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Phantoms Snake-bitten at Home

July 4, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Toronto Phantoms News Release


Toronto, Ont. – Turnovers were the nemesis again for quarterback Pat O’Hara and the Toronto Phantoms as they fell for the fourth straight time at home 58-44 to the Carolina Cobras in an Arena Football League game at the Air Canada Centre Thursday night.

For the second straight week O’Hara’s fourth quarter interception cost the Phantoms the game. With the Phantoms trailing 51-44, O’Hara looked deep to the endzone for a receiver but found defender Kevin Gaines instead.

“I have to make some better decisions,” O’Hara said, “It was a team loss but I focus on the mistakes I make.”

Carolina scored 21 points off of O’Hara’s 4 mistakes in the game (3 interceptions and one fumble). The turnovers overshadowed his 20-26 passing performance for 207 yards and four touchdowns.

“We make some huge plays and look like world beaters, then we make some bad mistakes,” O’Hara said of the offence.

“It’s the minor things we are messing up,” Offensive specialist Damian Harrell said, who had 9 catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns. “It’s frustrating. Anyone who is competitive hates to lose.”

The bright spots for the Phantoms were the play of Ironman of the game Anthony Derricks and wide receiver Kerry Brown. Derricks returned 9 kicks for 241 yards highlighted by a 57 yard kick-off return for a touchdown. The 241 yards matched the franchise record for kick return yards and also eclipsed his season high – he also had 7.5 tackles on defence. Brown caught two touchdowns from 6 and 9 yards out and added a third on the ground. He now has 8 touchdowns in just the last 4 games.

Game MVP John Fitzgerald of the Cobras had no problem slicing through the Toronto defence as he went 25-36 for 287 yards and 6 touchdowns. Fitzgerald connected with RJ Anderson for two touchdowns and Aaron Bailey for three more leading the Cobras to the 58-44 win.

With the loss Toronto’s record stands at 5-7 overall and just 2-4 at home in the Air Canada Centre. The next two games – in New Jersey and home to New York - are both “must-wins” according to Harrell. “I have faith and confidence in our team and we will get to the playoffs.”

“It is going to be a long week,” O’Hara added. “Hopefully we can put together some games like we did against Orlando and Detroit.”

In Phantoms injury news fullback Phil Glover left the game in the first quarter with what is believed to be a torn MCL. He will go for an MRI examination on Friday. Lineman Frank Moore also left the game with a concussion in the first quarter as well. They join a growing list of Phantom injuries to key players. 4 players began the night on the injured reserve list. Glover will likely be added to that list, pending the results of his MRI. Says Glover, “This is truly disappointing, but the two guys that play full-back with me, Jermaine [Younger] and Anthony [Hicks] will be be able to carry the load. I know that!”

Toronto heads out on the road next week as the club travels to the Garden State to play the New Jersey Gladiators before returning home for the final home game of the regular season July 18th versus the New York Dragons. Tickets for that game 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”!

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 4, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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