The Draft
Starting the year as an expansion team, the Solar Bears went into the draft hoping to overhaul their roster by finding players who could make an impact immediately. Having the 2nd overall pick, and the 2nd pick in each round, the Solar Bears had a great opportunity to add talent.
With their first pick, they picked up LB Rock Hardshaft with hopes he would be the heart and soul of the Palm Beach defense. After going defense in round one, the Solar Bears took 3 straight offensive players. The flashy TE Chase Jensen, mobile QB Apollo Lange and a hard-nosed running back in Ben Bortboy.
The Solar Bears would continue to round out to their roster with picks at almost every position. Palm Beach found a lot of value late in the draft such as speedy Running Back Ludicolo Bigby and Wide Receivers Nacho Varga and Andre Thorton. Also, with hopes to build a scary playmaker defense, they added Safeties Faith Terim & Quentin Sinclair, as well as CB Deon Taylor to create a promising secondary. Rounding out the defense, the Solar Bears also added LB Guy Nikko and DE Khalil Sack.
With the addition to these players, among others not listed, the Solar Bears felt good about their roster after the draft and going into the season. They knew they would be fighting an uphill battle, but they were ready to get the season started.
Week 1
The season would start at home versus the San Antonio Marshals. Coming out of the tunnel, the Solar Bears looked confident and ready for their first regular season matchup. The Marshals would win the coin toss and elect to receive the ball first.
The game started with a 26-yard kick return to start the San Antonio drive at the 35-yard line. San Antonio would easily march down the field in 7 plays to score their first touchdown of the season. The Solar Bears defense didn’t have an answer on the drive giving up 3 big passing plays for a total of 66 yards. The Solar Bear offense came onto the field for the first time hoping to start the season strong. On the first play from scrimmage, the San Antonio defense collapse the offensive line and sack QB Apollo Lange. The drive results in a 3 and out and a total of -2 yards.
A disappointing drive was followed up by a short 33-yard punt which was returned for 17 yards. On the play, there was also a face mask penalty on Quentin Sinclair. The Marshals would start their second drive on the Solar Bear 29 yard line and score another touchdown in only 3 plays. Now down 14-0, the Solar Bears offense took the field again looking to put a successful drive together. But the drive would end in only one play with an interception thrown by Lange. San Antonio again had a short field but would only end up with a field goal this time. The Solar Bears were now down 17-0 only 11 minutes into the game. With -2 yards of offense, an interception, and 2 defensive penalties, the Solar Bears couldn’t have had a worse start to the season.
On their third drive, the Solar Bears finally found a first down but would end the series with a fumble. Now down 17 points, and again with a short field to cover, the Solar Bears defense would finally buckle down and stunt the San Antonio offense with a 3 and out. Going onto the field again, the Solar Bears would change their approach by keeping the ball mostly on the ground. They would drive down the field in 14 plays to score their first touchdown of the year. With points on the board, the Solar Bears would regain some confidence.
The defense would hold up once again allowing the offense to attack at the San Antonio lead. Palm Beach would gain 51 yards en route to the end zone. Now only down 14-17, the game was well within reach. But before halftime, the Solar Bears would throw 2 more interceptions including one pick six. Also, the Solar Bears defense would allow a San Antonio field goal. Coming out of the locker room, the Solar Bears were down 26-14 and wanted to send a message.
The Solar Bears would start the second half with an interception on the second play. But luckily, San Antonio wasn’t able to convert on the opportunity as the Solar Bears defense was able to force a three and out. The 3rd quarter turned out to be a defensive battle with the only points coming as a Solar Bear field goal to bring the score to 26-17. Early in the fourth quarter, the Solar Bears were able to drive all the way down the field for another touchdown coming via a 22-yard pass from Apollo Lange to Ben Bortboy.
With the opposing lead now down to 26-24, the Solar Bears were within reach of an impressive comeback victory. San Antonio would slowly march down the field, hoping to score and grind the clock. They would make a 43-yard field goal with 3:42 remaining. Down only 5 points, the Solar Bears would put their offense on the field with an opportunity to win the game.
The drive was led by the arm of Apollo Lange as he went 6/8 down the stretch. The Solar Bears were fighting the clock and had to use all their timeouts and a spike to stay alive. But the clock ended up being their demise as the clock ran out with only 27 yards to go until the end zone. It was a disappointing ending to an exciting game for the home fans. The Solar Bears fought hard but couldn’t overcome the 5 turnovers lost by the offense. It wasn’t the prettiest effort, but they showed promise in various areas while proving they are a hard-fought team.
24-29 L vs. San Antonio Marshals
0-1
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 30 att, 161 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Faith Terim (S) - 6 tackles, 1 sack
Week 2
Coming off a close loss against San Antonio, the Solar Bears hoped to bounce back with a victory over the visiting Tijuana Luchadores. The Luchadores received the kickoff and the game was underway.
The first drives by both teams ended in punts with a total of one first down combined. It seemed that a defense showdown was starting as the Luchadores received their first punt of the game. The Luchadores would then quickly storm down the field for a field goal. After a kick return to the 39-yard line, Apollo Lange led the Solar Bears to the red zone within 6 plays. But the Solar Bears would spoil the opportunity with two penalties which may have cost them 7 points. The Solar Bears settled for a field goal and put their defense back on the field.
The defensive battle intensified in the second quarter as neither team would score any points until late in the quarter. The Luchadores made it into the end zone with 2:34 remaining in the half. Now down 10-3, the Solar Bears hoped to put some points up before half. Apollo Lange led the team down the field but unfortunately had to settle for a field goal before time ran out.
After halftime, we saw more of the same coming from both defenses. Neither team could put a drive together and it was coming down to which offense could finally break through the defense. This came as the Luchadores extended their lead to 13-6 after a 32-yard field goal.
The fourth quarter was much of the same as the only points came by a Luchadore field goal with 2:57 left in the game. With their lead now 16-6, the Solar Bears were officially a two loss team. The failure to complete drives from the offense, along with 6 penalties, led to the Solar Bear’s disappointing loss.
Starting the year 0-2 is never good, especially when it opens against two divisional rivals. But the silver lining was that they only seemed to be a few plays away from possibly winning both games. The Solar Bears went home and prepared for the Norfolk Seawolves in hopes they could find their first win.
6-16 L vs. Tijuana Luchadores
0-2
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 28 att, 105 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Guy Nikko (LB) - 7 tackles, 4 sacks
Week 3
The Solar Bears felt good walking off the bus into the Norfolk locker room. They felt they had worked hard, made the proper adjustments and were prepared for whatever the Seawolves would bring at them. The Solar Bears would receive the opening kickoff and start things off in Norfolk. But after a quick 3 and out, the Solar Bears punted on a 4th and 15. The Seawolves would then march their way down the field and score a quick touchdown. Norfolk capitalized on a 12 man defensive penalty to put the Solar Bears down 7-0.
Coming back onto the field, the Solar Bears offense would try to get it going on the ground. This led to the biggest play of the year so far for the Solar Bears. Ludicolo Bigby found a hole in the defense and ran it 47 yards for the touchdown. The run seemed to bring energy to the sideline as the team celebrated the big play.
After the kickoff touchback, the Norfolk attacked the Solar Bears through the air, completing 3 straight passes. During the drive, Jimbo of the Seawolves would fumble the ball but fall right back on top of it. The missed opportunity was almost avenged by a stop on third down, but the Seawolves would convert the 4th down play on the 31-yard line. Luckily, the Solar Bears were able to hold the Seawolves to only three points and now trailed 10-7.
Later in the second quarter, the Solar Bears would extend a drive to the red zone. But after a third-down sack by Norfolk’s Giannis Kroustis, the Solar Bears were forced to attempt a 39-yard field goal. It was a chance to tie up the game but the attempt was pushed right and the score remained 10-7.
With 1:35 left in the first half, the Solar Bears had put together a promising drive with 47 yards left until the end zone. But the drive would end with an Apollo Lange interception. The Seawolves would capitalize on the turnover and put up 3 points before halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, the Solar Bears knew they were a couple plays away from being in the lead. They had to settle down and stop shooting themselves in the foot. The third quarter would see 6 straight punts with no scores by either team. The Seawolves would finally convert a drive and score another field goal, bringing the score to 16-7.
Down 9 points and only 18 minutes left in the game, the Solar Bears offense was getting desperate for a score. But they would be careless with the ball again leading to an interception on their own 25-yard line. This set up the Norfolk touchdown and Palm Beach went into the fourth quarter down a steep 22-7 deficit. After a crucial penalty in enemy territory, as well as another Solar Bear interception, the Seawolves would score another field goal. Deon Taylor of the Solar Bears would block a punt, but it was too late as they were down 25-7 with 2:38 left to go. Palm Beach would turnover on downs and end the game with only one score.
This was the worst loss the Solar Bears have had all year and it showed some major flaws within their team. Still without a win this season, the Solar Bears went home unfulfilled.
7-25 L @ Norfolk Seawolves
0-3
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 11 att, 73 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 13 tackles, 1 sack
Week 4
This week, the Solar Bears had a rematch against the San Antonio Marshals lined up. After losing the first matchup by only 6 points and 27 yards, the Solar Bears felt they could find their first win against the divisional opponent. The Marshals were undefeated and would ready to play the Solar Bears on their turf this time around.
The game started with a kickoff to the Solar Bears and a subsequent 3 and out. This seemed far too familiar for Palm Beach and they were forced to punt. The Marshals would slowly drive down the field for a touchdown. They seemed to wear out the Solar Bear defense with short plays. The longest play on the drive was an 8-yard run.
After the kickoff, the Solar Bears drive was quickly ended by an Apollo Lange interception. This led to another touchdown and the Marshals were already up 14 points only 12 minutes into the game. The next possessions saw both teams trade turnovers. It started with another Palm Beach interception and then three plays later, a San Antonio fumble.
The second quarter started with the Marshals sacking Apollo Lange for a safety. San Antonio was now up 16-0. The second quarter would also see Apollo Lange throw his third interception and San Antonio scores two field goals. The Solar Bears went into the locker room down 22-0 and with no sign of keeping it competitive.
