The Alabama Steel and the Tuscaloosa Tomahawks hit the gridiron Saturday in a must-win scenario for both sides. Playoffs are on the line, with only one other game remaining in the regular season for the Steel, and a playoff nod for the Tomahawks with a win. Both the Steel and the Tomahawks reign from Tuscaloosa, turning this matchup into a newfound rivalry. The two teams are also both in the YellowHammer Division in the IAFLX. The Tomahawks are currently 3-2, third in the division and the Steel are 2-4 on the year.
Plague of Steel
The Steel’s season so far has been a rocky one. A team that is usually somewhere in the playoff conversation, if not the topic of it, has had a string of unfortunate mishaps since week one. The departure of their starting quarterback after losing in week one was the first knife in the Steel’s back. Follow that up with having to sacrifice a solid wide receiver to turn him into a quarterback and a plethora of substantial injuries from the core on both sides of the ball. Despite the circumstances, teams have to find a way to win, and the Steel can’t quite piece it together this season.
Defense, Defense, Defense
Saturday’s ballgame was a defensive showdown, sitting on a score of 2-2 until the fourth quarter. Yes, both teams held each other to only safeties on the board. Don’t ask me, that’s the beauty in semi-pro football, things just oddly happen sometimes. Steel defenders Maurice Gary, Tywone Jones, Jeremy Hunter, and Trai Street led the day on an impressive show of defense, but it wouldn’t be enough in the fourth. Tomahawk showrunner, Gee Golston II, also had a day of his own on defense shutting down a few of his old teammates. The Tomahawks found the endzone early in the fourth quarter, giving them an 8-2 lead. Shortly after, the Tomahawks tapped in another six to solidify a 14-2 final. With the win, the Tomahawks clinch their spot in the playoffs.
The Steel will hit the road to take on the undefeated Port City Vikings in Mobile on Saturday.
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