WELCOME HOME!

AP:  The AFFA's  Oakland Odyssey and Omaha Express returned to their respective homes yesterday afternoon to appreciative crowds.

The Oakland Odyssey arrived to a airport crowd of around 600 cheering fans. Quarterback Drew Willy with Pantheon Cup trophy in hand spoke briefly, thanking the crowd of supporters. Players signed autographs before getting on a bus headed for Oakland Alameda Coliseum.

A celebration for the AFFA champions will be held at the Coliseum Friday night.


The Omaha Express arrived in Omaha to a crowd of around 250 grateful fans holding signs thanking them for a great season.

CHAMPIONSHIP PARTY!

Oakland, California;  A Championship Celebration will be held for the Pantheon Cup Champion Oakland Odyssey, Friday July 17 2020 at Oakland Alameda Coliseum .

" I feel that a celebration or party is absolutely necessary for the AFFA Champion Odyssey.  They bring the city of Oakland, their first pro football title since the 1980 Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. " said Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf.

" We are extremely proud to support the Odyssey and the AFFA.  We congratulate the Oakland Odyssey on their championship as they begin another winning tradition here in this great city of ours. Hopefully we will celebrate another Championship next season for the Odyssey. " Said Schaaf.

The Odyssey defeated the Omaha Express 38-3 in Pantheon Cup IV Sunday night.

Admission is free to the event. No alcohol will be sold or permitted.  Entertainment will include Maroon Five, USC Marching Band and country star Blake Shelton. There will also be a fireworks show later that night.

ODYSSEY CLAIM PANTHEON CUP IV TITLE! 38-3

- 38

- 3







Oakland Odyssey ( 14-5 )- 38   Omaha Express ( 14-5 )- 3


Houston, Texas;   Drew Willy threw two touchdown passes to Tim Wright as the Oakland Odyssey claimed their first Pantheon Cup, dominating the Omaha Express 38-3 in the AFFA Championship Game Sunday before 34,744 at TDECU Stadium in Houston.


Willy completed 15 of 23 passes for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns with one interception.

Donnel Pumphrey rushed for 86 yards on 14 carries.  Aaron Jones ran for a touchdown while rushing for 78 yards on 18 carries.  Jeremy Gallon had 5 catches for 46 yards and  Tim Wright had 3 receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns.

Charles Omenihu led the defense with 6 tackles,  Elandon Roberts had 4 tackles, 1 pass deflection and a stuff as well as a 40 yard interception return for a touchdown, Rayshaun Kizer had 4 tackles, a interception and a 41 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown for the Odyssey defense.

Omaha quarterback Rakeem Cato never seemed to be able to get on track as he completed only 12 of 31 passes for 83 yards with 2 interceptions and was sacked 3 times.

The Oakland defense stalled the Express running game, limiting them to only 66 yards total. Omah only managed 171 yards in total offense. Andrew Adams and Greg Hardy led the Omaha defense with 8 tackles apiece for Omaha ( 14-5 ).

Omaha led 3-0 after one quarter of play as Austin McGinnis connected on a 36 yard field.

Oakland took a 7-3 lead as Drew Willy hit Tim Wright for a 25 yard touchdown pass with 3:18 remaining in the second quarter.  The Odyssey made it 14-3 as Elandon Roberts intercepted a Cato pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. The Odyssey stretched their lead to 24-3 as Lance Geesey converted on a 40 yard field goal and Aaron Jones ran in from 9 yards out for a score to round out the third period of play.

With 13:57 in the final frame, Drew Willy connected with Tim Wright for his second touchdown of the game, this time from 12 yards out.  Rayshaun Kizer topped off the scoring  with a 41 yard fumble recovery for a touchdown  giving the Odyssey  ( 14-5 ) the 38-3 victory and the Pantheon Cup.

First Downs:  Oak- 22   Omaha- 9
Rushes: Oak- 40-205   Omaha- 19-66
Passes:  Oak- 23-15-176  Omaha- 36-15-118
Sacked:  Oak- 0   Omaha- 3-13
Fumble: Oak- 0   Omaha- 1
Penalties:  Oak- 5-35   Omaha- 1-10
Turnovers:  Oak- 1   Omaha- 4
Missed Tackles:  Oak- 2   Omaha- 13
Dropped Passes:  Oak- 0  Omaha- 2
Bad Passes:  Oak- 1   Omaha- 4
Passes 25+:  Oak- 1   Omaha- 0
Runs 10+ :  Oak- 8    Omaha- 1
Blitzers:   Oak- 25   Omaha- 22
Time:   Oak- 37:37  Omaha- 22:23
Third Down:  Oak- 5-12  Omaha- 4-16
Fourth Down:  Oak- 0-0   Omaha- 0-2
Red Att/TD/FG:  Oak- 2/2/0   Omaha- 1/0/1
Net Offense:   Oak- 381   Omaha- 171

