Copperheads Fall To Firecats, 56-14

April 6, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Texas Copperheads News Release


Houston, Texas - Florida QB Chris Wallace won offensive player of the game honors as he lead the Firecats to a 56-14 victory over the Texas Copperheads on Sunday afternoon at the Richard E. Berry Center in Houston, TX. Wallace was nearly perfect, completing 16 of 20 passes for 203 yards and six touchdowns.

The Firecats were equally impressive on defense. Texas QB Rudy Carlton, under intense pressure all afternoon, threw one interception and was sacked four times. Carlton would finish the day 25 of 49 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. The Florida defense also scored a touchdown on a 2nd quarter fumble return.

Florida opened the scoring at the 7:33 mark of the first quarter on a 19 yard strike from Wallace to Brent Burnside. On the following possession, due to an errant snap of a Texas FG attempt that ended up in the arms of K Nick Gatto, the Copperheads turned the ball over at the Firecats 14 yard line. With 11:57 remaining in the second quarter, Firecats WR Chris McKinney capped off a seven play 36 yard drive with a four yard touchdown run to extend Florida's lead to 14-0. Texas would again turn the ball over on downs after failing to convert a 4th and goal at the Florida 8 yard line. After an incompletion on first down, Wallace connected with Burnside for 22 yards but Copperheads DB James Todd forced a fumble which was recovered by Texas' Armar Watson at the Copperheads 21 yard line.

On Texas' ensuing possession, Carlton completed passes to Sean Rochon and Shawn Donaldson to give the Copperheads a first down at the Florida 15 yard line. With the Copperheads threatening to score, Carlton found Bryan Carroll for a three yard gain, but Florida DB Tony Stubbs forced Carroll to fumble. Florida DB Carlos Campbell scooped up the loose ball and returned it 38 yards for a Firecats TD. After a touchback, the Copperheads offense would once again stall. Another botched FG attempt ended Texas' possession and Florida took over at the Copperheads 6 yard line. After a 2 yard run by Florida FB James Gibson, Wallace found McKinney at the :22 mark of the second quarter with a 4 yard touchdown toss. Florida kicker Jon Peattie converted the PAT to give the Firecats a 28-0 half time lead.

Wallace would throw TD passes of 29, 5, 27 and 25 yards to Matt Burnstein, Chris Bowser, Burnstein again and McKinney to account for Florida's 2nd half scoring. Texas scored its first TD of the day on a 7 yard pass from Carlton to Carroll. Carroll would score Texas' final TD on a 30 yard grab from Carlton late in the 4th quarter.

Schutt Offensive Player of the Game: Chris Wallace (FLO)

ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Carlos Campbell (FLO)

U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Chris McKinney (FLO)

Cutter's Catch of the Game: Matt Burstein (FLO) - 29 yard TD at 11:05 of 3rd period

Attendance: 1850



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