Last Minute Drive Falls Short in Pittsburgh's 59-54 Loss
June 29, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Pittsburgh Power News Release
PITTSBURGH, PA - New Orleans' Eddie Moten's interception with 55 seconds remaining thwarted a potential Pittsburgh Power game-winning drive, sealing a 59-54 victory over Pittsburgh this evening. The back-and-forth game featured 11 lead changes and numerous big plays for the 5,036 at CONSOL Energy Center. The VooDoo improved to 4-10 on the season. The Power fell to 3-11.
On the second play from scrimmage, New Orleans quarterback Kurt Rocco connected with receiver Quorey Payne for a 26-yard touchdown pass to give the VooDoo a 7-0 lead. The Power responded on their opening drive with a Mike Washington 23-yard touchdown catch from Steven Sheffield, tying the score at 7-7. On the next New Orleans drive, Pittsburgh turned a Sergio Gilliam interception into a Julian Talley 21-yard touchdown catch putting the Power up 13-7. The VooDoo regained the lead, 14-13, on L.J. Castile's 45-yard score to end the 1st Quarter scoring. The Power's Chris LeFlore returned the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown, but the score was nullified on a Pittsburgh penalty.
The 2nd Quarter began with the Power taking a 19-14 lead with an 18-yard Washington touchdown catch from Sheffield. Payne's second score of the game, a 4-yard touchdown grab, put New Orleans up 21-19. LeFlore got redemption as he returned the kickoff 56-yards for a touchdown, putting the Power up, 26-21. Castile scored again on a 15-yard pass giving New Orleans a 28-26 advantage. Payne then took a missed Julian Rauch 40-yard field goal attempt off the net for a 51-yard score that put the VooDoo ahead 35-26. Washington's second touchdown catch of the game from 25 yards got the Power within two points at 35-33. Castile closed out the first half scoring with a 22-yard touchdown, his third of the game, making the score 42-33. On the final play of the half, LeFlore, the Riddell Defensive Player Of The Game, intercepted a Rocco pass in the end zone, returned the ball 53 yards, but was brought down at the VooDoo 1-yard line as time expired. The 33 Power points were most scored in a half this season by the team.
The 3rd Quarter was low-scoring with only one touchdown - a Washington 6-yard score which got the Power within two points at 42-40. The VooDoo's Kenny Spencer kicked a 46-yard field goal to make the score 45-40 heading into the 4th Quarter.
Washington's fifth touchdown of the contest, an over-the-back catch to open the 4th Quarter (Cutters Catch of the Game) gave the Power a 47-45 advantage. After an injury to Rocco, New Orleans backup-up quarterback Chris Dixon scored on a 5-yard run to give the VooDoo a 52-47 lead. The Power retook the lead when Sheffield connected with Julian Talley on a 4th and 10 from 15 yards out to make the score 54-52. Dixon's 29-yard touchdown pass to Payne two plays later gave New Orleans a 59-54 lead. With 55 seconds remaining, the Power had the ball at the VooDoo 17-yard line, but defensive back Eddie Moten intercepted Sheffield, which was the AFL Highlight Of The Game. New Orleans proceeded to run out the clock, preserving the 59-54 victory.
Pittsburgh's wide receiver Mike Washington, the Russell Athletic Offensive Player Of The Game, finished with 9 catches for a game-high 139 yards and a single-game franchise record 5 touchdowns. Power quarterback Steven Sheffield was 32-of-47 for 338 yards and career-high 7 passing touchdowns. Wide receiver Julian Talley had a game-best 15 catches and 135 yards and defensive back Brandon Freeman had a team-high 6 tackles.
New Orleans' L.J. Castile, the J. Lewis Small Playmaker Of The Game, had 7 catches for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns. Kurt Rocco was 15-of-22 for 201 yards and 5 touchdowns and defensive back Dwight McLean had a game-high 14 tackles.
The Power hit the road next Saturday, July 6 against the Cleveland Gladiators (2-12). Kickoff at Quicken Loans Arena is at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TribLIVE Radio SportsTalk. Pittsburgh's last home game of the regular season is Saturday, July 13 against the San Jose SaberCats at 7:00 p.m. The game from CONSOL Energy Center will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League message board...
Arena Football League Stories from June 29, 2013
- Talons Win Third Straight against Iowa 35-34 - San Antonio Talons
- SaberCats Extinguish Blaze 57-49, Improving to 10-4 - San Jose SaberCats
- VooDoo Gains First Road Win of the Season - New Orleans VooDoo
- Gladiators Unable to Overcome First Quarter Deficit - Cleveland Gladiators
- Sharks Win Sixth Straight over Predators, 62-55 - Jacksonville Sharks
- Last Minute Drive Falls Short in Pittsburgh's 59-54 Loss - Pittsburgh Power
- Soul Clinches East with Victory in Cleveland, 66-57 - Philadelphia Soul
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