The second half would have three more Solar Bear interceptions and 20 more San Antonio points. The only play made by the Solar Bears was an interception by Deon Taylor with 2:53 to go in the game. But much like his big play last week, it came way too late and didn’t affect the outcome of the game.
The Solar Bears would end the game suffering a humiliating 42-0 loss. Losing big like this to a division rival, and still remaining winless, left the Solar Bears to reevaluate themselves and do some soul searching for next week.
0-42 L @ San Antonio Marshals
0-4
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 17 att, 76 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 13 tackles, 1 TFL
Week 5
This was an important week for the Solar Bears. It was crucial they finally find a win and winning against Tijuana would bode well for their playoff hopes. This week was a matchup of the week 2 game at Palm Beach and was a chance for the Solar Bears to avenge the disappointing loss.
The game started with a kick to the Solar Bears. Unfortunately, just like usual, the Solar Bears offense suffered a 3 and out to start the game. But the Solar Bear defense would also force a 3 and out. Trying to forget about the first drive, Apollo Lange and the Solar Bear offense went out and put together a promising possession. They came with a very balanced attack which led to a touchdown by Running Back Ludicolo Bigby. After the touchdown, Palm Beach would down Tijuana at the 4-yard line off the kickoff.
The Solar Bear defense would once again force the Luchadores to punt the ball away. Coming on the field after a successful drive, the Solar Bears offense hoped to replicate their last possession. The Running Back duo of Ben Bortboy and Ludicolo Bigby would chip away at the Luchadore defense. But with 26 yards to go, the offense was stopped and forced to attempt the field goal. Roderick Castleberry would just barely squeeze in a 43-yard field goal and the score was now 10-0.
The Solar Bears were in a great position in which they haven’t seen all year. This was the first lead they have had all season and they needed to play smart to hold onto it. Early in the second quarter, the Solar Bears would extend their lead to 13-0 from another made field goal.
The last 9 minutes of the second quarter wouldn’t treat the Solar Bears too well. Luchadore Quarterback Corvo Havran would lead Tijuana down the field for a touchdown. With 2:54 remaining in the half, the Luchadores would kick off to Palm Beach. The Solar Bears drive would only take 50 seconds off the clock and they had to punt. The Luchadores put together a messy, but successful 2 minutes drill together to score a field goal with 2 seconds remaining in the half.
At halftime, the Solar Bears’ lead had shrunk to 3 points. They had a lot of work to do if they wanted to secure their first win. The second half started with a kickoff to the Luchadores. Tijuana would march their way down the field through the air. But before they could reach the red zone, the Solar Bear defense tightened up and forced a 39-yard field goal. The 13-0 lead was now gone and Palm Beach had to make something happen.
On their first drive of the second half, the Solar Bears showed a very balanced offensive attack. It was arguably the most impressive drive they had put together all year. The drive ended with a touchdown pass to Tight End Chase Jensen.
Now up 20-13, the Solar Bear defense took the field looking for a stop. The Luchadores started the drive with a big 20-yard run. After the big play, the Luchadore offense was stumped and had to settle for a long field goal attempt. The 56-yard attempt came up short and the Solar Bears were gifted with a short field. The Solar Bears made a few plays and settled for a field goal to go up 23-13. Things were looking good for the Solar Bears as long as their defense could keep making stops.
Tijuana wasn’t going to go down without a fight. They started the fourth quarter with a 31-yard kick return. This, along with 2 Solar Bear penalties, gave the Luchadores great field position. Quarterback Corvo Havran made some big throws on the drive which led to an easy touchdown run.
Now up by only 3 points with 9 minutes remaining, Palm Beach needed more points to ensure a victory. Producing a long drive would also help the Solar Bears. They did just that by taking 4 and a half minutes to complete their drive. Although they only scored a field goal, the Luchadores were now forced to try for the touchdown.
The Luchadores would get an opportunity at a game-winning drive but would fall short as they couldn’t convert the 4th down with 2:01 to go. The Solar Bears would keep the ball on the ground to run out the clock and secure their first victory of the season.
The Solar Bears would finally put a game in the winner’s column but still had a long way to go if they wanted to make the playoffs. But beating a divisional rival in Tijuana was definitely a step in the right direction.
26-20 W @ Tijuana Luchadores
1-4
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Apollo Lange (QB) - 17/26, 176 yards, 1 TD
5 rush att, 36 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Guy Nikko (LB) - 4 tackles, 1 sack
Week 6
In week 6, the Solar Bears look to build off their win last week. Playing the winless Kansas City Coyotes at home seems like a good setting for the Solar Bears to capture their second win. But they need to make sure they don’t underestimate the Coyotes and get caught sleeping.
The Coyotes receive the kick but only make it to their own 42-yard line before they have to punt. Palm Beach takes over and has its sights set on making a successful drive. On the third play of the drive, a 3rd and 1, Ludicolo Bigby runs for a 71-yard touchdown. The home crowd goes crazy after the score but Castleberry misses the extra point. Palm Beach kicks off with a 6-0 lead.
Kansas City’s second drive results in a 3 and out caused by two consecutive Solar Bear sacks. They punt and the Solar Bear offense hopes to repeat the success of the last drive. They decide to let the running backs do the heavy lifting with 8 of the 9 plays staying on the ground. The Solar Bears find themselves in the end zone once again, but this time, they make the extra point. Their lead is now 13-0.
With the momentum seemingly going entirely into the home team’s favor, the Solar Bears kick off to Kansas City. But the Coyotes tune out the crowd and drive down the field for their first touchdown of the game. The Coyotes cut the lead down to 13-7 at the start of the second quarter.
As the second quarter continues, the defenses finally start to keep the offenses off the scoreboard. That is until the Coyotes score a touchdown with 1:21 left in the half. The Solar Bears can’t get down the field with only a minute left and they go into the locker room down 14-13.
The momentum swing in the second quarter was a huge blow to the energy of the Palm Beach fans and players. They let the Coyotes take the lead away from them way too easily. Coming out for the second half, the Solar Bears have to play much harder if they want to come out victorious.
The second half starts with the ball in the hands of Apollo Lange and the Solar Bears. Even with the halftime adjustments, they suffer a 3 and out. The damage is also compounded when the punt is blocked, giving Kansas City great field position for their next drive. The Coyote drive only moves 13 yards, but it’s enough for a field goal. The Solar Bears now trail 17-13.
The Solar Bears try to replicate their ground game success by putting the ball in the hands of their running backs. On the drive, 6 of the 8 plays are runs including a run by Quarterback Apollo Lange. The Solar Bears come up a yard short on fourth down and settle for a 45-yard field goal. They close the Coyote lead to just one point.
The Solar Bears quickly cause a 3 and out and receive the ball again via a punt. They quickly march down the field and score a touchdown in just 5 plays. A touchdown pass to Receiver Andre Thornton puts Palm Beach ahead of the Coyotes 23-17. But Kansas City quickly answers with a 59-yard touchdown run.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Coyotes lead 24-23 in what seems is becoming a nail biter of a game. The Solar Bears get the ball back and continue to punish the defense on the ground. The drive ends in a touchdown pass to Nacho Varga with 9:39 left to play. But instead of the extra point, the Solar Bears go for the 2 point conversion. They are successful and are now up 31-24.
The Coyotes answer pretty quickly with a field goal and the score is now 31-27. But with the Coyotes still down 4 points, the Solar Bears hope to grind the clock and to get at least a field goal. The Solar Bears make a huge mistake however resulting in the kickoff being downed at the 1-yard line. With their backs against the wall, they try to run for some breathing room but only gain 1 yard in two plays. The Solar Bears are forced to throw the ball and Apollo Lange throws an interception.
This is exactly what the Coyotes hoped for as they took over on the 9-yard line. Two plays later, the Coyotes score a touchdown and take the lead 34-31. They kickoff to the Solar Bears who have 3:39 to try to win the game or send it to overtime.
The Solar Bears get first downs but are very inefficiently working their way down the field. Apollo Lange has to use the rest of their timeouts and even spike the ball to keep time on the clock. They drive down all the way to the opposing 27-yard line, with help from a Coyote offsides penalty. With 30 seconds left, Apollo Lange completes a pass to Nacho Varga but he is tackled in bounds. Somehow, the Solar Bears are unable to stop the clock and lose by 3 in field goal territory.
A heartbreaking loss for the Solar Bears showed they have to play a complete game in order to beat a team. They have to take care of the ball and play smarter down the stretch of close games. The inexperience of the team really showed against the Coyotes. The Solar Bears now get ready for a tough game against the Portland Pythons.
31-34 L vs. Kansas City Coyotes
1-5
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 16 att, 140 yards, 2 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 5 tackles, 1 sack
Week 7
Coming off their devastating loss to the Kansas City Coyotes, the Solar Bears meet an even tougher opponent in the Portland Pythons. The game starts with the Solar Bears kicking off to the Pythons.
After receiving the kick, the Pythons pretty easily march down the field for their first score of the game. It comes as a passing touchdown from Franklin Armstrong to Beauregard Smallwood-Chess. The quick start for Portland gets even better as they intercept a pass intended for Palm Beach’s Nacho Varga.
This is not the start the Solar Bears had envisioned for the game. But following the interception, they hold Portland to a 3 and out, forcing a punt. The Solar Bears then run the ball for 13 consecutive plays for 60 yards to reach the red zone. Once there, the Solar Bears are called for a 12 man penalty and also suffer a sack. The Solar Bears have to settle for a field goal but Castleberry misses the 45-yard field goal. After a hard-fought possession, the Solar Bears leave with nothing and still trail 7-0.
The Pythons start the second quarter with a quick drive resulting in a 41-yard field goal. Now down 10-0, the Solar Bears offense must put a scoring drive together. They do just that as they drive 67 yards for the touchdown. Castleberry makes the extra point and now the Solar Bears are only down 10-7.
The Solar Bears follow this up by getting two more field goals before halftime. These scores were followed up by a Guy Nikko interception and a Quentin Sinclair forced fumble. Unfortunately, they couldn’t convert those turnovers to touchdowns, but they now retain the lead at 13-10 going into halftime.
