Ballers Welcome Gold Rush for Home Opener

BLACKSBURG, VA - It's been just over a full season since the last time these two teams met but when the Ballers and Gold Rush take the field later today, there will be no love lost between these former AAA teams.

In last season's defensive struggle, the Gold Rush edged the Ballers out 14-7 in the first Ballers loss in the CPL. This was the lowest score that the Ballers would post all season long, the only time they fell under 17 points and the 2nd lowest combined total points in a game throughout the entire season. The Ballers were held to 205.5 total yards, of which 24 were rushing yards. TD Owens had the only touchdown as he caught a 10.5 yard pass in the first 3 minutes to get the only score of the game for the Ballers. Defenses would step up and each force an interception and the Ballers would record a fumble recovery.

The Ballers are hoping for a different outcome this time around and based on the very successful preseason, with wins over OOTP and Arctic Bay, they have to be feeling like they are in good position to beat the Gold Rush.

"It's going to be a tough match cause it always is when we play Yukon. We haven't beaten them before and its time for that to change. This years team is better than ever before and we're going to give it our all and hopefully walk away with a W." Quarterback Khari Jones.

Last week, the Ballers opened the regular season in dominant fashion, taking on the former Renegade Pirates, the Hudson Bay Baby Seals. The Ballers got it done on all sides of the ball scoring 16 rushing touchdowns, 8 passing touchdowns, 11 punt returns for touchdowns, 8 interceptions returned for touchdowns and 2 fumbles recovered for touchdowns. They also added two field goals as they destroyed the Baby Seals in a rude welcome to the CPL.

As the Ballers prepare for their toughest challenge of the first half of the schedule, its going to be up to the offense to step up and take control of this game. The Gold Rush lost the first game in sloppy fashion, committing no turnovers, having more yards than their opponent and not being able to get the job done as the Jebediah's Oblong Ball Club beat them out 20-16. If the Ballers offense can get rolling, they can put this game out of reach in the first half.