Houston Lonestars at Nationals

Highway signs in Houston help paint
the picture of what flooding looks like.

Hurricane Harvey dropped historic rainfall on the Texas coast in late August in the United States. Many locations reported at least 30 inches (76 cm) of rain. Nederland, east of Houston, recorded 64.58” of rainfall. Pearland, in Houston’s southern suburbs, a reported 9.92” fell in 90 minutes.

The rain definitely affected the Houston Lonestars footy club. No players were directly affected by Hurricane Harvey, but their families definitely were. Club members worked to help many others in the aftermath. The Lonestars also pitched in financially, with several members raising $10,000.

Their August 26th Texas Cup triangular with the Austin Crows and Dallas Magpies was canceled. They did get back into action on September 9 with a sweep of Baton Rouge (seven points) and Nashville (a 26-point win). The Lonestars also fell to Dallas and to the Los Angeles Dragons on September 23, and went 0-2 while hosting the Magpies and Crows on October 7.

So it was against this backdrop that the Houston Lonestars reported to San Diego recently for USAFL Nationals. The Division 1 side beat the Chicago Swans by five points, but fell to Portland Steelheads and the Quebec Saints to finish 1-2 in pool play. 

The Division 4 Lonestars also went 1-2 in San Diego, dropping decisions to the New York Magpies and Calgary Kangaroos, but ending on a positive note with an eight-point win over Ft. Lauderdale. 

On the women’s side, the Lonestars joined forces with the Dallas Magpies to form the Texas Heat. The team went 2-2 with wins over Columbus and Baltimore-Washington. 

At the championship level, the Denver Bulldogs women’s side were the six-time reigning D-1 premiers until losing to San Francisco last year. The Iron Maidens repeated as champions by winning the rematch in San Diego 2.2.14 to 1.0.6 for Denver.

The Austin Crows were D-1 Premiers in 2013 and in 2015-16, but it was Golden Gate who took their second premiership, and first since winning the D-2 title in 2005, beating Los Angeles 6.4.40 to 2.1.13.

Atlanta Kookaburras

It's been a time of transition and turnover for the Atlanta Kookaburras.

Season 2016 ended with the squad combining with Baton Rouge (Louisiana) at USAFL Nationals and finishing just out of the finals series. Their one loss was by 10 points in their opener to a skilled Des Moines (Iowa) side while learning to play together. They followed that with a win by 11 over perennial power Denver. Their third and final game was a resounding victory over Tulsa (Oklahoma), made more remarkable because they played the match after learning a clerical error would keep them from advancing.

A high point of 2016 was the club’s 100th win, coming on the road vs. the Nashville Kangaroos.

Mark Cannatelli played very well at Nationals and thus earned the Kookas’ 2016’s Best and Fairest, with Brett Hester placing second as well as earning his second consecutive Most Improved award. Sam Ridenhour took home Best Clubman, and Braden Medders, Ryan Downey, and Brian Gilliam also had fine seasons for Atlanta. There were also many compliments for new coach Brent Bacon.

Unfortunately life moves on and there is turnover every season. Mark Cannatelli earned his Ph.D., is now Dr. Cannatelli, and has begun a new career as an academic. Some of the regulars have made or are making trips to Australia, and Hester is returning from a hamstring injury suffered at Nationals.

The Kookas are off to a slow start in 2017 following losses to Nashville and to the North Carolina Tigers, but there is new enthusiasm and some new faces, so the future is still bright as the new players blend in.

Atlanta invites their Legends back home for a match on May 13, followed by a home game against Baton Rouge May 20.