Verizon Nitro look to improve upon their successes

Within a couple of hours of the paper hitting newsstands this morning, the Verizon Nitro will lace up their cleats and march onto the CPA Airport field on a mission to undermine the undefeated Shell Chiefs in continuation of the Commonwealth Football League.

After suffering their third consecutive defeat at the hand of the Miller Barbarians last week, the Nitro began to show something that they had lacked in the first two. The red and white began to bond, and they displayed glimpses of potential that may get them over the hump and into the left side of the win-loss column.

There was a noticeable difference in the level of discipline in the second half, when the Nitro took the field with a lead for the first time of the season. Even when the Barbarians scored early, the Nitro refused to take the foolish penalties that have plagued them in the past.

Finally, the Verizon Nitro had something to play for, and they elevated their game accordingly. Teammates pushed each other and nobody on either sideline was willing to throw in the towel, but in the end the Barbarians walked off the field with the win.

“It’s a progression. I can’t hold my head down here because I am proud of the team—proud of their execution and proud of the way that they played. We were just one or two plays away from winning the game,” said Winston.

Judging by their 0-3 record, the Nitro still have plenty to do, but that little taste of victory may have them working harder together than they have before to get it back.

“We’re gelling as a team, and starting to have faith in our players making plays. My goal is to have it all together by the playoffs,” said Winston.

The coach makes a valid point, in that all of the three teams will make it into the playoffs this year, so the regular season record for the second and third place teams is relatively meaningless. Only the first place team will earn the bye into the championship, so it appears that the Nitro have some quality time to prepare.

This morning the Verizon squad will be playing the first-year Shell Chiefs who have cruised to a 3-0 record. In their last contest, the Chiefs annihilated the Nitro 40-8 with a powerful running game, a big-play passing game, and a suffocating defense.

According to defensive leader Keith Nabors, the Nitro used the time off between games to better prepare for the showdown with Miller.

“We took the two weeks off and used it to run in Tinian. The team really came together in practice and got in better shape,” he said.

That extra training may have been the difference between running back a punt for a touchdown and running out of juice shy of the goal. Nabors had the energy to make the score, and his team will try for plenty more today.

The heart pounding action of the CFL continues this morning at 10am when the Verizon Nitro return to the CPA Airport field as the home team to take on the undefeated Shell Chiefs.