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Phantoms fall in "Border War"

May 19, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Toronto Phantoms News Release


Buffalo, NY: Damian Harrell caught virtually every ball thrown his way Saturday night but the Toronto Phantoms superstar was hung up afterwards on the proverbial "one that got away". Chad Salisbury's 4th down pass with 10 seconds left in regulation time sailed just over Harrell's fingertips in the end zone as the Buffalo Destroyers hung on to defeat the Phantoms 49-46 in front of 8014 fans at the HSBC Arena.

Harrell was bear-hugged and slammed to the turf on the play prompting the Phantoms to plead pass interference – both Salisbury and Head Coach Mark Stoute were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in arguing the decision. However, Harrell took the call – or lack thereof – in stride. "I can't sit here and blame the officials – they're only human", he says. "We have no one to blame but ourselves. We never should have been in that kind of position in the first place. With the way our defence played, we should have been up by 21 points".

Harrell does have a point. The Toronto defence came up with 3 interceptions, a fumble recovery and a sack in this game. On most nights in a league with rules designed almost entirely to favour the offence, those kind of defensive numbers would lend themselves to a one-sided rout. Toronto, however, could not take advantage of its many scoring opportunities turning the ball over on downs twice in the red zone and missing a pair of "makeable" field goals. "We shot ourselves in the foot", says Harrell. "Actually check that – we shot ourselves in the foot over and over again in that game. You can't do that and expect to win in this league and in this division."

Buffalo's Head Coach & General Manager Ray Bentley was positively gleefully in talking with reporters after the upset win. "I've been telling you guys all week that if you establish the run and stop their running game, you stop the Phantoms – and ‘s that exactly what happened here tonight." Buffalo outrushed Toronto 62-15 getting a pair of rushing touchdowns from quarterback Fred McNair. Toronto, meanwhile, was held without a rushing touchdown for the first time in 5 games this season.

The Destroyers also benefited from a double scoop of Coop. Bret and Lamont Cooper, Buffalo's two prize off-season free agent acquisitions. Combined for 281 all-purpose yards and 4 touchdowns. Bret Cooper hauled in a pair of 2nd half touchdown passes from McNair, including what turned out to be the game-winning score on a 23 yard route with 3:56 left to play. Lamont Cooper, no relation, scored on each of Buffalo's first two possessions in the game making a 28 yard touchdown catch and returning a kick 54 yards for a score. Lamont was named as the MVP, making his return to the Destroyers lineup after being hospitalized in the week leading up to the game with a bleeding ulcer. He was only cleared to play after undergoing a blood test on game day. "He's amazing," says Bentley. "You could see how badly he wanted to play."

Carlos James was tabbed as the Ironman of the game for his two-way play. The Buffalo WR/DB made a game-high 7 ½ tackles. He also pulled in an interception and a touchdown catch in the 4th quarter.

Toronto had to make do in this game without two of its top players. Both Steve Konopka and Charlie Davidson sat out to rest nagging hamstring injuries. Donald Dinkins and Luke Leverson jumped into the starting lineup in the absence of Konopka and Davidson and both played well. Dinkins was given credit for a ½ sack while Leverson made a pair of touchdown catches. Says Leverson, "It's nice to get into the end zone, but without the win those touchdowns are pretty hollow to me." Leverson finished the game with 5 catches for 58 yards, second only on his team to Harrell. The Phantoms offensive specialist made 7 catches for 109 yards and scored 20 points. He made 3 touchdown catches and also hauled in a pass for a successful 2-point conversion late in the game.

Salisbury and Anthony Derricks also posted impressive numbers in the loss. Salisbury, a University of Buffalo grad, threw for 253 yards and 5 touchdowns. He completed 23 of his 36 passing attempts, but was haunted by a 4th quarter interception. That turnover led to a Buffalo touchdown that gave the Destroyers its first lead of the night.

Derricks was a standout on defence and special teams. He led the Phantoms with 7 ½ tackles and 1 interception (with a 25 yard return). He also returned 6 kicks for 148 yards, scoring a touchdown on a 56-yard return in the first quarter.

With the loss, Toronto's record falls to 3-2 overall and 1-2 on the road. The Phantoms now find themselves locked in a 3-way tie atop the Eastern Division with the Destroyers and this week's opponent, the New Jersey Gladiators. The Phantoms and Gladiators will kick off at 7 PM on Friday, May 24th at the Air Canada Centre. Originally, the game had been scheduled for Thursday night, but was moved to accommodate Game 4 of the NHL's Eastern Conference Final between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Maple Leafs organization, as a token of its gratitude, is buying a block of 5000 tickets to the rescheduled Phantoms game. Those tickets will be distributed to the first 5000 fans through the turnstiles at the Air Canada Centre for Game 4 between the Leafs and Canes.

Tickets for the upcoming contest between the Phantoms and Gladiators are now on sale and can be purchased by calling (416) 341-1234 or by logging on to www.torontophantoms.com. Get "Insane for the Game" and be a part of "Thursday Night Gridiron Madness"!



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 19, 2002


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