The 2019 Orlando Apollos season was the first season for the Orlando Apollos as a professional American footballfranchise; they played as charter members of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). They were one of eight teams to compete in the AAF for the 2019 season. The Apollos played their home games at Spectrum Stadium and were led by head coach Steve Spurrier.
On April 2, 2019, the league's football operations were reportedly suspended,[1][2] and on April 4 the league allowed players to leave their contracts to sign with NFL teams.[3]
In a light rain, the Orlando Apollos hosted the Atlanta Legends in the first week of the Alliance of American Football. Quarterback Garrett Gilbert threw for 227 yards and two touchdown passes, and caught a touchdown pass. The Apollos dominated the game on both offense and defense. The Orlando defense compiled three sacks, and three interceptions. Terence Garvin had two of the interceptions, the second was returned 5 yards for a touchdown.[8]
Week 2: at San Antonio[]
Week Two: Orlando Apollos at San Antonio Commanders – Game summary
(0:00) SA – Nick Rose 38-yard field goal, Commanders 18–17
Third Quarter
(9:28) SA – Nick Rose 37-yard field goal, Commanders 21–17
(8:10) SA – Garrett Gilbert (ORL) fumble recovered by Joey Mbu and returned 8 yards for touchdown (Logan Woodside pass to Evan Rodriguez), Commanders 29–17
(3:12) ORL – Elliott Fry 24-yard field goal, Commanders 29–20
Fourth Quarter
(13:51) ORL – Elliott Fry 47-yard field goal, Commanders 29–23
With the score tied 29–29 midway through the fourth quarter, Apollos linebacker Keith Reaser intercepted Commanders quarterback Logan Woodside. Reaser returned the ball 39 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Orlando beat San Antonio by the score of 37–29 to improve to 2–0 on the season.[10]
Week 3: Memphis[]
Week Three: Memphis Express at Orlando Apollos – Game summary
A defensive battle in the first half, Orlando led Memphis 9-0 at halftime. The Apollos stretched their lead to 15–6 after a 37-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Gilbert to Rannell Hall on a 4th down & 8. Gilbert later ran for a 21-yard touchdown off a run-pass option play to go up 21–9. Though Memphis cut the lead to 21–17, Orlando put the game away with a clock-burning drive all the way to the Memphis 1 yard line. Gilbert took a knee to end the game, and Orlando improved to 3–0.[12]
Week 4: at Salt Lake[]
Week Four: Orlando Apollos at Salt Lake Stallions – Game summary
On a snowy night in Salt Lake City, Orlando beat the Stallions 20–11 to remain unbeaten. After taking a 6–3 lead at halftime, the Apollos scored two touchdowns in the second half to secure the victory. In the third quarter, quarterback Garrett Gilbert threw a 20-yard touchdown to Donteeya Dye Jr. followed by a 2-point conversion pass from running back D’Ernest Johnson to Sean Price. In the fourth quarter, running back Akeem Hunt scored a 2-yard touchdown run.[14]
Week 5: at Birmingham[]
Week Five: Orlando Apollos at Birmingham Iron – Game summary
Going into the game, Orlando had the best offense in the league, while Birmingham had the best defense. The Apollos, however, beat the Iron handily to improve to 5–0. Orlando put up 468 yards of offense, sacked Birmingham five times, and Keith Reaser made an interception return for a touchdown, his second of the season.[16]
Week 6: Arizona[]
Week Six: Arizona Hotshots at Orlando Apollos – Game summary
Orlando suffered their first loss of the season against the Arizona Hotshots. Trailing 22–17 with 55 second remaining, the Apollos fielded a punt, and took over at their own 18 yard line. With no timeouts left, Garrett Gilbert threw a 48-yard pass to a wide open Sean Price. At the Hotshots 34 yard line, Gilbert spiked the ball to stop the clock. He then threw a 26-yard completion to Jalin Marshall to the 8 yard line with less than 10 seconds left in regulation. But as the team was scrambling to line up and spike the ball, the Apollos were penalized for a false start. A ten-second runoff was administered, and the game clock expired.[18]
Week 7: at Atlanta[]
Week Seven: Orlando Apollos at Atlanta Legends – Game summary
Garrett Gilbert threw for 217 yards and one touchdown pass as Orlando routed Atlanta by the score of 36–6. With the win, the Apollos improved to 6–1 and became the first team to clinch a playoff berth.[20]
Week 8: at Memphis[]
Week Eight: Orlando Apollos at Memphis Express – Game summary
Trailing 31–22 with 5 minutes remaining in regulation, Orlando rallied to beat Memphis by the score of 34–31. Garrett Gilbert threw an 18-yard touchdown to Charles Johnson with 4:49 left to trim the score to 31–28. On the ensuing drive, Memphis fumbled away the snap on a punt, giving Orlando the ball inside the 30 yard line. A few plays later, controversy erupted when Express coach Mike Singletary ran out on the field protesting what appeared to be a delay of game that was not called against the Apollos.[22] Singletary received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, and the Apollos punched the ball in with a 1 yard touchdown run by De'Veon Smith for the game-winning score. Johnny Manziel started at quarterback for the Express, but left the game in the first quarter after a head injury.[23]