The third quarter turned out to be a defensive battle. The only points would come by a Solar Bears field goal. The scoring drive took over six minutes and gave the Solar Bears a 16-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After the Solar Bears field goal, the Pythons quickly put together a drive and cashed in for a touchdown 40 seconds into the fourth quarter. With the Pythons taking over the lead, the Solar Bears offense was determined to keep them in the game. Their drive would go all the way down to the opponent’s 2-yard line. With only 2 yards to the end zone and only 1 yard left for a first down, the Solar Bears decide just to take the points and make the 19-yard field goal.
The Solar Bears didn’t hold their 19-17 lead for long as the Pythons would score a touchdown in just 4 plays. The Pythons followed this up by forcing a 3 and out. They once again would go on to score another quick touchdown extending their lead to 31-19. The Solar Bears were unable to do anything more and the Pythons just ran out the clock.
The story of this game was the Solar Bears inability to finish drives. They had to settle for 4 field goals of 5 scoring drives. If they were able to convert a few more drives into touchdowns, they could have been on the winning side of this game. The theme of their season continues to be lack of execution and mistakes in crucial moments.
19-31 L vs. Portland Pythons
1-6
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 24 att, 121 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Guy Nikko (LB) - 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 int
Week 8
Week 8 was a revenge game for the Solar Bears. They lost by 3 points to the Coyotes in Week 6 and felt they should have won that game. This was a chance to show they were the superior team.
After receiving the kickoff, the Solar Bears slowly worked their way down the field through the Coyotes defense. It took 13 plays and 6 minutes for the Solar Bears to reach the endzone. But, following the touchdown, Castleberry would miss the extra point and leave the Solar Bears with a 6-0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, the Coyotes were able to put together a scoring drive of their own. Starting with the run and finishing through the air, the Coyotes caught a piece of the end zone to tie up the game. They had the opportunity to take the lead with an extra point, but the kick from Alfredo Crisco missed its target. Going into the second quarter, the score was even at 6-6.
The second quarter was a defensive showdown. With both teams forcing two punts, the offenses were itching to find a way to score. This came with very little time left in the half. The Coyotes drove all the way down to the 15-yard line and settled for a field goal chance with 29 seconds left. Coyotes Kicker Crisco would miss yet another kick and it looked like the score would remain tied going into halftime. But, with 7 seconds left in the half, Solar Bears Running Back Ben Bortboy broke out for a 78-yard touchdown. Castleberry made the kick as time expired to put Palm Beach up 13-6 going into halftime. It was a devastating blow to Coyotes who were so close to taking the lead themselves.
Coming out of the locker room, the Coyotes would receive the ball. Hoping to avenge the late touchdown by the Solar Bears, they came out swinging on offense. The attack was mostly through the air as Coyote Quarterbacks Rose Jenkins and Ryan Leaf Jr. shared the workload. Rose Jenkins would be the quarterback to shine however as he 3 straight completions on the way to the end zone. The Coyotes moved 59 yards in only 3 plays as they cut the lead to 13-12. But once again, the Coyotes would miss the extra point and remain behind.
After the score, both teams would have two empty possessions on offense. They Coyote defense wouldn’t budge on the field while the Solar Bear defense made a few big plays. This included an interception by Deon Taylor and a sack by Guy Nikko. Following the sack, the Coyotes would punt and hope for another defensive stop. But another Solar Bear running back would catch the defense sleeping. Ludicolo Bigby would find a hole and run 83 yards all the way to the end zone. Another big run energized the Solar Bear sideline and they were ready to close the game out.
The Solar Bears would do so by not giving up any more points all game long. They would extend their lead in the 4th quarter to 27-12 and never look back. This turned out to be the best all-around performance for the Solar Bears. They took care of the ball, made crucial stops and made a handful of big plays. They hoped this confidence boost would keep them going all season long. With a tough team in San Antonio next, the Solar Bears needed anything they could find.
27-12 W @ Kansas City Coyotes
2-6
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 18 att, 165 yards, 2 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Deon Taylor (CB) - 8 tackles, 1 int, 1 PD
Week 9
The Solar Bears would come home after a one-game road trip to face the 7-1 San Antonio Marshals. San Antonio had just come off their first loss and were looking to avenge their performance last week. With San Antonio motivated, and with all the talent they have, it was going to be a very tough test for the Solar Bears.
The game would get underway via a kickoff to the visiting Marshals team. But the Solar Bears would come out strong and force a 3 and out to start the game. This was exactly the start they had wished for as they hoped they could jump out to an early lead. But that hope would be soured quite quickly as the Marshals produced a 3 and out of their own. Punting the ball away, the Solar Bears knew the Marshals were going to bring their best on this drive.
The Marshals were able to move 68 yards through the Solar Bear defense on their next drive. The balanced offensive attack ended with a 1 yard run by Morgan Marshall for the touchdown. Now down 0-7, the Solar Bears look to answer with a touchdown of their own. But on the second play, Apollo Lange throws an interception which is returned for a pick six. The Marshals then make the extra point to score 14 points in only 1:03.
Trying to bounce back, the Solar Bear offense once again takes the field. Starting on their own 9-yard line, they have a long way to go in order to put points on the board. They make a few successful plays, but can’t get past the San Antonio 48 yard line and are forced to punt.
The Marshals offense is ready to attack again with their eyes on another score. But the Solar Bears defense is desperate to keep the team in the game. San Antonio starts to slowly march down the field and wear down the Solar Bear defense. But 7 minutes into the drive, the Solar Bears force a fumble with the Marshals only being 12 yards away from the end zone. Palm Beach falls on it and hopes it’s the start of a momentum change.
The drive is spent mostly on the ground letting the dynamic duo of Ben Bortboy and Ludicolo Bigby carry the offense down the field. They make it to the opposing 25-yard line, but on 4th and 3, they take the field goal opportunity to make the score 3-14. For the rest of the half, neither team would score and the Solar Bears had a lot of work to do if they wanted to win this game.
To start the second half, the Solar Bears received the ball and hoped to put a drive together. After a 14 yard pass to start the drive, the Solar Bears couldn’t push much further and punted it back to the Marshals. The Marshals, much like they did all year, were able to wear the defense out and continue to get first downs. However, the Solar Bears were finally able to contain the high power San Antonio offense and only give up 3 points.
At the end of the third quarter, the Solar Bear offense was finally able to string some plays together. Carried once again by the ground game, the Solar Bears would score their first touchdown of the game. But Castleberry would go on to miss the extra point bringing the score to a 17-9 Marshal advantage.
The fourth quarter did not treat the Solar Bears well as they couldn’t get the offense going and their defense struggled to keep San Antonio off the scoreboard. Both teams would trade interceptions, but only the Marshals would score points in the final 15 minutes. After two touchdowns, the Marshals closed out the game with a 31-9 lead. This was a lackluster performance on both ends of the field for the Solar Bears. With this loss and another Tijuana win, their playoff hopes were almost gone as they trailed the division rival 4 games with only 5 left to play.
9-31 L vs. San Antonio Marshals
2-7
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 16 att, 89 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Tony Gabagool (LB) - 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
Week 10
Coming into week 10, the Solar Bears had a lot a stake. If they lost to the Luchadores, they would be eliminated from playoff contention. To this point, they haven’t shown that they deserve a playoff spot but could try to make up some ground. The Luchadores also knew that this game was important as it was a potential bid to the playoffs.
The games started in the hands of the Luchadores. They started the drive with two first downs, but with the help of a Solar Bear sack, their drive was cut short. After the return, the Solar Bears only made it 14 yards before having a punt of their own. But the Solar Bear defense forced a quick three and out to force the Luchadores second punt.
The Solar Bear drive included 9 straight running plays before a pass from Apollo Lange to Dan Wright would result in a touchdown. Castleberry would make the extra point and the Solar Bears now had a 7-0 advantage. But the Luchadores would answer quite quickly with a 31-yard return and a 60-yard drive for a touchdown. The score was now 7-7 with 1 minute remaining in the first quarter.
The first quarter would close out with a Solar Bear 3 and out. They punted the ball as time expired and the Luchadores would start the second quarter with the ball. Tijuana started to set up another successful drive which was tainted by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Luchadores still got a field goal however, taking the lead at 10-7. The only other score would come with 2 seconds remaining in the half. The Solar Bears were able to put together a long drive. They made it all the way to the Luchadores 2-yard line. But, due to time running low, they had to take the field goal. Going into halftime tied 10-10, the Solar Bears were feeling pretty good about the game so far.
Coming out of the locker room, the Solar Bears would receive the second half kickoff. But they couldn’t do anything with the ball as they were held to a 3 and out. The rest of the third quarter would be dominated by the defenses as there was no scoring.
The fourth quarter would bring much more excitement to the offenses. The Luchadores had the first drive of the fourth quarter and used the ground game to wear down the defense. They would take 5 minutes and drive 80 yards to score their second touchdown. With the score now being 10-17, the Solar Bears had to get something going on offense. They came with a balanced attack on offense but were finally stopped on the Tijuana 20 yard line. They lined up for the field goal hoping they could get some points on the board and rely on their defense. But the kick from Castleberry goes wide right and the game remains 10-17.
With 6 minutes remaining, the Luchadores were looking to put the game away. But the Solar Bears were confident in their defense and felt they could get the ball back in the offense’s hands. This would prove to be false however as the Luchadores easily drove down the field. They would grind away the clock and score a touchdown while the time expired.
The game ended 10-24 and the Palm Beach fans and players were devastated. They were officially removed from the playoff race as they had lost yet another close game. If a few plays went differently, the game could have been in the Solar Bear’s favor. The Solar Bears head back to the locker room looking defeated.
10-24 L vs. Tijuana Luchadores
2-8
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Apollo Lange (QB) - 12/19, 139 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Tony Gabagool (LB) - 12 tackles
Week 11
Now out of the playoff race, the Solar Bears came into the Norfolk game with little to play for. They were just going to go out there and give it their best effort. But, this was the last game to be played in Palm Beach this season. So, some of the Solar Bears wanted to end the season at home the right way with a win. Coming onto the field, the Solar Bears received a lot of love from the fans despite their disappointing season so far. This gave them an extra boost of confidence going into the game.
