The Washington Valor’s season got off to a good start in their 51-38 win over the Baltimore Brigade on April 7. The much-anticipated wait was finally over and DC football fans witnessed history as the first DC arena league football team made their long-awaited debut at the Verizon Center.
Veteran Quarterback Erik Meyer went 21/31 for 237 yards passing and four touchdowns. Wide Receiver Mike Washington who was on the receiving end of three of those touchdown passes from Meyer caught nine passes for 112 receiving yards.
“This is what I usually do, but the fans got me going to be honest” said Washington.
Washington is a veteran that has been around the arena league for quite some time with a skillset that makes him a match up nightmare for opposing defenders, and he is one of the leaders in the locker room.
“Mike’s a special player and you try to match up one on one with him it’s pretty hard” said coach Cokinos on Washington.
The Valor offense seemed to really click with Meyer at the helm, and with the bevy of weapons he has at his disposal it looks like he and Washington will have a lot of shared success this season.
Moreover, defensively this is an energetic, athletic group that flies around the field and makes a lot of plays. As a whole they were able to come up with 36 total tackles, while the Brigade only managed to muster 29 total tackles.
“It was very exciting and very entertaining” said Cornerback Terrence Smith.
All game long the Valor defense kept applying the pressure on Brigade quarterback Shane Carden, forcing two fumbles early in the game that gave the Valor offense a huge advantage in field position.
It looks like the decision to bring arena football to the nation’s capital is paying dividends thus far. The next time they play will be against the Philadelphia Soul on April 22.
BWILL MEDIA TV 