Pittsburgh Power Late Game Heroics Fall Short in 42-37 Loss to San Antonio
April 28, 2013 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Pittsburgh Power News Release
PITTSBURGH, PA (April 28, 2013) - The Pittsburgh Power fell to 1-4 on the season and 0-3 at home after falling to the San Antonio Talons, 42-31, in front of 6,688 at CONSOL Energy Center this afternoon.
After stopping the Talons (2-3) on a fourth down and goal from the 3-yard line in the game's opening drive, the Power would take a 3-0 lead after a 36-yard field goal by Josh Czajkowski. San Antonio would answer with quarterback Nick Hill finding the J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game, Dwayne Eley, Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The point after was good, giving San Antonio a 7-3 lead.
After recovering a Jordan Jefferson fumble late in the 1st quarter, San Antonio scored on the first play of the 2nd quarter as Hill found Jomo Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown pass. Jefferson would connect with Mike Washington ( Russell Athletic Offensive Player Of The Game) on the Power's ensuing drive for a 5-yard touchdown pass cutting the San Antonio lead to 14-10.
The Talons would recover a Kirby Griffin fumble, which resulted in a San Antonio touchdown. Hill would find Wilson six plays later for a score, extending the Talons' lead to 21-10. The Power would close out the 1st half scoring on Washington's second touchdown catch of the game which made the score 21-17 heading into halftime.
The Power took a 24-21 lead on Washington's third score of the game with a 32-yard touchdown catch from Jefferson six plays into the 3rd quarter, which was the Cutters Catch Of The Game. On the next possession, Pittsburgh's Christian Wise intercepted Hill deep in the end zone and returned the ball 53 yards to the Talons' 4-yard line. However, the Talons challenged the play and after further review,Wise was ruled down and the Power would start their drive at their down 5-yard line, which ultimately changed the momentum of the contest. On fourth down and 16, Jefferson's pass to Perry Baker was incomplete giving San Antonio the ball at the Pittsburgh 10-yard line. Two plays later, San Antonio regained the lead on Eley's second touchdown grab of the game, making the score 28-24, which started a run of 21 unanswered points by the Talons.
The 4th quarter began with the Power turning the ball over on downs. San Antonio wasted no time capitalizing on the turnover and added to their lead after Burl Toler scored on a 21-yard touchdown pass 1:02 later (AFL Highlight Of The Game), making the score 35-24. The Power would turn the ball over on downs on their next possession giving the Talons the ball at the Pittsburgh 3-yard line. Three plays later, Chad Cook ran the ball in from 1 yard out to give San Antonio an 18-point lead at 42-24.
The Power tried to shake things up by replacing Jefferson with Shane Austin at quarterback at the 6:40 mark of the quarter. Austin called his own number on a 17-yard scramble that cut the San Antonio lead to 11 points at 42-31 with 3:23 remaining in the contest.
Austin connected with Washington, who scored his fourth touchdown of the game with 18 seconds remaining, making the score 42-37, but the two-point conversion was unsuccessful and San Antonio recovered the on-side kick attempt and proceeded to run out the clock.
The Power's Mike Washington would finish the game with 133 yards receiving on 13 catches to go along with his season-high four scores. Talons quarterback Nick Hill completed 17 passes for 180 yards and five touchdowns to lead the San Antonio attack.
The Power return to action this Saturday, May 4 against the Orlando Predators. Kickoff at CONSOL Energy Center is 7:00 p.m. EDT.
RUSSELL ATHLETIC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Mike Washington - Pittsburgh
RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
Chris LeFlore - Pittsburgh
J. LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME
Dwayne Eley, Jr. - San Antonio
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME
Pittsburgh's Mike Washington's 32-Yard Touchdown Catch in the 3rd Quarter
AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME
San Antonio's Burl Toler's 21-Yard Touchdown Catch in the 4th Quarter
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Arena Football League Stories from April 28, 2013
- Predators Suffer Another Loss, Arizona Takes the Victory 42-82 - Orlando Predators
- Talons Shut off the Power 42-37 - San Antonio Talons
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