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Top two teams in Southeast Region square off on Saturday

03/06/2019, 6:00pm CST
By DFUSA National Analyst

No. 1 hosts No. 2 in early season faceoff

Posted On 06 Mar 2019
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The Mississippi Dynasty is the only current Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League team that can say they’ve won back to back President’s Cups and this weekend they’ll face another team that can be singled out for good reason. 

The Crescent City Kings are the only active APDFL team that has beaten the Dynasty during those runs, and just one of two active teams that have ever beaten the Dynasty, which are in their fourth season in the league.

“Last season’s game was like a boxing match,” Kings offensive coordinator Devin Richardson told Developmental Football USA. “They landed the first big punch and controlled the first half of the game. In the second half. we settled in and made just enough plays to come away with a win. That game showed us that we can overcome adversity. We were out of our normal stadium due to construction, we had a lighting issue, the game was just uncomfortable for us, but the guys hung in there and pulled it out.”

That five-point loss to the Kings on May 5, 2018 is the last time the Dynasty has tasted defeat, but just last weekend, the No. 4 Alabama Blackhawks had them on edge before Mississippi pulled it out in the second overtime.

“The Blackhawks were ranked No. 4 for a reason and they added the No. 1 player in the league, so they were absolutely a good team,” Dynasty owner Mike Lloyd told Developmental Football USA. “No team will play perfect, and we definitely didn’t, but we got the win.”

It’s been almost three years since the Dynasty faithful in Pearl, Miss., has seen their hometown team suffer defeat on their home field. The No. 4 team couldn’t quite pull it off last weekend, but can the league’s No. 2 team make it happen on Saturday?

“The Dynasty are loaded with talent and they are well-coached,” Richardson said. “They present several challenges, however, we trust our coaching and know that if we execute our game plan for four quarters we will win. Against stiff competition, like the Dynasty, you must limit mistakes and penalties. They won’t give the game away and they won’t make winning it easy.”

These foes aren’t just No. 1 and No. 2 in the APDFL, but they hold those respective spots in the entire Southeast Region.

Obviously neither team is stranger to the big stage and despite their success, the Dynasty have been in more dogfights than many fans may realize with a handful of games during their run being decided by one score or less.

“I think every team is ranked and placed in their respected positions for a reason,” Lloyd said. “We will definitely have to score more points than them to win and they are led by a true leader and a great quarterback in Jyron Walters.”

In their season-opening win over the Georgia Kings, Walters found wide receiver Eben Barra twice for 25 yards and two scores.

“He gives us a big body receiver for the red zone, which is something we did not have last year,” Richardson said.

Jefferey Robinson stood out defensively for the Kings with six tackles, two tackles for losses and a forced fumble that was returned for a touchdown in their win against Georgia.

“We have only played four quarters, so we’re still learning more about us every day,” Richardson said. “We have talent at multiple positions and guys who can help in different spots. That makes us versatile and that versatility can be the difference maker in a pivotal game later in the season.”

The Kings will need all hands on deck for this one, if they expect to do the unthinkable and defeat the Dynasty again. The Dynasty, well, they will be ready.

“We just have to be dominant for four quarters and understand teams want those bragging rights to say they beat the Dynasty,” Lloyd said.
 

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