Fire Stays Hot

Published on April 30, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Louisville Fire News Release


Louisville, KY – The Louisville Fire Arena Football team likes to keep things close for the fans in Freedom Hall. The Fire improved their record to 4 – 0 tonight with a 48-46 victory over the Birmingham Steeldogs in front of 9,151 fans.

The Fire defense once again played stingy by shutting the Steeldogs out in the first quarter. The Fire had a 12 – 0 lead after one quarter of play behind Offensive Player of the Game James Scott's two touchdown receptions.

Birmingham would get on the board early in the second quarter after a Larry Paul three yard touchdown run. Tony Stallings would then answer with a two yard touchdown rush of his own. On the ensuing Birmingham possession Demetrius Forney, US Army Ironman of the Game, would sack Ray Nelson in the end zone for a safety. The Steeldogs cut the lead to 22-12 at halftime after Nelson found Miles Randle on a 14 yard strike.

The second half gotten underway with Matthew Sauk hitting Rob Mager on a 48-yard strike to put the Fire up 28-12 with 13:19 left in the third. After Larry Paul found the end zone twice more on the ground Fire WR/DB Cesare Manning continued his hot start with a four yard touchdown reception to give the Fire a 35 – 32 led after three.

The scoring continued to start the fourth when Herman Bell would score the fourth of the Steeldogs' fifth rushing touchdowns. James Scott would rush for one on his own to keep the Fire ahead 42 – 32 with 12:37 left in the game. The teams would trade touchdowns with Matthew Sauk hitting Rob Mager on a 20 yard touchdown reception to put the up 48 39 and give Sauk his fifth touchdown pass of the evening. Mager however was not done making plays after Birmingham's Drew Fogram scored from 16 yards out with 11 seconds left, the Steeldogs were forced to try an onside kick down 48-46. Vinyl Cirrincione's onside attempt bounced high in the air and Mager pulled it down after being slammed into the boards by two Birmingham defenders to secure the victory for the Fire.

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