Phantoms Come Up One Play Short of Playoff Spot
July 18, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Toronto Phantoms News Release
Toronto, Ont. â "The rules say that if we score they get the ball back and it is sudden death. Our staff decided that if we were going to lose we were going to lose the game ourselves and not have them kick a field goal," head coach Mark Stoute said after the Phantoms failed to make a two point convert and lost 66-65 in overtime to the New York Dragons.
Toronto had matched New York's touchdown in overtime, but instead of kicking the single to extend overtime to a sudden death session, Toronto went for 2 and the win. It's a decision offensive specialist Damian Harrell agreed with.
"We were going to win it or lose it on our terms," Harrell said, "In the last play we fell short and I don't regret it at all. [The coaching staff] made the right decision."
Harrell had another outstanding with a season high 4 touchdowns. He also set a season best with 145 yards receiving â it's his seventh time this season he has passed the hundred-yard mark in receiving. Harrell said it was frustrating to have the good stats in the game but not the win.
"Anytime you give 110% and your team still comes up on the short end of the stick it is really frustrating. Luckily we have the new season coming up soon so I don't have to worry too much about it."
Both Stoute and Harrell agreed the one thing that prevented the team from repeating as division champions was injuries to key players.
"The mental mistakes we made were corrected but losing a starter really hurts," Harrell said.
"If we have the same team next year healthy, we are going to do well," Stoute said.
More injuries occurred in this game, as fullback Jermaine Younger and quarterback Rickey Foggie were both hurt in the game. Younger injured his leg near the end of the game while Foggie suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter. Before he left the game, Foggie was 16-27 for 263 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Foggie is now a free agent but according to Stoute he has an interest in returning to Phantoms. If Foggie stays, Toronto could have as many as three starting quarterbacks next year if Chad Salisbury returns from injury and Pat O'Hara re-signs as a free agent.
"Pat (O'Hara) and I have not talked about his future yet," Stoute said.
As for offensive records, Kerry Brown ended the season with a seven game touchdown streak with his three touchdowns receiving in the game and wide receiver Charlie Davidson passed the 3,000 yard mark for receiving in his career.
With the loss the season comes to an end on a 4 game losing streak for the Phantoms, two of those losses coming in overtime. Toronto dropped 5 straight decisions at home after winning its first two home starts in 2002. The Phantoms will return to the field in February 2003 when the new season kicks off as the Arena Football League enters into a broadcasting partnership with NBC Sports. Training camp is slated for January.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 18, 2002
- This week in the AFL - OSC Original by Mark Sargent
- Central Division All-Stars Named - Portland Forest Dragons
- Phantoms Come Up One Play Short of Playoff Spot - Toronto Phantoms
- SaberCats Sign QB Scott Wood - San Jose SaberCats
- Desperados Lose Lineman to Super Bowl Champs - Dallas Desperados
- Quick Hitters - AFL I
- A Super Star -- Arena Style - AFL I
- Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I
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