Iron lose late to Predators, 58-54
May 21, 2010 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release
It was Damian Harrell's night. The Iron's veteran wide receiver came into the game needing just seven receptions to become the AFL's all-time leader for receptions, and he shattered it. As the Iron lose to the Orlando Predators 58-54, Harrell finished the night with 13 receptions for a season-high 144 yards and three touchdowns.
The second half was the definition of a back-and-forth battle, each team using different strategies to get into the endzone. The two teams combined for 11 lead changes in the second half, resulted in a dramatic game with the Predators coming out on top.
The Iron started off cold with two fumbles in the first quarter on kick returns by Carlton Brown. However, with their one possession in the quarter Iron quarterback Chris Greisen hit Harrell to cut into the Predators lead and go into the second quarter down just 10, 17-7. Greisen finished the night on 27-for-43 passing for 346 yards and six touchdowns.
The tables were turned in the second quarter as the Iron were able to cut the lead to just two going into halftime after a Tyre Young rushing touchdown and a safety forced by Iron newcomer Bryan Robinson.
Iron kicker Bob Forstrom gave the Iron their first lead of the game with a 19-yard field goal in the third quarter. Predators quarterback Nick Hill hooked up with T.T. Toliver to give Orlando the 31-25 lead but only to be taken away by a Tiger Jones 14-yard touchdown catch to put the Iron up 32-31. Jones finished the night with six catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
Hill later hit Derrick Lewis to give the Predators a 44-39 lead late in the fourth quarter but with just one minute left in the game Greisen hit Harrell for a 16-yard touchdown to give the Iron a one-point lead. As they did last week in overtime against Utah, the Iron went for two and were successful on a pass to Tiger Jones, giving the Iron a 47-44 lead with under a minute left.
A 29-yard pass from Hill to Lewis set up a Hill two-yard rush for the Predators to take a four-point lead with under 25 seconds on the clock, 51-47.
Again, as it was a week ago against Utah, Greisen found Tiger Jones for a 35-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left in the game to take a three-point lead. But it was only hope for less than 10 seconds as Hill hit Bobby Sippio for the go-ahead touchdown with just four seconds left to put Orlando up 58-54 and give them the eventual win. The Iron are now just 1-2 on the road this season.
The Iron will play host to the Dallas Vigilantes next Saturday, May 29th at the Bradley Center. For tickets call 1-888-MKE-IRON or visit www.mkeiron.com or the Bradley Center box office.
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Arena Football League Stories from May 21, 2010
- Iron lose late to Predators, 58-54 - Milwaukee Mustangs
- Harrell sets AFL all-time receptions record - Milwaukee Mustangs
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