stallions provide fans with a football-fix

Fans eager for a football fix now have a new alternative.

The Tennessee Stallions, a first year semi-pro football team made up mostly of players with East Tennessee roots kicked off their inaugural season Saturday night with an 8-0 loss to the Greenville (SC.) Greyhounds on the Pigeon Forge High School football field.

An estimated turnout of 300 fans watched as the Stallions provided an inspired effort in their first official game in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference of the North American Football League.

The Stallions, led by head coach Don Gray, were stymied by first-game mistakes in the loss but displayed enough competitiveness to leave fans looking forward to the next home game, scheduled for July 28 at the PFHS football field.

The Stallions are scheduled to play an away game next weekend.

“I think they’ve got a lot of potential,” said Jerry Ison, a local fan and a longtime semi-pro football observer.

“It was a good time. There was a nice turnout of fans, considering the limited media coverage the first game received. More importantly, it was a well-run event and a lot of fun to watch,” Ison added.

“I think the Stallions will have a team that will just get better as the season progresses. I’m looking forward to watching the rest of the season.”

Tennessee accumulated more than 20 penalties in the game, most being of the illegal procedure, delay of game variety. The Stallions’ offense did move the ball with a degree of proficiency, advancing the line-of-scrimmage inside the Greenville 40-yard line consistently throughout the game only to come away empty due to the team’s early special teams deficiency that negated the option of a field goal.

The Stallions were led offensively in the loss by wide-out Andrew Woodrick, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound possession receiver who became Stallions’ quarterback Chris Walton’s favorite weapon in the West Coast-like passing game of short, low-risk passes.

Tennessee’s defense was spearheaded by 39-year old linebacker Greg Judd who has already emerged as a fan-favorite because of his hard-nosed style of play and apparent love of the game.

The North American Football League is a self sustaining level of adult football that allows players to develop their skills or simply participate for the love of the game. Although it is marketed as a minor league, the NAFL is recognized as an amateur league and a developmental league for colleges and the pros.
The NAFL is entering into its ninth season of existence. The NAFL maintains a national presence with over 120 teams. Communication is maintained with its 4 conferences, 8 regions, 32 divisions and its almost 6,000+ members on a regular basis.