After starting their inaugural season with an 0-3 record the Vipers finally showed why they where picked by Las Vegas to win the inaugural championship. Despite all the drama coming into week 4, the team appears to be clicking on all three fazes of the game, sinking their teeth into the Defenders with a shut out score of 25-0.
The Jerry Granville lead defense kept the Cardale Jones and the Defenders out of the red zone for the entire game sending pressure on almost every play. A few times DC tried to go for big plays but Jones either over threw them or the Viper’s defensive backs Robert Priester and Tarvarus McFadden making big plays, the latter even coming up with an INT after getting his helmet ripped off. The heart and sole of this defense is on the line though with team captain Terrance Plummer and my personal favorite Nikita Whitlock making big plays in the trenches, holding the Defenders to only 46 rushing yards.
The Defenders only had 107 total yards all game,which is less than both our power backs Jacques Patrick and De’Veon Smith had a piece. The running game definitely sets the tempo for our offense. Between Smith and Patrick’s bowling ball running style knocked over the DC defense like pins on a lane. Jacques Patrick scored his first pro touchdown this week only two days after burying his father. His sideline interview definitely connected with the fan base and not only Patrick but also Smith are becoming two of my favorite players on the team. I just love how hard each one of them plays, opening up the offense for our stacked receiving core to make big plays. Taylor “Corn Dog” Cornelius looked comfortable in the offense this week only throwing one pick and making some big plays with his arm and legs, running in for an 18 yard touchdown. A QB willing to put it all on the line to make a play gained my respect. No matter who the starter is going into next week “Corn Dog” is good in my book.
Although attendance was down about 6,000, I feel that is due to it being a Sunday night game more than a lack of fan support. A lot of out of area folks prob didn’t feel like making the late night drive home. The Fang Gang still brought it, feeding off the teams energy and visa versa. The team/fan connection is what makes sports so awesome. Nothing is better than walking into Ray Jay surrounded by the Gang, filling the stadium with hissing, rattles, and of course my favorite “snake swinging”. I was pleasantly surprised no one chanted for Flowers, who is rumored to return to the team this week, and fully rallied around “Corn Dog” who was met with a barrage of boos from the “Snake Pit”.
Coach Trestman is safe for another week. The team played hard for him this week. In his post game press conference Trestman praised the team but also is still focused on making the Vipers the best they can be. With an up and down LA Wildcats team hosting us next weekend it will be interesting to see how the team can keep up momentum, hopefully declawing the Wildcats to earn the teams first road win, catapulting us right into the XFL East playoff picture.