Firebirds Dominate Force at Home, 73-36

Published on March 21, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release


In a league where offense traditionally looms large, the Firebirds (2-5) defense stood tall early on against Georgia, holding the Force (4-3) 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.

Nestle's Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the game Adrian McPherson accounted for seven touchdowns and Leroy Thompson recovered two Georgia fumbles in leading the Firebirds to the highest scoring output since 2001 when they scored 74 points in a loss to Grand Rapids.

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. The scamper ignited 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, 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 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. The rookie from Texas A&M finished the game with 2.5 tackles (0.5 for loss) and one-half sack to go along with his 19-yard touchdown reception, earning him US ARMY Ironman of the Game.

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.

The Firebirds defense controlled the game and one of the top offenses in the AFL. They held the Force to 184 total yards and took advantage of four Georgia turnovers in the win. Murray finished the game 7-for-18 for 113 yards and two touchdowns before being replaced by back-up Chris Hixson.

For the second week in a row the Firebirds returned a late onside kick attempt for a touchdown. Delvin Hughley, who recorded a team-high four tackles, returned his 10-yards for the score with 45 seconds left in the game. OL/DL Bill Duff scored his first two career touchdowns last week and recorded his first sack of the season tonight. For his efforts Duff was named the ADT Defenisve Player of the Game.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 21, 2004


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