Miscues Doom Cobras in 70-33 Defeat
May 29, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
DULUTH, GA â The Georgia Force capitalized on seven Carolina Cobras turnovers to secure a 70-33 decision in the club's 2004 season finale on Saturday night in front of 8,387 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. Carolina tossed four interceptions and lost three fumbles as they fell one win short of securing a single-season record seven victories.
Carolina entered the fourth quarter trailing 35-33, but were unable to do anything right on offense as the Georgia defense intercepted two passes and forced three fumbles in the game's final 15 minutes. The Force capitalized on every miscue as the club scored 35 unanswered points to take complete control of the game.
Carolina (6-10) quarterback Rickey Foggie completed 18-of-34 passes for 251 yards and five touchdowns, but also was intercepted two times in the first and fourth quarter. OS Todd Doxzon recorded four receptions for 98 yards and three touchdowns, while OS Damien Groce added five catches for 59 yards.
Georgia (7-9) was led by the arm of QB Leon Murray, who threw for 239 yards and five scores, completing 21-of-34 passes on the night. Murray added 24 yards on the ground as well. WR/LB Dialleo Burks led the Force receivers with four catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns, while OS Markeith Cooper reeled in seven passes for 62 yards and a pair of scores.
The Cobras got off to a very sluggish start in the contest, falling behind by 14 points in the first 2:30 of the game. Following a 47-yard return by DS Kevin Gaines on the opening kickoff, FB/LB Robert Thomas rumbled in for a 3-yard scoring run for the first points of the game. Gaines then intercepted Foggie's first pass of the night, returning it 14 yards to give the home team a quick 14-0 advantage. On the ensuing possession, Foggie was intercepted for the second time on the night, as WR/DB Willie Gary stepped in front of his pass attempt. Georgia was unable to capitalize, however, as the Cobras defense forced a turnover on downs on the Force 17-yard line. Carolina took advantage of the short field as Foggie found WR/DB Lenzie Jackson for a 3-yard touchdown reception on the final play of the quarter.
Carolina battled its way back into the contest in the second quarter behind the arm of Foggie, who completed 6-of-8 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns in the frame. After the Cobras found themselves down by just one point on two occasions in the quarter, Murray found WR/LB Dialleo Burks for a 25-yard touchdown catch with just four seconds left in the half to give the home team a 35-27 haltime lead. Thomas began the quarter with his second 3-yard score of the night to give the Force a 21-7 lead. Moments later, Doxzon reeled in a 36-yard scoring strike, his 22nd touchdown reception of the year. The Cobras defense then recorded their second defensive stop of the game to set the stage for Doxzon's second scoring catch of the quarter with one minute left in the half. The first-year Cobra pulled in a 12-yard touchdown, giving him a single-season franchise record 1,103 receiving yards. The two teams then traded touchdown receptions prior to Burks sc oring catch.
The third quarter was a defensive battle as the Cobras posted the only touchdown of the quarter on Doxzon's 39-yard scoring catch just over two minutes into the frame. The remainder of the frame saw Georgia's Steve McLaughlin miss a 34-yard field goal attempt, followed by a fumble by Carolina's WR/LB Sir Mawn Wilson on the Force two-yard line. The two teams combined for just 108 yards and seven first downs in the stanza.
Georgia snapped the game's scoring drought just minutes into the fourth quarter as FB/LB Jermaine Younger scored on a three-yard touchdown plunge to extend the Force lead to 42-33. On the Cobras next possession, former Carolina WR/DB Nick Ward intercepted Foggie's pass and returned it to the Carolina four-yard line, setting up Cooper's second touchdown reception on the night. The Cobras found trouble once again on their next drive as Foggie was intercepted by Georgia's backup quarterback James Brown, who was filling in at linebacker. The play set up a 45-yard touchdown reception by Burks to extend the lead to 56-33. Following a fumble by Hillery on the ensuing kickoff return, Murray hit WR/LB Morris Anderson for a three-yard touchdown for a 63-33 advantage. The scoring was completed when OL/DL Stacy Evans knocked the ball away from QB Charlie Peterson and Gaines recovered the fumble in the end zone.
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