Bandits encounter humiliation, clinch home playoff game

Bandits 113, Ghostchasers 0

The AIFL should be embarrassed at what they're doing to the Ghostchasers "franchise" and by extension to the teams they play. These kids get rounded up a few days before the game, don't get to have meetings or practice together, and have to line up against indoor football veterans who have been conditioning all year long. Here's how bad things were Sunday afternoon: with 5:05 left in the first quarter, the Bandits had run only three plays, gained 38 yards...and led 28-0. Before the 'Chasers fumbled away their fourth turnover of the first half with six seconds to go, Robbie Jenkins was 8 for 8 passing with 6 touchdowns! For their part, the Bandits had little choice but to do what they did: after head-to-head records, total point differential is the next AIFL tiebreaker. If the Bandits make the championship game (between the Northern and Southern champions who will never have played each other), they want to guarantee that it will be played in Richmond. Brandon Isaiah (53 yards, 4 touchdowns) scored with 4:10 left to put the Bandits over the century mark and get a standing ovation from the good-sized crowd at the Coliseum, who understood the circumstances but knew they were seeing AIFL history. The defense had seven takeaways and completed the shutout, allowing exactly 0 yards to the Ghosties' offense. Chris Segaar had three rouges and Mike Jenkins got his first snaps in the fourth quarter, including a rushing TD.

Player of the Game: Robbie Jenkins, who completed 11 of 14 passes for 177 yards and eight touchdowns. He also ran for a score and barely broke a sweat.

Offensive Stars: Redd Thompson, three of whose four receptions went for scores; Marcus Richardson, who had a pair of 32-yard touchdown catches, one of which was a dazzling short catch and open field run through the secondary. Special mention goes to Ghostchasers QB Brandon Elliott, who despite being sacked about a dozen times and having to literally point where on the field he wanted his receivers to line up, kept his chin up and played the entire game.

Defensive Stars: too many to name, but we'll go with Lawrence Lewis, who blocked a field goal and had four and a half sacks; Corey Ellis forced three fumbles and notched 3.5 sacks; Al Dubose had three sacks and two fumble recoveries, one for a touchdown.

Other Links:	Times-Dispatch recap
	Bandits website blurb

Next: at Augusta Spartans, Saturday 6/3 7pm