A MAGICAL PLOT TWIST

National Arena League (NAL) preseason predictions regarded Jacksonville as a strong playoff contender, boasting a talented roster with a great chance to reach the championship game this year. Orlando, one of arena football most storied franchises, returns to NAL competition with a new coaching staff, ownership group, and hopes to return to prominence.

Florida’s two NAL teams have been rivals for well-over a decade, and reignited that feud at VyStar Veterans Memorial Stadium on Sunday. In a shocking upset, Orlando outlasted the Sharks, 61-60.

THE SHARK’S TALE

Jacksonville’s impressive first game of the season validated these projections, as the Sharks dismantled a dangerous opponent in West Texas, 54-26, during the first leg of a Texas roundtrip. Unfortunately, the second leg of this trip proved less successful, as the Sharks dropped a one-point heartbreaker in San Antonio. Jacksonville would rebound later a few days later, laying down a twenty-point defeat of the Fayetteville Mustangs.

By late April, the Sharks were posed to improve on their 2-1 start, and refocus their campaign.

ORLANDO TRAGIC

In Orlando, the Pred’s playoffs hopes were tempered considerably after a tough 68-43 defeat at the hands of Fayetteville, in the season opener. This shaky start got worse, as the Predators fell against Albany, the following , 70-33.

Regardless, Orlando faced a tough situation, and a winless two-game start, as they prepared for the April 30th trip to Duval County.