FRISCO, Texas – The biggest concern first-season Texas Revolution head coach Carlos Cavanaugh had coming into the season was team chemistry between new and returning players.
But after seeing his team’s chemistry and competitiveness, Cavanaugh called it a “lovely” sight to see. Also, it didn’t hurt that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott surprised Revolution fans with his attendance from a suite above the field.
The Texas Revolution steamrolled the North Texas Savages 49-14 on Sunday in their new home at Frisco’s Dr. Pepper Arena. Cavanaugh said he felt optimistic about his team against their Champions Edge Indoor Football League opponent.
And given the team’s relocation, coaching and roster shakeups, starting the season off with a win as the defending champions of the Champions Indoor Football league is a solid foundation to build on.
“Anytime you can come in and start a season off with a win, you feel like you’re starting off in the right direction,” Cavanaugh said. “Hopefully we can keep improving and don’t take a step backward and keep moving forward.”
The Revolution held the Savages scoreless at the end of the first half and managed to accumulate over 150 yards of total offense, for a comfortable 21-point cushion.
Revolution quarterback Brandon Crawford connected with Clinton Solomon for a 28-yard touchdown pass immediately in the second quarter and continued to apply pressure.
Brett Reece Jr. caught a seven-yard pass from Crawford with 6:07 remaining in the second quarter with Jarrell Kelley receiving Crawford’s third touchdown pass on a wide open 20-yarder down the left side of the field.
Revolution’s linebacker Jason Catchings was helped off the field after a rushing play with 11:53 left in the second near their own nine-yard line, which Cavanaugh called a “minor shoulder injury.”
“We’ll get him in tomorrow to get some rehab,” he said and added that if Catchings does sit out, Cavanaugh doesn’t expect his linebacker to be out for more than two weeks.
North Texas’ coach Michael Whitfield knows the Savages are a developmental team and still complimented his team for playing well against a championship team.
The Savages gave up an additional 14 points in the third quarter before quarterback Patrick Fields rushed for three yards to the end zone and converted a two-point attempt shrinking the Revolution’s lead to 35-8.
North Texas defensive lineman DeAnthony Martin recovered a fumbled snap by Revolution’s quarterback Richard Adkins for a 37-yard scoop-and-score touchdown for its final points in the game.
Whitfield was most impressed with his team’s defense in only allowing 49 yards, however, the size of Texas’ defense created difficult matchups for his offense.
“We don’t have bad receivers. We actually have one of the most excellent receiving corps in our league. So for them to match up, they matched up pretty well,” Whitfield said. “There were also times in the game where we matched up and we were on the winning side of it.”
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