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SALT LAKE CITY – Salt Lake receiver DeMornay Pierson-El ran to the back of the end zone while swinging his arm.
He had just entered history by scoring the first touchdown at home in the history of the Salt Lake City Stallions and was going to make sure to celebrate accordingly.
How long will this story last? For the moment, that's what everyone guesses.
With rumors of financial difficulties, a relatively low attendance and another spring football league scheduled for early next year, the Alliance of American Football faces challenges in trying to freeze in the sports landscape.
But not all of the league's sustainability issues were of concern to the few thousand spectators who braved the cold February day at Rice-Eccles Stadium. They just wanted to enjoy February football. And the stallions gave them something to celebrate.
Josh Woodrum collected 178 yards and a touchdown to lead Salt Lake to a 23-15 victory over the Arizona Hotshots for the team's first win in franchise history.
"We created parts when we had to do it," Woodrum said.
At 8:25 of the end of the game, the Stallions had a 3-point lead and looked like they were stuck in a goal and a goal from the starting line. The Hotshots celebrated the goal line, but this celebration was short-lived. The Stallions challenged the decision and it was determined that Joel Bouagnon had managed to get the ball in the plane. Touch the salt lake.
"It looked like an excellent goal line and we were at a score," said Arizona coach Rick Neuheisel. "The next thing you know, they are defending each other."
This decision helped Salt Lake maintain its victory.
Arizona was able to get another touchdown late and then chose the AAF version of an opposing attempt: the team recovers the ball with a goal down to 12 yards. Arizona quarterback Trevor Knight traded the ball to Josh Huff, but Salt Lake's Greer Martini managed to win the winning tackle.
And that was just one of the many plays played by Martini on the first day of Salt Lake.
In the first game of the second half, Martini intercepted a pass from Arizona and brought it back to the inside of the 10-yard line, which led to a touchdown of the touched by Branden Oliver. This touch gave the Stallions a 15-9 lead, an advance they would never surrender.
The Stallions attributed to a modest but vocal crowd one of the reasons they were able to avenge a first week's defeat against the Hotshots.
"Everyone said that Salt Lake was going to be excited to have a team," said Woodrum, "It was great having a lot of fans, they were strong in third place and I think it has been a problem for them. "
Arizona was just 1-in-10 on third-rate conversions. Former veterans of Utah, Gionni Paul and Trevor Reilly, have helped lead this strong defensive performance. Reilly finished with eight tackles and Paul added seven.
Former Utah receiver Kaelin Clay has amassed five receptions for 27 yards.
"It was a big blow for all these guys," said Salt Lake head coach Dennis Erickson.
And when it comes to building AAF, Erickson said local talent was essential. That's why the Stallions honored outstanding former players like Andy Phillips, Tom Hackett, Jason Buck and Reno Mahe, among others at half-time.
Erickson said that by establishing a connection with local schools, it would help get people to watch games. And he is convinced that once they see the product on the ground, these fans will come back again and again.
"This city is a big football town," Erickson said. "Once we start this project, we will start attracting a lot of fans here."
The stallions announced an official presence of 10,641 people. In fact, it was almost half, but it was still a live band that even featured fans in BYU jerseys performing the famous third jump of The Muss (few others joined that).
"I do not know how many people were here today," Neuheisel said. "But if you ask them all, have you had fun? I'm pretty sure that they'll all say (yes). Their home team won and it was a very competitive match. He went to the final snaps. If you look at the quality of the guys playing and it's intriguing. … I think the future is promising.
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