guys.”
“I didn’t expect to be the head coach this year, but my body is broken down after playing 13 years of semi-pro football,” said Brummett Saturday night, taking a nostalgic trip down memory lane. “Starting off with the Texans, going to the Mid-Cities Rush, going to the (Dallas) Diesel, and then playing for the Crowley Cougars and then the Avengers.”
“I’ve played center all of my life; we have one of the best offensive lines I’ve ever seen in this league,” Brummett said.
Members of the Avengers celebrate their championship
The first half of the Northern Conference Championship game was rather undramatic, but with 3:56 left in the half, quarterback Terry Barber engineered a touchdown drive just before halftime. Aided by a late hit, the Avengers marched down the field, starting from their own 15 yard line.
With 27 seconds left in the half, Barber found Chuck Steward over the middle for a screen that scored the first touchdown of the game. The PAT was no good, and the Avengers led 6-0 at halftime.
The second half was more of the same as the Avengers were content to use their running game to grind out a clock-draining win. After a fumble recovery by D. Burleson, the Avengers marched toward their second and final score.
With 6:22 left in the third quarter, Tyrelle Staples burst through for a 10 yard touchdown. Cedrick Miller added the two point conversion, and the Avengers had a 14-0 lead.
The Stampede made it into the red zone at the end of the third quarter, but came up empty when a fourth and goal pass from quarterback Josh Lanfear was broken up by cornerback Tim Williams.
Congratulations to the Avengers and the Stampede for great seasons.
The Fort Worth Avengers survived a defensive slugfest Saturday night at Keller High School to knock off the North Texas Stampede 14-0.
The Avengers used the running game to keep the chains and the clock moving in the second half while cornerbacks Tim Williams and Emerson Settle were able to hold the Stampede receivers in check the whole night.
The win gave the Avengers the North Conference Championship sending them to the TUFL Super Bowl next week at Prairie View A&M University.
The Old Saying is that “A TKO is still A Knockout”
I never new this to be true until last Saturday when as a Avenger we faced the Abilene Gladiators, the face-off was in Lancaster Texas on May 30th. The day when these two titans clashed was one to remember not for the score in the end, but for the battle that fought to get there.
A lot of respect goes to the heart of the Gladiators as they prepared and started the war on the field with good ball play and defense, but overall the intensity level was higher than the Avengers.
Granted after some few choice motivating words from Head Coach and other inspiring leaders from Offense and Defense, we put our helmets back on strapped up our laces, let out our battle cry; 2 PATS 2 CLAPS AND A “AAHHHHH”
From that moment forward we were back to business, as the game neared the fourth quarter with 1:30 left in the game, we started to plan for next weeks opponent in Round 3. But quickly we were woken up from this dream. A key turn over forced our backs against the wall, but soon to be hold, we were ready for the challenge. Abilene had one final chance to crush our playoff dreams in the mist of making theirs come true.
Behind 34-36 the Gladiators were drooling at the mouth, as their kicker lined up for the 1 point win over us. Or so we thought. We called a timeout to ice the kicker which is normal at all levels. Regained ourselves and everyone held on tight. As the kicker reached the ball, everyone looked up towards the goal post. But that’s not where the ball went, the KICK WAS BLOCKED. To the amazement of many but to the joy of our playoff dreams, overall a well fought game, and like true Gladiators after a fierce battle, the “Heavy Hitters” from Abilene shook hands with the “Warriors” from the Fort Worth of Town.
AVENGERS CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND
This is the TUFL Playoffs scoreboard for May 30, 2009. The following games are from the North Conference including DFW teams.
North Texas Stampede 19 Port City Jaguars 12
Fort Worth Avengers 36 Abilene Gladiators 34
The wins set up an all DFW match up for the North Conference Championship between the Avengers and the Stampede. This means that a DFW team will be in the TUFL Super Bowl. Congratulations to the Avengers and the Stampede.
How it feels to be an Avenger Right Now!
With this being my first season I have seen enough to cover a few lifetimes, but the best is yet to come. This Saturday we are posed to make our playoff run. The Avengers is a different breed, never have they walked into a game with any doubt, ever thinking they would or could lose. That’s confidence that is brought and built over time, and this organization has weathered all the test that time could muscle. This Saturday May 23rd against the Extreme at Central High in Keller Texas, we plan to continue that journey and carve our names in the TUFL history book. But don’t be confused we as Avengers learn from the past and are determined to co-author our future, this time with our names engraved on the championship and on each one of our fingers, in a gold ring setting. One game at a time! Quarter after Quarter we march!
I’m proud of the Avenger Heritage and all it means to the fans, family, and the members of this special club.
Best believe all that don’t know us will get to know us in a real short time! We bring that “A” game! Don’t bring less than your best to the AVENGERS!!!
WHERE MY DOGS AT??? !!!
YOU ALREADY KNOW THE REST!!!!
About The Fort Worth Avengers
The Fort Worth Avengers are a nonprofit semi-pro football team dedicated to the preservation of sportsmanship, hard work and dedication on and off the field. Our goal is to globally provide opportunities and give hope for families and individuals in need.
Rather it be a night out enjoying a Fort Worth Avengers football game, a kind word of support and encouragement to a child or from the many food drives, donations and outings for children with cognitive and physical disabilities we provide, we will continue and strive to help those in need.
The Avengers believe in the importance of family and helping your community.Through the sport of football, we are able to not only help at risk youth and families in need, we are also able to provide a positive experience of a great football game for fans, families, and teens.
We would not be able to provide this support without the commitment and dedication of our local sponsors and fans.They are the stepping stones to a better tomorrow. Through these companies, as well as members of the community, we have been able to give individuals and family’s food, clothing and toys, while also providing an innovative and positive way for children and teens to be entertained. To our sponsors and fans… thank you for making this possible.
