Firecats Clinch Home Playoff Game with 66-56 Win Over Conquest

July 15, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release


Estero, FL- The first ever meeting between the Florida Firecats and the Albany Conquest, which was witnessed on www.af2.com as well as by 5,190 in attendance at Germain Arena, saw an offensive see-saw battle that ended with a 66-56 Firecats victory. The first quarter scoring got off to a fast start when Conquest wide receiver DeOnte Taylor caught a 27 yard pass on the first possession of the game. The Firecats answered with a scoring drive of their own, capped off by an Ethnic Sands touchdown catch. Albany scored two more times, on touchdowns runs by quarterback Ryan Vena and fullback Jose Harris, to take a 21-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Florida got two touchdowns, one on a one handed catch by Magic Benton, which earned him the Cutters Catch of the Game and the other from running back Clenton Crossley's 17 yard sweep to the left. The teams then traded off touchdown catches and went into the locker rooms tied at 28.

Each team scored on all three of their offensive possessions in the third quarter and leaving the game all knotted up at 49 going into the fourth quarter. Sands gave the Firecats the lead, 56-49, on a 13 yard catch with 11:37 to play. With nine minutes left, Florida got a defensive stop, the first by either team in the second half. That stop proved to be the difference as Brandon Kornblue hit a 38 yard field goal to put the 'Cats up by ten with 6:00 left. Albany scored on their next possession to bring their deficit to only three, but the onside kick attempt was recovered by Chris Morant and ran in for the games final score.

Sands was the U.S. Army Ironman of the game with 4 catches for 47 yards and 3 touchdowns. Schutt Offensive Player of the Game was Albany's Vena who threw six touchdown passes and ran in another. Firecats defensive specialist Corey Bailey had 11 and a half tackles, earning him the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

The Conquest have lost seven of their last eight and dropped their road record to 2-5. The Firecats improved to 6-1 at home and clinched at least the fourth seed in the playoffs, as well as one home game. Second year Florida Head Coach Kevin Bouis became the 15th coach in af2 history to record 25 or more victories.

The Florida Firecats host the Louisville Fire next Saturday July 22nd at Germain Arena. The Conquest host the Manchester Wolves in Albany.



arenafootball2 Stories from July 15, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central