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Alabama Blackhawks host Georgia Kings in APDFL Game of the Week

03/15/2019, 1:45pm CDT
By Andrew Kulha
Rico King

Rico King


Georgia Ravens Rico King makes tackle


Georgia Kings face Alabama Blackhawks in Game of the Week

Posted On 15 Mar 2019
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Birmingham, AL - This is a big game, there’s absolutely no doubt about it. In fact, we already may be in must-win territory.

The Alabama Blackhawks and Georgia Kings both started out ranked in the top five of the Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League, but neither team has picked out a win yet — which makes this weekend’s match-up integral.

“We should expect a good game from both teams, it will be entertaining,” Blackhawks owner James Fletcher told Developmental Football USA while looking ahead to the contest.

His counterpart, Kings’ owner Chris Thomas, agrees that the game will be a good one, and he’s expecting big things from his team.

“We are still trying to find our identity and identify who the impact players are on our team, Thomas said.”This weekend, you can expect more of the same from the Kings. The film tells the real story…at some point all three phases of the team will click.”

Though the Blackhawks are coming off a loss, they do feel good heading into this contest based off the fact that they recently took the No. 1 team in the APDFL to two overtimes. It was a loss, but a lot was learned about this Alabama team.

“That game showed that we can play good football against any team,” Fletcher said.”I expect the team to execute a little more this game and we should play a better game.”

Leading the way for the Blackhawks will be Jacob Bennett, Anthony Miller and a slew of talented running backs on offense. Defensively, the owner is expecting big things from Wesley Watkins, Marquelle O’Neal, Justin Robinson, and Darius Pagie against the Lions.

The Lions know that the Kings will try to spread them out and use their skill-players to make skills in space. Georgia has a balanced offensive attack that can put up points, so the Blackhawks will have to give everything they have this weekend — especially on defense.

As far as the Kings’ outlook is concerned, the coaching staff will be looking to bring out the best in each of their players in this integral game.

Thomas is looking for Reshard Cullins to carry the team and continue to build off the leadership he’s shown over the past few weeks.

“He has stepped up and became the type leader that would make Rico proud,” Thomas said of Cullins, mentioning late teammate Rico King, who has been an inspiration for this year’s squad.

Julian Bellinger should continue to be a playmaker for the Kings, and look for Richard Buford on both sides of the ball, as he’s played multiple positions on both offense and defense for Georgia.

“[He brings a] certain toughness to the team,” Thomas explained.

The Kings are expecting the Blackhawks to be scrappy. In fact, Thomas believes that they will be the best team Georgia will face all season. The Kings also know that the season is about continuous improvement,
though.

“As a veteran staff and team we know its all about getting better every week and getting into the playoffs,” Thomas said. “We had no preseason games and only a few team practices so each game for us is about getting better. First game defense carried us. Second game offense played big, so we just gotta have a a game where all three units perform.”

For the Blackhawks, coming away from this matchup with the Kings with a win would be huge, especially considering the way the schedule is shaping up.

“A win would be excellent, it was not fun to go into a bye week with a loss,” Fletcher said. “Everyone has been anticipating the next game.”

Everyone here at Developmental Football USA is anticipating this game as well.

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