Brigade Holds Tight For Victory

Published on May 19, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Rochester Brigade News Release


Rochester, N.Y. (AP)- The Rochester Brigade (4-3) won their second game in a row as they defeated the Mohegan Wolves (2-5) 53-50 in front of 2,289 fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The victory gives the Brigade sole possession of second place in the Northeast Division.

Leading the offense for the Brigade was QB Matt D'Orazio, who completed 29 out of 41 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns. D'Orazio also rushed the ball six times for 23 yards and three scores, setting a team record for rushing touchdowns in a single game.

D'Orazio's main targets on the night were game IRONMAN WR/DB Derek Baker and OS Martino Theus. Baker caught eleven passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns, registered three rushes for eleven yards including a two-yard touchdown and registered eight solo tackles on the night to lead the team. Theus led the team with twelve catches for 123 yards.

The Brigade led the Wolves 28-11 at halftime off of four rushing touchdowns; two by D'Orazio from eight and six yards out, one by Baker from two yards along with FB/LB Anthony Cleary's one-yard plunge. The Wolves registered eleven points from a Melvin Phillips' safety, a Shawn MaClean 25 yard field goal and OS Brandon Burnside 16-yard touchdown from QB Cable Davis.

Offensively, the Wolves were led by QB Cable Davis' 23 completions for 373 yards and six touchdowns. His main target was game MVP OS Brandon Burnside, who caught nine passes for 205 yards and five touchdowns of which four came in the second half. Burnside also returned eight kick-offs for 127 yards.

The Wolves didn't make things easy for the Brigade as they came out scoring in the second half to register three consecutive touchdowns. Two of the three came off Brigade turnovers, allowing the Wolves to take the lead 37-34 after the third quarter. In the third, Davis registered touchdown passes of 36 and 27 yards to Brandon Burnside and a 45-yard bomb to WR/DB Andy Macaione. The Wolves FB/LB Ben Labelle also rushed in a score from four yards out. Scoring the lone touchdown for the Brigade was Baker, off a 19-yard strike from D'Orazio.

The Brigade rebounded in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. D'Orazio rushed in his third score of the night and completed a seven-yard dart for a score to Baker, followed by the game winning touchdown, a fourth down completion to Baker from ten-yards out.

Brigade OL/DL Willie Watson led the Brigade defensively with 5.5 tackles (five solo), two for a loss of four yards and one pass defended, earning himself ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.

For the Wolves, DS Heron O'Neal registered 8.5 tackles (six solo, five assisted), one interception and two passes defended to lead the team defensively.

Next week the Brigade returns home to face the Greensboro Prowlers (2-4) of the Atlantic Division for a 7:30 kickoff at the Blue Cross Arena, before heading on the road to play three straight away games. The Wolves will travel down the street to face divisional rival New Haven Ninjas (2-3).

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