Milwaukee's offense struggles to find end zone in pivotal loss
July 6, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Milwaukee Mustangs News Release
JACKSONVILLE, FL - In a battle in the Shark Pit on Friday evening, the Milwaukee Mustangs (5- 11) fell 50-32 to the Jacksonville Sharks (8-8) in a loss that eliminated Milwaukee from making the postseason.
The Mustangs struggled to put touchdowns on the scoreboard, turning the ball over on downs three times and throwing an interception deep in Sharks territory that hindered Milwaukee from hanging with the defending ArenaBowl champions. Wide receiver Taurian Washington had a career night for the Mustangs, hauling in nine catches for 102 yards and a touchdown in the frustrating defeat.
The Sharks began the scoring with a five-yard touchdown reception by Jeron Harvey on Jacksonville's opening drive. After stopping the Mustangs on fourth down, Jacksonville then took a 14-0 lead when quarterback Bernard Morris found Harvey for a 21-yard touchdown. Milwaukee was able to get on the board at the end of the first quarter when Jose Martinez knocked a 29-yard field goal through the uprights to cut the lead to 14-3.
After putting together a defensive stop of its own, Milwaukee continued to crawl back into the game with another successful field goal attempt by Martinez from 30 yards out midway through the second quarter.
But the Sharks chomped at the bit on their next possession, finding the end zone on an 11-yard scamper by Morris to extend the lead to 20-6. Martinez then kicked his third field goal of the game to bring the Mustangs back within eleven points to end the half.
Milwaukee opened the second half by pulling within three points on a 34-yard touchdown reception by Washington, who brushed off a tackle within the five-yard line and crossed the goal line for the score.
Jacksonville answered right back, however, with a 13-yard touchdown catch by Josh Philpart to bring the lead back to 26-16. The Sharks then added to their advantage when Morris connected with Philpart on a 40- yard touchdown pass to push the score to 33-16 after the Mustangs were stopped on fourth and goal.
The Sharks continued to take command to start the fourth quarter with a 17-yard touchdown reception by Harvey to put Jacksonville up 40-16. The Mustangs would bounce back after two scoreless possessions to cut the lead to 40-24 when Gino Guidugli found Anthony Parker on a 13-yard touchdown pass and then Jared Jenkins on the two-point conversion. But Jacksonville quickly erased Milwaukee's hopes with Philpart's third touchdown of the evening.
Marcus Everett scored on a 10-yard reception and Jenkins added another two-point conversion to climb back within 47-32 with 5:17 left in the game, but it was not enough as the Sharks ran out the clock and added a late field goal to win 50-32 and keep their own playoff hopes alive.
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