Midtown Bombers              5.4  14.5  17.9  22.15 (147)
Druid Hills Highlanders      1.2    2.2    3.5       4.6 (30)

 MATCH REPORT:

The opening round of the Fall 2007 AARFL Season saw a disappointingly light turnout. Many players were unable to attend, but there were still just enough that all teams were able to avoid having to forfeit. The first matchup of the day was between the Midtown Bombers and the Druid Hills Highlanders. Midtown had turned up with a solid squad of experienced players, while Druid Hills had a few newcomers, as well as being without their Captain Alan Mobley.

The Roswell Rebels were scheduled to play their game second, but their new acquisition Ben Crist was unable to stay that long, due to a prior commitment. Although "player loaning" is not usually allowed in the league, it was agreed among all parties to make an exception and allow him to play in the first game, since he drove all the way out, and both teams were very low on players. He played in one half for each team.

The difference in experience on the two teams became immediately apparent early in the first quarter. Although Druid Hills were getting a decent share of the ball, Midtown were more effectively able to move the ball downfield when they were in possession. Curtis Jones kicked a couple of booming goals from way outside, as Ed Robinson chipped in two, as well, and Adam Jennings contributed one. Newcomer Ben Kandy kicked the lone goal of the quarter for Druid Hills. At the first break, the Bombers had jumped out to a 25 point lead.

The second term was the Adam Jennings show, as he put through five goals for the quarter. Robinson tried to keep up, adding three of his own, while Crist had one. Druid Hills had no answer, and managed only one scoring shot and goal from Adam Grist. At half time, the goal explosion had put Midtown further in front, increasing their lead to 74 points.

The addition of Crist to the Druid Hills squad at halftime made them more competitive, and they came out in the third quarter determined to get back in the game and make the score respectable. But unfortunately, they were let down by inaccurate kicking, and could put through only one goal, from "Disco" Dave Monsour, who had been playing great all day. But they were able to keep Midtown to only three goals for the quarter, as Jennings was able to get another, and Dan Heffernan found the goals twice. At the last change, it was Midtown breaking the century mark, and leading by 88 points.

The last term was much like the second, as Midtown was showing no mercy and running all over the Highlanders, who were just too tired to keep up anymore. James Glenn came back on the field for the Bombers, after tweaking a prior neck injury earlier in the game and looking like he would not be able to return, and promptly kicked a goal with his first touch of the ball upon returning. He added another later in the quarter, and was helped by two further from Jennings, and a final goal from Robinson. Druid Hills could only muster another goal from Grist, as in the end, they went down to the powerful Bombers by 117 points.

Midtown threw down the gauntlet to show that they were again the team to beat, after winning the Spring Season Premiership. Druid Hills will have to hope for more of their veteran players to show up in future games, if they hope to have a shot at challenging.

MIDTOWN
Best -  Jennings, Robinson, Jones, Glenn
Goals - Jennings 9, Robinson 6, Jones, Glenn, Heffernan 2 each, Crist 

DRUID HILLS
Best -  Monsour, Grist, Kandy, Bartlett
Goals - Grist 2, Monsour, Kandy 1 each 

Decatur Devils               6.2  12.3   16.7   22.9 (141)
Roswell Rebels              1.0    3.2      5.5     8.6 (54)

MATCH REPORT:

In the second match of the day, it was almost a repeat of the first, as one team pretty much ran the other off the park. The Decatur Devils, who have traditionally been the whipping boys of the AARFL, began to turn things around in the Spring Season with a couple of wins, and today showed that they will be a force to reckon with in the Fall. The Roswell Rebels, on the other hand, after winning the 2006 AARFL Premiership are in a rebuilding period.

Decatur began controlling the ruck contests from the outset, getting the ball to Warren Ballagh, who when not kicking long goals himself, would deliver the ball to new recruit Michael Erickson, who had probably the best debut game in the history of USFooty. Ballagh kicked two goals for the term, and Erickson kicked four in his first-ever quarter of footy! The two players propelled the Devils out to a 32 point lead at quarter time, as Roswell's only scoring shot came through a goal from Jason Pierce.

The second quarter saw Roswell Captain Mick Frost make a few line-up changes, and it paid dividends as he put through two quick long goals. Unfortunately, it didn't help much defensively, as the Devils were just faster and fitter than the Rebels. Erickson and another new recruit, Josh Spencer, kicked two goals each for Decatur, while Ballagh and Adam Stevens added one apiece. The Rebels weren't helped when two players were injured late in the quarter. David Collins, returning to play his first game of footy since suffering a head injury in 2003, went down with a knee injury, and Marty Hyder pulled a hamstring when contesting for a loose ball on the ground. Collins did not return, but Hyder was able to hobble back onto the field in the final term to give a teammate a few minute's rest. Halftime came with the Devils up by 55 points.

The third quarter started with two emergency substitutions for the Roswell side, since Collins and Hyder couldn't go back in. Spectator Ron Sheffield threw on a jumper, as well as Midtown player Dan Heffernan. Sheffield got a goal, as well as Thomas Berry, who played undoubtedly the best game of his career so far. In addition to the goal, he really went in hard after the ball all game, absorbed some hard knocks, and made a few other really nice plays. His improvement was really quite amazing. Decatur kept their foot on the pedal, however, as Ballagh had two further goals, helped by one each from Stevens and Mike "Danger" Powers. The third term ended with the Devils cracking the century mark on the scoreboard, as Midtown had also done in the earlier game, and a handy 69 point lead.

Decatur didn't stop there, though, as they continued pounding in the goals. Four more were added by Erickson, who ended the game with an astounding, and league-leading, ten goals -- in his very first game! Stevens contributed two more. Roswell got one each from the emergency replacements Heffernan and Sheffield, as well as one finally from new acquisition Brent Kewley, who had been the Rebels' best player all day. The final result was a 87 point win to Decatur, who showed that they intend to challenge Midtown for the Fall Premiership.

Every team on the day was missing key players, but Midtown appeared to again be the team to beat. Decatur looks to finally be a title contender, and have recruited at least a couple of possible future Kookaburras. Druid Hills and Roswell will probably have to have "all hands on deck", getting all of their players out to the games in order to be competitive this season.

DECATUR
Best - Ballagh, Erickson, Stevens, Spencer
Goals - Erickson 10, Ballagh 5, Stevens 4, Spencer 2, powers

ROSWELL
Best - Kewley, Frost, Berry, Pierce
Goals - Frost, Sheffield 2 each, Berry, Heffernan, Kewley, Pierce