The San Diego Stallions enter Saturday’s LCFL game in Las Vegas (Oct. 9 against the Kings) riding a five-game winning streak, poised with a 6-1 overall record. The Stallions kicked off the season with a 50-0 victory against the visiting Long Beach Lions on Aug. 14 and promptly drew an encounter against the defending LCFL champion North County Cobras the following week, dropping a 24-4 decision.
The Southwest High-based team has since rattled off a series of impressive victories to occupy the runner-up spot to the Cobras in the South Division standings. The Stallions have three regular season games remaining on their schedule and it appears a return trip to the playoffs seems in order.
Since meeting up with the Cobras, the Stallions have defeated the following teams: Tri-County Titans (27-12 on Aug. 29), Desert Valley Knights (21-6 on Sept. 4), SoCal Eagles (64-6 on Sept. 11), Valley Predators (14-7 on Sept. 18) and SoCal Gladiators (55-6 on Sept. 25).
In short, the minor league Stallions squad has proven it is ready to play some football, as the saying goes.
That is something to celebrate for co-owners Ray Stewart and Mary Blas, who describe their venture as a “labor of love.”
Stat attack
The Stallions are averaging 33.6 points per game and allowing 8.7 points per game. The Stallions have generated 1,702 yards in total offense – an average of 243.1 yards per game. The Stallions have passed for 1,353 yards – an average of 193.3 yards per game. The Stallions have rushed for 349 yards – an average of 49.9 yards per game.
The rushing attack might be a concern for the playoffs but the team’s passing attack has certainly made games exciting.
Adam Ankers (Santana HS) anchors the Stallions’ quarterbacking corps with 1,218 passing yards, 12 touchdowns to go with seven interceptions and a 102.4 rating. Castle Park High alum Chase McGuire has passed for 135 yards with three TDs to go with two interceptions and a 72.9 rating.
Travis Thomas (San Diego) leads the Stallion receivers with 459 receiving yards and eight touchdowns while teammate Zack James (Redlands) has 317 receiving yards and three TDs to his credit. Other contributors include Daniel White (Mt. San Jacinto College) with 195 receiving yards and Andrew Ellison (San Diego) with 188 receiving yards, each with one TD.
Walter Ricks (Detroit) and Bryce Lewis (Long Beach) each also have caught scoring passes this season.
The Stallions’ ground attack is led by Derrek Sykes (34 carries, 135 yards) and Andrew Follins (34 carries, 109 yards). Follins (Southwestern College) has scored two touchdowns and Sykes (Monte Vista HS) has scored one TD. Reserve quarterback/kicker Tim Parker (Eastlake HS) has scored three touchdowns, primarily on short-range plays, while Ramell Watts (San Diego) and Ankers have both added two TDs and Romero Crawford (Chula Vista HS) has scored once.
David McClurg (Chula Vista HS) paces the Stallions defense with 31 tackles, followed by Jose Lawson (Sacramento) with 22 stops and Robert Garcia (Fallbrook HS) and Spencer Herron (Dallas), both with 20 first hits.
McClurg tops the team with 17 tackles for losses, including eight sacks. Lawson, who ranks second with eight tackles for losses, has 4.5 sacks while Lanscarlo Collins (Chula Vista HS) has four sacks.
The defense has made a statement each week. Twelve Stallions have recorded at least one sack with eight players have made at least one interception, led by George Mosley (Tallahasse, Fla.) and Lorenzo Wiley (Southwestern College), each with three. Mosley, Deshawn Burrell (Cleveland), Dominique Williams (Monte Vista HS) and Garcia each have returned picks for touchdowns.
Six players have recovered fumbles while three players have recorded either blocked kicks or punts. Willie Christian and Garcia each have three blocks to their credit this season.
Two players have recorded safeties this season – Dwight Souza (Compton) and Garcia.
On special teams, White is averaging 27.6 yards per kick-off return and 25.2 yards per punt return. Parker is averaging 43 yards on punts and has kicked 28 of 30 PAT conversions.
In the scoring column, Thomas leads the team with eight touchdowns, followed by James and Parker with three each. A total of 18 players have scored at least one TD – that speaks volumes for team depth.
It looks like the team will need to exploit that positive with all three of their remaining regular season games coming against opponents with winning records: Las Vegas (6-2), California Bears (4-3) and SoCal Steelers (5-2).
Of the San Diegans’ six victories so far this season, five have come against teams with losing records. The Stallions are 1-1 against teams with winning records, defeating the Titans by 15 points and losing to the Cobras by 20 points.
It might help that the Stallions close out regular season play with home games against both the Bears (Oct. 16) and Steelers (Oct. 23). The locals are undefeated at home (3-0). Both contests feature 6 p.m. starts.
Notable
Ankers passed for 124 yards and three touchdowns in the team’s latest win – two to Thomas and one to Ellison.
Ankers and McGuire each threw a pair of scoring passes in the team’s Sept. 11 win against the Eagles. Ankers also rushed for two scores.
Parker was successful on all eight PAT attempts in that 64-6 Patriots Day victory.
For more information on the San Diego Stallions, visit the Web site at www.sd-stallions.com or call (619) 822-9238.
