Predators End Regular Season With Convincing Win Over VooDoo
July 23, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO - In front of a boisterous crowd of 14, 982 at Amway Center, the Orlando Predators trounced the New Orlando VooDoo, 62-44, as they intercepted three passes and got a huge night at wide receiver from veteran Bobby Sippio.
The Preds (11-7) will be on the road for the opening round of the playoffs on Friday night against top-seeded Jacksonville.
Orlando, the No. 4 seed in the American Conference, took a 14-12 lead early in the second quarter and never looked back after Sippio scored his second touchdown on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Nick Hill. The Preds led 35-18 at the half.
Kenny McEntyre, playing in his final regular season game as a Predator, intercepted VooDoo quarterback Danny Wimprine off the net on the opening possession of the night. Yet the Preds were unable to turn McEntyre's 96th career interception into points on the other end.
The VooDoo forced a turnover-on-downs then took a 6-0 lead on a 6-yard run by Tommy Taggart. They later went ahead 12-7 following Wimprine's 9-yard touchdown pass to P.J. Berry, who finished the night with 292 all-purpose yards.
After Hill's pass to Sippio gave the Predators the lead for good, Travis Coleman picked off his 11th pass of the season, which led to 1-yard touchdown run by Marlon Moye-Moore. That was all the cushion Orlando would need as New Orleans failed to convert on points-after-touchdowns on six different occasions.
Sippio led all receivers with 14 catches for 166 yards and four touchdowns. Robert Quiroga caught six passes for 97 yards and two scores while T.T. Toliver combined for 84 all-purpose yards and scored a rushing and receiving touchdown.
Hill returned to the starting lineup to pass for 296 yards and seven touchdowns on 24 of 32 attempts. He also rushed for 38 yards on four carries.
New Orleans trailed by just three points, 21-18, with over three minutes to play in the first half before the Preds tacked on two touchdowns before the break and added another on its first possession of the third quarter.
The VooDoo got within 11 points, 55-44, in the final minute but was never a threat throughout the final two quarters.
Orlando's defense recorded two sacks as George Gause and Pierre Turner each took down Wimprine. Rayshaun Kizer intercepted his league-leading 16th pass in the fourth quarter and finished with five tackles. Coleman led the team with six tackles.
The Preds went on the road and defeated Jacksonville last season in the opening round of the playoffs, 73-69, but have since lost both meetings in 2011. The game will be broadcast on NFL Network and 740 AM The Game.
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