Castleberry sent the kick into the end zone and the Seawolves would start the game at the 27-yard line after the return. They would make a few good plays but were ultimately forced to put to the home team. The Solar Bears offense took the field with hopes of putting up the first points. There would be a miscue however as the first play results in an interception. With only 17 yards left, the Seawolves easily score a touchdown to go up 7-0. Not the start the Solar Bears would have wanted in their final home game.
After failed drives by both teams, the Solar Bears would come on the field for their third try. They would have a 12 play drive, of which 10 were run plays, resulting in a touchdown. The score was now tied at 7-7 as the game entered the second quarter.
To start the second quarter, the Solar Bears would begin a drive once again. Although this time, they were stopped within the red zone and settled for a field goal. Now up 10-7, the Palm Beach crowd started to become more excited. The Solar Bears would continue to find ways to score in the second quarter with another touchdown and field goal. The Solar Bear defense was also able to hold the Seawolves scoreless in the second quarter.
Coming out of halftime with a 20-7 lead, the Solar Bears were focused on continuing the success they found in the first half. If they could grind the clock with long drives and make a few more defensive stops, they have a great chance of winning this game. The Solar Bears would receive the kickoff and start driving down the field once again. A few big throws from Apollo Lange set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Ludicolo Bigby. Now up 27-7, the Solar Bears were in great shape.
The 20 point lead wouldn’t last long however as Norfolk would quickly storm down the field for a touchdown. But the Solar Bears still had a 13 lead and knew barring any major mistakes, they would win their last home game of the year. The third quarter would end with an unsuccessful drive for both teams.
The fourth quarter started with the ball in the hands of the Seawolves. They knew they didn’t have much time to work with and quickly put a drive together. They were able to score another touchdown with 9:21 left in the game. Now only down 6 points, the momentum was seemingly entirely in Norfolk’s favor. Their defense was determined to get the Solar Bear offense off the field and set up a game-winning drive.
Unfortunately, the Solar Bears would suffer a 3 and out and they would leave the game in the hands of their defense. They were able to stop the Seawolves on the 30-yard line forcing a field goal. The lead was now only 3 points but the offense had a chance to seal the deal and win the game.
The Solar Bear drive was stopped after only 5 plays and they once again had to punt to the Seawolves. Norfolk now had the chance to win with only 1:45 left to go. They had 77 yards to go until the end zone but only needed to reach field goal territory. They Seawolves wouldn’t get far however as they would fail to convert a 4th down on the 36-yard line.
The Solar Bears have just barely escaped a heartbreaking loss in which they were up 20 points earlier in the game. This wasn’t the prettiest way to win but it gave the fans what they wanted.
27-24 W vs. Norfolk Seawolves
3-8
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 22 att, 111 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 6 tackles, 1 sack
Week 12
The fourth and final matchup against the Marshals would come during week 12. The Solar Bears had yet to win a game against San Antonio and they were massive underdogs going into the game. They had lost the last two matchups by a combined 73-9. But, with the Marshals already holding a playoff spot, the Solar Bears thought they might catch them on a bad day.
The first quarter of the game lacked any significant offense for either team. The only points would come from a Marshal touchdown which was the beneficiary of a Solar Bear facemask penalty. The Solar Bears had no answer on offense as they had yet another unsuccessful drive resulting in a punt. San Antonio would score another touchdown as well as a field goal before halftime. Going into the locker down 17-0, this looked to be another blowout loss for the Solar Bears.
The defensive battle we saw earlier in the game continued in the third quarter. The fourth drive of the quarter belonged to the Solar Bears who were finally able to move down the field. They would only end up with a field goal but they were finally getting the offense going. The defense would quickly stop the Seawolves and let the offense come back on the field. The Solar Bears would start the fourth quarter with a touchdown run from Ben Bortboy.
Now only down 17-10, the Solar Bears knew if they could get another stop, they weren’t far off from completing the comeback. This wouldn’t happen however as the Seawolves scored another touchdown in only 6 plays. The Solar Bears were now down two touchdowns with 9:21 remaining in the game. Their next drive would start at their own 8-yard line.
The Solar Bears marched all the way to San Antonio’s 10-yard line with a good chance to score. But on 4th and 1, they had to try for the first down as a field goal wouldn’t do them much good. They were unable to convert and with 3:53 left, the Marshals held the ball up 14 points. The Solar Bears would get one more possession but it would also end with a turnover on downs.
Now at 3-9, it was undeniable that the Solar Bears lacked the talent necessary to contend in this league. They do have great players but are not yet well rounded enough to play complete games. Going into the last 2 games of the year, the Solar Bears were focusing on getting experience and improving for next year. Although they will lose some players to the NSFL, the Solar Bears are still excited to see their players develop.
10-24 L @ San Antonio Marshals
3-9
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 21 att, 72 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 13 tackles
Week 13
The second to last game of the year would come against a divisional rival, the Tijuana Luchadores. This would be the fourth matchup with Tijuana this year and the Solar Bears were only able to grab one victory. The Solar Bears were hoping they could win another game to tie up the season series.
The first quarter would be one of the worst in recent memory for the Solar Bears. They started the game with an offensive 3 and out. This led to a quick Luchadore touchdown only 5 minutes into the game. The next two possessions for Palm Beach would result in interceptions. Tijuana capitalized on these penalties by scoring two more touchdowns. Heading into the second quarter, the Solar Bears were determined to not let this be another blowout.
Early in the second quarter, the Solar Bears were finally able to score with a field goal. But still down 21-3, they had much more work to do to salvage this game. The Solar Bears field goal would seemingly change the momentum of the game as they would score two touchdowns. Now only down 21-17, the Solar Bears were right back in it. But before halftime, the Luchadores made a 54-yard field goal as time expired to extend their lead to 24-17.
The third quarter would turn out to be in the hands of Tijuana as they would score two more touchdowns. Now being up 38-17, they felt they had the game in the bag. But the Solar Bears would enter the fourth quarter with a couple big throws by Quarterback Apollo Lange.
The drive would only end in a field goal and although they were still down 3 scores, the Solar Bears weren’t ready to give up. The defense would force a punt pretty quickly but the offense couldn't capitalize on this opportunity. They had to punt and hope for the defense to make a play. The defense was able to create a quick stop and the offense was back on the field with 5:34 to go in the game.
The Solar Bears were able to keep the drive alive but spent a lot of time doing it. Luckily, they were able to finally score a touchdown with 35 seconds left. Still down 11 points, the Solar Bears would try for the onside kick. It was a promising kick but it would end up in the hands of the Luchadores.
The story of this matchup was the extreme exchange of momentum throughout the game. It almost felt like a basketball game in how both teams would go on scoring runs. The Solar Bears were defeated for the 10th time this season as they went into the last game against the Portland Pythons.
27-38 L @ Tijuana Luchadores
3-10
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 17 att, 91 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Faith Terim (SS) - 9 tackles, 1 int, 1 PD
Week 14
The last game of the year would come against the Portland Pythons. With hopes to get their 4th win, the Solar Bears were looking to get a quick start and not look back. They would receive the kickoff and have a chance to enforce their gameplan.
Unfortunately, the first drive of the game would only go 27 yards and the Solar Bears were forced to punt. Once the Pythons got the ball, they were quick to ignite an offensive drive. They would work their way down the field for a touchdown in 12 plays.
The next two Solar Bear possessions would end in 3 and outs, allowing the Pythons to stack up a lead. Portland would do just that by adding a field goal and another touchdown. The Solar Bears would get the ball back down 17-0 hoping to put something together. They would get a couple first downs but an Apollo Lange interception stopped their drive in its tracks. This led to yet another Portland touchdown. Now down 24-0, there was little hope for Palm Beach.
After the Portland touchdown, the Solar Bears were slowly building a successful drive. Even with 3 offensive penalties, they were able to complete a 15-yard drive for a touchdown. The Solar Bears didn’t look very enthused however as they were still down 24-7 going into halftime.
Coming out from the locker room, the Solar Bears would try to at least look competitive against the Pythons. They would start the second half on defense hoping to make a stop or cause a turnover. The drive would end in a Portland field goal however and the score was now 27-7. For the rest of the third quarter, both teams would remain scoreless. Even after grabbing an interception, the Solar Bears couldn’t get their offense going.
The fourth quarter would start with 2 punts before the Solar Bears scored a field goal. But the drive wouldn’t do much to change the outcome of the game as they were still trailing 27-10. Portland would extend their already large lead with a field goal. The Solar Bears were unable to answer and the game ended in a 30-10 Portland victory.
With a poor offensive outing and a weak defensive effort, the Solar Bears ended their season in disappointing fashion. A few players would leave the field clearly emotional as this may be their last time in a Solar Bear uniform. In the locker room, the team would come together for one last chant before heading home to Palm Beach.
10-30 L @ Portland Pythons
3-11
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 19 att, 84 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Tony Gabagool (LB) - 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PD
Conclusion
Overall, the Solar Bears struggled in their expansion season. The inexperience and lack of depth was visible throughout the season. They had trouble playing a complete well-rounded football game. There were plenty of opportunities during the season where a more complete team could have succeeded. The offense became quite dull at times and a high number of turnovers kept the team from competing in certain games. The defense had its moments but failed to create key turnovers. The turnover ratio and the failure to complete drives is what led this team to 11 loses.
On the other side of the coin, there are things that the Solar Bears did fairly well this year. First off, they always fought hard in every moment of the game. There were many times where they cut into a lead and had a chance to win. The tenacity and heart of this team didn’t fail to show in various high-pressure moments. Another positive from the season was the hard work and determination of the players. Although it ultimately didn’t show off in the win column, Palm Beach was home to some of the hardest working players in the league. If the Solar Bears can continue with this culture, they will be a force to be reckoned with. They also appeared to have great team chemistry. Having a good atmosphere in the locker room is crucial to on-field success and the Solar Bears have it in spades.
Going forward, there should be excitement around Palm Beach and the Solar Bears. They have proved to have the foundation for a potential powerhouse. With the continued hard work and determination of this organization, there is no doubt that they can accomplish anything.
READY TO BE GRADED
WORD COUNT: 9150
Starting the year as an expansion team, the Solar Bears went into the draft hoping to overhaul their roster by finding players who could make an impact immediately. Having the 2nd overall pick, and the 2nd pick in each round, the Solar Bears had a great opportunity to add talent.
