Costly Turnovers Hurt VooDoo In Loss To Predators
Published on March 18, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans VooDoo came out hot against the Orlando Predators and took an early lead, but the Orlando Predators took advantage of VooDoo mistakes to take a 47-34 victory on Friday night in The Graveyard.
VooDoo quarterback Danny Wimprine had a decent outing, completing 16-of-28 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns. However he threw a costly interception in the fourth quarter, which would have helped the VooDoo's comeback effort with the team trailing 40-28 at the time. He ended the game with two interceptions and a fumble.
"The Danny Wimprine fumble, I truly thought that was a pass," said head football coach Derek Stingley. "I thought it was a forward pass. In my opinion it was. They told me the ball was already fumbled and he pushed it forward, but if you push something forward that's a throw. That's a pass being thrown forward. That didn't make sense to me."
PJ Berry led the way for VooDoo receivers with eight receptions for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Berry also made an impact with his explosive returns, averaging 23.0 yards on six returns with the longest one going for 33 yards.
"He's one of the most explosive players in this league," Stingley said about Berry. "We have to do a better job at making sure that the ball is in our playmakers hands, and he is one of our playmakers. In fact, he is the playmaker on the team."
Berry was noticeably upset after the game.
"We lost again. Again," he said. "That's a hard pill to swallow."
Carlese Franklin caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter to put the VooDoo within a touchdown of the Predators, 21-14, with 1:12 left in the first half. Franklin finished the game with five receptions for 52 yards and one touchdown. This is Franklin's first game back since sustaining an injury in the VooDoo's scrimmage against the Dallas Vigilantes on Feb. 25.
Jack linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson led the defense with 9 tackles (all solo). His biggest tackle of the game came in the closing seconds of the second quarter, preventing Predator receiver TT Tolliver from scoring at the 1-yard line. This kept the VooDoo within one touchdown of the Predators at the half.
The VooDoo offense put their explosiveness on display today, scoring their first three touchdowns in three plays or less. New Orleans scored on their opening drive when fullback Jason Schule ran the ball six yards into the end zone. Schule finished the game 21 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
Alvin Jackson, the VooDoo linebacker, foresees improvement in his team in the games to come.
"Last week was a tough loss, this was another tough loss. I just think we have to go back and practice, practice, practice," said Jackson. "Next week we are going to get better, we're not going to get any worse. We are going to get better because we are going to work harder. We are going to do whatever we have to do."
Berry believes the VooDoo is more than just a team to this city.
"We owe it to the city" said Berry. "We owe it to ourselves."
The VooDoo will travel to Jacksonville to play the reigning American South Division champion, Sharks, next Friday at 6 p.m. CST. This will be the first meeting ever between these two teams.
Arena Football League Stories from March 18, 2011
- Rush Win in Front of Largest Crowd Since 2008 - Chicago Rush
- Costly Turnovers Hurt VooDoo In Loss To Predators - New Orleans VooDoo
- Seven Turnovers Spell Doom For Soul in Hohensee's Return to Windy City - Philadelphia Soul
- Orlando Predators Dominate in Season Opening Win Over New Orleans VooDoo 47-34 - AFL
- Barnstormers Red Zone Returns Sunday Night - Iowa Barnstormers
- 3.18.11 Gladiators Launch All-New Online Team Store - Cleveland Gladiators
- Blaze Blow out Storm in Home Opener, 72-36 - Utah Blaze
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