Defense paces Firebirds to 73-36 victory
Published on March 20, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
In a league where offense traditionally looms large, the Firebirds defense stood tall early on against Georgia, holding the Force to only 60 yards and two first downs in the first half as the Firebirds won for the first time at home this season, 73-36. The win snapped Georgia's five-game road winning streak and gave Mike Wilpolt his second consecutive win since being named head coach two weeks ago.
FB/LB Jarrod Penright (U.S. Army Ironman of the Game) set the tone early on, electrifying the Fieldhouse crowd by breaking four tackles en route to a 13-yard touchdown reception, which started a 24-0 Indiana run to give them a 31-7 lead at halftime.
The Firebirds showed no signs of letting up in the second half. Three plays after Force QB Leon Murray found OS Markeith Cooper on a 36-yard touchdown connection, Adrian McPherson found Anthony Hines at the Georgia 22-yard line. Showing some of the same resolve that Penright had displayed earlier in the game, Hines drug a Georgia defender ten yards down to the twelve. Three plays later, McPherson found paydirt on a one-yard run behind a crushing block from Chris Janek to give the Birds a 38-14 lead.
Penright made his presence felt yet again on the final play of the third quarter. On the first play from scrimmage following a three-yard kickoff return by Cooper, Penright snuck through the Georgia offensive line and sacked Murray for the Firebirds' first safety of the season.
Georgia tried regaining some momentum at the beginning of the final frame, when Steve McLaughlin tried an onside kick that was recovered by Brett Bech. A penalty on the play gave the Birds the ball first and goal and the Georgia 4-yard-line. Two plays later, McPherson found the end zone for the third time to give Indiana a commanding 53-22 lead.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 20, 2004
- Defense paces Firebirds to 73-36 victory - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
- Dragons upend Destroyers, 62-41, at Nassau Coliseum - Columbus Destroyers
- Dragons Destroy Columbus, 62-41 - New York Dragons
- Wranglers wrap up Fury, 70-58 - Austin Wranglers
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