Valor Comeback Falls Short in 58-48 Loss to Albany
Saturday June 1, 2019
Nelson throws seven touchdowns, including four to McNeil III
ALBANY, N.Y. – The Washington Valor (3-3) were defeated by the Albany Empire (6-0), 58-48, Saturday afternoon at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Valor quarterback Arvell Nelson completed 20-41 passes for 287 yards and seven touchdowns, four of which went to wideout Douglas McNeil III. The loss snaps Washington’s three-game winning streak.
After trailing by 25 points late in the third quarter, Washington scored three consecutive touchdowns to cut the lead to three points with just under five minutes left in the game, but were unable to overcome the remaining deficit.
VALOR NOTES & QUOTES
Washington outgained Albany, 288-254, on Saturday. The Valor have amassed more total yards than their opponent in five of the team’s six games this season.
Valor wide receiver Douglas McNeil III set season highs in all three major receiving categories, catching five passes for 124 yards and four touchdowns, all of which came in the second half. McNeill has scored at least one touchdown in all three games he has played in this season.
Valor wide receiver Reggie Gray caught two passes for 33 yards and two touchdowns, his team-leading third game this season with multiple touchdowns.
Nelson accounted for all seven of Washington’s touchdowns against the Empire and has now accounted for 34 of Washington’s 35 touchdowns this season.
Valor linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson led the team with 4.5 total tackles, including the 500th of his career.
VALOR HEAD COACH BENJI MCDOWELL
On the game
“We just didn’t do what we needed to do to get a win. The offense came out slow in the first half and the defense struggled to get off the field when they had the chance. We came out and played well in the second half. If we had played all game like we did after halftime, the game would have looked much different.”
On Valor wideout Douglas McNeil III
“He knows how to make big plays. Every guy brings something different to the table, but he’s a playmaker. He has an incredible amount of focus when the game gets going and that takes him to another level. He’s a great player.”
NEXT TIME OUT
The Valor face their third consecutive road game next week, taking on the Philadelphia Soul on Sunday, June 9 at 4 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center. The game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Washington and ESPN3. The Valor won the teams’ first matchup, 53-46, on May 18. The Valor return to Capital One Arena on Saturday, June 15, hosting the Albany Empire at 7 p.m.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON VALOR
The AFL’s Washington Valor, 2018 ArenaBowl Champions, are owned and operated by Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which is one of the largest integrated sports and entertainment companies in the country with one of the most diverse partnership groups in all of sports. MSE owns and operates seven professional sports teams: the Valor, AFL’s Baltimore Brigade, NBA's Washington Wizards, NBA G League’s Capital City Go-Go, NBA 2K League’s Wizards District Gaming, WNBA’s Washington Mystics and the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals. Monumental Sports & Entertainment is also co-owner of aXiomatic, which has controlling interest in global esports franchise Team Liquid, and owns and operates Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. Monumental Sports & Entertainment also manages MedStar Capitals Iceplex, the state-of-the-art training facility for the Capitals and EagleBank Arena on George Mason University's campus. In conjunction with the District of Columbia and Events DC, MSE is a partner in a new sports and entertainment facility in Southeast DC on the St. Elizabeth’s East campus that opened in September 2018.
