The San Diego Fleet lost a heartbreaker at home last week to the Birmingham Iron 32-29 as Nick Novak kicked the game-winner from 44 yards out. The Fleet had been undefeated at home until last week and fell to (3-3) on the season, while moving into a second place tie with Arizona.
The feeling never gets old. Great team win. #WeAreBirmingham #ForgeOn @aafiron @TheAAF pic.twitter.com/fCHMQkbTuw
— Nick Novak (@8nicknovak)
March 19, 2019 Which is exactly where the Fleet play in week 7. This is a bit of a homecoming for Mike Bercovici, who played his college home games at Sun Devil Stadium while he was attending Arizona State. The Fleet go on the road for a critical Week 7 Western Conference showdown against the Hotshots in Tempe on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT (4 p.m. ET) on CBS Sports Network.
“The last time I played there, we played the team down south (Arizona), I think we hung 50 points on them (52), and I figured that would be the last time I would ever play on that field. It’s pretty sentimental, actually. I can’t express it now, but I’m sure out there in pregame when you get to go see the field, five years of heart and soul, my best friends in the world, my future wife, have all been out there. It’s priceless that I get to go out there and play one more time.”
Last summer, Bercovici figured he’d be playing at Sun Devil Stadium many times as a member of the Hotshots. When he learned there would be a quarterback draft into The Alliance, he then expected to be reunited with his original college coach at ASU, Dennis Erickson, now the head coach of the Salt Lake Stallions. But neither happened, as he was picked in the draft by the Fleet. He'll also be the only Alliance QB to play in his college stadium this season.
One of the biggest scares from the Fleet’s loss to Birmingham Sunday night was figuring out which ankle Dontez Ford injured in the third quarter, causing him to miss the rest of the game. As Ford was helped off the field, he was clearly favoring the left ankle. But after the game, there was considerable talk of a right ankle injury. Turns out, Ford injured both ankles. But it was the right one that got the worst of the deal.
Ford caught three passes for 182 yards before departing Sunday, and did not practice on Wednesday. He remains in a walking boot on his right foot. But even with that visual, head coach Mike Martz has not ruled Ford out of Sunday’s game against Arizona.
Bercovici finds Dontez Ford yet again for the immediate answer!Ford shows off his elusiveness taking it inside the five yard line --#BIRvsSDpic.twitter.com/fmxLHKb99j
— PFF_AAF (@PFF_AAF)
March 18, 2019 There is little time for the Fleet to make the necessary adjustments. This Sunday, the Fleet (3-3) play the Hotshots (3-3) in Tempe, then go to Salt Lake (2-4) in Week 8. With San Antonio at 4-2 and only two teams from the conference advancing to the playoffs, these are games the Fleet can ill-afford to lose.
-- Standings in The Alliance through 6 weeks. pic.twitter.com/KMMZWKPmtu
— The Alliance Insider (@InsiderAAF)
March 19, 2019 The Hotshots are coming off a huge win against previously unbeaten Orlando after losing three straight, so they should be sky-high to retake second place in the conference. The Fleet are 0-2 on the road this season, and could potentially be without Ford, who went down with a left ankle injury on his 70-yard play in Sunday’s third quarter. As noted, this team has a full reservoir of tenacity. It will be needed in full on Sunday.
