Georgia Force Improve To 8-1 With Win At New Orleans

April 27, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


Georgia Force improved to 8-1 on the year and to 3-0 against Southern Division opponents as they defeated the New Orleans VooDoo (4-5), 72-57. Georgia QB Chris Greisen completed 19 of 23 passes for 243 yards with nine touchdowns to lead the Force offense and LB Umar Muhammad collared 5.5 tackles and three sacks to spearhead the defense. With the 72 point performance, Georgia is the first team in AFL history to score 60+ points in eight of their first nine games of the season. In the last three games, Greisen has thrown for 39 touchdowns with zero interceptions and has not thrown fewer than seven touchdowns in a single-game this season. Next week, the Force will return to Philips Arena to take on their Southern Division rival the Orlando Predators on Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m.

The 2007 Georgia Force continued to re-write the team record books as they scored the most points (27) in a first quarter. The previous mark of 21 was achieved three times, with the last time being at Austin (4/9/06). Their record breaking performance allowed Georgia to build a 27-10 lead after the first quarter. New Orleans opened the scoring with a 40-yard field goal by K Eric Houle just 3:07 into the game. The Force offense responded with a three-yard touchdown run by Greisen to give Georgia an early 7-3 lead. On the VooDoo's next play from scrimmage WR Scott Mitchell was hit by Force DB James Whitley and fumbled; Georgia LB Eric Johnson came down with the fumble to secure the first turnover of the game. Shortly after, Greisen connected with WR Troy Bergeron for Georgia's second score of the quarter. New Orleans went back to Mitchell on their next possession and again Whitley jarred the ball loose. Johnson once again recovered the fumble, but this time he returned it 17 yards for a touchdown and a 20-3 Force lead. VooDoo QB Andy Kelly found WR Kenny Henderson for their only touchdown of the quarter. The first quarter record was broken on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Greisen to WR Derek Lee.

Georgia held a 10-point lead over New Orleans at the end of the first half, 40-30. Kelly threw three touchdowns in the quarter with two of them going to WR James Jordan. Greisen added two scores in the quarter with one to Lee and one to Bergeron. Lee's five-yard score marked his 10th touchdown reception inside the red zone this season (17 total touchdown receptions).

The two teams continued to trade scores in the third quarter, but the Force led 53-44 heading into the final 15 minutes. Greisen dropped a perfect pass into the arms of WR Chris Jackson from 34 yards out to begin the scoring in the second half. Greisen would another score in the third quarter, this one to Lee for his third of the game. VooDoo QB Steve Bellisari carried the ball for a one-yard score and Kelly threw a bomb to Henderson on fourth down for New Orleans' other score in the quarter.

Georgia would never relinquish their lead in the fourth quarter as Greisen threw three more touchdowns in the final 15 minutes to give him nine on the night. Bergeron caught two of the three passes, which gave him eight catches for 101 yards and four touchdowns on the night. Muhammad collared two sacks in the quarter and tied the team record for sacks in a single-game with three. The Force gave up a late score to New Orleans making the final score 72-57.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 27, 2007


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