With their first pick, they picked up LB Rock Hardshaft with hopes he would be the heart and soul of the Palm Beach defense. After going defense in round one, the Solar Bears took 3 straight offensive players. The flashy TE Chase Jensen, mobile QB Apollo Lange and a hard-nosed running back in Ben Bortboy.
The Solar Bears would continue to round out to their roster with picks at almost every position. Palm Beach found a lot of value late in the draft such as speedy Running Back Ludicolo Bigby and Wide Receivers Nacho Varga and Andre Thorton. Also, with hopes to build a scary playmaker defense, they added Safeties Faith Terim & Quentin Sinclair, as well as CB Deon Taylor to create a promising secondary. Rounding out the defense, the Solar Bears also added LB Guy Nikko and DE Khalil Sack.
With the addition to these players, among others not listed, the Solar Bears felt good about their roster after the draft and going into the season. They knew they would be fighting an uphill battle, but they were ready to get the season started.
Week 1
The season would start at home versus the San Antonio Marshals. Coming out of the tunnel, the Solar Bears looked confident and ready for their first regular season matchup. The Marshals would win the coin toss and elect to receive the ball first.
The game started with a 26-yard kick return to start the San Antonio drive at the 35-yard line. San Antonio would easily march down the field in 7 plays to score their first touchdown of the season. The Solar Bears defense didn’t have an answer on the drive giving up 3 big passing plays for a total of 66 yards. The Solar Bear offense came onto the field for the first time hoping to start the season strong. On the first play from scrimmage, the San Antonio defense collapse the offensive line and sack QB Apollo Lange. The drive results in a 3 and out and a total of -2 yards.
A disappointing drive was followed up by a short 33-yard punt which was returned for 17 yards. On the play, there was also a face mask penalty on Quentin Sinclair. The Marshals would start their second drive on the Solar Bear 29 yard line and score another touchdown in only 3 plays. Now down 14-0, the Solar Bears offense took the field again looking to put a successful drive together. But the drive would end in only one play with an interception thrown by Lange. San Antonio again had a short field but would only end up with a field goal this time. The Solar Bears were now down 17-0 only 11 minutes into the game. With -2 yards of offense, an interception, and 2 defensive penalties, the Solar Bears couldn’t have had a worse start to the season.
On their third drive, the Solar Bears finally found a first down but would end the series with a fumble. Now down 17 points, and again with a short field to cover, the Solar Bears defense would finally buckle down and stunt the San Antonio offense with a 3 and out. Going onto the field again, the Solar Bears would change their approach by keeping the ball mostly on the ground. They would drive down the field in 14 plays to score their first touchdown of the year. With points on the board, the Solar Bears would regain some confidence.
The defense would hold up once again allowing the offense to attack at the San Antonio lead. Palm Beach would gain 51 yards en route to the end zone. Now only down 14-17, the game was well within reach. But before halftime, the Solar Bears would throw 2 more interceptions including one pick six. Also, the Solar Bears defense would allow a San Antonio field goal. Coming out of the locker room, the Solar Bears were down 26-14 and wanted to send a message.
The Solar Bears would start the second half with an interception on the second play. But luckily, San Antonio wasn’t able to convert on the opportunity as the Solar Bears defense was able to force a three and out. The 3rd quarter turned out to be a defensive battle with the only points coming as a Solar Bear field goal to bring the score to 26-17. Early in the fourth quarter, the Solar Bears were able to drive all the way down the field for another touchdown coming via a 22-yard pass from Apollo Lange to Ben Bortboy.
With the opposing lead now down to 26-24, the Solar Bears were within reach of an impressive comeback victory. San Antonio would slowly march down the field, hoping to score and grind the clock. They would make a 43-yard field goal with 3:42 remaining. Down only 5 points, the Solar Bears would put their offense on the field with an opportunity to win the game.
The drive was led by the arm of Apollo Lange as he went 6/8 down the stretch. The Solar Bears were fighting the clock and had to use all their timeouts and a spike to stay alive. But the clock ended up being their demise as the clock ran out with only 27 yards to go until the end zone. It was a disappointing ending to an exciting game for the home fans. The Solar Bears fought hard but couldn’t overcome the 5 turnovers lost by the offense. It wasn’t the prettiest effort, but they showed promise in various areas while proving they are a hard-fought team.
24-29 L vs. San Antonio Marshals
0-1
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 30 att, 161 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Faith Terim (S) - 6 tackles, 1 sack
Week 2
Coming off a close loss against San Antonio, the Solar Bears hoped to bounce back with a victory over the visiting Tijuana Luchadores. The Luchadores received the kickoff and the game was underway.
The first drives by both teams ended in punts with a total of one first down combined. It seemed that a defense showdown was starting as the Luchadores received their first punt of the game. The Luchadores would then quickly storm down the field for a field goal. After a kick return to the 39-yard line, Apollo Lange led the Solar Bears to the red zone within 6 plays. But the Solar Bears would spoil the opportunity with two penalties which may have cost them 7 points. The Solar Bears settled for a field goal and put their defense back on the field.
The defensive battle intensified in the second quarter as neither team would score any points until late in the quarter. The Luchadores made it into the end zone with 2:34 remaining in the half. Now down 10-3, the Solar Bears hoped to put some points up before half. Apollo Lange led the team down the field but unfortunately had to settle for a field goal before time ran out.
After halftime, we saw more of the same coming from both defenses. Neither team could put a drive together and it was coming down to which offense could finally break through the defense. This came as the Luchadores extended their lead to 13-6 after a 32-yard field goal.
The fourth quarter was much of the same as the only points came by a Luchadore field goal with 2:57 left in the game. With their lead now 16-6, the Solar Bears were officially a two loss team. The failure to complete drives from the offense, along with 6 penalties, led to the Solar Bear’s disappointing loss.
Starting the year 0-2 is never good, especially when it opens against two divisional rivals. But the silver lining was that they only seemed to be a few plays away from possibly winning both games. The Solar Bears went home and prepared for the Norfolk Seawolves in hopes they could find their first win.
6-16 L vs. Tijuana Luchadores
0-2
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 28 att, 105 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Guy Nikko (LB) - 7 tackles, 4 sacks
Week 3
The Solar Bears felt good walking off the bus into the Norfolk locker room. They felt they had worked hard, made the proper adjustments and were prepared for whatever the Seawolves would bring at them. The Solar Bears would receive the opening kickoff and start things off in Norfolk. But after a quick 3 and out, the Solar Bears punted on a 4th and 15. The Seawolves would then march their way down the field and score a quick touchdown. Norfolk capitalized on a 12 man defensive penalty to put the Solar Bears down 7-0.
Coming back onto the field, the Solar Bears offense would try to get it going on the ground. This led to the biggest play of the year so far for the Solar Bears. Ludicolo Bigby found a hole in the defense and ran it 47 yards for the touchdown. The run seemed to bring energy to the sideline as the team celebrated the big play.
After the kickoff touchback, the Norfolk attacked the Solar Bears through the air, completing 3 straight passes. During the drive, Jimbo of the Seawolves would fumble the ball but fall right back on top of it. The missed opportunity was almost avenged by a stop on third down, but the Seawolves would convert the 4th down play on the 31-yard line. Luckily, the Solar Bears were able to hold the Seawolves to only three points and now trailed 10-7.
Later in the second quarter, the Solar Bears would extend a drive to the red zone. But after a third-down sack by Norfolk’s Giannis Kroustis, the Solar Bears were forced to attempt a 39-yard field goal. It was a chance to tie up the game but the attempt was pushed right and the score remained 10-7.
With 1:35 left in the first half, the Solar Bears had put together a promising drive with 47 yards left until the end zone. But the drive would end with an Apollo Lange interception. The Seawolves would capitalize on the turnover and put up 3 points before halftime.
Coming out of the locker room, the Solar Bears knew they were a couple plays away from being in the lead. They had to settle down and stop shooting themselves in the foot. The third quarter would see 6 straight punts with no scores by either team. The Seawolves would finally convert a drive and score another field goal, bringing the score to 16-7.
Down 9 points and only 18 minutes left in the game, the Solar Bears offense was getting desperate for a score. But they would be careless with the ball again leading to an interception on their own 25-yard line. This set up the Norfolk touchdown and Palm Beach went into the fourth quarter down a steep 22-7 deficit. After a crucial penalty in enemy territory, as well as another Solar Bear interception, the Seawolves would score another field goal. Deon Taylor of the Solar Bears would block a punt, but it was too late as they were down 25-7 with 2:38 left to go. Palm Beach would turnover on downs and end the game with only one score.
This was the worst loss the Solar Bears have had all year and it showed some major flaws within their team. Still without a win this season, the Solar Bears went home unfulfilled.
7-25 L @ Norfolk Seawolves
0-3
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 11 att, 73 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 13 tackles, 1 sack
Week 4
This week, the Solar Bears had a rematch against the San Antonio Marshals lined up. After losing the first matchup by only 6 points and 27 yards, the Solar Bears felt they could find their first win against the divisional opponent. The Marshals were undefeated and would ready to play the Solar Bears on their turf this time around.
The game started with a kickoff to the Solar Bears and a subsequent 3 and out. This seemed far too familiar for Palm Beach and they were forced to punt. The Marshals would slowly drive down the field for a touchdown. They seemed to wear out the Solar Bear defense with short plays. The longest play on the drive was an 8-yard run.
After the kickoff, the Solar Bears drive was quickly ended by an Apollo Lange interception. This led to another touchdown and the Marshals were already up 14 points only 12 minutes into the game. The next possessions saw both teams trade turnovers. It started with another Palm Beach interception and then three plays later, a San Antonio fumble.
The second quarter started with the Marshals sacking Apollo Lange for a safety. San Antonio was now up 16-0. The second quarter would also see Apollo Lange throw his third interception and San Antonio scores two field goals. The Solar Bears went into the locker room down 22-0 and with no sign of keeping it competitive.
The second half would have three more Solar Bear interceptions and 20 more San Antonio points. The only play made by the Solar Bears was an interception by Deon Taylor with 2:53 to go in the game. But much like his big play last week, it came way too late and didn’t affect the outcome of the game.
