Firebirds Edge Out Thunder 50-41
May 3, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
ALBANY, NY - Wide receiver Johnie Butler hauled in five of quarterback Stephen Wasil's six touchdown passes as the Albany Firebirds defeated the Mahoning Valley Thunder 50-41 for their first win on Saturday night at the Times Union Center.
The Firebirds defense forced a three-and-out on Mahoning Valley's opening drive to turn the ball over to Albany quarterback Stephen Wasil, who returned from a four-week stint on the injured reserve. The second-year signal-caller went three-for-three to march the Firebirds into Thunder territory, but receiver Alvin Ray Jackson fumbled the ball and on the ensuing possession Mahoning Valley quarterback Blake Powers scored the opening quarter's only touchdown; an 18-yard strike to Quorey Payne for the receiver's team-high 10th of the season.
Albany tied the score on their first offensive play of the second quarter, when Wasil lofted a 28-yard completion to Butler. The Thunder quickly reclaimed the lead on a De'Tario Frederick 55-yard kick return for a touchdown. On the first play after a Firebirds interception, Frederick grabbed a 35-yard touchdown to give Mahoning Valley a 20-7 advantage. With 2:08 to play in the half Wasil threw his second touchdown of the night to Butler and a two-point conversion pulled Albany within 20-15. The Thunder answered in the final seconds with another Payne touchdown to make it 27-15 at the half.
Butler caught his third touchdown to cut the Firebirds deficit to five at the start of the third quarter. The Thunder settled for a field-goal attempt on their next drive, but a botched snap gave Albany the ball on the visitor's thirteen yard-line and the Firebirds took their first lead of the game with a clever five-yard touchdown run from wide-receiver Anthony Rodriguez. Mahoning Valley reclaimed the lead to close the third quarter when Chris Schubert turned a short reception into a 29-yard touchdown.
Albany struck first in the final quarter with Butler's fourth touchdown catch of the night to put the home team ahead 36-34. The Thunder answered when Powers threw a bomb the length of the field to Payne. Two-minutes later Butler put the home team ahead again with a 30-yard grab as Butler took a trip over the boards on the play, but held onto the ball to make it 43-41 Firebirds. Albany's defense came-up with a big sack on Mahoning Valley's next possession and gave Wasil found Alvin Ray Jackson from five yards out to make a two-possession game with 2:04 left before a Lawrence Wade interception with ten-seconds remaining iced the contest.
PASSING LEADERS: (Comp-Att-Yds-TDs-INT)
ALB: WASIL, Stephen - 26-40-278yds-6TD-1INT
MVT: POWERS, Blake - 21-39-251yds-5TD-1INT
RECEIVING LEADERS: (Rec-Yds-TD)
ALB: BUTLER, Johnnie: 9-154-5TD
MVT: PAYNE, Quorey: 6-94-3TD
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Final
Albany Firebirds (1-5) 0 15 14 7 50
Mahoning Valley Thunder (1-5) 7 20 7 7 41
Albany hits the road for a Week 7 match-up with the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings next Saturday, May 9th at the CenturyTel Center in an 8:00 p.m. kickoff.
Partial season ticket packages and single game tickets are now on sale; for more information please contact the Firebirds at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyfirebirds.com.
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