Our 11:30am kickoff (ABC) means an early start for tailgating and I am looking forward to smelling all the bacon that is sure to be on the grills. Gates open at 10am, so there will be plenty of time to enjoy the bacon, pancakes, and whatever else is on the menu before settling into your seats in the Battle Dome.
GLASS HALF FULL
–It’s hard to ignore the absence of the reigning XFL Defensive Player of the Year, but while Pita Taumoepenu heals up from an ankle injury, All-XFL wide receiver Jahcour Pearson has been activated and will make his St. Louis Battlehawks debut.
“Peezy'' led the XFL last season with 60 catches and 670 receiving yards–most of those coming with his electrifying moves after the catch. Can’t wait to see what adding a weapon like that does to an already stacked receiving corps and offense that has rushed for over 100 yards in consecutive weeks.
And lest we not forget, on the defensive side of the ball Mike Rose will make his return.The quarterback of the defense, Rose is a difference maker who had four tackles and an interception before his own ankle injury in Week 1.
Speaking of tackles, Callahan O’Reilly’s 19 tackles are tied for 10th in the UFL–but unlike the rest of the leaders, he’s played in only two games, not three. Willie Harvey is tied for 2nd in the UFL with 24 tackles.
ALL-PURPOSE SHEP
–Chosen as a team captain in part due to his business-like demeanor of consistently making plays, Darrius Shepherd continues to do just that. His 551 all-purpose yards (183.7 avg) are the most in the UFL and he ranks 2nd with 17 receptions.
The 32-yard punt last week from Shepherd is not only the longest in the UFL this season, but was also a key play in the Battlehawks victory over San Antonio.
COLE’S CONNECTION
Just five hours away, there’s expected to be some Memphis fans making the road trip for the game this weekend, including Cassius Vaughn or “Godpops” as he is called by Qwynnterrio Cole.
As a freshman at Memphis East High School, Cole and Vaughn connected when the NFL defensive back returned home to visit his alma mater. Their relationship grew to more than just football as Vaughn became a mentor to Cole, who had lost his father at a young age.
“He came back when he didn’t have to,” shared Cole. “He poured into guys like me and I feel like I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. Who’s to say I can’t be in the same position to help one of the young guys at the high school achieve their goals.”
Which is exactly what “Q” is trying to do. After leading the Seattle Sea Dragons with 48 tackles in the XFL last season, he returned as the professional athlete to help out his high school team, which is now coached by Vaughn.
“Behind closed doors, continue to work and continue to get better,” explained Cole of his message to the kids. “Everything will come to the light and everything will happen the way it’s supposed to.”