Author: Rastahaze

The theme for all games played over the 420 weekend in the LAEFL was back to basics. Everyone that lost the prior month went back to basics. Getting things right for the second game day.

Well in the battle of teacher and student the student took it on the chin. If this were a fight a standing eight count would have been given at kickoff!

The Steelers beat the Bills 33-3. “I trusted what I tweaked my players to do and simplified things,” Coach Price said in his post game comments. “Defensively our game plan was to knock the hell outta everything in front of us! Again back to basics, fast , hard, and straight forward, no gimmicks!

The Bills for the second straight game gave up a kickoff return. After that, the hill called comeback was just to big of a hill to climb. Post game comments from Coach Houghlin were brief but to the point. When a reporter asked him about the defensive pressure that the Steelers had applied all game he had this to say. “ Trench game wasn’t what it needed to be to be acceptable for our league and style of play. Guys were hitting their blocks and people were open but without “turn & burn” passing was obsolete. Our plan to throw the defending champ off guard came up short, but I do plan on seeing him again in September “. Post game remarks from Coach Houghlin following 33-3 loss to the Steelers.

Oilers 13 Cowboys 7

Respect. That was the back to basic theme in this game. Coach Hunter tried to carry his hot hand passing from last game into this game but fell short. His respect for Coach Robinson’s defense against the run helped formulate his game plan. So much so that he went for a fourth down deep in his own territory and missed the pass. The result of that poor execution of the play resulted in a Oilers score a few plays later and a 13-0 lead. Coach Hunter and his Cowboys did draw close late in the game and had the ball with a chance to pull it out but again came up short on a fourth down play. Final score 13-7 Oilers. Post game comments from both Coaches about each others defense, first Coach Hunter, “Credit to the Oilers defense, it was smothering. Hard getting guys open and when I did, I couldn’t hit a whale!” Coach Robinson said,”Dallas has an excellent squad. It was difficult navigating around Coach Hunters defense.”

Smoke a Bowl 2024

Well the much anticipated match up and game of the weekend was the annual Smoke a Bowl game pitting Coaches Rastahaze (Cleon Tate) and ShabbyJ (James Portillo). This game would becoming a instant classic in the rivalry. Both coaches coming into this game with new teams so going back to basics was key for both coaches.

Special teams- One element of the game that is often forgotten about or overlooked completely. Offense and defense is the norm for working on your team. Special teams can win you game as well as cost you a game. Well that was the latter that cost the Chargers in this this years Smoke a bowl game. Back to back kickoff returns by Billy “ WhiteShoes” Johnson did in the Chargers.

With the game tied at 13 and the Redskins receiving the second half kick, both teams had to be somewhat happy that the game was tied as both teams made plenty of mistakes. WhiteShoes took the third quarter kick back 90yds to put the Redskins back on top 19-13. After going three and out Washington only needed four plays to score and widen their lead to 26-13.

Late in the quarter Dan Fouts and “JJ” John Jefferson started to hook up. They connected on a TD pass that cut the deficit to 7. But here comes that man again! and he’s a bad man! WhiteShoes takes the kick 90yds for his second return of the game, his third TD of the day!

Fouts hit Jefferson again for a score plus two point conversion bringing the deficit to 7 at 33-26. Washington tried to run the clock out but turned the ball over on downs giving the Chargers the ball at the Redskins 25yd line!

No worries, the defense made a good stand aided by errant passes by Dan Fouts. Four chance and he missed all four! Hard way to lose a game. Smoke a bowl 2024 on 420 goes to Coach ShabbyJ 33-26 over Coach Rastahaze.

Coach Shabby J post game comments, “ I wanted too sure up my passing game, trying to bring my percentage up this season”. Back to basics theme here as his patience paid off in finding the right base for WhiteShoes. He’s stable, hard to make fumble and has an arc when he runs, spoke coach ShabbyJ then he dropped the mic and went back into the locker room with his victorious team to enjoy the golden chalice! Coach Tate skipped the presser and hadn’t made a comment about the game. When asked about the game at the team facilities all he said was “We’re on to Green Bay”.

Reporting for the Buzz, I’m Rasta Haze and this is the LAEFL according to me.

Three games were played to kick off season 24 in the Los Angeles Electric Football League (LAEFL) in Rancho Cucamonga Saturday March 9th. There was lots of excitement for opening day as the league welcomed back Darrin Hunter and his Dallas Cowboys and Coach Stagecoach and his Los Angeles Rams. There were new teams being played by veteran coaches as coach ShabbyJ switched to the Washington Redskins from the New York Jets and coach Tate switched from the 49ers to the Chargers.

