Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League

TALLAHASSEE, FLA., (www.franchisesportsonline.net) – After losing their last two games, the Capital City Cobras made a statement to the rest of the APDFL — we’re not dead yet. The Cobras put up 33 points in the first half en route to a 41-0 massacre over the Emerald Coast Scorpions Saturday at Godby High School. 

After losing quarterback Brandon Parks to injury, the Cobras turned to a familiar face to guide the offense. 36-year old veteran Dion Graham again was called to action and returned to the tune of five touchdown passes. The former Thomasville Bulldog QB, who still holds several records at the school including career passing touchdowns (60) and career completion percentage (58.6%), provided just the spark the team had been looking for. 

“Like I told them, it’s not that I’m back — I was just late,” Graham said. “They’ve been waiting on me and I just came to give my teammates what they have been waiting on.”

The team responded with its most dominant performance of the season. Their 41 points mark the team’s highest scoring total of the year and the defense posted its second home game shutout in as many games. 

Graham said the win came at the right time for the club. For a team that is not accustomed to losing streaks, dropping two games in a row puts a lot of older players in unfamiliar territory.

“This win just taught us that the train is still rolling and that we’re not out of it,” Graham said. “Two losses can take a little bit out of a team, but a win like this can pump the air right back in us.”

Head coach Antonio Ivey was visibly excited to get his team back on the winning track. His enthusiasm throughout the game was echoed by his players, who once again played with the moxie and confidence that has become their identity. 

“It was everything I needed. They did everything I asked them to,” Ivey said. “I asked for them to give me maximum effort, leave it all on on the field, and the scoreboard speaks for itself.”

He said the team has a point to prove and will spend the rest of the season putting the league on notice.

“It lets them know that our missing piece is back,” Ivey said. “A lot of teams have missing links too, but tonight shows that we are back to where we are supposed to be and a force to be reckoned with.”

The have a bye week and will use the time to recover from nagging injuries. They return to action April 8 in Orlando against the UMOJA Dragons.