AF1 Week 8: What We Learned

We had an interesting weekend of games last week. We had multiple teams that just jumped off the TV screen with their explosive offenses and ability to score points in bunches, and we had others whose play was begging for somebody to come in and save them.

The duality of arena ball, man. What did we learn around the AF1 in Week 8? 

Billings Outlaws @ Southwest Kansas Storm

Result: 49-31 Southwest Kansas

What We Learned: Billings is in free fall right now & Southwest Kansas is looking the part to make a playoff run… maybe. 

Southwest Kansas really controlled this game on the ground and through a STRONG defensive effort. DB Michael Lawson had himself a DAY with 15 tackles and scoring a touchdown on a lateral play from teammate Keon Clary, who had quite a day in his own right. 

Two defensive touchdowns for the Storm, including a ricocheted pass off the net that was returned the full length of the field for a score, and they didn’t need to do a ton on offense to really control this one. Shiloh Flanagan had the standout performance of the day on offense, with 4 catches for 74 yards & a TD. But the big question for Southwest Kansas now…. What do they do at QB? 

Starting QB Jalen Morton was signed to the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL, leaving the 5-3 Storm with a big question mark at the most important position in the sport. Luck for the Storm, they have a bye week coming up and some additional time to get that figured out. 

For Billings, this is the lowest of lows (on the field) for the Outlaws in a couple of years. They have just not gotten the production out of the QB position that they would have hopped for over the past 4 games, a couple of which were very winnable if they didn’t shoot themselves in both feet in both games. 

This was the big debut of new signings WR Darius Prince, DB Dwayne Hollis, OL Terrence Ames Jr, & DL James Winn II — all of whom came over from the Corpus Christi debacle. Prince got in the mix with 9 catches for 88 yards & a TD, and Hollis was able to haul in an Interception with a team leading 5 tackles. 

They are already getting the production out of the new signings, as well as from their current leading WR Kenneth Brewer who hauled in 11 catches for 92 yards as well — but again the QB position is putting them in unwinnable situations. 

..but help might be on the way. It was announced on the AF1 Fan Zone show by owner Steven Titus that QB Malik Henry was being signed and will be playing this upcoming week. 

Henry most recently spent time in San Antonio (wasn’t great tbh), and spent time bouncing between CFL & arena teams over the past few seasons. Henry could be the spark that they need if he can connect with Prince & Brewer right off the bat and put Billings in a position to make a push for the playoffs. 

Salina Liberty @ Albany Firebirds

Result: 64-58 Albany (OT)

What We Learned: Albany’s offense is a potent as it gets & Salina’s offense is scorching hot 

Before we go to far, this game is going to be a Game of the Year candidate — across ALL arena and indoor leagues. This game was back and forth and provided tons of action, with a WELCOMED change of pace for this Liberty offense. 

Rakeem Cato played an incredible game at QB for Salina, where he had 308 passing yards & 8 total TDs on his way to earning Offensive Player of the Week league honors. His favorite target by a long shot was friend of the program WR Malik Honeycutt — who caught 11 passes for 157 yards & FIVE TDs on the day and helped make this a track meet from the very beginning. 

The defense had a hard time slowing down the Firebirds offense, but the Liberty offense was able to go blow for blow with them and ultimately had a chance to win this game at the end of regulation — but just ran out of time after a debatable holding call on the last play of regulation. 

Salina are now sitting at 2-5, but now appear to have the BEST outlook of any team not named Albany or Nashville for the remainder of the season. 

For Albany, this one got VERY close and I know had some Albany fans stressing big time. QB Sam Castronova had an incredible game and seemed like he was able to do anything he wanted with the ball — going 20/31 for 330 yards & 9 TDs through the air.

Both Duane Brown & Isiah Scott had monster games at WR as well: 

• Brown - 9 catches, 132 yards, 5 TDs

• Scott - 7 catches, 156 yards, 4 TDs

If a team has ONE player with those type of numbers, they are looking good to get a dub — let alone TWO.  As good as the offense was, the defense struggled big time in this one. 

They got a taste of what it is like to play the Firebirds, as nearly every possession in regulation ended in points for the Liberty and they couldn’t get off the field. They weren’t able to get nearly as much pressure on the QB as they usually do (credit to Salina’s o-line) and Cato just had ample time to move the pocket and find his guys. 

The dream of an undefeated Firebirds season lives on, but they get a hungry Nashville Kats team next week at MVP Arena. 

Oregon Lightning @ Washington Wolfpack

Result: 37-9 Oregon

What We Learned: I hate watching BOTH of these teams. 

Going from watching Salina vs Albany to watching Oregon vs Washington was like going to the movie theater for a double feature: 

The first movie? The Avengers: End Game. Action packed, both sides trading blows, the good guys facing the bad guys — a thriller. 

The second movie? Madame Web. A rough viewing experience that is technically in the same genre as End Game, but just a polar opposite feeling after the game. 

Is that a little dramatic? Yes, of course it is. Welcome to Off The Wall. 

Starting with Washington, I thought this might’ve finally evolved. After having a season filled with frustrating playcalling, they popped for 41 unanswered points at Oregon last week and it looked like they were taking that next step! 

Then this game happened. A single touchdown on offense and not even cracking double digits. Washington, you are killing my soul. 

Brutal game where they couldn’t / wouldn’t run the ball and they couldn’t get much going in the passing game. Adam Kruse looked like he could be the guy for Washington moving forward, but turned in a bad game here and it seems like they will be making the shift to newly QB Dominique Shoffner here soon. 

The defense fought and tried their best to give the offense every opportunity to get back in the game with 3 interceptions & a forced fumbled (a common theme with the Wolfpack this year), but the offense totally bottomed out here. Another failed gameplay and execution by The Gloves here.

For Oregon, this was an extremely sloppy game that they tried their best to give away, but lucky for them Washington refused every gift they tried to give.

QB Dalton Cole had a 3 TD & 3 INT day on 14/24 passing for 171 yards, with backup QB Jordan Ambrose getting some looks as a change of pace guy. The offense was able to distribute the ball well amongst the WR group, but the offensive line once again was letting a lotttttt of pressure through which forced some poor throws that led to turnovers. 

Defensively, DL Mike Fields, Lovell Spruce & LB Jeremiah Spicer were able to live in the Wolfpack backfield and make their QB’s life HELL for the entire game. 

Oregon has to do better with their QB protection and intention of running the ball — whether that is with Jordan Ambrose or elsewhere — in order to get their offense on track for the rest of the season. 

What were your biggest takeaways from Week 8? Follow Off The Wall on Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok & BlueSky and let me know!