Firecats Edge Albany In Opener 32-27
April 11, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
ALBANY, NY - Quarterback Chris Wallace threw four touchdowns to WR Chris McKinney and rushed for a touchdown as the Florida Firecats beat the Albany Firebirds 32-27 in front of 5,067 fans Friday night at the Times Union Center.
The Florida offense looked strong on the opening drive and took the ball down to the Albany six yard-line, but Firebirds linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson picked Wallace in the end-zone to keep the game scoreless. The Firebirds offense then went three and out on their first possession, but the first play of Florida's ensuing drive saw Albany's defense come up big again, as Anton Lindsay recovered a fumble after a big hit on receiver Magic Benton. Firebirds quarterback Adam Bednarik, aided by two big Firecats penalties, moved the ball down the field and capped off the drive with a touchdown pass to Jackson, giving Albany a 7-0 advantage.
Bednarik took advantage of great field position and hooked up with Jackson to make it 14-0 early in the second quarter. Florida used the deep ball on their ensuing drive, earning a pass interference call on a deep ball and then scoring on a second consecutive bomb to the endzone to Chris McKinney. A failed extra-point attempt made it 14-6 Firebirds. In the closing minutes of the quarter, Albany lost the ball on downs and Wallace connected on another strike to McKinney, but another missed extra-point made it 14-12 with one minute to play in the quarter. Firebirds kicker Brian Umstead added a forty yard field goal as time expired in the half to make it 17-12.
Albany started the second half and the offense drove to the Firecats' 15 yard-line, but failed to convert on a fourth-down pass into the endzone. On Florida's ensuing drive Wallace and Mckinney combined to give their team its first lead of the game with another deep touchdown pass while a third failed extra point from kicker Garrett Rivas made it 18-17 Florida. In the closing minute of the third, McKinney caught his fourth touchdown of the evening, from eleven yards out to expand the Firecats' lead to 25-17.
Albany opened the final quarter with an 11-play, thirty-seven yard drive down to the Florida two yard-line and finished with an Umstead field goal to pull to within five points. On their next possession, Wallace accounted for his fifth touchdown of the game, a quarterback-keeper from two yards out to make it 32-20. The Firebirds' next drive started at their one yard-line with just over 3:30 to play and ended with a one-yard touchdown run from Bednarik that made it a five point game with 34.9 seconds to play. The Firecats recovered the ensuing onsides kick and ran the remaining time off of the clock with consecutive quarterback keepers.
PASSING LEADERS: (Comp-Att-Yds-TDs)
ALB: Bednarik, Adam - 23-42-2-176
FLA: Wallace, Chris - 15-30-212-4
RECEIVING LEADERS: (Rec-Yds-TD)
ALB: Rodriguez, Anthony - 12-84-0
FLA: McKinney, Chris - 5-76-4
Russell Offensive Player of the Game: Florida QB Chris Wallace
Aaron's Defensive Player of the Game: Albany LB Alvin Ray Jackson
JLS Ironman of the Game: Florida NT Chandler Blakely
The Big Game Catch of the Game: Albany WR Christian Wise
Nifty Hit of the Game: Albany DB Kenny Williams
The Firebirds will hit the road next week to face Manchester on Saturday, April 18th at 7:30 pm. Albany's next home game will be on April 25th in a 7:00 start against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Full and partial season ticket packages 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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