After one quarter in the East Bay Outlaws’ semipro football home opener against the Sacramento Cobras at the Freedom High School stadium Saturday night, the Outlaws seemed to be in complete command, spending nearly every second in Cobra territory. The Outlaws’ inability to get the ball into the end zone, however, would come back to haunt them throughout the game, resulting in a 33-6 loss.

With less than four minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Outlaws’ strong running game moved the ball inside the Cobra 30-yard line. But the drive fizzled when quarterback J.P. Flores’ pass down the left sideline was intercepted at the goal line.

The defense held tight for the Oakley-based team, however, as defensive tackle Eric Jobe stuffed the line of scrimmage repeatedly, getting the ball back for Outlaws at midfield to begin the second quarter. Just a minute later, however, Flores’ deep pass down the right sideline was again picked off.

The Cobras took aim at the heart of the Outlaw pass defense on the very next play, as receiver Danny Owens hauled in a seam route for a 45-yard completion to the Outlaw 35-yard line. And quarterback Logan Hollis hooked up with Charlie Zamora to take a 7-0 lead.

Outlaw Marley McNealy returned the kickoff into Cobra territory, but the drive fizzled a few plays later. With less than two minutes to play in the half, the Outlaws marched across midfield. But Flores was sacked and coughed up the ball, which Art Gallow scooped up for the Cobras, racing 45 yards for the score and a 13-0 lead at halftime.

Things didn’t fare any better for the Outlaws in the second half. A 39-yard scoring toss from Hollis to David Young gave the Cobras a 20-0 lead early in the period. Another Flores interception gave Sacramento the ball at the Outlaw 22-yard line with a chance to ice the game. The defense rose to the occasion, however, forcing a turnover on downs that was preceded by the hit of the game, when linebacker Todd Willis flattened a Cobra running back deep in the backfield.

The Outlaws finally got on the board late in the third quarter, when Will Thompson outjumped the Cobras’ cornerback to haul in a 45-yard scoring pass down the right sideline.

With the loss, the Outlaws fall to 0-3, two games back of the AFC West-leading Marin Bulldogs and North Bay Rattlers. They will seek their first win of the season this Saturday, April 4, in an away game against the Solano Ravens, who are also winless.