Continental Football League - Week 1 Recap
All Access Football recaps the first week of action from the Continental Football League.
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CONTINENTAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE WEEK 1 RECAP
It has been over a year in the making leading up to the launch of the Continental Football League (CoFL), which kicked off this past weekend. The league serves as a platform for players who seek to keep their career alive in hopes of latching onto the NFL, CFL, or UFL. The San Antonio Toros have already had running back Emani Bailey sign with the BC Lions of the CFL, so the model has legs.
One of the more fascinating concepts of the CoFL is the ‘Continental Shift,’ as each game shifts from NFL rules to CFL rules for the fourth quarter. The new wrinkle not only adds a lextra excitement to the action but provides players with film to be evaluated by scouts from multiple leagues.
The CoFL is scheduled to run through July, as players will have fresh film to shop to the higher levels of competition. You can watch every game for free on United Football Media (Week 2 games are scheduled for Saturday, June 6th).
The opening week saw 11,000+ fans tune-in for the San Antonio Toros 24-0 win over the Texas Syndicate. European Hall of Fame quarterback and Hal Mumme Air-Raid protege Stan Bedwell is the head coach for the Toros. He has enlisted 84-year old NFL trailblazer Jerry Glanville as his defensive coordinator.
It didn’t take long for ‘The Old Ball Coach’ to employ former NFL second round pick Obi Melifonwu early and often. The safety is working his way back from injury and appeared to be healthy, displaying the ability to shoot the gaps, including a key tackle to halt a drive right before the end of the first half. He would finish the game with six tackles, including one tackle for loss and two pass deflections.
The CoFL is a league of opportunity for players such as Will Arndt. The former CFL and AF1 quarterback is hoping to revitalize his career and has been operating at a high level. After throwing six touchdown tosses during the Toros preseason contest, Arndt completed 25-of-43 passes in Week 1, for 222 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. It should be noted he endured a handful of drops from his wideouts.
One target who came up sure-handed when they needed a big play was Cameron Echols-Luper. The 31-year old journeyman wideout has bounced around the NFL, USFL, CFL and was recently released by the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL. There is certainly still juice left in those legs, as Echols-Luper ran crisp routes and was able to consistently create separation, finishing with four catches, for 49 yards and a score.
San Antonio certainly had a size advantage in the trenches and former FIU running back D’Vonte Price made sure to take advantage. With brief stints in the NFL and CFL, Price wants to keep his name relevant amongst pro evaluators with his play in the CoFL. Thus far, he has done just that, showing great patience waiting for his holes to develop behind his offense line, scoring a rushing touchdown in the first quarter (23 rushing yards) and added another score as a pass-catcher (17 receiving yards).
Other standouts from the game include Myles McHaney, formerly of the UFL, who had a blocked punt for the Toros and San Antonio tight end Oscar Cardenas, who briefly played with the Arizona Cardinals and had five catches, for 87 yards. The Syndicate are coached by James Champagne.
Nearly 6,000 fans watched the Cincinnati Dukes defeat the Midwest Vengeance 45-0. A pair of members from the NFL Draft Class of 2026 made contributions for the Dukes, as running back Darnell Williams of Mount Union carried the ball four times for 108 rushing yards, including a 69-yard touchdown scamper and Southern Connecticut State linebacker Ivory Parker had nine tackles (two and a half tackles for loss), one sack and one forced fumble.
Also notable was Cincinnati cornerback Leondre Pope, who recorded an interception for the second consecutive week (he had one in the preseason game). For more information on the Continental Football League (CoFL), be sure to visit their website here. (photo: San Antonio Toros)