The Solar Bears would end the game suffering a humiliating 42-0 loss. Losing big like this to a division rival, and still remaining winless, left the Solar Bears to reevaluate themselves and do some soul searching for next week.
0-42 L @ San Antonio Marshals
0-4
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 17 att, 76 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 13 tackles, 1 TFL
Week 5
This was an important week for the Solar Bears. It was crucial they finally find a win and winning against Tijuana would bode well for their playoff hopes. This week was a matchup of the week 2 game at Palm Beach and was a chance for the Solar Bears to avenge the disappointing loss.
The game started with a kick to the Solar Bears. Unfortunately, just like usual, the Solar Bears offense suffered a 3 and out to start the game. But the Solar Bear defense would also force a 3 and out. Trying to forget about the first drive, Apollo Lange and the Solar Bear offense went out and put together a promising possession. They came with a very balanced attack which led to a touchdown by Running Back Ludicolo Bigby. After the touchdown, Palm Beach would down Tijuana at the 4-yard line off the kickoff.
The Solar Bear defense would once again force the Luchadores to punt the ball away. Coming on the field after a successful drive, the Solar Bears offense hoped to replicate their last possession. The Running Back duo of Ben Bortboy and Ludicolo Bigby would chip away at the Luchadore defense. But with 26 yards to go, the offense was stopped and forced to attempt the field goal. Roderick Castleberry would just barely squeeze in a 43-yard field goal and the score was now 10-0.
The Solar Bears were in a great position in which they haven’t seen all year. This was the first lead they have had all season and they needed to play smart to hold onto it. Early in the second quarter, the Solar Bears would extend their lead to 13-0 from another made field goal.
The last 9 minutes of the second quarter wouldn’t treat the Solar Bears too well. Luchadore Quarterback Corvo Havran would lead Tijuana down the field for a touchdown. With 2:54 remaining in the half, the Luchadores would kick off to Palm Beach. The Solar Bears drive would only take 50 seconds off the clock and they had to punt. The Luchadores put together a messy, but successful 2 minutes drill together to score a field goal with 2 seconds remaining in the half.
At halftime, the Solar Bears’ lead had shrunk to 3 points. They had a lot of work to do if they wanted to secure their first win. The second half started with a kickoff to the Luchadores. Tijuana would march their way down the field through the air. But before they could reach the red zone, the Solar Bear defense tightened up and forced a 39-yard field goal. The 13-0 lead was now gone and Palm Beach had to make something happen.
On their first drive of the second half, the Solar Bears showed a very balanced offensive attack. It was arguably the most impressive drive they had put together all year. The drive ended with a touchdown pass to Tight End Chase Jensen.
Now up 20-13, the Solar Bear defense took the field looking for a stop. The Luchadores started the drive with a big 20-yard run. After the big play, the Luchadore offense was stumped and had to settle for a long field goal attempt. The 56-yard attempt came up short and the Solar Bears were gifted with a short field. The Solar Bears made a few plays and settled for a field goal to go up 23-13. Things were looking good for the Solar Bears as long as their defense could keep making stops.
Tijuana wasn’t going to go down without a fight. They started the fourth quarter with a 31-yard kick return. This, along with 2 Solar Bear penalties, gave the Luchadores great field position. Quarterback Corvo Havran made some big throws on the drive which led to an easy touchdown run.
Now up by only 3 points with 9 minutes remaining, Palm Beach needed more points to ensure a victory. Producing a long drive would also help the Solar Bears. They did just that by taking 4 and a half minutes to complete their drive. Although they only scored a field goal, the Luchadores were now forced to try for the touchdown.
The Luchadores would get an opportunity at a game-winning drive but would fall short as they couldn’t convert the 4th down with 2:01 to go. The Solar Bears would keep the ball on the ground to run out the clock and secure their first victory of the season.
The Solar Bears would finally put a game in the winner’s column but still had a long way to go if they wanted to make the playoffs. But beating a divisional rival in Tijuana was definitely a step in the right direction.
26-20 W @ Tijuana Luchadores
1-4
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Apollo Lange (QB) - 17/26, 176 yards, 1 TD
5 rush att, 36 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Guy Nikko (LB) - 4 tackles, 1 sack
Week 6
In week 6, the Solar Bears look to build off their win last week. Playing the winless Kansas City Coyotes at home seems like a good setting for the Solar Bears to capture their second win. But they need to make sure they don’t underestimate the Coyotes and get caught sleeping.
The Coyotes receive the kick but only make it to their own 42-yard line before they have to punt. Palm Beach takes over and has its sights set on making a successful drive. On the third play of the drive, a 3rd and 1, Ludicolo Bigby runs for a 71-yard touchdown. The home crowd goes crazy after the score but Castleberry misses the extra point. Palm Beach kicks off with a 6-0 lead.
Kansas City’s second drive results in a 3 and out caused by two consecutive Solar Bear sacks. They punt and the Solar Bear offense hopes to repeat the success of the last drive. They decide to let the running backs do the heavy lifting with 8 of the 9 plays staying on the ground. The Solar Bears find themselves in the end zone once again, but this time, they make the extra point. Their lead is now 13-0.
With the momentum seemingly going entirely into the home team’s favor, the Solar Bears kick off to Kansas City. But the Coyotes tune out the crowd and drive down the field for their first touchdown of the game. The Coyotes cut the lead down to 13-7 at the start of the second quarter.
As the second quarter continues, the defenses finally start to keep the offenses off the scoreboard. That is until the Coyotes score a touchdown with 1:21 left in the half. The Solar Bears can’t get down the field with only a minute left and they go into the locker room down 14-13.
The momentum swing in the second quarter was a huge blow to the energy of the Palm Beach fans and players. They let the Coyotes take the lead away from them way too easily. Coming out for the second half, the Solar Bears have to play much harder if they want to come out victorious.
The second half starts with the ball in the hands of Apollo Lange and the Solar Bears. Even with the halftime adjustments, they suffer a 3 and out. The damage is also compounded when the punt is blocked, giving Kansas City great field position for their next drive. The Coyote drive only moves 13 yards, but it’s enough for a field goal. The Solar Bears now trail 17-13.
The Solar Bears try to replicate their ground game success by putting the ball in the hands of their running backs. On the drive, 6 of the 8 plays are runs including a run by Quarterback Apollo Lange. The Solar Bears come up a yard short on fourth down and settle for a 45-yard field goal. They close the Coyote lead to just one point.
The Solar Bears quickly cause a 3 and out and receive the ball again via a punt. They quickly march down the field and score a touchdown in just 5 plays. A touchdown pass to Receiver Andre Thornton puts Palm Beach ahead of the Coyotes 23-17. But Kansas City quickly answers with a 59-yard touchdown run.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Coyotes lead 24-23 in what seems is becoming a nail biter of a game. The Solar Bears get the ball back and continue to punish the defense on the ground. The drive ends in a touchdown pass to Nacho Varga with 9:39 left to play. But instead of the extra point, the Solar Bears go for the 2 point conversion. They are successful and are now up 31-24.
The Coyotes answer pretty quickly with a field goal and the score is now 31-27. But with the Coyotes still down 4 points, the Solar Bears hope to grind the clock and to get at least a field goal. The Solar Bears make a huge mistake however resulting in the kickoff being downed at the 1-yard line. With their backs against the wall, they try to run for some breathing room but only gain 1 yard in two plays. The Solar Bears are forced to throw the ball and Apollo Lange throws an interception.
This is exactly what the Coyotes hoped for as they took over on the 9-yard line. Two plays later, the Coyotes score a touchdown and take the lead 34-31. They kickoff to the Solar Bears who have 3:39 to try to win the game or send it to overtime.
The Solar Bears get first downs but are very inefficiently working their way down the field. Apollo Lange has to use the rest of their timeouts and even spike the ball to keep time on the clock. They drive down all the way to the opposing 27-yard line, with help from a Coyote offsides penalty. With 30 seconds left, Apollo Lange completes a pass to Nacho Varga but he is tackled in bounds. Somehow, the Solar Bears are unable to stop the clock and lose by 3 in field goal territory.
A heartbreaking loss for the Solar Bears showed they have to play a complete game in order to beat a team. They have to take care of the ball and play smarter down the stretch of close games. The inexperience of the team really showed against the Coyotes. The Solar Bears now get ready for a tough game against the Portland Pythons.
31-34 L vs. Kansas City Coyotes
1-5
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 16 att, 140 yards, 2 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 5 tackles, 1 sack
Week 7
Coming off their devastating loss to the Kansas City Coyotes, the Solar Bears meet an even tougher opponent in the Portland Pythons. The game starts with the Solar Bears kicking off to the Pythons.
After receiving the kick, the Pythons pretty easily march down the field for their first score of the game. It comes as a passing touchdown from Franklin Armstrong to Beauregard Smallwood-Chess. The quick start for Portland gets even better as they intercept a pass intended for Palm Beach’s Nacho Varga.
This is not the start the Solar Bears had envisioned for the game. But following the interception, they hold Portland to a 3 and out, forcing a punt. The Solar Bears then run the ball for 13 consecutive plays for 60 yards to reach the red zone. Once there, the Solar Bears are called for a 12 man penalty and also suffer a sack. The Solar Bears have to settle for a field goal but Castleberry misses the 45-yard field goal. After a hard-fought possession, the Solar Bears leave with nothing and still trail 7-0.
The Pythons start the second quarter with a quick drive resulting in a 41-yard field goal. Now down 10-0, the Solar Bears offense must put a scoring drive together. They do just that as they drive 67 yards for the touchdown. Castleberry makes the extra point and now the Solar Bears are only down 10-7.
The Solar Bears follow this up by getting two more field goals before halftime. These scores were followed up by a Guy Nikko interception and a Quentin Sinclair forced fumble. Unfortunately, they couldn’t convert those turnovers to touchdowns, but they now retain the lead at 13-10 going into halftime.
