12-01
Matt Webb – President of Communications, Richmond Renegades
webbmg@dukes.jmu.edu
Brees Brings Renegades to Crushing Win Against Salamanders
Star quarterback Drew Brees led the Renegades to a decisive 141.90-114.08 victory against the Columbia Salamanders Sunday. The game marked the Renegades’ first repeat match of the year, and their first win against Columbia following a 35-point loss in the first week of the season.
Columbia took an early lead Thursday with help from some long passes from quarterback Matthew Stafford. But in the end it was Brees who put up the superior yardage; it was in fact his 52.50 points scored that put his team over the edge on their way to the win. Wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Tyrell Williams also continued to stand out, with a combined total of almost 40 points scored between them. Conversely, Salamanders wide receivers struggled in comparison, with starting pick Brandin Cooks failing to score any points during his time on the field.
The final score marks Richmond’s first win in two weeks, and the second consecutive loss for Columbia. The Renegades rise a spot to eighth in the current league standings while the Salamanders fall two places to fifth. The Renegades will look to make it a streak after next week’s matchup against the third-ranked Las Vegas Rockets.
A Sneak Peak at Sunday
• This will be the Renegades and Rockets’ second time meeting so far in the season, following a Richmond win back in week two. The Renegades will come in with a 5-7 win-loss record, compared to the Rockets who stand 7-5.
• The teams have a similar quantity of points scored over the season heading into the game, however Las Vegas packs the stronger defense, having let up over 300 points fewer over the course of the year.
• If projections hold, then the Rockets can be expected to come out on top, with their 119.40 expected points to the Renegades’ 105.56. Both teams enter the match on one-week win streaks.
• This will be the Renegades’ third game each playing kicker Matt Prater and the Minnesota Vikings defense, both choices that have helped keep the points up over the previous two weeks.
• The Rockets dropped wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey following his November 14th four-game suspension. However remaining WR Antonio Brown looks to be the player to watch going into the weekend, leading his time in projected points with 20.50.
• Brees is expected to once again lead his team (and his opponents’) in points scored for the week, with 21.18 projected as of Wednesday nights.
Renegades Season Notes
• No changes from last week to the Renegades lineup are expected currently. However while quarterback Andrew Luck was expected to bounce back from concussion watch in time to play on Monday, both Tyrell Williams and running back Chris Ivory did not practice Wednesday owing to recent injuries, leaving their playing status up in the air at the time of writing
• The recent rain all around Virginia should mostly clear up in time for the weekend, just in time for the Renegades’ away game in Las Vegas.
• Thirteen Black Lives Matter protesters were sentenced to five days in jail for blocking rush hour traffic on I81.
• Tesla Motors has won the right to open up a Richmond dealership.
• Two men were injured after a shooting in downtown Richmond.