Cobras Fall, 61-39, To Red-Hot Dragons
May 8, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
NEW YORK â The Carolina Cobras were unable to contain quarterback Aaron Garcia and the streaking New York Dragons, falling 61-39 Saturday night in front of 10,185 at the Nassau Coliseum. Garcia completed seven touchdowns to five different receivers as he led the Dragons to touchdowns on all nine possessions in the contest.
New York (8-5) needed only 29 offensive plays in the contest as the club compiled over 12 yards per play to secure their seventh victory in nine games. The loss was the fifth in six games for Carolina (4-9).
QB Rickey Foggie completed 26-of-47 passed for 259 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Carolina offense, which held the ball for over 38 minutes in the contest. OS Damien Groce pulled down eight receptions for 72 yards to lead the Cobras receivers, while WR/LB D.J. Humphries had six catches for 74 yards and a score. FB/LB Chris Pope added a career-high three rushing touchdowns.
Garcia earned Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game recognition after completing 15-of-20 passes for 246 yards on the night. WR/LB Cosmo DeMatteo led the Dragons receivers with three catches for 83 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while WR/LB Will Holder added two scoring receptions.
The Cobras defensive unit struggled to slow down the Dragons offensive attack in the first half as New York took a 35-16 advantage as they scored five touchdowns on just 15 offensive plays. Garcia led the offensive outburst, completing 11-of-14 passes for 135 yards and four score through two quarters. For Carolina, Foggie threw for 129 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 12-of-20 passing.
New York got on the board quickly as Garcia found DeMatteo open along the sideline for a 40-yard scoring pass on just the second play of the contest. Carolina responded quickly, however, as Foggie connected with WR/DB Jarrick Hillery on consecutive passes to drive the Cobras the length of the field to tie the game at 7-7. On the first play of the ensuing drive, the Dragons' FB/LB Josh White was able to find break around the corner of the line and stormed upfield for a 31-yard scoring run. The Cobras stormed back once again as Humphries reeled in his third scoring pass of the season just minutes later. A missed PAT attempt by Rob Bironas left Carolina trailing 14-13. Garcia completed the first quarter sc oring with an 8-yard touchdown pass to WR/DB Chris Anthony to give New York a 21-13 lead after the first 15 minutes of play.
The scoring pace slowed considerably in the second frame as New York was able to increase its lead to 19 points, 35-16, as the Dragons defense held Carolina to only three points in the quarter. The Cobras points came on a 19-yard field goal by Bironas, capping off an 11-play, seven-minute drive to begin the stanza. New York responded with a quick three-play drive, including a seven-yard touchdown reception by Will Holder. The Dragons then posted the first defensive stop of the night, holding Carolina on downs inside the 10-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the first half. Garcia capitalized with an eight-yard scoring pass to Holder with only two second left on the clock.
New York's offensive dominance continued in the third quarter as the home team scored two touchdown receptions on just three plays in the frame to extend their lead to 48-25. Bironas began the quarter with a season-long 49-yard field goal to cut the Dragons' halftime lead to 35-19, however, Garcia remained red-hot, finding DeMatteo for a 36-yard scoring strike on their first play of the second half. The next drive for the Cobras ended with a one-yard touchdown plunge from FB/LB Chris Pope, his second of the season, to slim New York's advantage to 42-25 late in the frame. However, Garcia led the Dragons back once again, finding WR/DB Lincoln DuPree in traffic for a 20-yard score.
The fourth quarter was more of the same as ADT Defensive Player of the Game Chuck Wesley intercepted a pass on the Cobras first drive of the frame. Garcia turned the miscue into points as he found OS Richmond Flowers for a 45-yard scoring reception. Pope posted two touchdown dives and New York FB/LB Kerry Taylor added a one-yard touchdown plunge to complete the night's scoring.
The Cobras hit the road once this week as the club travels to face the expansion Philadelphia Soul on Saturday, May 15 at the Wachovia Spectrum. The Cobras narrowly defeated the Soul, 63-59, on April 17 at the Charlotte Coliseum when the Carolina defense stuffed a goalline rushing attempt by Philadelphia WR/LB Ricky Ross as time expired.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 8, 2004
- Dragons Bite Cobras - New York Dragons
- Rush runs over Rampage - Chicago Rush
- Cobras Fall, 61-39, To Red-Hot Dragons - Carolina Cobras
- SaberCats at Rattlers - San Jose SaberCats
- Firebirds win over Fury, 68-59 - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
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