Conquest Need Late TD to Overpower Pioneers
July 5, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
Albany QB, and Game MVP, Ryan Vena found OS Corey Hill from six yards out with fifteen seconds to play to lift the Albany Conquest to a 59-58 vistory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers Saturday night at the Pepsi Arena, in front of 5,005 fans.
With the win, the Conquest clinched a berth in the 2003 af2 playoffs, holding a two game lead over the Mohegan Wolves (9-4), who defeated the Bossier City Battlewings, 38-26, Saturday night. Albany also held on to the #2 seed in the American Conference, hoping to obtain a first-round palyoff BYE.
Vena was his usual miraculous self, completing 20-of-30 pass attempts for 342 yards and five touchdowns. He also scored three times on the ground, picking up thirteen rushing yards. This is the ninth time that Vena has been named Game MVP, a team record.
Hill led all receivers with seven catches, good for 69 yards and one touchdown, while adding another 70 ayrds on kick returns. Game Ironman, WR/DB Phil Taylor, hauled in six receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns. ADT Defensive Player of the Game, DS John Stuart, recorded 10.0 tackles (eight solo), recovered a fumble and picked up five pass breakups.
Albany (11-2) trailed most of the game, before taking the lead with 1:53 left in the game when Vena found WR/DB Jamie Ware for a 43 yards touchdown reception. Ware finished the game with two receptions for 85 yards. Wilkes-Barre got a Kevin Nagle three yard rushing score to get the lead back before Hill caught the game-winner.
The Pioneers (5-8) had one last chance, but Dennis Wuestkamp's 50-yard field goal attempt went wide left, ending the game and all hopes for Wilkes-Barre.
The Conquest travel to face the same Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers next Friday night in PA. Kickoff is set for 7:00 and the game can be heard live on www.albanyconquest.com.
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