Preds drop Chicago, 55-27
April 2, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
A team record seven different Predators players scored touchdowns and the Orlando defense limited Chicago to just one touchdown in the second half as the Predators took a convincing 55-27 win over the Rush on Sunday afternoon in front of 13,111 fans at the TD Waterhouse Centre.
The win lifted the Predators to 6-4 on the season; while Chicago fell to 4-6.
"It was huge win for us," Head Coach Jay Gruden said. "It wasn't like we got a lot of breaks or turnovers. We simply stopped what Chicago was trying to do on offense, while our offense clicked on every possession."
The game opened with each team scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions. But from that point on, the Predators took control of the game. Joe Hamilton's 17-yard touchdown pass to Jerrian James gave the Predators their first lead of the game at 21-14 at the 6:59 mark of the second quarter and Chicago's offense would not find the end zone again until the 11:52 mark of the fourth quarter.
Hamilton had one of his best games as a Predator, hitting 14 of 19 passes for 177 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for a game-high 40 yards and two more touchdowns before departing with a 55-20 lead in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Predators forced Chicago to turn the ball over on downs four times, added a turnover on a 4th quarter fumble recovery and forced two field goal attempts for a total of seven defensive stops.
Leading 28-20 at the half, the Predators took a two score lead on their first possession of the second half and then turned up the pressure on Chicago quarter Matt D'Orazio. The Predators recorded four sacks on the day and limited D'Orazio to just five completions in the second half.
Orlando had a huge game on the ground. Led by Hamilton's 40 yards, the team rushed for a season-high 89 yards and three touchdowns - finishing with four players in double-digit rushing yards.
"It was really a complete effort for us. Joe played one of the best games of his career in terms of decision making and our defense really stepped it up. D'Orazio is one of the better quarterbacks at throwing on the run and beating you with his feet and we didn't let him make plays tonight," Gruden said.
Jimmy Fryzel led all Predators players with 70 yards on five receptions and a touchdown, but four other players also caught passes. Javarus Dudley (6-65), DeAndrew Rubin (2-23), James (2-20), and Khalil Carter (1-5) had one touchdown reception each for the Predators.
D'Orazio completed 16 of 24 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown for Chicago, before being replaced by Asad Abdul-Khaliq in the fourth quarter, who completed four of 10 passes. Etu Molden led Chicago with five receptions 65 yards. Dennison Robinson had two receptions for 23 yards and two touchdowns.
Orlando returns to action next Sunday visiting the Columbus Destroyers.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 2, 2006
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- Orlando defense shuts down Rush, 55-27 - Chicago Rush
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