The injuries kept coming, and kept coming, and though the San Diego Fleet did all it could to keep the Memphis Express at bay, it was all too much to overcome.
Quarterback Philip Nelson was lost for the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, and though third string quarterback Alex Ross immediately came in and threw a touchdown pass, the Express were eventually able to chip away at a two touchdown deficit and overtake the Fleet in the final three minutes for a 26-23 victory, their first victory in The Alliance, before a crowd of 13,621 at the Liberty Bowl.The final, fatal blow for the Fleet (2-2) came with the game tied at 23-23 with 4:30 left when a fake punt on 4th and 3 from the Fleet 32 came up short. The Express converted a field goal with 2:46 left for a 26-23 lead, and Ross then fumbled on the Fleet’s final drive to seal the Express victory.
San Diego was trying to become the first Western Conference team to earn a third victory, while likely keeping pace for the conference’s top spot with Arizona (2-1), who takes on winless Atlanta on Sunday night.The Fleet would have to try to do it without two of their main pieces on defense. Defensive end Damontre Moore, who had 10 of the Fleet’s Alliance leading 26 quarterback hurries through three games, did not play because of an injured right knee. Linebacker A.J. Tarpley, who had the Fleet’s first defensive touchdown in Week 3 against Atlanta, was out with a back injury. With Meffy Koloamatangi and Frank Ginda replacing Moore and Tarpley in the starting lineup, the Fleet lined up against Zach Mettenberger, the former Titans and Chargers quarterback starting his first game for Memphis since taking over for Christian Hackenberg, who was benched last week in the Express’ loss at Orlando.
But the Fleet’s injury problems would only grow as the game continued, and it was the offense that took all the hits. Philip Nelson injured his shoulder midway through the second quarter and was lost for the game, and left guard Damien Mama went down with a gruesome ankle injury early in the third quarter and was ruled out.
But before all those injuries, the Fleet appeared on their way to a rather easy victory. 30 year old Ron Brooks, who is the oldest player on the Fleet roster, turned back the clock on the first punt of the game, returning the kick 57 yards for the first special teams touchdown in Fleet history and a quick 6-0 lead.
THIS is how you start a ballgame! @RonBrooks33 to the --. #AllHandsOnDeck pic.twitter.com/XcEorpK5wB
— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet)
March 2, 2019 After an Express field goal, the Fleet scored again thanks to wide receiver Dontez Ford, who finished the great drive by getting open after Nelson hung in the pocket despite heavy pressure and gathered a short pass for a 6 yard touchdown and a 14-3 lead.
The Fleet kept it rolling in the second quarter, even after Philip Nelson left the game with a shoulder injury. Alex Ross stepped in and his first pass was a 30 yard touchdown to tight end Marcus Baugh for a 20-6 lead with 5:48 left in the half.
.@aross004 goes up top to @MarcusBaugh85 for the #SDFleet TD! -- #AllHandsOnDeck pic.twitter.com/786HliO0tm
— San Diego Fleet (@AAFFleet)
March 2, 2019 But Ross soon made his only mistake of the half, throwing an interception at the Fleet 38 with 1:43 before halftime. As has been the case all season, the interception led to a touchdown, as Mettenberger finished a short drive with a 1 yard run to cut the lead to 20-15.
Zach Mettenberger for 6️⃣ to cut San Diego's lead before the half -- @aafexpressWatch the 2nd half FREE on #BRLive: https://t.co/EmhkHQunuH pic.twitter.com/YCVPTcLWCB
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive)
March 2, 2019 With the Fleet leading 20-15 early in the third quarter, they were pinned at their own 1 yard line. But Ross led the Fleet on a seven minute, 13 play drive. Although the drive eventually stalled, the flipping of field position proved crucial, as the Fleet soon got the ball back in much friendlier field position. Ross led the Fleet to a Donny Hageman 46 yard field goal and a 23-15 lead with 14:03 left in the game.
But Ross would fumble on his own 8 yard line with just under eight minutes left in regulation, leading to a game tying touchdown when Mettenberger found Terrence Magee for a 6 yard score.
Zach Mettenberger finds @TerrenceMagee in the back corner! #SDvsMEM pic.twitter.com/O42HfPh1Id
— The Alliance (@TheAAF)
March 2, 2019 Then after the Express took the lead at 26-23 with 2:46 left on a field goal after the Fleet failed to convert a fake punt in their own territory, Ross was sacked and fumbled away the Fleet’s final chance.
The play that secured the W.✈️ | #AllAboard pic.twitter.com/rBJ5Ckg3Pl
— Memphis Express (@aafexpress)
March 3, 2019 "They had a hell of a defense and they played well tonight. I think there's a lot we can learn from this, especially me, a young quarterback going in there," Ross said. "But I feel good with the guys we have in the locker room."
Memphis linebacker Drew Jackson had his best game of the season and led the Express defense with 14 total tackles, including four tackles for a loss, four passes defended, one sack and one interception.
The defense won the game for the Express and the confidence is sky high for the unit going forward. “We knew we had to finish. We knew we had no other choice,” Jackson said. “0-4 wasn’t going to cut it. We had to finish the job and we definitely did that.”
The Fleet return home to face the Salt Lake Stallions in a Week 5 game on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) on NFL Network. To see the Fleet in person this season,
click here for tickets.
