PFA Week 1 Recap
The 2025 PFA season is officially underway, and Week 1 delivered a packed slate of action across the league. From lopsided victories to nail-biters, fans were treated to a dramatic opening weekend. Let’s dive right into the highlights—starting with the 3A division.
3A Division:
Raiders Dominate, Hornets Blank
Racine Raides 35 (1-0) – Tennessee Hornets 0 (0-1)
It may have been earlier than usual for Racine to take the field, but the Raiders looked midseason-ready in their opener. Treating the game almost like a preseason warm-up, Racine rotated a number of players in and out, but the result was never in doubt.
Quarterback Sawer Schick was efficient in limited action, going 5-for-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Howard Triplett led the charge with two rushing touchdowns, while Rashuan Herron added one of his own. The offense operated smoothly and confidently despite the early-season timing.
But the real story was the Raiders’ defense, which suffocated the Hornets from the opening whistle. Tennessee was held to zero points and managed negative yardage on the day. It was a tough outing for the Hornets, but to their credit, they showed grit and played a full four quarters despite the scoreboard.
Looking ahead, the Raiders hit the road in Week 2 as they travel to Detroit to face the Michigan Bills. We’ll have a full preview of that matchup coming soon.
Indy Bison 60 (1-0) – Grand Rapids Surge 6 (0-1)
If there was any doubt about the offensive firepower of the Indy Bison, they erased it quickly. The Bison exploded for a 60-6 rout over the Grand Rapids Surge in one of the most lopsided games of the weekend.
Quarterback Montrez Hearon was unstoppable, tossing five touchdown passes to five different receivers in a balanced aerial assault. The Bison offense operated with ruthless efficiency, keeping the Surge on their heels from start to finish.
The Surge managed to find the end zone once, though the score felt more like a footnote than a momentum shift. Rumors swirled in the offseason about a potential merger between the Surge and the Kalamazoo Titans, but if true, the reinforcements didn’t show up in this matchup.
Next up, the Bison make a short road trip across town to face the Circle City Warhawks of the MDFL in Week 2—a showdown that promises a different kind of test.
Detroit Ravens 21 (1-0) – Kalamazoo Titans 0 (0-1) (Forfeit)
The Detroit Ravens notched an uncontested victory in Week 1, earning a 21-0 forfeit win over the Kalamazoo Titans, who folded prior to the season’s kickoff. While it goes in the books as a win, the Ravens are eager to finally take the field in Week 2 when they travel to Cleveland to face the Rams.
Michigan Bills 32 (1-0) – Cincinnati Dukes 29 (0-1)
In the most dramatic finish of the weekend, the Michigan Bills pulled off a thrilling second-half comeback to edge the Cincinnati Dukes 32-29. Trailing by double digits at halftime, the Bills stormed back with three unanswered touchdowns.
Quarterback Chauncey Lowman led the charge, throwing for 245 yards and four touchdowns in a gutsy performance. The game came down to the final plays, but the Bills’ defense made a crucial late stand to seal the win. They’ll face a major test next week as the Racine Raiders come to town.
Motor City Rams 12 (1-0) – Midwest Renegades 9 (0-1)
The defending PFA champions had to grind it out in a defensive battle against the MWUF champion Midwest Renegades. Points were hard to come by, but the Rams did just enough to edge out a 12-9 victory in a true championship-style slugfest.
2A Division Recap
NWO Warlocks (1-0) – Cuyahoga Falls Rapids (0-1) (Forfeit/No Contest)
In one of the strangest stories of the weekend, heavy rain reportedly caused officials to leave before the game began, resulting in a 21-0 forfeit win for the Warlocks—or at least a no contest, depending on who you ask. The Warlocks hope to actually take the field in Week 2 against the Cleveland Cobras.
Cincinnati Hawks 20 (1-0) – Flag City Phantoms 14 (2-1)
In a back-and-forth battle, the Hawks pulled out a gritty 20-14 win over a tough Flag City squad. The Phantoms’ defense held strong, but their offense struggled to find rhythm late in the game, giving Cincinnati just enough room to escape with the win.
Tuscarawas County Warriors 22 (1-0) – Lima Warriors 20 (0-1)
Lima had bright moments and stayed in the fight until the final whistle, but ultimately fell just short in a 22-20 loss to Tuscarawas County. A tough loss, but signs of promise remain for the Lima squad heading into Week 2.
That will do it for week one recap of the 2025 PFA season, look for the week 2 preview and recap to be out soon.