Force Topple Cleveland, Will Play for American Conference Title
July 31, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Georgia Force News Release
Cleveland, OH (July 31, 2011) - On an afternoon that saw the Cleveland Gladiators raise their East Division championship banner to the rafters, the Force were undaunted in a 50-41 win that advances them to the American Conference Championship Game.
It marks the first conference title game berth for Georgia since 2007, when the team finished the regular season at 14-2. This time, they will take the field as the upstart, facing South Division rival Jacksonville next Monday night on NFL Network for the right to play in ArenaBowl XXIV.
The signature offensive play for the Force came late in the fourth quarter on a fourth down play with Georgia leading by eight. Quarterback Darnell Kennedy, bereft of open receivers, absorbed a pair of hits and lunged into the end zone to give his team a two-touchdown lead with 36 seconds left. It was by far the biggest of Kennedy's four carries on the afternoon, and came along with 202 passing yards and three scoring tosses.
A pair of the Force's biggest plays came on defense and special teams, however. The Force attempted a field goal as time expired in the first half, but missed. Cleveland attempted a return and lateraled once before fumbling. Michael Johnson swooped in to recover the loose ball, and pull the Force to within one going into the locker room.
Georgia then exerted control on the game when play resumed in the third quarter. Defensive back Ahmad Hawkins gave the Force a 34-21 lead with what was officially called a 40-yard fumble return touchdown. An errant lateral from Kurt Rocco went backward, making it a live ball which Hawkins scooped up and took all the way back.
The good fortune atoned for a pair of gutsy calls that did not go the Force's way. Georgia attempted a surprise onside kick in the first half, but Cleveland managed to recover. Also in the first half, with the ball inside the Gladiator 10, the Force elected to go for the touchdown instead of laying up for the field goal on fourth down, but were turned away.
Maurice Purify led the Force receiving corps with 91 yards on seven catches and two scores. Larry Shipp caught eight balls for 82 yards and a touchdown. Jerry Turner and LeRoy Burgess led the defense with two sacks apiece.
Next Monday night's American Conference Championship Game will be nationally broadcast live on NFL Network at 8:00. With a win, the Force will advance to their second ArenaBowl in franchise history, and first since falling to Colorado in 2005.
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Arena Football League Stories from July 31, 2011
- Force Topple Cleveland, Will Play for American Conference Title - Georgia Force
- Gladiators' Season Ends in Playoff Loss to Force - Cleveland Gladiators
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