Fairhope Storm shuts Cardinals out to advance in AFA playoffs

Host Fairhope scored in all three phases to remain unbeaten, move on to second round of postseason

By Cole McNanna
Sports Editor
cole@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 5/21/22

FAIRHOPE – The Storm continued its undefeated season with a 38-0 win over the North Georgia Cardinals in the first round of the American Football Alliance playoffs.

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Fairhope Storm shuts Cardinals out to advance in AFA playoffs

Host Fairhope scored in all three phases to remain unbeaten, move on to second round of postseason

Posted

FAIRHOPE – The Fairhope Storm rolled once again and continued its undefeated season with a 38-0 win over the North Georgia Cardinals in the first round of the American Football Alliance playoffs Saturday afternoon on W.C. Majors Field at Fairhope Municipal Stadium.

They'll host the Winchester Ducks Saturday, June 4,  in the Western Conference semifinal.

The Storm’s roster features 14 players who played their high school football in Baldwin County and it was kicker Jose Mendoza - a former Foley Lion - that made the biggest impact in Head Coach Fred Riley Jr.’s eyes.

“I think our kicking game is the best around. When games are close, in dogfight games, our kicking game tends to separate us and it did that again today,” Riley Jr. said.

Mendoza opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal and also provided a pair of kickoffs that were recovered by Fairhope. Running back Marq Quinnie also returned the kickoff that opened the second half for a touchdown.

The Storm defense played nearly the rest of the third quarter and not only retained its shutout but also grabbed a pick-six thanks to Eric Westry’s interception on a tipped pass before the end of the frame.

“I think they had the ball 14 minutes in the third quarter then we get a pick-six and we still haven’t snapped the ball on offense. We’re built on defense and kicking and not turning the ball over,” Riley Jr. said. “I’m disappointed in the fact we turned the ball over two times in the first half but all in all, it was a good solid win and we’ll be back in here two weeks.”

Linebacker Jamel Grace admitted the defensive unit was feeling some fatigue but the touchdown sparked the group as it has throughout the season.

“I ain’t gonna lie, we were tired but we came together and said we gotta get off the field so we came and got a pick-six and got off the field,” Grace said. “We already had momentum since game one so it ain’t gonna slow down. We’re gonna go to the ship, win the ship, then come back.”

Quarterback Darius Powell - another Foley Lion - who connected with tight end Tony Burke for two touchdowns, agreed the defense carried the load but looked forward to stacking another win.

“I think as a team we played decent, I think our defense carried us today, as usual. Those guys, I think the third quarter they played the entire quarter which is amazing on their part,” Powell said. “I think we’re pretty confident coming off an 8-0, undefeated regular season. To get this first win, a tough playoff win at home, I think we’ve got a lot of momentum trying to go deep into the playoffs.”

Former Fairhope Pirates Derek Miller and Braxton Loper are part of the offensive line group that made the room for the offense to click and advance to the second round.

“We gotta work on picking up blitzes better, we get the front of the line picked up except some of the times on the ends so as long as we keep picking up blitzes we’ll keep going on to Tuscaloosa,” Miller said.

Loper said it was just another one in the line of hardnosed wins and he looked forward to doing it again. 

“I guess they expected the weather to be like it is in north Georgia, we just know how to play down here I guess. Our offense knows how to put a lot of points on the board and they didn’t know how to handle it,” Loper said.“We’ve got the same mentality every week, we go in nose first and go in run the ball first, that’s what we do.”

For the former Pirate, Loper said the experience of continuing to play on W.C. Majors Field at Fairhope Municipal Stadium is second to none.

“It’s unimaginale, it’s what everyone needs to experience when they want to come and play some football again,” he said.