Force claim National Conference title, defeat Orlando 60-58
June 5, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
The Georgia Force (13-5) advanced to ArenaBowl XIX defeating the Orlando Predators (11-7) 60-58 in the National Conference Championship game at Philips Arena. The Force will face the winner of the American Conference Championship game between Colorado and Chicago in Las Vegas on Sunday, June 12th for the AFL crown.
It took a total team effort by Georgia, who found themselves down by 13 points mid-way through the third quarter. The Force move on to their first championship game in team history by the result of two defensive safeties and an offense that outscored the Predators 33-12 in the last quarter and a half.
Georgia quarterback Matt Nagy led the team finishing with seven touchdown throws on 26-of-36 passing for 344 yards. Force WR/LB Chris Jackson hauled in a game-high four scores on eight receptions for 147 yards. Orlando passer Joe Hamilton threw for seven touchdowns on 23-of-29 for 272 with one interception, while WR/LB Cory Fleming caught three touchdowns with 118 receiving yards on seven receptions.
The Orlando defense was the storyline in the first half as they stopped Georgia on three of their six possessions. The Predators took an early 14-13 lead when Kevin Nagle rushed in for a three-yard score. On Georgia's ensuing drive, Nagy fumbled the center exchange which was recovered by Orlando on the Force 13-yardline.
In the second quarter, Georgia closed the scoring gap to 21-20 when Jackson hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Nagy. Then the Force defense created a stop of their own as Ricky Parker intercepted Hamilton in the endzone. Georgia could not capitalize on the opportunity giving the ball back on a turnover on downs. Nagle added a second rushing score in the half to build the Predators lead to 27-20 with 58 seconds remaining before the break. Orlando's defense again held Georgia on downs as they took a seven-point lead into the half.
Orlando built their largest lead of the game when Fleming pulled in a 28-yard touchdown strike from Hamilton to put the Predators up 40-27 with 7:15 left in the third quarter. Nagy started the Georgia comeback on a three-yard scoring rush to chip away at the Orlando lead. On the Predators' next possession, Hamilton was sacked in the endzone for a safety by Jermaine Smith leaving the score 40-35 Orlando.
Georgia capitalized on the ensuing kickoff taking their first lead, 41-40, since the game's opening possession when Nagy hit Troy Bergeron for a 20-yard touchdown. With the home fans creating trouble for Orlando to hear the play calls, the Predators committed two false starts and a delay of game penalty pushing them back to their own one-yard line. On the next play, Gillis Wilson sacked Hamilton for a second safety putting the Force up 51-46. Following touchdown scores by both teams, Georgia kicker Nelson Garner connected on a 23-yard field goal with 37 seconds left in the game as the Force stood with a 60-52 advantage. Hamilton would not let his team quit though driving down the field and connecting with Jimmy Fryzel on a one-yard touchdown as time expired. Orlando, needing a two-point conversion to send the game into overtime, came up short on two different attempts as the Georgia defense stood strong in victory.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 5, 2005
- Colorado, Georgia to battle for ArenaBowl XIX title - AFL I
- Miracle Finish Puts Crush in ArenaBowl - Colorado Crush
- Force claim National Conference title, defeat Orlando 60-58 - Georgia Force
- Georgia Force win national conference; advance to ArenaBowl XIX Las Vegas - AFL I
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.
