Preds Fall to Sharks in First Round of Playoffs, 55-33
August 15, 2015 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
Orlando Predators WR Brandon Thompkins vs. the Jacksonville Sharks
(Orlando Predators, Credit: Brion Price Photography)
ORLANDO - August 15, 2015 - The last time Jacksonville visited Amway Center, the Sharks held Orlando scoreless for the first quarter and led 14-0. Back on August 1, it didn't matter, as the Predators overcame that deficit and won the Arena Football League South Division title.
In Saturday night's divisional round playoff game, it was déjà vu all over again. Orlando (12-7) trailed 14-0 after the first quarter. But that's where the similarities ended.
This time, Jacksonville (11-8) had an answer every time the Predators looked to flip the script. The Sharks went on to a 55-33 victory, advancing to the American Conference Championship game and ending the Predators season.
"We started slow. That's something you can't do in the playoffs," Orlando head coach Rob Keefe said. "To get out again, into a terrible hole against a good team in Jacksonville, we just couldn't make that up. I don't think it's a coincidence that the only two times we didn't score were against Jacksonville. Statistics don't lie. We struggled against Jacksonville because they are a very physical defense. They imposed their will on us in the first quarter."
Two second-quarter turnovers hurt the Predators. Down 14-7, Orlando recovered a Jacksonville fumble. The Predators were driving looking to tie the game. But a bad handoff between Hippeard and fullback Joe Simons became an Orlando turnover. Jacksonville capitalized with a Tommy Grady-to-Joe Hills TD pass. With less than one minute left in the first half, the Sharks' Alvin Jackson made a diving interception of Hippeard. Two plays later Grady and Hills connected again. What could have been a 14-14 tie in the second quarter became a 35-14 lead for Jacksonville at intermission.
Orlando scored on the opening possession of the third quarter. Hippeard found Brackins for a four-yard scoring strike to make it 35-20 midway through the third quarter. The Predators defense came up big with less than five minutes left in the third, forcing a turnover on downs. Less than two minutes later, Hippeard found Kendal Thompkins in the seam for a 14-yard TD to make it 35-27.
"We had a good third quarter," Keefe said. "The momentum was swinging back in our favor. We were able to close it to eight at the end of the third quarter."
Once again, the Sharks staved off the Predators' attempt at a rally.
Jacksonville's Hills hauled in his third touchdown of the night to open the fourth quarter and push Jacksonville back on top 42-27. A crazy interception, with Hippeard's long pass hitting off the top of the wall and Greg Reid catching the carom, gave the ball back to the Sharks. Six plays later, Derrick Ross plunged over the goal line for a Jacksonville TD to push the Sharks' lead back to three possessions, 48-27.
"Again, the wheels fell off and all the momentum swung back to them," Keefe said.
Ross added another score with less than five minutes left to ice Jacksonville's victory, pushing the Sharks' edge to 55-27. Greg Carr caught a touchdown pass from Hippeard with no time left on the clock to account for the final score.
Keefe said he was disappointed for the fans tonight, but said it was a successful season as a whole.
"It stunk for the fans there (at the end)," he said. "But hopefully they had an enjoyable season. I wanted to give them two more games, obviously. We won the South Division back-to-back for the first time in a very long time. But the goals are higher now. Hopefully, the fans enjoyed themselves."
Images from this story
 Orlando Predators QB Randy Hippeard vs. the Jacksonville Sharks (Brion Price Photography) |
 Orlando Predators WR Brandon Thompkins vs. the Jacksonville Sharks (Brion Price Photography) |
Arena Football League Stories from August 15, 2015
- Sharks Throttle Predators in Playoff Opener, 55-33 - Jacksonville Sharks
- Preds Fall to Sharks in First Round of Playoffs, 55-33 - Orlando Predators
- Philadelphia Ends Cleveland's Season with 47-35 Victory - Philadelphia Soul
- Gladiators Eliminated from Playoffs by Soul, 47-35 - Cleveland Gladiators
- Thunder Exit Playoffs After 55-28 Loss to San Jose - Portland Thunder
- SaberCats Move on to National Conference Championship Game - San Jose SaberCats
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