Game Preview: Power at Predators
May 22, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Pittsburgh Power News Release
PITTSBURGH, PA (May 22, 2014) - The Pittsburgh Power (6-3) will look for their fourth consecutive win when they travel to Orlando, FL, for a contest this Saturday night against the Orlando Predators (6-3). The game will be called by Power broadcast team Mike Logan and Ken Laird on ESPN3 and TribLIVE Radio.
THE GAME:
Pittsburgh Power (6-3) at Orlando Predators (6-3)
Saturday, May 24 - 7:30 pm ET
CFE Arena - Orlando, FL
TV: ESPN3
Radio: TribLIVE Radio
All-Time Series: Orlando leads 3-2
LAST WEEK
The Power remained undefeated at home under Coach Ron James taking down the Los Angeles KISS 50-26 to improve to 6-3 on the season. The Power set the tone on the first play of the game when linebacker James Bryant busted through the KISS offensive line to sack Aaron Garcia, forcing a fumble that defensive end Anthony Hoke recovered for a Power touchdown. The Power jumped out to a 28-0 start and rolled to their third straight win.
Orlando dealt with quarterback Jason Boltus' injury well sneaking past the Jacksonville Sharks with a 57-50 win on the road. Former Power QB Bernard Morris got the start and threw for 342 yards and seven scores. The Predators tied the game up with 30 seconds left in the game and with one second left, wide receiver Gerald Young returned a missed field goal 49 yards to win the game.
POWER TO WATCH | OFFENSE:
Power quarterback Tommy Grady has been on his game as of late. Over the Power's three-game win streak, Grady has completed 67.1% of his passes for 803 yards and 20 touchdowns. Grady is just 125 yards and four touchdowns to hold franchise career records in those categories.
Helping him try to do so is wide receiver Hank Edwards. Acquired prior to the Philadelphia game in Week 8, Edwards has come to Pittsburgh and been an offensive force. He has a receiving touchdown in each of his three games and is coming off his best performance of the season where he caught eight passes for 47 yards and found himself in the end zone three times.
PREDATORS TO WATCH | OFFENSE:Florida State product and AFL rookie Greg Carr presents a big challenge to the Power defense. The 6-foot-6 wide receiver leads the Predators on the season with 62 receptions, 862 yards, and is tied for fourth in the league with 21 touchdowns. Teamed with receiver Khalil Paden, who is coming off of a six-catch, 149 yard performance against the Sharks, the Predators have a solid corps of receivers to attack the Power secondary.
POWER TO WATCH | DEFENSE:
With defensive back Virgil Gray's injury, Pittsburgh's secondary will need to take on bigger roles this coming week. Corner Brandon Freeman has three interceptions in two weeks bringing his season total up to five. Last week, Al Phillips stepped up in Gray's absence with a team high nine tackles and recorded his first interception of the season.
PREDATORS TO WATCH | DEFENSE:
Linebacker Tanner Varner leads the Predators defensively with 42 tackles on the year. Varner also leads Orlando in takeaways, forcing a fumble and recording two picks on the season, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
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