Dragons Season Ends with a Win
May 30, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release
Despite a hard fought 69-54 win over the Philadelphia Soul, the Dragons did not receive the help they needed from around the league and will miss the 2004 playoffs. Their season came to end with a 9-7 record. QB Aaron Garcia had a strong game as he threw for over 200 yards with six touchdowns. WR Chris Anthony had a career day with four touchdowns of his own and OS Kevin Swayne added two scores in his return from an injury.
The Dragons came out fast and strong in this all-important game. The Soul was held to a long field goal attempt on the first drive of the game and kicker Ken Hinsley missed on a 57-yard attempt. FB Kerry Taylor then put the Dragons on the scoreboard with a short run. After Philadelphia tied the game at seven, WR Kevin Swayne caught a 20-yard pass to put the Dragons ahead again. After the first quarter, New York held a 14-7 lead and would not trail again.
Soul QB Todd Hammel threw an interception to start the second quarter. LB Chris Anthony picked off the pass and returned it 38-yards for a touchdown. The Dragons defense then forced their third stop of the game as they held the Soul to another field goal attempt. Hinsley converted the kick, this time from 43-yards, and Philadelphia cut the home team's lead to 21-10. The Dragons' next possession was an interesting one and Anthony, now playing WR, came up with his second score of the day. The play was intended for Swayne, who caught the original pass, but he fumbled the football while trying to gain additional yards after the catch. Anthony saw the ball loose in the endzone and fell on it for a score. On the play, the Dragons took a 28-10 lead.
On the ensuing Dragons kickoff, New York successfully attempted an onsides kick to give them a double possession. On the first play of the drive, Garcia found WR Chuck Wesley on a 42-yard pass as the team increased their lead to 35-10. Following a Soul touchdown, the game got wild again. Garcia threw a pass intended for WR Richmond Flowers, however it was overthrown. The ball bounced off the rebound nets and into the diving arms of Anthony. With that score, the Dragons went up 42-17. The Soul would add another touchdown as time expired in the half and the Dragons took a 42-25 lead into half time.
The second half started out with a defensive flavor as each team came up with a stop. Kral missed a 37-yard field goal attempt and the Soul turned the ball over on downs in the Dragons' redzone. FB Josh White scored the only touchdown of the quarter as he ran in a touchdown from two yards out. After three quarters of play, the Dragons were leading 49-25.
Philadelphia kicked things off in the fourth quarter on a high note. FB Chris Ryan started it off with a one-yard run for a score. The Soul then recovered an onsides kick and took advantage of their double possession. Solomon brought in a 20-yard pass from Hammel and with a two-point conversion the Soul found themselves trailing by only eight points, 49-41.
On the Dragons next possession, Anthony continued his career day with his forth touchdown of the afternoon. The play came on a 30-yard pass from Garcia and Anthony made a driving catch and barely stayed in bounds for the score. Kral missed the extra-point, but the Dragons increased their lead to 55-41. After the Soul scored to close the Dragons lead to 55-48, New York put the game away on their next drive. Kevin Swyane caught an 11-yard touchdown to put the Dragons up by 14 points. Jerald Brown came up with an interception and returned it for a touchdown. At this point, the Dragons held a 21-point lead, 69-48. Philadelphia added a late score, but the Dragons held onto the win.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 30, 2004
- Gladiators finish Destroyers, 64-51 - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Destroyers drop season finale, 64-51, to Vegas - Columbus Destroyers
- Storm hold on to beat Desperados, advance to playoffs as No. 7 seed - Tampa Bay Storm
- Desperados Drop Seventh Consecutive Game, Falling to Storm - Dallas Desperados
- Arizona comes from behind to nip SaberCats - San Jose SaberCats
- Dragons Season Ends with a Win - New York Dragons
- New Orleans VooDoo to face Colorado Crush in inaugural home playoff game - New Orleans VooDoo
- Crush knocks down Rush, 56-47 - Chicago Rush
- VooDoo activate WR/LB Anthony Collins and WR/LB Tremaine Neal from injured reserve - New Orleans VooDoo
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