Nashville Kats Blow by Minnesota Myth 47-12 in Season Opener
The Kats move to 1-0 after the win, while Minnesota falls to 0-1.
Both teams ran 38 plays on the offensive side of the ball, with Nashville converting those chances into 234 total yards and seven scores. The Kats defense played lights out, holding the Minnesota offense to just 74 yards from scrimmage and allowing only one offensive touchdown.
Ramone Atkins earned the starting quarterback position for the Kats and completed 8-of-14 passes for 161 yards and four touchdowns. The former New Mexico Highlands QB also rushed twice for 11 yards.
Atkins targeted four different receivers for each of his touchdown passes. Charles McClain finished tied for the team lead in receptions with three, along with a TD, while Braxton Haley led the group with 63 yards and a score on two catches. Reggie Howard caught one pass resulting in a 40-yard score, while Marquis Irvin recorded catches for 16 yards and a TD. Cade Brewer added three catches.
The Kats ran the ball seven times for 18 yards and three touchdowns. James Atoe, Haley, and Ja’Quain Blakely all logged rushing scores for Nashville.
The Nashville defense was spearheaded by Sedevyn Gray and Derrick Jones, both amassing six tackles each. Gray and Ezekiel Rose both secured one sack and one forced fumble. Trae Meadows intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble, in addition to two tackles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Kats only required three plays to reach the endzone for their first score of the season as Atkins connected with Haley for a 29-yard score to put the Kats ahead in just the third play from scrimmage. Nashville’s defense was relentless from the onset, as Ezekiel Rose sacked Minnesota’s QB in the endzone on the ensuing drive for a safety, granting Nashville an early 9-0 lead.
Atkins threw his second TD pass of the night after Minnesota’s kickoff, finding McClain from six yards out to conclude a six-play, 32-yard drive. The Kats extended their lead to 22-0 to close the first quarter as Atkins threw his third TD pass, connecting with Howard on a 40-yard bomb.
The Kats added 13 more points in the second quarter, making it 35-0 at halftime. Atkins connected with Irvin for his fourth TD pass of the half, while Blakely scored from 1-yard out.
Nashville added 12 more points in the third quarter, while Minnesota scored six points each in the third and fourth quarters. Both Kats’ scores came from one-yard runs by Atoe and Haley. The Myth found the endzone on a 12-yard TD pass from Demry Croft to Javonte Haynes, followed by a 50-yard interception return from Terrance Wenzel.
GAME NOTES
The Kats return to action on Thursday as they head to Albany, New York, to take on the Albany Firebirds. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. CT, and you can catch the game live on 102.5 FM and 106.3 FM The Game, with Eli Gold providing the commentary. Additionally, NFL Network will broadcast the contest.