OLB Randy Carter and the secondary converge on Shadows' WR Bob Darrow.

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text by Santos L. Halper - Arkham Advertiser Sports Reporter

photos by Guy Incognito (reprinted with permission)

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Arkham, MA—The 'Pods finished a pre-season that can best be described as "lackluster" with a return to form against the Innsmouth Shadows and a 64-14 victory. QB Crawford Tillinghast looked like the All-Pro player he was last season, completing 7 of 12 and throwing 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. Abd "The Mad Arab" Alhazred rumbled for 60 yards and 2 TDs over the first 2 quarters. The 'Pods finished the day with 269 total yards on offense (119 rushing, 150 passing), 6 takeaways and a surprising 92-yard kick return for a touchdown by Zeb Whately. Division rival Innsmouth looked like their usual inept selves, gaining 274 yards of total offense, while generating only 14 points, and that against the 'Pods second string defense.

     "I was starting to worry we'd limp into the regular season with a 1-3 record," said 'Pods Head Coach Augie Derleth. "I know it's only the pre-season, but if the team starts out like that, the whole city is gonna start calling for my head. I'm just glad Crawford and Abd and the rest of the offense got out of whatever funk they were in and started producing."

     "Funk" is right. The first three games saw a total of 30 points put on the board by the offense, while the defense allowed 58 points. Not a large deficit, but coming from a team that outscored its opponents by an average of 20 points per game last season, it is certainly cause for concern. Tillinghast looked sloppy throughout the first 3 weeks of the preseason, not reaching the end zone until the second quarter of week two against the Washington Tyrants. He threw no TDs in the first week loss to the Gotham City Nightowls, and only one TD in the third week loss against the Boise Bombers. 

     Alhazred was similarly afflicted. He did not reach the end zone until the game against Innsmouth. When he did though, it was in typical fashion, bulldozing his way through a normally stingy Shadows defense. He attributes the poor performances to a sore right foot and unusually warm weather this summer. "I was just having a hard time catching my breath after a lot of the plays," he said. "It was so hot and muggy, I had a difficult time breathing out there. But I've been working with our training staff the last couple of weeks and I think we got the thing licked."

     It would be fair to say the 'Pods are limping into the regular season opener against the Iron City Steelers at Lovecraft Field. But the beating the team administered to the hapless Shadows gives area football fans hope (at the very least) for another successful season. Or, as Coach Derleth said, "It's gonna be an interesting seventeen weeks." Interesting, indeed.

WEEK ONE

Gotham City NIGHTOWLS  28     'PODS  3

WEEK TWO

'PODS  13     Washington TYRANTS  10

WEEK THREE

 'PODS  14     Boise BOMBERS  17

WEEK FOUR

Innsmouth SHADOWS  14     'PODS  64

PRESEASON RECORD: 2-2

Enoch Bowen prepares to rush Innsmouth QB Glenn Prostak.