McPherson perfect in win over Cobras
Published on April 12, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Albany/Indiana Firebirds News Release
INDIANAPOLIS â Indiana Firebirds rookie quarterback Adrian McPherson is known most for his ability to elude defenders once he has escaped from the pocket, giving him a dimension that many AFL signal callers do not possess. However, in Indiana's 65-31 victory over the Carolina Cobras on Easter Sunday, McPherson showed that he can sit in the pocket and pick apart a defense with the best of them.
McPherson, who was recently named the league's Rookie of the Month, did not throw an incomplete pass until there was less than one minute left in the third quarter, going 11-for-11 up to that point. He finished the game 13-of-15 (87%) for 194 yards and five touchdowns, giving him a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3 for the game. McPherson also ran for a touchdown in the game, earning Offensive Player of the Game honors for the fifth time this season.
McPherson was inserted as the Firebirds' starting quarterback in week four versus Chicago. That game, his first start since college, he threw for 236 yards and accounted for six total touchdowns (4 pass, 2 rush). Through the first three games of the team's five-game winning streak McPherson was rushing more than he has in the past two, focusing more on staying in the pocket and letting his receivers make the plays downfield. Getting better each game, McPherson finally put it all together against Carolina, culminating in the second best performance by a quarterback in team history, by way of completion percentage. The best performance ever came when Mike Pawlawski completed 29-of-33 attempts (87.9) against Nashville in 2000.
Rookie Tony Zimmerman came in for McPherson in the fourth quarter and finished 3-of-4 for 38 yards, including an 18-yard scoring toss to OS Anthony Hines. If you combined the two quarterbacks numbers on Sunday they would have finished with a rating of 157.1. The Firebirds offense has been steadily climbing the ranks of the AFL, while the defense has become the best scoring unit in the league, allowing only 42.0 points per game.
Fans can also listen to the game on ESPN 950AM, 95.9 WIJY FM, or via the internet broadcast at www.espn950.com. Firebirds' single game and group tickets for the 2004 season are on sale now and can be purchased by calling a Firebirds' ticket representative at 317.472.8080. Firebirds merchandise is also available at Home Court Gift Shop. For merchandise information, please call 317.917.2755.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 12, 2004
- Hunkie Cooper reaches 20,000 all-purpose yards for his career - Arizona Rattlers
- McPherson perfect in win over Cobras - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
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