Good Friday Turned Great with VooDoo Ending the Graveyard Curse
April 7, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS (April 6, 2012) - With 8,677 faithful fans in attendance, the New Orleans VooDoo (2-2) broke The Graveyard curse of a 12-game home losing streak with a 66-47 win over the Tampa Bay Storm (2-2)on the Net 10 NFL Network's "Game of the Week" on Friday night.
It was also the VooDoo's first home game win since the 2008 season.
"It feels good to get this win and put this 'curse' behind us. Overall, we played well to get this win to even our record against a very talented team; however, there are things we have to correct moving forward," said VooDoo head coach Pat O'Hara. "I am proud of our team for rising to the challenge and getting this win at home. We had a lot of guys step up, and my hat goes off to the defense for forcing turnovers."
Despite a slow start early in the first quarter, the VooDoo took a 19-point lead at half time over the Tampa Bay Storm. New Orleans was given the chance to score first after an interception by Demarcus Robinson, but the Storm forced a New Orleans fumble on the drive.
The Storm found the end zone first, but the VooDoo tied the score after a 33-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Rocco to Quorey Payne. By the end of the 1st quarter, the curse on The Graveyard was seemingly broken and the VooDoo's ashes began to diminish.
During the next 15 minutes of play, New Orleans' performance between the walls took on a complete transformation. The VooDoo's revived-play started with Rocco's pass to Bush to add 6 points for New Orleans.
From a one point deficit at 14-13 with 12:23 left to play in the half, the VooDoo continued to force the Storm to turnover over the ball. Giving New Orleans the chance to break the curse, the VooDoo proved its worthiness with 8 touchdowns for a total of 292 total offense yards and snatching 3 interceptions from Tampa Bay quarterback Stephen Wasil.
Once New Orleans took the lead for the first time in the game with a 25-yard field goal by its newly acquired kicker Matt Denny, the VooDoo would not give the Storm the lead for the rest of the game.
With a little over 30 seconds left in the first half, Rocco tossed a bomb to Payne for 31 yards putting New Orleans up by 9. After the score, VooDoo defense kept on disrupting Tampa Bay's aerial attack as Jeremy Kellem intercepted Stephen Wasil's pass for another touchdown from 39 yards out making the score 30-14. It was Kellem's third straight game with an interception and fourth consecutive with a takeaway.
"It was huge and changed the game," said O'Hara about Kellem's interception return. "Our defense made plays when we needed plays; I am proud of our team, we played as a team and not individuals and the scoreboard showed that this week and last week."
New Orleans continued its first half tirade as Alvin Ray Jackson also grabbed an interception before the break, which allowed Denny to kick the ball between the uprights for 3 points to end the half for a 33-14 advantage at the midway point. The VooDoo outscored the Storm 26-0 in the second half - ultimately sealing the game.
In the second half of the game, the Tampa Bay would only come as close as 13 points to the VooDoo's score. However, the VooDoo kept answering with touchdowns leading by as many as 20 points late into the fourth quarter.
VooDoo quarterback Kurt Rocco had an outstanding performance completing 24 of 35 passes for a total of 305 yards. New Orleans receivers L.J. Castile and Bush both combined for a total of 8 catches for 190 yards.
"San Antonio is our next opponent and we are well aware of what they are capable with Aaron Garcia under center," added O'Hara. "We will need that same type of intensity that we had tonight for next week."
The VooDoo travel next weekend to play the San Antonio Talons with hopes of finding its third consecutive win of the 2012 season.
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: Kurt Rocco, NOV
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: Jeremy Kellem, NOV
JLS Ironman of the Game: Victor Williams, TAM
AFL Playmaker of the Game: Jeremy Kellem, NOV
Cutters Catch of the Game: Amari Jackson, TAM 4th quarter 45-yard TD catch
Spalding Highlight of the Game: Jeremy Kellem, NOV 39-yard INT TD Return
National Guard MVP: Jeremy Kellem, NOV
Arena Football League Stories from April 7, 2012
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- Good Friday Turned Great with VooDoo Ending the Graveyard Curse - New Orleans VooDoo
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