HOW IT HAPPENED
What a start for Bismarck. They were able to utilize some huge names they didn’t bother announcing they had signed (Shad Thornton) to build a 14-0 lead after Ryan Feiss set the tone with a 26 yard kickoff return which led to an Eric Lauderdale 3 yard touchdown plunge. They then used a huge missed field goal return by Zuril Hendrick to set up a Taz Wilson touchdown run from 9 yards out. These two short touchdown drives successfully masked the fact that Bismarck had no passing game on Sunday. San Diego finally woke up on a busted play where Nate Chavious got to show off his speed down the sidelines for a 31 yard catch and run for the first score of 2020 for SD. The play of the half came on rookie quarterback Michael Carrillo’s second touchdown of the half, and best throw of the day, a 42 yard bomb to Marques Rodgers to give the Strike Force a 21-17 lead at the break.
San Diego received the second half kickoff poised to go up two scores. That’s when Zuril Hendrick stepped in front of a Carrillo pass for the Bucks’ second interception of the day. That led to the Bucks’ lone passing touchdown of the day as Wilson found Shad Thornton on a wheel route from 12-yards out to go up 28-24. That lead lasted all of 1 play as the 109 Special Teams Player of the Year, Rodgers returned the ensuing kickoff 45 yards for the go-ahead score.
After a stop on the following drive San Diego had a chance to put the game away, but refused to take advantage, fumbling in their own endzone for a safety. Cody Barber then made an impossible 40 yard field goal to give Bismarck the lead back at 29-28. Bismarck’s inexperience showed itself on the next San Diego drive as a busted coverage allowed Carrillo to easily find wideout Donta Armstrong in the endzone from 19 yards out as the Strike Force went up 35-29. That’s when things got fun.
After both teams traded stops San Diego lined up for a 53 yard field goal attempt off the leg of Bryce Crawford. Crawford’s kick fell short and Zuril Hendrick made what looked like the best play in the franchise’s young IFL history, breaking multiple tackles en route to a 50 yard touchdown return to give Bismarck a one-point lead with 2:23 remaining. Just when it looked like San Diego had their backs against the wall, Isaiah Bernard fielded a muffed kick by Nate Chavious and weaved nearly untouched for yet another go ahead kick return touchdown.
Bismarck had one final shot but failed to gain positive yardage and turned the ball over on downs. Nate Chavious added another touchdown from 6 yards out for good measure as the Strike Force improved to 1-0 for the first time ever.
FINAL THOUGHTS
SAN DIEGO: This secondary was the pride and joy of the 2020 offseason, and they showed out with the rest of the defense on Sunday. Daquawn Brown, Malcom Lee, and backup QB Rudy Johnson each had multiple pass breakups. The offense still provides a huge question mark. Nate Chavious could be in for an All-IFL type season if used correctly. Everytime he has the ball in his hands there is big play potential. He only carried ten times on Sunday and that number should increase. Michael Carrillo played solid football but has plenty to improve on. Finally, the play at the center position was hoorendous as Carrillo had to crouch down to field just about every snap. Things looked better as the game went on but that needs to be cleaned up.
BISMARCK: If Taz Wilson completes a deep throw just twice on Sunday the Bucks are 1-0 and we look like complete idiots. Instead, for whatever reason, Wilson continuously overthrew open men and somehow got worse as the game went on. He completed just 5 of 22 passes for 36 yards. That just simply won’t cut it and it’s a shame because the defense was fantastic, forcing multiple turnovers. Special teams was phenomenal. This loss falls on Wilson’s shoulders. Fortunately, if he plays well this looks like a somewhat talented Bismarck squad.
GAME AWARDS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: RB Nate Chavious (SD): 10 att. 39 yards, 2 TD, 2 rec. 26 yards, 1 TD.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: DB Daquawn Brown (SD): 10 tackles, TFL, 4 PBUP, INT.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE GAME: DB Zuril Hendrick (BIS): 2 missed FG returns, 90 yards, LONG: 50, 1 TD.
PLAY OF THE GAME:
STAT LEADERS
PASSING YARDS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 132
PASSING TOUCHDOWNS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 3
PASS COMPLETIONS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 9
PASS INCOMPLETIONS: Taz Wilson (BIS): 17
COMPLETION PERCENTAGE: Michael Carrillo (SD): 52.9%
LONGEST PASS: Michael Carrillo (SD): 42
INTERCEPTIONS THROWN: Michael Carrillo (SD): 2
RUSHING YARDS: Shad Thornton (BIS): 40
RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS: Nate Chavious (SD): 2
LONGEST RUSH: Jaymar Anderson (BIS): 16
RECEPTIONS: Marques Rodgers (SD): 3
RECEIVING YARDS: Marques Rodgers (SD): 52
RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS: Marques Rodgers (SD), Donta Armstrong (SD), Nate Chavious (SD), Shad Thornton (BIS): 1
LONGEST RECEPTION: Marques Rodgers (SD): 42
EXTRA POINTS MADE: Bryce Crawford (SD): 6
FIELD GOALS: Cody Barber (BIS): 2
FIELD GOAL LONG: Cody Barber (BIS): 40
DEUCES: None
KICKOFF RETURN YARDS: Marques Rodgers (SD): 66
KICKOFF RETURN LONG: Marques Rodgers (SD), Isaiah Bernard (SD): 1
KICKOFF RETURN TOUCHDOWNS: Marques Rodgers (SD), Isaiah Bernard (SD): 1
TACKLES: Daquawn Brown (SD): 10
TACKLES FOR LOSS: Ralph Harvey (SD): 3
SACKS: Ralph Harvey (SD): 1
INTERCEPTIONS: Daquawn Brown (SD), Marcus Green (BIS), Zuril Hendrick (BIS): 1
INTERCEPTION RETURN YARDS: Daquawn Brown (SD), Marcus Green (BIS), Zuril Hendrick (BIS): 0
FORCED FUMBLES: None
FUMBLE RECOVERIES: None
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