PANTHEON CUP IV PREVIEW

  Oakland Odyssey
        ( 13-5 )
Metropolitan Conference Champions




Vs

   Omaha Express
         ( 14-4 )
 Empire Conference Champions





Date:  Sunday, July 12 2020

Place: TDECU Stadium
Houston, Texas

Time:  8:00 pm  c.d.t

Line:  Omaha by 1

PANTHEON CUP IV PROMO

     Oakland Odyssey
            ( 13-5 )
      Metropolitan Conference Champions



         Vs

   Omaha Express
           ( 14-4 )
   Empire Conference Champions



GLADIATORS WILL BATTLE ON THE GRIDIRON! A CHAMPION WILL BE CROWNED!

      PANTHEON CUP IV

      HOUSTON, TEXAS

       JULY 12th 2020

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

Empire Conference Championship 

- 41

- 13






Line: Even



Omaha Express  ( 14-4 )- 41   Birmingham Suns  ( 10-8 )- 13



Omaha, Nebraska:  Rakeem Cato threw for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns on 18 of 26 passing and Rex Burkhead ran for two scores as the Omaha Express steamrolled the Birmingham Suns 41-13 before a sold out TD Ameritrade Park crowd.

Rex Burkhead ran 17 times for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns. Weston Dressler had 5 catches for 53 yards, Luke Tasker caught 4 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown and Blake Bell had 3 receptions for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tegray Scales led the defense with 7 tackles. Garrison Smith recorded 6 tackles, 2 sacks, a stuff and a hurry as the Express ( 14-4 ) advance to the Pantheon Cup game for the first time in franchise history.

Birmingham was held to only 219 yards total offense and 9 first downs in a dominating performance by the Express defense. The Suns finish the season at 10-8.




Metropolitan Conference Championship 

- 44

- 29





Line: Even



Oakland Odyssey  ( 13-5 )- 44   Louisville Cougars  ( 12-6 )- 29



Oakland, California:   Drew Willy threw for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns on 19 of 24 passing as the Oakland Odyssey punched their ticket to Pantheon Cup IV with a 44-29 pounding of the Louisville Cougars at Oakland Alameda Coliseum Saturday night in the Metropolitan Conference Championship game.

Aaron Jones ran for a score while rushing for 41 yards on 14 carries, plus had 3 catches for 44 yards. Stefon Diggs had 7 receptions for 127 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tim Wright caught 3 passes for 51 yards and a score. Iman Lewis Marshall record a 30 yard interception return for a touchdown to go along with his 10 tackles. Elandon Roberts had 6 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles for the Odyssey.  Lance Geesey went 3 for 3 on field goal attempts.

Bo Levi Mitchell completed 24 of 38 passes for 320 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. He was sacked 4 times for Louisville.

Kareem Hunt ran 15 times for 70 yards and Chris Warren ran for a score, rushing 8 times for 37 yards. Kenbrell Thompkins had 9 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown,  Kendrick Bourne caught 4 passes for 49 yards and a touchdown and Brandon Banks had 3 receptions for 24 yards and a score.  Kenny Vaccaro and Avonte Madden each had 7 tackles,  Josh Hawkins had 6 tackles and a interception and Carlos Watkins recorded 5 tackles, a sack, 2 stuffs and 2 hurries for Louisville who finishes the year at 12-6.

Oakland will face off against the Empire Conference Champion Omaha Express at TDECU Stadium in Houston, Texas next Sunday in Pantheon Cup IV.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS PREVIEW

Empire Conference 

   Birmingham Suns
         ( 10-7 )
       Southern Division Champion

       At

   Omaha Express
        ( 13-4 )
  Great Lakes Division Champion




Date:  July 4 2020

Place:  TD Ameritrade Park
Omaha, Nebraska

Time:  1:00 pm

Line:  Even



  Metropolitan Conference 

  Louisville Cougars
         ( 13-5 )
  Eastern Division Champion


      At

   Oakland Odyssey
          ( 12-5 )
   Pacific Division Champion





Date:  July 4 2020

Place:  Oakland Alameda Coliseum
Oakland, California

Time: 7:00 pm

Line:  Even