The third quarter turned out to be a defensive battle. The only points would come by a Solar Bears field goal. The scoring drive took over six minutes and gave the Solar Bears a 16-10 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After the Solar Bears field goal, the Pythons quickly put together a drive and cashed in for a touchdown 40 seconds into the fourth quarter. With the Pythons taking over the lead, the Solar Bears offense was determined to keep them in the game. Their drive would go all the way down to the opponent’s 2-yard line. With only 2 yards to the end zone and only 1 yard left for a first down, the Solar Bears decide just to take the points and make the 19-yard field goal.
The Solar Bears didn’t hold their 19-17 lead for long as the Pythons would score a touchdown in just 4 plays. The Pythons followed this up by forcing a 3 and out. They once again would go on to score another quick touchdown extending their lead to 31-19. The Solar Bears were unable to do anything more and the Pythons just ran out the clock.
The story of this game was the Solar Bears inability to finish drives. They had to settle for 4 field goals of 5 scoring drives. If they were able to convert a few more drives into touchdowns, they could have been on the winning side of this game. The theme of their season continues to be lack of execution and mistakes in crucial moments.
19-31 L vs. Portland Pythons
1-6
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 24 att, 121 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Guy Nikko (LB) - 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 int
Week 8
Week 8 was a revenge game for the Solar Bears. They lost by 3 points to the Coyotes in Week 6 and felt they should have won that game. This was a chance to show they were the superior team.
After receiving the kickoff, the Solar Bears slowly worked their way down the field through the Coyotes defense. It took 13 plays and 6 minutes for the Solar Bears to reach the endzone. But, following the touchdown, Castleberry would miss the extra point and leave the Solar Bears with a 6-0 lead.
Later in the first quarter, the Coyotes were able to put together a scoring drive of their own. Starting with the run and finishing through the air, the Coyotes caught a piece of the end zone to tie up the game. They had the opportunity to take the lead with an extra point, but the kick from Alfredo Crisco missed its target. Going into the second quarter, the score was even at 6-6.
The second quarter was a defensive showdown. With both teams forcing two punts, the offenses were itching to find a way to score. This came with very little time left in the half. The Coyotes drove all the way down to the 15-yard line and settled for a field goal chance with 29 seconds left. Coyotes Kicker Crisco would miss yet another kick and it looked like the score would remain tied going into halftime. But, with 7 seconds left in the half, Solar Bears Running Back Ben Bortboy broke out for a 78-yard touchdown. Castleberry made the kick as time expired to put Palm Beach up 13-6 going into halftime. It was a devastating blow to Coyotes who were so close to taking the lead themselves.
Coming out of the locker room, the Coyotes would receive the ball. Hoping to avenge the late touchdown by the Solar Bears, they came out swinging on offense. The attack was mostly through the air as Coyote Quarterbacks Rose Jenkins and Ryan Leaf Jr. shared the workload. Rose Jenkins would be the quarterback to shine however as he 3 straight completions on the way to the end zone. The Coyotes moved 59 yards in only 3 plays as they cut the lead to 13-12. But once again, the Coyotes would miss the extra point and remain behind.
After the score, both teams would have two empty possessions on offense. They Coyote defense wouldn’t budge on the field while the Solar Bear defense made a few big plays. This included an interception by Deon Taylor and a sack by Guy Nikko. Following the sack, the Coyotes would punt and hope for another defensive stop. But another Solar Bear running back would catch the defense sleeping. Ludicolo Bigby would find a hole and run 83 yards all the way to the end zone. Another big run energized the Solar Bear sideline and they were ready to close the game out.
The Solar Bears would do so by not giving up any more points all game long. They would extend their lead in the 4th quarter to 27-12 and never look back. This turned out to be the best all-around performance for the Solar Bears. They took care of the ball, made crucial stops and made a handful of big plays. They hoped this confidence boost would keep them going all season long. With a tough team in San Antonio next, the Solar Bears needed anything they could find.
27-12 W @ Kansas City Coyotes
2-6
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 18 att, 165 yards, 2 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Deon Taylor (CB) - 8 tackles, 1 int, 1 PD
Week 9
The Solar Bears would come home after a one-game road trip to face the 7-1 San Antonio Marshals. San Antonio had just come off their first loss and were looking to avenge their performance last week. With San Antonio motivated, and with all the talent they have, it was going to be a very tough test for the Solar Bears.
The game would get underway via a kickoff to the visiting Marshals team. But the Solar Bears would come out strong and force a 3 and out to start the game. This was exactly the start they had wished for as they hoped they could jump out to an early lead. But that hope would be soured quite quickly as the Marshals produced a 3 and out of their own. Punting the ball away, the Solar Bears knew the Marshals were going to bring their best on this drive.
The Marshals were able to move 68 yards through the Solar Bear defense on their next drive. The balanced offensive attack ended with a 1 yard run by Morgan Marshall for the touchdown. Now down 0-7, the Solar Bears look to answer with a touchdown of their own. But on the second play, Apollo Lange throws an interception which is returned for a pick six. The Marshals then make the extra point to score 14 points in only 1:03.
Trying to bounce back, the Solar Bear offense once again takes the field. Starting on their own 9-yard line, they have a long way to go in order to put points on the board. They make a few successful plays, but can’t get past the San Antonio 48 yard line and are forced to punt.
The Marshals offense is ready to attack again with their eyes on another score. But the Solar Bears defense is desperate to keep the team in the game. San Antonio starts to slowly march down the field and wear down the Solar Bear defense. But 7 minutes into the drive, the Solar Bears force a fumble with the Marshals only being 12 yards away from the end zone. Palm Beach falls on it and hopes it’s the start of a momentum change.
The drive is spent mostly on the ground letting the dynamic duo of Ben Bortboy and Ludicolo Bigby carry the offense down the field. They make it to the opposing 25-yard line, but on 4th and 3, they take the field goal opportunity to make the score 3-14. For the rest of the half, neither team would score and the Solar Bears had a lot of work to do if they wanted to win this game.
To start the second half, the Solar Bears received the ball and hoped to put a drive together. After a 14 yard pass to start the drive, the Solar Bears couldn’t push much further and punted it back to the Marshals. The Marshals, much like they did all year, were able to wear the defense out and continue to get first downs. However, the Solar Bears were finally able to contain the high power San Antonio offense and only give up 3 points.
At the end of the third quarter, the Solar Bear offense was finally able to string some plays together. Carried once again by the ground game, the Solar Bears would score their first touchdown of the game. But Castleberry would go on to miss the extra point bringing the score to a 17-9 Marshal advantage.
The fourth quarter did not treat the Solar Bears well as they couldn’t get the offense going and their defense struggled to keep San Antonio off the scoreboard. Both teams would trade interceptions, but only the Marshals would score points in the final 15 minutes. After two touchdowns, the Marshals closed out the game with a 31-9 lead. This was a lackluster performance on both ends of the field for the Solar Bears. With this loss and another Tijuana win, their playoff hopes were almost gone as they trailed the division rival 4 games with only 5 left to play.
9-31 L vs. San Antonio Marshals
2-7
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 16 att, 89 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Tony Gabagool (LB) - 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 PD
Week 10
Coming into week 10, the Solar Bears had a lot a stake. If they lost to the Luchadores, they would be eliminated from playoff contention. To this point, they haven’t shown that they deserve a playoff spot but could try to make up some ground. The Luchadores also knew that this game was important as it was a potential bid to the playoffs.
The games started in the hands of the Luchadores. They started the drive with two first downs, but with the help of a Solar Bear sack, their drive was cut short. After the return, the Solar Bears only made it 14 yards before having a punt of their own. But the Solar Bear defense forced a quick three and out to force the Luchadores second punt.
The Solar Bear drive included 9 straight running plays before a pass from Apollo Lange to Dan Wright would result in a touchdown. Castleberry would make the extra point and the Solar Bears now had a 7-0 advantage. But the Luchadores would answer quite quickly with a 31-yard return and a 60-yard drive for a touchdown. The score was now 7-7 with 1 minute remaining in the first quarter.
The first quarter would close out with a Solar Bear 3 and out. They punted the ball as time expired and the Luchadores would start the second quarter with the ball. Tijuana started to set up another successful drive which was tainted by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. The Luchadores still got a field goal however, taking the lead at 10-7. The only other score would come with 2 seconds remaining in the half. The Solar Bears were able to put together a long drive. They made it all the way to the Luchadores 2-yard line. But, due to time running low, they had to take the field goal. Going into halftime tied 10-10, the Solar Bears were feeling pretty good about the game so far.
Coming out of the locker room, the Solar Bears would receive the second half kickoff. But they couldn’t do anything with the ball as they were held to a 3 and out. The rest of the third quarter would be dominated by the defenses as there was no scoring.
The fourth quarter would bring much more excitement to the offenses. The Luchadores had the first drive of the fourth quarter and used the ground game to wear down the defense. They would take 5 minutes and drive 80 yards to score their second touchdown. With the score now being 10-17, the Solar Bears had to get something going on offense. They came with a balanced attack on offense but were finally stopped on the Tijuana 20 yard line. They lined up for the field goal hoping they could get some points on the board and rely on their defense. But the kick from Castleberry goes wide right and the game remains 10-17.
With 6 minutes remaining, the Luchadores were looking to put the game away. But the Solar Bears were confident in their defense and felt they could get the ball back in the offense’s hands. This would prove to be false however as the Luchadores easily drove down the field. They would grind away the clock and score a touchdown while the time expired.
The game ended 10-24 and the Palm Beach fans and players were devastated. They were officially removed from the playoff race as they had lost yet another close game. If a few plays went differently, the game could have been in the Solar Bear’s favor. The Solar Bears head back to the locker room looking defeated.
10-24 L vs. Tijuana Luchadores
2-8
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Apollo Lange (QB) - 12/19, 139 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Tony Gabagool (LB) - 12 tackles
Week 11
Now out of the playoff race, the Solar Bears came into the Norfolk game with little to play for. They were just going to go out there and give it their best effort. But, this was the last game to be played in Palm Beach this season. So, some of the Solar Bears wanted to end the season at home the right way with a win. Coming onto the field, the Solar Bears received a lot of love from the fans despite their disappointing season so far. This gave them an extra boost of confidence going into the game.
