Cobras Fall To Detroit 49-44

Published on February 14, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release


The Carolina Cobras came back from a 40-21 deficit with 13:30 remaining in the game to take a 44-43 lead over the Detroit Fury with one minute to play, but could not hold on for their first win of the season, as they fell to Detroit, 49-44, on Friday night before 8,922 fans at the Charlotte Coliseum.

Carolina used a 23-3 fourth quarter run to take their first lead of the game on a 22-yard touchdown from Robert Hall to Bernard Holmes with 1:00 remaining, but Detroit's Andy Kelly found Marcus Nash in the end zone with 4.7 seconds left to give the Fury their second consecutive win and keep the Cobras winless on the season.

"I thought the way we played in the second half we had a great chance to win," said Cobras Head Coach Mike Hold. "We never gave up. With the deficit we were under to come back and do what we did in the second half, I just can't say enough about the way we played."

Kelly finished the game 27-of-47 for 290 yards and six touchdowns. He found Nash in the end zone three times and connected with Jason Kaiser for two more scores. Nash finished the night with eight receptions for 86 yards and Kaiser added eight catches for 85 yards.

For the Cobras, Hall completed 16-of-27 passes for 210 yards and five touchdowns. Holmes had four touchdowns on the night, three receiving and one on a kickoff return. He caught seven passes for 110 yards to go along with his three scores. Ty Law added seven receptions for 64 yards and two touchdowns.

"I was really disappointed (to lose in the end)," said Holmes. "We knew we had it in the second half, but they made a big play at the end. It if hadn't been for some of our bad plays in the first half, it would have been a totally different game."

The first quarter was a defensive battle, and the Fury scored the quarter's only points on a 2-yard pass from Kelly to Kaiser. The Cobras opened the second quarter with a six-yard touchdown from Hall to Law. The teams traded touchdowns before Kelly threw back-to-back scoring passes to Kaiser and Junior Lord, giving the Fury a 28-14 halftime lead.

Detroit opened the third quarter with two field goals by Matt McNew to extend their lead to 34-14. Holmes' second touchdown reception of the night cut the lead to 34-21, but Detroit responded with Kelly's 30-yard touchdown pass to Nash with 13:30 to play. Trailing 40-21, the Cobras found their offense for the game's final thirteen minutes. Holmes ran back the ensuing kickoff for a 55-yard touchdown, which was followed by a Cobras onside kick recovered by kicker Matt George. Hall then found Law in the end zone for the second time, pulling the Cobras to within 40-35. After a defensive stop, the Cobras regained possession and George's 32-yard field goal cut the Fury lead to just two. McNew's third field goal of the night put Detroit's lead back to five at 43-38, but Holmes scored his fourth touchdown of the night on a 22-yard pass from Hall with 1:00 to play to give the Cobras their first lead, 44-43. Detroit's nine-year veteran Kelly ran a methodical drive, which ended with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Nash with 4.7 seconds to play. Nash's third touchdown catch of the night gave the Fury the 49-44 victory.

The win is Detroit's second straight after snapping a 12-game losing streak which dated back to last May. The Cobras remain winless, falling to 0-3 on the season.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 14, 2003


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