I have absolutely nothing nice to say about the Penguins right now. Absolutely nothing…

So I will just say let’s go Power!

A week after a tough overtime loss to Philadelphia, the Power returned to action and dominated the Iowa Barnstormers in front of just over 9,000 fans. The lower attendance, I have no doubt, was probably due to Pitt playing Butler in the NCAA tournament at the same time. However, those that decided to watch Pitt lose to Butler in the last seconds were no doubt wishing that they had gone to the Consol Energy Center instead last night.

Despite losing starting quarterback Bernard Morris to a shoulder injury, the Power kept their foot on the accelerator in the second half. Backup QB Kevin McCabe through for three touchdowns in a 58-28 stomping of Iowa. The big man, Joshua Rue had three touchdowns. Despite only rushing six times for six yards, Rue found the end zone twice with the power game. He added a third when he stretched out to haul in a pass over his head.

Mathis, and “Joystick” Washington each added offensive touchdown catches on the night as well.

The defense came up big all night too. It wasn’t just the offense. Smith, Herbert and Dewalt all added interceptions. DeWalt’s was retuned for a touchdown.

Before leaving the game at halftime, starting QB Bernard Morris had two touchdown passes and 114 yards passing to post a 28-14 lead heading into the locker room.

The Power’s next game is Monday, March 28th versus the Milwaukee Mustangs (in Milwaukee) who are 0-2 on the season. They lost to the 2-0 Arizona Rattlers on Saturday.

Its almost spring and while some brain dead fans in Pittsburgh are dreaming of Pirates baseball, and another losing season, anyone with a brain is excited about the new Arena Football League team in Pittsburgh; the Pittsburgh Power. And yes, I have season tickets.

Last night the Power kicked off their season to a crowd of 13,904 at Consol Energy Center. Many of these people, it appeared based on the lines at the ticket window, were walkups who decided to buy tickets the day of the game. I’d love to give you stats, but the AFL has not updated their site as of this morning.

The game was back and forth all night with both teams driving up and down the field on each other. The Power however made several key mistakes. They dropped interceptions, they were unable to sack Justin Allgood (Philly’s QB) several times when they had him dead to rights and they allowed the Soul to intercept a pass off the end walls late in the game.

But in the waning moments of regulation, with the Power trailing 52-49, and after a dropped touchdown pass that would have put the Power up, Paul Edinger, formerly of the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings tied the game up with a 35-yard field goal through the narrow AFL uprights.

The Power however self-destructed in OT. They were unable to get anything going and on fourth down an interception return for a touchdown capped the game. Bernard Morris, quarterback for the Power, watched as Philadelphia’s Mike Brown ran the ball in to end zone.

The crowd, which thinned out late as the Power were down, was loud and boisterous all night long cheering their new team on. Lots of people appear to be giving the Power a chance here in Pittsburgh. Which, considering the options (i.e. the Suckos who have a losing streak so long that if it were a person it would be old enough to legally have sex with) who can blame them?

Oh, but just one suggestion to the Power. It sounds really weird when the announcer comes on and talks about getting a “black Power” t-shirt. It would sound equally weird if he were to come across talking about a “white Power” t-shirt too. You guys might want to rethink that!