Castleberry sent the kick into the end zone and the Seawolves would start the game at the 27-yard line after the return. They would make a few good plays but were ultimately forced to put to the home team. The Solar Bears offense took the field with hopes of putting up the first points. There would be a miscue however as the first play results in an interception. With only 17 yards left, the Seawolves easily score a touchdown to go up 7-0. Not the start the Solar Bears would have wanted in their final home game.
After failed drives by both teams, the Solar Bears would come on the field for their third try. They would have a 12 play drive, of which 10 were run plays, resulting in a touchdown. The score was now tied at 7-7 as the game entered the second quarter.
To start the second quarter, the Solar Bears would begin a drive once again. Although this time, they were stopped within the red zone and settled for a field goal. Now up 10-7, the Palm Beach crowd started to become more excited. The Solar Bears would continue to find ways to score in the second quarter with another touchdown and field goal. The Solar Bear defense was also able to hold the Seawolves scoreless in the second quarter.
Coming out of halftime with a 20-7 lead, the Solar Bears were focused on continuing the success they found in the first half. If they could grind the clock with long drives and make a few more defensive stops, they have a great chance of winning this game. The Solar Bears would receive the kickoff and start driving down the field once again. A few big throws from Apollo Lange set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Ludicolo Bigby. Now up 27-7, the Solar Bears were in great shape.
The 20 point lead wouldn’t last long however as Norfolk would quickly storm down the field for a touchdown. But the Solar Bears still had a 13 lead and knew barring any major mistakes, they would win their last home game of the year. The third quarter would end with an unsuccessful drive for both teams.
The fourth quarter started with the ball in the hands of the Seawolves. They knew they didn’t have much time to work with and quickly put a drive together. They were able to score another touchdown with 9:21 left in the game. Now only down 6 points, the momentum was seemingly entirely in Norfolk’s favor. Their defense was determined to get the Solar Bear offense off the field and set up a game-winning drive.
Unfortunately, the Solar Bears would suffer a 3 and out and they would leave the game in the hands of their defense. They were able to stop the Seawolves on the 30-yard line forcing a field goal. The lead was now only 3 points but the offense had a chance to seal the deal and win the game.
The Solar Bear drive was stopped after only 5 plays and they once again had to punt to the Seawolves. Norfolk now had the chance to win with only 1:45 left to go. They had 77 yards to go until the end zone but only needed to reach field goal territory. They Seawolves wouldn’t get far however as they would fail to convert a 4th down on the 36-yard line.
The Solar Bears have just barely escaped a heartbreaking loss in which they were up 20 points earlier in the game. This wasn’t the prettiest way to win but it gave the fans what they wanted.
27-24 W vs. Norfolk Seawolves
3-8
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ludicolo Bigby (RB) - 22 att, 111 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 6 tackles, 1 sack
Week 12
The fourth and final matchup against the Marshals would come during week 12. The Solar Bears had yet to win a game against San Antonio and they were massive underdogs going into the game. They had lost the last two matchups by a combined 73-9. But, with the Marshals already holding a playoff spot, the Solar Bears thought they might catch them on a bad day.
The first quarter of the game lacked any significant offense for either team. The only points would come from a Marshal touchdown which was the beneficiary of a Solar Bear facemask penalty. The Solar Bears had no answer on offense as they had yet another unsuccessful drive resulting in a punt. San Antonio would score another touchdown as well as a field goal before halftime. Going into the locker down 17-0, this looked to be another blowout loss for the Solar Bears.
The defensive battle we saw earlier in the game continued in the third quarter. The fourth drive of the quarter belonged to the Solar Bears who were finally able to move down the field. They would only end up with a field goal but they were finally getting the offense going. The defense would quickly stop the Seawolves and let the offense come back on the field. The Solar Bears would start the fourth quarter with a touchdown run from Ben Bortboy.
Now only down 17-10, the Solar Bears knew if they could get another stop, they weren’t far off from completing the comeback. This wouldn’t happen however as the Seawolves scored another touchdown in only 6 plays. The Solar Bears were now down two touchdowns with 9:21 remaining in the game. Their next drive would start at their own 8-yard line.
The Solar Bears marched all the way to San Antonio’s 10-yard line with a good chance to score. But on 4th and 1, they had to try for the first down as a field goal wouldn’t do them much good. They were unable to convert and with 3:53 left, the Marshals held the ball up 14 points. The Solar Bears would get one more possession but it would also end with a turnover on downs.
Now at 3-9, it was undeniable that the Solar Bears lacked the talent necessary to contend in this league. They do have great players but are not yet well rounded enough to play complete games. Going into the last 2 games of the year, the Solar Bears were focusing on getting experience and improving for next year. Although they will lose some players to the NSFL, the Solar Bears are still excited to see their players develop.
10-24 L @ San Antonio Marshals
3-9
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 21 att, 72 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Rock Hardshaft (LB) - 13 tackles
Week 13
The second to last game of the year would come against a divisional rival, the Tijuana Luchadores. This would be the fourth matchup with Tijuana this year and the Solar Bears were only able to grab one victory. The Solar Bears were hoping they could win another game to tie up the season series.
The first quarter would be one of the worst in recent memory for the Solar Bears. They started the game with an offensive 3 and out. This led to a quick Luchadore touchdown only 5 minutes into the game. The next two possessions for Palm Beach would result in interceptions. Tijuana capitalized on these penalties by scoring two more touchdowns. Heading into the second quarter, the Solar Bears were determined to not let this be another blowout.
Early in the second quarter, the Solar Bears were finally able to score with a field goal. But still down 21-3, they had much more work to do to salvage this game. The Solar Bears field goal would seemingly change the momentum of the game as they would score two touchdowns. Now only down 21-17, the Solar Bears were right back in it. But before halftime, the Luchadores made a 54-yard field goal as time expired to extend their lead to 24-17.
The third quarter would turn out to be in the hands of Tijuana as they would score two more touchdowns. Now being up 38-17, they felt they had the game in the bag. But the Solar Bears would enter the fourth quarter with a couple big throws by Quarterback Apollo Lange.
The drive would only end in a field goal and although they were still down 3 scores, the Solar Bears weren’t ready to give up. The defense would force a punt pretty quickly but the offense couldn't capitalize on this opportunity. They had to punt and hope for the defense to make a play. The defense was able to create a quick stop and the offense was back on the field with 5:34 to go in the game.
The Solar Bears were able to keep the drive alive but spent a lot of time doing it. Luckily, they were able to finally score a touchdown with 35 seconds left. Still down 11 points, the Solar Bears would try for the onside kick. It was a promising kick but it would end up in the hands of the Luchadores.
The story of this matchup was the extreme exchange of momentum throughout the game. It almost felt like a basketball game in how both teams would go on scoring runs. The Solar Bears were defeated for the 10th time this season as they went into the last game against the Portland Pythons.
27-38 L @ Tijuana Luchadores
3-10
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 17 att, 91 yards, 1 TD
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Faith Terim (SS) - 9 tackles, 1 int, 1 PD
Week 14
The last game of the year would come against the Portland Pythons. With hopes to get their 4th win, the Solar Bears were looking to get a quick start and not look back. They would receive the kickoff and have a chance to enforce their gameplan.
Unfortunately, the first drive of the game would only go 27 yards and the Solar Bears were forced to punt. Once the Pythons got the ball, they were quick to ignite an offensive drive. They would work their way down the field for a touchdown in 12 plays.
The next two Solar Bear possessions would end in 3 and outs, allowing the Pythons to stack up a lead. Portland would do just that by adding a field goal and another touchdown. The Solar Bears would get the ball back down 17-0 hoping to put something together. They would get a couple first downs but an Apollo Lange interception stopped their drive in its tracks. This led to yet another Portland touchdown. Now down 24-0, there was little hope for Palm Beach.
After the Portland touchdown, the Solar Bears were slowly building a successful drive. Even with 3 offensive penalties, they were able to complete a 15-yard drive for a touchdown. The Solar Bears didn’t look very enthused however as they were still down 24-7 going into halftime.
Coming out from the locker room, the Solar Bears would try to at least look competitive against the Pythons. They would start the second half on defense hoping to make a stop or cause a turnover. The drive would end in a Portland field goal however and the score was now 27-7. For the rest of the third quarter, both teams would remain scoreless. Even after grabbing an interception, the Solar Bears couldn’t get their offense going.
The fourth quarter would start with 2 punts before the Solar Bears scored a field goal. But the drive wouldn’t do much to change the outcome of the game as they were still trailing 27-10. Portland would extend their already large lead with a field goal. The Solar Bears were unable to answer and the game ended in a 30-10 Portland victory.
With a poor offensive outing and a weak defensive effort, the Solar Bears ended their season in disappointing fashion. A few players would leave the field clearly emotional as this may be their last time in a Solar Bear uniform. In the locker room, the team would come together for one last chant before heading home to Palm Beach.
10-30 L @ Portland Pythons
3-11
Solar Bears Top Offensive Performance:
Ben Bortboy (RB) - 19 att, 84 yards
Solar Bears Top Defensive Performance:
Tony Gabagool (LB) - 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 PD
Conclusion
Overall, the Solar Bears struggled in their expansion season. The inexperience and lack of depth was visible throughout the season. They had trouble playing a complete well-rounded football game. There were plenty of opportunities during the season where a more complete team could have succeeded. The offense became quite dull at times and a high number of turnovers kept the team from competing in certain games. The defense had its moments but failed to create key turnovers. The turnover ratio and the failure to complete drives is what led this team to 11 loses.
On the other side of the coin, there are things that the Solar Bears did fairly well this year. First off, they always fought hard in every moment of the game. There were many times where they cut into a lead and had a chance to win. The tenacity and heart of this team didn’t fail to show in various high-pressure moments. Another positive from the season was the hard work and determination of the players. Although it ultimately didn’t show off in the win column, Palm Beach was home to some of the hardest working players in the league. If the Solar Bears can continue with this culture, they will be a force to be reckoned with. They also appeared to have great team chemistry. Having a good atmosphere in the locker room is crucial to on-field success and the Solar Bears have it in spades.
Going forward, there should be excitement around Palm Beach and the Solar Bears. They have proved to have the foundation for a potential powerhouse. With the continued hard work and determination of this organization, there is no doubt that they can accomplish anything.
READY TO BE GRADED
WORD COUNT: 9150
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