As the American Arena League season heads into the second half of the season, there are a few consistent ideas that have been made clear to fans.
The AAL is still problematic. There are a few teams that don’t belong in the ranks, and why is there still non-league games in the thick of the season? If there is one thing that is good about the AAL, that is the Carolina Energy’s rise from a complete nobody to a title contender.
In the Energy’s second year of competition, the team has made major strides and have solidified themselves as a possible AAL title contender. Currently, the Energy are 4-0 with convincing victories against the Georgia Doom and the Carolina Havoc.
Coach Ervin Bryson has turned this squad from a bunch of unproven talent to a team that can compete against the very best in the AAL.
Quarterback Steffon Colon leads the team with 528 yards and 10 touchdowns and he has several receivers that he has been throwing the ball to which includes Gerron “Scooby” Bryant, “Triple Threat” Perry Floyd, Brandon Rowe, and journeyman Roger Jackson.
The running game has been inconsistent with contributions from Joey Gass, Lazarus Shelby and Josh Doster who was returning to action after suffering a season ending injury in the first season. The Carolina Energy have averaged close to 70 points a game.
The Energy defense has made things easier for the offense to produce as they have already produced one shutout and have allowed an average of 18.5 points a contest, which would put them at the middle of the pack with current NFL teams
. Contributors to the success of the Energy defense include guys like Fred Williams, De’Quan Holman, Rawley White making most of the noise on the defensive line.
Also, guys like Sayyid Muhammad and Cameron Sullivan are up the majority of the work in the secondary. The star of the secondary is rookie standout Carlo Thomas, who should be a candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He leads the team with four interceptions and has been a pest to opposing teams receivers.
With victories over the Georgia Doom and the defending champion Carolina Havoc, the Carolina Energy have earned their title contender stripes and earned the respect of the AAL fans and other teams, and with four games remaining
[one non-league game]
the Energy have the blueprint that is necessary to make a serious run at the championship.
