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Are YOU Ready?
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I asked, ARE YOU READY!!!!!!!?

The Houston Gamblers begin the inaugural season as underdog at home against I-10 State and Divisional rival San Antonio Gunslingers. All the I's are dotted and T's are crossed. The hard decisions have been made and everyone is waiting to see who will be the FIRST Champion.

San Antonio won 3 games in the preseason. They beat the Pittsburgh Maulers in Week 1 by a score of 25-17, the Jacksonville Bulls in week 3 by a score of 17-10, and the Charlotte Hornets by a score of 26-9 in week 4. Meanwhile, Houston won the first game they ever played by a score of 19-16 against the Orlando Renegades while losing the next three in a row.

San Antonio scored 89 points while allowing 70 points to be scored during the 4 games of preseason. Meanwhile, Houston has been out scored by a 2 to 1 ratio. Projected starting Renegades QB Tony Smith who has completed 65.5% of his 58 pass attempts for 550 yards and 4 TDs leads the league with a QB rating of 119.18. He has completed 38 passes without an interception while averaging 9.48 yards an attempt. His favorite target is WR Marshall Gibson who has 12 receptions for 220 yards and a TD while being targeted 26 times. Gibson averages 18.3 yards a catch while only catching 46.2% of the passes thrown to him. His longest reception was for a 65 yard TD.

However, designated starting Gambler QB Chester "The Defense Molester" Dougherty walks into the game without throwing an interception. He has completed 25 passes on 54 attempts for 366 yards and 3 TDs while only being sacked 6 times. However, Dougherty spreads the ball around his receivers more often than Smith, as proof being that the Gamblers have 18 people who have caught the ball with at least 6 yards per catch average in preseason.

The Gamblers drafted heavily on O and D linemen. They also have 27 Rookies on their team in hopes of them geling to make them a contender.

Wow, 27 rookies. I missed that. It won't be long before betting on Houston won't be a gamble.

The Houston Gamblers opened the season with a loss against Divisional and I-10 Rival San Antonio Gunslingers as they thrilled the 67,925 in attendance at the Astrodome.

Things started out bad right from the very first play of the game as Sam Antonio's Quarterback Tony Smith completed a 64 yard TD pass to RB Jeffery Graham. coming out of the backfield. That would be the only scoring in the first quarter of play as the Gambler's defense created two back-to-back turnovers. After the initial quick strike TD by Smith, Gambler's Rookie FS Thomas Erwin intercepted a Smith 8 yard pass attempt on Houston's 15, stopping a 7 play 65 yard San Antonio drive. After a Houston 3 and out punt, Erwin again let his presence be known as a hard hitter as he created and recovered a fumble on Houston's 38.

The Gunslinger's next possession ended in a TD as RB Graham ran to the left side for 11 yards capping of a 7 play 54 yard drive over the end of the end of the first and beginning of the second. The Gamblers then went 66 yards and had San Antonio scared as Gambler QB Chester Dougherty lined up 1st and goal on the Gunslinger's 9 against a nickel defense . But as the play developed, Dougherty was picked off by CB Leon Crisman in the back of the end zone on a pass intended for Rookie WR Brian Rosenberger. The Gambler defense once again stepped up and created another turnover as SS William Pritt stripped the Slingers RB of the ball and was recovered by CB Jason Hatch on Houston's 44 stopping another 7 play 36 yard drive.

The home crowd could feel momentum changing as their home team was getting it's mojo started. The offense stepped up with a 10 play drive that covered 62 yards in 3:47 minutes. After calling their third time out in the 2 minute warning on San Antonio's 17. Dougherty then once again lined a spread out defense and immediate liked what he saw as he called WR Robert Richards' number and connected on a 17 yard TD.

Smith again struck fast with another long bomb, scoring on a 62 yard throw. after the kickoff, Houston answered with a bomb of their own when Dougherty connected a 37 yard toss to Rookie RB Rickey Saucier setting up a 55 yard FG attempt by K James Peeler with :04 second left in the half. Peeler's kick was good to end the half Hou 10 SA 21.

The Gamblers felt like they now had the game in control. They definitely had momentum on their side and was getting the ball back to start the third. But inexperience of the team showed in the second half as they were only able to gain 10 total yards offensively and punted five times while defensively allowing 111 yards and 2 FGs.

Highlights on the game included RB Robert Carroll rushing for 109 yards on 17 tries for an 6.41 average. Better than expected considering that Houston averaged 1.67 yards per attempt on the ground in the preseason. Carroll also had 5 runs over 10+ yards, with his longest being 15 yards. Another highlight was WR Richards 8 catches on 11 targets for 91 yards and a TD.

Some lowlights are the 8 sacks allowed by the team, 3 by 2nd round draft choice Rookie RT Richard Mosley, the 6 penalties for 50 yards, and averaging 13 yards to get a first down on 3rd down.