Due to the recent flooding with more than a foot of rain in the last few days the rivers in Dallas, Houston and Austin (home of this year’s Nationals) are swollen and much of these cities are under water. It was so bad, the Austin vs. Houston game was rescheduled…TWICE! 

 

This past weekend, we had four games scheduled, including an additional game that was added at the last minute. The games were in Austin, Columbus, Madison and Philadelphia. 

 

The Austin match was still in Austin…but not where it was supposed to be. Originally the game was scheduled to be at USAFL Nationals field in Onion Creek…but that was out…Onion Creek was 4 feet underwater, so it was off to Northeast Metro Park in Pflugerville…but that was out, too…Metro Park was 2.5 feet underwater as well. So, it was off to State Capitol Park in downtown Austin. The game was to be close….it wasn’t. The Crows put it to the Lonestars in the first 2 quarters and took a 51-15 at the half enroute to a blowout.

Final score: Austin 13.4.82 to Houston 5.10.40

 

The Chicago Swans had their opening game of the 2015 season as they went to Madison to face the Minnesota Freeze. From the outset, this was going to be a battle and it didn’t disappoint. The halftime was 29-26 in favor of Minnesota. It was tight through the third and fourth before a turnover and free kick awarded to Chicago with 2:25 left and 2 straight goals in 70 seconds pulled the first of two upsets and Chicago’s first win against Minnesota in 3.5 years (7 games).

Final score: Chicago 7.8.50 to Minnesota 5.9.39

 

 

 

In downtown Philadelphia the Hawks welcomed the Eagles in the season opener in the EAFL for both teams. From the outset, the Hawks had the Eagles number once again as they did in the 2014 season, in which they swept them in the home-and-home series. The Eagles did get the game close in the 2nd quarter as they got to 13 points, but was no closer.

Final score: Philadelphia 10.12.72 to Baltimore/Washington 7.6.48

 

 

The rivalry that is Columbus vs. Nashville was renewed for the 2015 season. This rivalry has been a classic as the teams in their 10 matches have split results with both teams winning at home in each time. Saturday’s game was played in a moderate rain with thunderstorms coming through that stopped the game during the first quarter for a total of nearly 20 minutes. It was 19-9 at the first with Columbus leading. The second quarter were a defensive battle as the Kangaroos stiffen their defensive might and practically stopped the Jackaroos cold. At halftime, it was 23-21 Columbus. The remaining two quarters saw the Kangaroos defense in a classic as they held the Jackaroos to 0.3 in the final 40 minutes to pull their first ever win with a goal in the third and fourth quarters to pull the second upset of the weekend as they won their first match in Columbus in 6 tries.

Final score: Nashville 5.4.34 to Columbus 3.8.26

 

 

These two teams will play again in the home season finale on 12 September in Nashville.

 

 

 

With all of the games, here’s the new standings as we go to Week 11:

 

Men: Please Note: USAFL Poll was just revealed last Wednesday before the matches.

 

 

 

 

This week, there is only 3 games in the USAFL two men’s games and one women’s game. The cities that have games this week: Bronx, NY, Tulsa, OK and Chicago. 

 

Weather Forecast: Mostly Cloudy: 63f (+18c)

 

Our first game takes us to the hallowed grounds of Waveland Field, home of the Chicago Swans, as the Minnesota Lady Freeze and Columbus Jillaroos will face each other in a full game for the first time ever. Most of the games that the Jillaroos have played has been with a joint team, mostly with the Baltimore/Washington Lady Eagles or with the Boston Lady Demons. However, with this year’s changes and possible Division 2 in the Women’s division for the first time, this game has become a highlight game. Expect a good game, despite the late start.

 

Weather Forecast: Rain expected: 66f (+19c)

 

Played at Tibbetts Park is the battle of the Magpies…New York vs. Dallas. This marks the first time since the 2012 Division One Grand Final that these teams have faced each other. Needless to say, expect fireworks in this battle. 

 

Weather Forecast: Sunny: 88f (+31c)

 

Tulsa’s Athletics Park hosts the first of home-and-home series between archrivals Kansas City Power and Tulsa Buffaloes. Expect a very good game between these Division 4 foes. This also marks the first of two games in a row for Tulsa as they will head to Crested Butte, CO next Saturday to face the powerhouse Denver Bulldogs.

 

 

This week’s show is on a special time, 5 pm CDT on Sunday, as we recap the weekend in the USAFL as well as AFL’s Queen’s Birthday weekend as well. We will preview Week 11 of the AFL as well as a very big week in the USAFL with several big matches on the docket, including the Wayne Schwass Cup match between Chicago and Nashville, which will mark my 150th games as a goal umpire, only the 6th umpire and 2nd goal umpire to reach that feat. We will be on Youtube as always. You can pose questions on our Facebook page as well as Twitter, during the show on Chat and here on WFN as well. See you Sunday!