The Maryland Sting welcomed the Upper Marlboro Nokotas into the Colonial Football Alliance (CFA) Saturday. It was a one-sided affair that didn’t go over well for the rookies in Upper Marlboro. How could it when the final score was 42 to zip?
The Sting got right down to business executing in their first possession. Quarterback Steve Balcer connected with wide receiver Kareem Hayes with a bullet up the middle and Hayes had nothing but open field in front of him. He sauntered 40-yards into the end zone.
Turns out, it was a special day for Hayes not only because he reeled in the Sting’s first official score of the 2009 campaign but also because it was his birthday. He’d find the end-zone in the second quarter for another touchdown (33-yard reception) while tallying up 7o yards and one more reason to celebrate.
Balcer connected with Hayes on 40-yard pass play for first score and the Nokotas never saw it coming nor could they stop it.
”It was a good feeling for myself, especially with it being my birthday to score the first touchdown for my team— it was just a good feeling,” Hayes said glowing. He mentioned one of the Sting’s precious offensive luxuries this season: two qb’s partaking.
“We have two great quarterbacks. Both know their receivers— how fast they are when they run their routes, where the ball is. It gives us more leverage. It works well because other teams don’t know how to game-plan,” Hayes lamented. Having two qb’s who are poised in the pocket with good instincts and guns for arms split time? Nice.
Balcer ended up 9-for-10 with 154 yards and two scores (1 INT). The rest of the snaps went to Jamal Frazier who posted 187 yards (8-for-9) with two touchdowns and one with his very own fancy footwork.
Frazier made good on a previous promise with twin brother and wideout Kaleem at the ready. The duo stymied the opposition in the second quarter when Jamal threw to Kaleem for a 12-yard reception. Kaleem turned it right back over to Jamal with a lateral. It was a play of beauty that resulted in Jamal rushing for 33-yards and some points.
Even the coaching staff and players were stunned, obviously this was not rehearsed. ”The twins, they do things,” said head coach Bryan Milburn in amazement. “That’s those guys playing football their entire lives. These guys read each other. Its crazy, its just nuts!”
Ryan Moody (and others) congratulate Jamal after he and brother Kaleem dazzle with a "Frazier surprise" to put a TD on the board.
Holding any team to zero is a feat worth cheering about. And defensive tackle Billy Warner was up to the task. Warner, along with Jason Young, each mowed down five tackles. Warner had this to say about the work of the defense:
“I think the defense performed very well. We have a new system in from last year and a new defensive coordinator [Joe Taylor] so we are still getting used to that. The playbook is a little more complicated and bigger than it was last year. The younger guys got a chance to go in there and play and they performed pretty well. We didn’t give up any points and when we turned the ball over in short yard situations we held them down in the end.” Warner said.
Sting's dee rattled the Nokotas causing several turnovers.
Sure life is abuzz in Sting land. But that sentiment is going to change, if not already. They’ll be up against the ropes in their next outing, facing off with true division rival in the Chesapeake Bayhawks.
It took Milburn, the perrenial perfectionist, exactly five words after the game (during post-game interview) to start revealing the to-do list. ”Today was a great win,” he said matter of factly. “Personally I don’t think we executed it the way we should have. We were a little bit sluggish, we weren’t all together offensively.”
Milburn agreed that the defense handled their business well after making some early adjustments in the backfield and on the pass-rush.
One thing he’s looking to build on is a more meaty running game. ”We didn’t have that methodical drive that you want. That drive where you are just grinding away…Our running game and blocking up front, we are bit confused and we’re going to work on that.”
Coach said Saturday was time to enjoy the win but come Sunday it’s game on. As it should be. With the taste of Bayhawks in their mouth, it’s time for the Sting to lay out a plan of attack.
”They are going to bring it, they hate us as much as we hate them…They aren’t going to take us lightly,” Milburn remarked.
I’ve got this feeling that Milburn and company wouldn’t have it any other way.
For more information on the Sting check out their website here.
