Milwaukee Drops Season Finale at Orlando, 49-39
July 22, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release
Orlando - A late-game 21-point outburst turned a close game into a 49-39 win for the Orlando Predators in the season finale for the Mustangs.
Milwaukee (5-13) took a 31-28 lead after a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gino Guidugli to wide receiver Jared Jenkins with 13 minutes 48 seconds left in the third quarter. But the Mustangs didn't score again until late in the fourth quarter, and by then it was too late to salvage a win.
A kickoff return for a touchdown by T.T. Toliver, followed by a one-yard scoring run by Christ Jamison and an eight-yard touchdown catch by Jarvis Williams with 11:33 left in the game, gave the Predators (4-14) a commanding 49-31 lead.
Milwaukee outgained Orlando 339 to 201, but the Mustangs were plagued by three interceptions and special teams play that yielded 149 kickoff return yards.
Orlando benefited from playing on a short field. Quarterback Chris Leak only completed 18 passes for 143 yards, but he accounted for five touchdowns. Williams hauled in seven catches for 60 yards and four scores.
Guidugli completed 28 of 44 passes for 323 yards and three scores. Jenkins was on the receiving end of two scoring passes to lead the Mustangs.
The Mustangs trailed 21-7 after a six-yard touchdown catch by Williams with 11:30 left in the first half. A 22-yard field goal by Jose Martinez pulled Milwaukee within 21-10, but Orlando answered with another score that gave the Predators a 28-10 advantage.
That's when the Mustangs went to work. Guidugli scored on a one-yard dive with 53 seconds left in the half. On the first play of Orlando's next possession Marcus Everett recovered a fumble on the Predator's six-yard line. Milwaukee eventually scored on a two-yard run by Guidugli to make it 28-24 late in the first half.
Milwaukee opened up the second half with the long pass from Guidugli to Jenkins that gave the Mustangs their first lead of the game at 31-28.
Orlando responded with a 52-yard touchdown return on the ensuing kickoff. The score gave the Predators a 35-31 lead. Orlando never trailed again.
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Arena Football League Stories from July 22, 2012
- Blaze Drop Regular-Season Finale to Soul - Utah Blaze
- AFL Postseason Matchups Set - AFL
- Milwaukee Drops Season Finale at Orlando, 49-39 - Milwaukee Mustangs
- Soul End Regular Season with 69-34 Victory over Utah - Philadelphia Soul
- SaberCats Grab Third Seed, Set to Battle Arizona in the Desert - San Jose SaberCats
- Orlando Predators Capture Win in Final Game of the Season, 49-39 - Orlando Predators
- Sharks to Open Playoffs against Force - Jacksonville Sharks
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