Firecats Drop Second in a Row
April 24, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
Estero, FL- Penalties continue to plague the Florida Firecats.
A crowd of 6,123 came out to TECO Arena to see Cape Fear quarterback Chris Wallace win the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game Award, Cape Fear linebacker Chris McKinney win the ADT Defensive Player of the Game Award, and Florida's Cainon Lamb win the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game.
The Cape Fear Wildcats came into town tonight and handed the Firecats their second straight loss by a score of 55-35. The Firecats were penalized 124-yards, bringing the season total to 376 yards in penalties in only three games.
Cape Fear started Chad Degrenier at quarterback in place of the injured Chris Wallace, but, after a huge hit by the Firecat defense, Degrenier sat the rest of the game on the Wildcat bench. Chris Wallace came in and completed ten passes for 164 yards, and he found the end zone four times. Matt Burstein led all Wildcat receivers with four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Rodney Brown and Chris McKinney each added a score.
Firecat receiver/ linebacker Cainon Lamb had another brilliant night, even after officials nullified two amazing touchdowns. Lamb led all Firecat receivers with seven catches for 92 yards and three touchdowns. Lamb scored once on a 45-yard bomb from quarterback Ken Mastrole. Lamb returned the opening kickoff 41-yards for his lone credited return. Lamb had an amazing kickoff return in the fourth quarter that he returned for a Firecat touchdown, only to have officials call it back on holding. Lamb showed off his passing skills early in the game when he threw a fake field goal touchdown pass to kicker Brandon Kornblue, only to have the officials take this one away as well. Lamb was also second on the team with 2.5 tackles.
Lamb's three touchdown receptions leave him one short of the Firecats' career record. Lamb now has 41 touchdown receptions. Former Firecat Anthony Dixon holds the record with 42 touchdown receptions.
Firecats' offensive specialist Magic Benton had another solid game, catching five balls for 66 yards and a touchdown. He also added a 46-yard kickoff return. Firecat quarterback Ken Mastrole completed 17 of his 36 pass attempts for 192 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. Brent Burnside had another solid performance, catching his first touchdown of the season and grabbing the first Firecat interception of the season. Steve Gorrie led the rushing attack with 11 yards.
Linebacker Chris Morant paved the way on defense. Morant had 2.5 tackles, two pass deflections, a quarterback hurry, and an extremely athletic blocked field goal. Victor Hall added a sack, and Quincy Sorrell led the team with four tackles.
The Firecats head off on a month long road trip, starting next week against the defending American Conference champion Knights.
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