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O-Town
Confidence Running High
Three consecutive wins give Rage a boost
 By
Mark Zelakowski
Orlando
- (22 February 2001) -- The
fans in Orlando knew it from the first play from scrimmage.
We
have ourselves a football team.
QB
Jeff Brohm's first pass resulted in the first touchdown in XFL
history and an exciting start to our clubs winning ways.
"I
think with the balance of the team in all positions we should
be able to win it all". Rage fan Chris Pfaff said. "The
Rage showed they are here to win, and have the ability to score
when they need to."
Chris
is not alone on this subject. Most of the fans I have been talking
to echo the same thoughts.
In
an interview during the first game of the season
against
the Chicago Enforcers, you could plainly hear WR Mario Bailey
guarantee a championship this year and it looks like he might
be able to deliver. With the most balanced team in the XFL the
Rage have the talent and the determination to go to the big
game at the end.
During
their last game against the Hitmen, the Rage remained calm and
stole the win in the last 13 minutes. DB Stephen Fisher made
a heads up play with a key interception, which resulted in a
33-yard touchdown run by Quarterback Jeff Brohm.
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RAGE
SHORES UP DEFENSE
Looking
to shore up its defense after losing defensive tackle
Ken Anderson to a knee injury in game two, the Orlando
Rage claimed linebacker Kevin Jefferson from the XFL Player
Allocation and Selection System pool on Wednesday afternoon.
Jefferson,
who went to camp with the San Francisco Demons in January,
played for Rage Head Coach Galen Hall as a member of the
NFL-Europe’s Rhein Fire 1998 championship team.
Prior
to his year in NFL Europe, Jefferson became the youngest
NFL performer in 30 years, when he debuted at age 20 with
the Cincinnati Bengals in 1994. That year he played in
five games, recording five tackles on special teams after
being signed as a rookie free agent. Jefferson would go
on to play in all 16 games in 1995.
A
four-year starter at Lehigh University, Jefferson brings
the reputation as being a highly intelligent player after
majoring in mechanical engineering in college..
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"This
one was a character builder," said Rage Head Coach Galen
Hall. "We couldn't get anything going on offense all night
until the fourth quarter. Our defense was playing well, but
we kept stalling on offense."
The Rage will now head home ready to take on a good Thunderbolts
team looking to climb into a tie for first in the east.
"With
the win last week, we have put ourselves in a very good position,"
Offensive lineman Sean Love said. "The important thing
is that we need to stay focused. Even with the great start,
we will be no better than tied for first place if we let Birmingham
come in here and beat us. We believe we can beat any team in
this league, but we are also smart enough to know that we can't
just go out there and go through the motions."
Orlando
will be tested this week by a Bolts team coming off of a big
win against the Enforcers. Duane Butler was the hero when he
picked off a pass that would have given Chicago the win. He
returned the interception 98 yards to preserve the much-needed
victory for the Bolts.
"It's
obviously a huge game for both of us," Brohm noted. "A
victory gives us some breathing room and puts us in the driver's
seat. We certainly will expect Birmingham to come after us."
You
can expect Orlando to come out and defend their home turf with
another well-rounded performance and don't expect Orlando to
give up their 4th straight bonus check without a fight.
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