Washington 20 Buffalo 27

Well what is the best way to start off your season coaching a new team….special teams and a kickoff return to make others take notice!! That’s how this game started unfortunately it wasn’t enough for the skins as a steady passing game with a two back offense from Buffalo wore them down. “I should have stayed with what was working instead of changing things up”, stated coach ShabbyJ at the press conference after the game.

Coach Houghlin was happy his loopers were on their game and that the passing game was clicking to help overcome the early kickoff return. Buffalo’s biggest challenge was the strength of Washington and the “glide” of not shutting off the board fast enough. They found a way in route to their 27-20 victory.

Oilers 21 Steelers 7

The rematch from last seasons THE SHOW, title game. Not the same results though. The Steelers struggled all game trying to match up with the Oilers. Turnovers and missed opportunities ruled the day. “My defense played well, stated Coach Robinson, “we were able to stop his RPO, forcing him to pass. Offensively my audibles and shifting forced him to reposition his defense which created lanes for my RB’s & QB”.

Coach Price had this to say after his team’s performance. “Coach Robinson knows my game well and for the first time in a while he was able to take away my first option on offense with his defense and got me very uncomfortable. All in all, I was thoroughly out coached in this one”.

Cowboys 42 Chargers 19

New team for coach Tate, same results a lost. There are never any moral victories, but coach Tate can take some positives away from the lost. Offensively he found Dan Fouts is quick and can take it the distance. Kellen Winslow can also take it to the house. Defensively his secondary has some speed and made a few tackles chasing Cowboy receivers all game long. Special teams is still a work in progress as is the offense and defense. Again no such thing as moral victories but positive things happened and the Chargers will build off of that.

As for coach Hunter, he has returned from a long absents from the LAEFL. Not a bad way to return either throwing 6 to passes in your return to the league. His Troy Aikman went 15-21-396 yds with no turnovers. Deion Sanders was his go to receiver catching 6 passes for over 200yds and 3 touchdowns. “Having not played against coach Hunter in sometime I saw a new coach with a different mindset and scheme. “,quipped coach Tate after the game. “He wasn’t the passer he is today”, coach Tate went on to say before getting on the team bus back to the Chargers practice facility.

“My mindset is to pass, pass, and pass some more! I want to put together 4 quarters of passing accuracy……I am very inconsistent in passing, either I’m on or I’m completely off. I want my opponent to fear me as I work to become an elite passer”, coach Hunter at his press conference talking about his strategy going into this season.

September 9th 2023, –

Coach Anthony Price won his fourth LAEFL title with his 29-17 victory over defending champion Eric Robinson and his Houston Oilers. The title game wasn’t close as Anthony grabbed an early lead and coasted to his fourth championship.

The Steelers came out throwing the rock and used the run to cross up the Oilers defense to score first. Then their defense clamped down on Warren Moon and forced a three and out. Coach Price and his team wasted no time in scoring again to for the most part salt the game away. Eric did mustard up a score before half to cut the lead but he had no answer for the Steelers passing game nor his spot run game.

The Steelers scored again to widen their lead as the Oilers tried to keep pace. When Houston settled for a field goal that salted the win for the Steelers. Against Anthony you can’t trade field goals for touchdowns. Both teams scored again to make the final score 29-17 Steelers. Pittsburgh was never in trouble of losing this game. They grabbed control at the start and never looked back. Now it’s one for the thumb!!

Reporting for the LAEFL Buzz-wire I’m Rastahaze and this was the LAEFL according to me.

The sister league to the LAEFL, San Diego Electric Football League opened league play today between veteran Coach John “Dawg Pound” Berry and rookie coach Robbie Emberson. The rookie bested the veteran coach 14-7 in a hard fought battle decided on big plays.

Robbie and his Packers won the toss and took the kickoff and returned it to the 30yd line. One play later #33 went off right tackle and didn’t stop running until he crossed the goal line 70yds later. Boom 7-0 Packers. Coach Berry said hold my drink rookie and returned the kickoff to the 42yd line. Two plays later the game was tied at 7 after a 58yd touchdown pass to #80.

After that score it went dark. Very dark. From that point of the game until late in the fourth quarter neither teams offense could move the ball. Both went away from what got them their first score. The Packers didn’t try running the ball again until the fourth quarter. The Browns hit early passes then went cold until their last drive of the game. Trailing by 7 and needing a score the Browns missed wide open receivers on back to back plays setting up their final play. In fourth down and needing a score Coach Berry had a receiver but missed him to the left. Coach Emberson ran out the clock and claimed his first league win. After the game both coaches praised the other with both having this to say, first coach Berry, “ good game coach, we’re coming after you next time!” . Coach Emberson said, “ if the Browns had hit a few more passes the score would have been 35-14 Browns”.

Reporting for the LAEFL Buzz, I’m Rastahaze and this has been the LAEFL according to me.