Conquest Weekly
July 9, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
The Manchester Wolves broke a tie game by scoring 23 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Albany Conquest 50-33 Friday night at Verizon Wireless Arena. Albany won the coin toss and elected to kickoff first. Manchester made them pay as QB James Pinkney took the first offensive snap of the game and found WR Bradley Chavez wide open deep down the field for a 27-yard TD pass and a 7-0 lead. On Albany's first possession, DE Larry McSwain sacked Albany QB Dan Cole, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Chavez and returned 20 yards for a touchdown and a 13-0 lead. The Conquest then escaped a fourth down situation as Cole went deep to WR Antwun Williams for a 42-yard TD pass and a 13-6 game after the first quarter.
WR Steven Savoy opened the second quarter with a three-yard pass from Pinkney and a 20-6 lead, but the Conquest turned the tides soon after. Cole linked up with WR Vernard Abrams for a 12-yard TD pass to cut the lead in half, then Albany's defense came up big as DB Roland Minor recorded his third interception in as many games. The Conquest took the interception and turned it into points as Cole finished a long drive with a one-yard run as the first half ended, tying the game at 20-20.
Each team scored once in the third quarter as Savoy caught a 13-yard pass to regain the lead, but Abrams countered with his second of the game to tie the game at 27-27. Manchester blew the doors off the game in the fourth quarter, out-scoring Albany 23-7 as they took a 50-33 victory. Pinkney connected with Chavez for a 23-yard TD pass, WR Emery Sammons scored on a 3-yard run, FB Lamar Bryant ran in a touchdown from eight yards out and the Wolves defense sacked Cole in the end zone for a safety. Albany's only score of the final quarter was a 17-yard TD reception by Abrams, his third TD catch of the game.
Week 16 Preview:
After enjoying their second bye week during Week 15, the Conquest are back in action as they travel to Kentucky for the second time in 2008. This time Albany is headed to Louisville to square off with the Fire (7-6), who currently occupy the eighth and final playoff spot in the American Conference. If the Conquest wish to keep even a faint hope of making the playoffs alive Saturday's game at Freedom Hall is a must win. In spite of their 1-6 road record this season, the only way Albany can be mathematically eliminated from post season contention this week is by losing to the Fire.
Louisville is coming off one of the most heart-breaking losses of the season, a 42-41 road shocker to the Mahoning Valley Thunder (3-10) on June 27th. Tied at 28-28 after three quarters, the teams traded scores before the Thunder went ahead by seven (42-35) with 27 seconds left in regulation. Fire Backup QB Aaron Marshall entered for the first time in the game, completed two short passes and then on his third snap broke away for a 22-yard run for a touchdown with nine seconds left on the clock. Needing just an extra point to send the game into overtime, Louisville was flagged for a delay-of-game penalty and the kick was pushed back five yards. Fire kicker Danny Kight's 23-yard PAT attempt was blocked by Mahoning Valley DE Mike Lane; giving the Thunder a stunning upset victory.
The Conquest offensive line took another blow in Manchester when starting tight end Leo Sullivan suffered a leg injury in the fourth quarter, an injury that will keep him out of the lineup for at least the next two games. Albany did receive some good news at the return of tight end Jacob Hobbs. Hobbs has not played for Albany since Week 6 vs. Tennessee Valley because he attended the New York Giants NFL Rookie/Free Agent Minicamp in May and was signed to a contract. Hobbs had been working out with the rest of the Giants during their off-season training sessions in East Rutherford, NJ, but was released on June 23.
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