Brigade Fall to Valor 42-35 in Final Seconds
Thursday June 20, 2019
Martin named Defensive Player of the Game; Boyd surpassed 500 career completed passes
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Baltimore Brigade (5-4) fell 42-35 to the Washington Valor (5-4) on Thursday night in Washington, D.C at Capital One Arena. The teams ended their first three quarters with tied scores, but Washington sealed their victory when wideout Josh Reese scored on a net recovery after a failed field goal attempt.
Brigade defensive back Nias Martin was named Defensive Player of the Game and tallied 12.5 tackles (10 solo), one of which went for a loss of two yards, a single game career high. Brigade quarterback Shane Boyd surpassed 500 career completed passes and finished the game with 19 passes for 184 yards and four touchdowns. Valor quarterback Arvell Nelson was named the Most Valuable Player of the Game and recorded a total of five touchdowns, four rushing.
The Valor shaved six minutes off the clock in their opening possession before Nelson completed a pass to wideout Reggie Gray for a seven-yard touchdown. The Brigade struggled to answer until wide receiver Joe Hills found the endzone for his first touchdown of the night with only one minute and four seconds left in the quarter, extending his AFL record to 101 consecutive games with a touchdown reception. The teams went into the second quarter tied at 7-7. In the second quarter, defensive back Joe Powell scored his first touchdown of the season from a 56-yard kickoff return and then intercepted Nelson’s pass for a return of 39 yards. The interception helped Baltimore take the lead with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Hills for his second touchdown. The score was tied 21-21 going into the half.
The Valor were the first to score at the start of the third quarter with Nelson scoring his third rushing touchdown of the night. The Brigade held possession of the ball for nearly ten minutes before wideout Milton Williams hauled in a five-yard touchdown pass, tying up the game. Williams surpassed 100 career receptions, all with the Brigade, and finished the game with nine receptions for 64 yards. The teams began the fourth quarter tied yet again at 28-28. The Valor picked up the first score of the quarter and Brigade wide receiver Brandon Collins hauled in a 17-yard pass for a touchdown. Collins tallied 5 receptions with 72 yards for the night. With just 15 seconds remaining on the clock, Washington attempted a 34-yard field goal. The ball bounced off the net and was recovered for the game winning touchdown.
The Brigade are returning home to Royal Farms Arena after four consecutive weeks of road games next Friday, June 28 at 7:00 p.m. to take on the Columbus Destroyers. The Brigade have won both matchups against the Destroyers this season. Fans looking to purchase tickets may visit BaltimoreBrigade.com or call 667-930-0200. Media interested in covering a brigade home game must reach out to aflcredentials@monumentalsports.com at least 24 hours before kickoff.
MVP: WAS QB Arvell Nelson: 17 passes, 143 yards and 5 touchdowns ( 1 passing, 4 rushing)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: WAS WR Josh Reese: 5 receptions, 56 yards and game winning touchdown
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: BAL DB Nias Martin 12.5 total tackles (10 solo)
ABOUT THE BALTIMORE BRIGADE
The AFL’s Baltimore Brigade 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 Brigade, 2018 ArenaBowl Champion Washington Valor, 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.
