Greensboro falls in tough battle, 59-52
May 2, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Greensboro Prowlers News Release
Greensboro- The Greensboro Prowlers battled through the entire contest with the Richmond Speed, however in the end, the Speed prevailed 59-52. In the game, the Prowlers could find no defensive match for Richmond's Damon Thompson who tied an af2 league record with 18 receptions, while amassing 225 yards and five touchdowns. The night from Thompson moved him tied in league history with Corey Hill of Albany, who made 18 grabs against the Mohegan Wolves on July 27, 2002.
The Prowlers (3-2) began the game with an offensive spark of their own, as WR/DB Bobby Sippio returned a 56-yard kickoff for a touchdown just 18 seconds into the contest. The Speed would then answer with two touchdowns of their own on a 24-yard pass from Roy Johnson to Damon Thompson, as well as a quarterback bootleg from five yards out to give Richmond a 13-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
In the second, Greensboro's Bobby Graham scored to open the frame, pushing Greensboro again into the led at 14-13. The Speed then answered with a 10-play drive that consume just under eight minutes, scoring on a Johnson quarterback sneak. Richmond scored again when Thompson made a 39-yard reception to widen the gap to 25-14 in favor of Richmond (2-2). Greensboro would finally answer with a 4-yard reception from Bobby Graham with just eight seconds remaining in the half. Following a Speed fumble in their own redzone, Greensboro's Josh Jones kicked a 35-yard field goal to make the halftime score 25-24 in favor of Richmond.
In the third, Damon Thompson struck twice with a 29-yard reception at the 13:08 mark, giving Richmond a 32-24 lead. Greensboro then answered with a 23-yard pass from Caleb Slover to Corey Sullivan again cutting the lead to just one. Following an 11 play, 45 yard drive, Roy Johnson completed a 6-yard pass to Thompson giving the Speed a 38-31 lead after three.
With the fourth quarter beginning, Greensboro was looking for a defensive turnover it never received. The opening play of the fourth, gave Richmond a 44-31 advantage, rattling the Prowlers. Greensboro answered with a Caleb Slover connection to Corey Sullivan 24-yard strike and would trail again by six. The Speed would score twice more on touchdown passes of 15-yards to Damon Thompson and 20-yards to Richard Holland to score 59 points on the Prowlers defensive unit. Greensboro managed two strikes of their on, with an 18-yard pass to Charvin Clark and 19-yard strike to Corey Sullivan, making the final 59-52.
The leaders for Greensboro included Caleb Slover who completed 22-of-35 passes for 261 yards and six touchdowns. Corey Sullivan answered with 10 receptions for 128 yards and four touchdowns, leading the receiving corps. Greensboro was led by Thaddeus Bullard and Karlos Odum defensively who both recorded three tackles. The Prowlers now go on the road for the next three contest, when they face Cape Fear, defending af2 champions Peoria, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in consecutive weeks.
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