Though the Diamond Football League is only in the third week of their season, the Sussex County Punishers upcoming game against the Baltimore County Bulls tomorrow, March 3, has serious implications in who will claim first place in the league’s Central Division.
Coastal Point • FILE PHOTO:
A Punishers player goes for an interception in a game in the snow last year.
The Punishers won their season-opener 20-12 over the Prince Georges County (Maryland) Headhunters in Week 1 and are fresh off a bye week.
The Bulls eked out a 12-6 overtime win over the Queen Anne County Thunder last week, despite 4 inches of snowfall.
Both teams are currently 1-0 and now they are to converge for clear possession of first place in their division.
“This game will be a hard-fought battle and the best team will win,” Punishers assistant head coach Butch Yocum said.
The Bulls have amassed an impressive 30-7 record over the past seven years. And they finished last season with a 7-1 record, with their only regular season loss going to the league champion Fredrick County Outlaws.
But, this year, they’ll have to prove they can be just as successful without standout running back Mike Kelley.
Kelley was selected as the DFL’s offensive player of the year twice over the last three years but has since joined the Chesapeake Tide of the Colonial Indoor Football League.
“Kelley’s a pretty good football player and he’s rushed for many, many touchdowns over the years,” Yocum said. “But don’t let them (the Bulls) fool you — they have plenty of guys left that can get the job done.”
The Bulls run the Wing-T offense, which utilizes a three-running-back set.
P.J. Martin, Joe Chambers and Earin Saunders shoulder much of the offensive load for the Bulls in their ball-control style of offense, according to head coach Derek Krumholtz.
“We’re a running team,” he said. “We like to control the clock and maintain a ball-control, style of offense. And each of our backs brings something different to the table.”
Martin is described as a cutback runner. Chambers is the bruiser, and Saunders has the “now you see me, now you don’t” type of speed.
“P.J. is more patient and likes to look to cut it back for yards. Chambers is a tough fullback. He pounded in the game-winning touchdown in overtime against the Thunder and Saunders is our scat-back,” Krumholtz said. “He’s our fastest player on our team.”
The Punishers applied ample pressure and gashed their way into the Headhunters’ backfield in the team’s season-opener. They limited the Headhunters to very little offensive production, aside from two long touchdown passes. This week, the Punishers’ defensive mantra is to play disciplined.
“We can’t chase plays, because once we start doing that they’ll come back with another play to take advantage of us,” Yocum said.
“We practiced real hard for an hour to an hour and a half at practice, on what they run, and we’ll prepare more at Thursday’s practice,” he added, referring to Feb. 27’s practice.
Krumholtz described his offensive line as “undersized,” since three of his interior linemen weigh no more than 215 pounds.
“We’re almost always smaller team,” Krumholtz admitted. “We have two huge tackles, but our center and guards are in the 210- to 215-pound range.”
Though they maybe on the smallish side for offensive linemen, Yocum and the Punishers are well aware of the Headhunters’ capabilities.
“I’ve scouted them three times this year and I’ll tell you — their (offensive line) is awesome,” Yocum said. “They play with a lot of heart and are also very technically sound.”
The Punishers and the Bulls will lock horns on March 3 at 1 p.m. at the Camden Little League Park in Kent County.
The Punishers will play one more home game at the Camden facilities (March 29) before changing sites. They’ll play their remaining two home games (April 14 and 21, respectively) at Dover High School, where admission will be charged.
To secure that field, the team owner has to pay $320 per game, so admission will cost $5 for adults to help defray the cost. Children will be admitted free of charge.