
Brigade clinch playoff birth with 28-18 victory
July 20, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Mohegan Wolves News Release
Uncasville, CT (July 19th, 2002)- The Mohegan Wolves (3-12) finished their home schedule with yet another heart-breaking defeat. The Rochester Brigade (7-8) clinched a playoff birth with a 28-18 victory.
Rochester had the only score of the 1st quarter on a Derek Baker 46-yard TD reception.
Mohegan answered in the 2nd with a trick play that had WR/DB Andy Macaione connecting on a 15-yard pass to TE/DE Jeff Cogell. The Brigade's LaMonte Coleman dashed for a 23-yard touchdown to give Rochester a 14-6 lead at the half.
That lead would hold up until the 4th quarter when Wolves QB Kevin Carty found OS Brandon Burnside from 5 yards out to pull the Wolves within two. The two-point conversion was failed and the ensuing kickoff was returned 56 yards by Derek Baker to give the Brigade a 21-12 edge. Carty would then find WR/LB Brian Shubin to draw the Wolves within three, at 21-18. Mohegan had a final chance to stop the Brigade on a 4th and inches with 1:00 minute remaining, but Rochester OS Martino Theus grabbed a 22-yard touchdown pass to finish off the Wolves. The catch also made Theus the af2's single season record holder for receptions, with 149 catches on the year.
Theus caught 8 passes for 75 yards and a TD. Derek Baker added 5 for 73 and a touchdown. ADT Defensive Player of the Game, Lamonte Coleman, rushed for 33 yards and a TD on the night, and added 2 ½ tackles. Brigade QB Matt D' Orazio passed for 181 yards and 2 TD's.
Game MVP Brandon Burnside caught 10 passes for 103 yards and a TD. Jeff Cogell caught 1 pass for 15 yards and a touchdown, added a sack and 4 tackles on the night to earn Ironman of the Game honors. Heron O'Neal led all Wolves defenders with 5 ½ tackles and two passes broken up. QB Kevin Carty passed for 187 yards and 2 TD's as well.
Mohegan travels to Albany for the final game of the 2002 campaign. Game time is set for 7:30 pm at the Pepsi Arena next Saturday night.
arenafootball2 Stories from July 20, 2002
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- Brigade Clinches Playoffs with Theus's Record Setting Catch - Rochester Brigade
- Brigade clinch playoff birth with 28-18 victory - Mohegan Wolves
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