RECAP: Blackjacks Lose 1st Home Game; Albany Empire Still Undefeated
Blackjacks undefeated at home. Albany Empire undefeated overall. Empire leaves AC, still undefeated 5-0
Both teams had something riding on this game. Blackjacks 2-0 at home this season, while Albany Empire, the lone undefeated overall team. Both teams had wide receivers that love the highlight reel. Kendrick Ings for the Blackjacks, and Malachi Jones for the Empire. While both teams wanted to stay undefeated in their own rights, it was the Empire who walked away with the win and moved to 5-0 for the season.
First Half
The game started off with the Blackjacks getting the ball first. They moved downfield and scored on a Hippeard pass to Ings for a 5yrd TD.
Blackjacks Defense looking strong, putting the Empire to a 4th down, after a Jones rare dropped pass. Tommy Grady went back to Jones on the next pass, picking up the 1st down. A few plays later, Grady for Jones in the end zone for their 1st TD of the game. Empire kicker Adrian Trevino missed the extra point, allowing the Blackjacks to keep the lead 7-6.
Trevino’s bad luck continued on the kickoff. A short enough kick, allowing Ings to catch it cleanly, and a few great blocks, ran it back for a TD. With the extra point, Blackjacks went up 14-6.
The Empire didn’t stay quiet. They marched right back downfield for another Grady/Jones TD. Score 14-13.
At the start of the 2nd quarter, the Blackjacks answered right back. Hippeard to Ings, for his 3rd TD of the game. The offensive show continued on the next drive, with Grady finding Quentin Sims for a TD.
Hippeard kept the scoring going for the Blackjacks. Another TD pass to Ings. This would record Hippeard’s 400 career touchdown. The 1st half would come to an end, following all the back and forth offensive shows, with a score or 28-27, Blackjacks on top.
Second Half
The 2nd half started with the Empire getting the ball. Empire was faced with a 4th down. The Blackjacks Defense looked like they had Grady, but he got the ball out, to Jones for a TD. This score put the Empire up for the 1st time of the game 34-28.
On the kickoff following the Empire TD, Ings couldn’t handle the ball off the net. Albany’s Juwan Offray was there to recover the ball in the end zone, putting the Empire up 41-28. Blackjacks would not let up. Each team committing penalties on the next drive, but the Blackjacks kept pushing, finally scoring, on the 1st play for the 4th quarter. Hippeard to Rashad Still to bring the Blackjacks within 6. Score 41-35.
With 12 minutes left in the game, Blackjacks Defense had to step up. The Empire stepped up further. Grady marched his team back down the field, ending with a 1yrd TD rush by Mykel Benson. Score 48-35.
Between a sacked Hippeard, fumbling the ball with 2 minutes left in the game, and soon after, another fumble by the Blackjacks, this time returned all the way for a TD, the Blackjacks just didn’t have any more answers for the Empire.
While at halftime, this looked like it was going to be a back and forth battle til the end, the Empire came out after the break and decided to show the league why they are undefeated.
The Blackjacks are back at home next Saturday at 3:30 as they take on the Baltimore Brigade.
ALL PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE KRUCE
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