On July 24th the New York Bandits took to the field during the 1st weekend of play during the newly formed Five Star Football League. 85 degrees in the shade and 100 degress on the field made for one interesting day of football as the Bandits faced there crosstown rivals the New York Falcons. “It was interesting taking th field in a new league, we have no history in this league so everything for a while will be a first”, says Coach Billy Badson. There is only one player on roster that took the field with the New York Bandits the last time they called any league their new home and thats David Sullivan. “I didn’t speak with Dancer about the moment as the heat and quick turnaround between games made this intense but I wanted to pat him on the back as we were the only two people on the field during but moments”, says Coach Billy Badson.

The football was going to be intense, the Falcons are a veteran group and most importantly a really tough and physical team. The Falcons won the toss and elected to kick which is odd as they basically were putting there Defense on the field at the start of both the 1st and 2nd half’s. The return came right to Marquis Williams who is a Bandit veteran in his own right, “Ice” a new father by just less than a week made some really huge plays for the team in the weekend his twin girls would see there daddy put in work. Not present in body but spirit Ice took the opening kickoff all the way do to the Falcons 30 yard line. So the stage would be set and the Boys in Blue responded in fine fashion as Dave Hom #11 dropped back at found Collis Martin #16 for a huge 25 yard TD strike. Congrats to both players as they will go into the Bandit record book as the first TD combo in Bandit Five Star History. Tack on the extra point kick by long time Bandit Mike Sheridan #15.

BANDITS 7 – NYC FALCONS 0

The Bandits have struggled during the last 4 games in several aspects of the games. The updated offense has taken some time to stick and the Special teams have yielded some really big scores. Today the Special Teams played tremendous providing field position to the team the entire day. “That return setup the 1st TD”, says Coach Oconnor. The 2010 defense took to the field after the HITSQUAD the Bandits Kickoff team would cover up the Falcons returned deep in Falcons territory. The Defense played huge and once the film is analyzed and the stats broken down the story can be told much more accurate. The Bandits defense immediately took the field and quickly force a fumble and put the Bandit offense back on the field.

The Bandits would move the ball down the field again and would come up short on a wide FG attempt that was wide left. Again the specials covered a kick and once again the Bandits Defense lead on the field by #53 Fred Turner a long time Bandit Captain and MLB put the team in great position. The Defensive line is tough on the team the depth is impressive and the Bash Brothers look to hold things in order during the 2010 season.

During the 1st quarter the Falcons would break onto the scoreboard on a great play by #4 the OLB. He jumped a great ball and found the endzone on the pick 6. “Sometimes you watch your QB’s make bad throws but this was simply a well executed zone blitz by a good player”, says Coach Deano. So just like that the Falcons are on the board but as they lined up for the conversion the Defense held the score right there stopping the conversion.

PHOTOS BY FRANK BETTIS

BANDITS 7 – NYC FALCONS 6

On the following kick the Bandits would make another great play finding the endzone on a huge kick return by #28 Marquis “I just had 2 baby girls” Williams. Some of the guys on the roster as timeless and what can be say about “Ice” who makes play after play year in and year out.

BANDITS 13 – NYC FALCONS 6

PHOTOS BY FRANK BETTIS

Stay tuned for the reaming write up as the video will help determine the stats leaders but understand this, the Defense was lights out during the entire game and held the Falcons offense in check for the remainder of the game.

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