Orlando – (22 February 2001) — The fans in Orlando knew it from the first play from scrimmage. We have ourselves a football team.
QB Jeff Brohm’s first pass resulted in the first touchdown in XFL history and an exciting start to our clubs winning ways.
“I think with the balance of the team in all positions we should be able to win it all”. Rage fan Chris Pfaff said. “The Rage showed they are here to win, and have the ability to score when they need to.”
Chris is not alone on this subject. Most of the fans I have been talking to echo the same thoughts.
In an interview during the first game of the season
against the Chicago Enforcers, you could plainly hear WR Mario Bailey guarantee a championship this year and it looks like he might be able to deliver. With the most balanced team in the XFL the Rage have the talent and the determination to go to the big game at the end.
During their last game against the Hitmen, the Rage remained calm and stole the win in the last 13 minutes. DB Stephen Fisher made a heads up play with a key interception, which resulted in a 33-yard touchdown run by Quarterback Jeff Brohm.
“This one was a character builder,” said Rage Head Coach Galen Hall. “We couldn’t get anything going on offense all night until the fourth quarter. Our defense was playing well, but we kept stalling on offense.”
The Rage will now head home ready to take on a good Thunderbolts team looking to climb into a tie for first in the east.
“With the win last week, we have put ourselves in a very good position,” Offensive lineman Sean Love said. “The important thing is that we need to stay focused. Even with the great start, we will be no better than tied for first place if we let Birmingham come in here and beat us. We believe we can beat any team in this league, but we are also smart enough to know that we can’t just go out there and go through the motions.”
Orlando will be tested this week by a Bolts team coming off of a big win against the Enforcers. Duane Butler was the hero when he picked off a pass that would have given Chicago the win. He returned the interception 98 yards to preserve the much-needed victory for the Bolts.
“It’s obviously a huge game for both of us,” Brohm noted. “A victory gives us some breathing room and puts us in the driver’s seat. We certainly will expect Birmingham to come after us.”
You can expect Orlando to come out and defend their home turf with another well-rounded performance and don’t expect Orlando to give up their 4th straight bonus check without a fight.
RAGE SHORES UP DEFENSE
Looking to shore up its defense after losing defensive tackle Ken Anderson to a knee injury in game two, the Orlando Rage claimed linebacker Kevin Jefferson from the XFL Player Allocation and Selection System pool on Wednesday afternoon.
Jefferson, who went to camp with the San Francisco Demons in January, played for Rage Head Coach Galen Hall as a member of the NFL-Europe’s Rhein Fire 1998 championship team.
Prior to his year in NFL Europe, Jefferson became the youngest NFL performer in 30 years, when he debuted at age 20 with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1994. That year he played in five games, recording five tackles on special teams after being signed as a rookie free agent. Jefferson would go on to play in all 16 games in 1995.
A four-year starter at Lehigh University, Jefferson brings the reputation as being a highly intelligent player after majoring in mechanical engineering in college.
