Preds lose in overtime
Published on March 12, 2007 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. (March 12) -- Quarterback Sonny Cumbie hit Rob Turner on a nine-yard scoring pass in overtime to give the Los Angeles Avengers a thrilling 44-37 overtime win over the Orlando Predators on Monday night.
Cumbie kept the Predators off-balance all night long, hitting 32 of 48 passes for 340 yards and five touchdowns. The win lifted LA to 1-1; while the Predators fell to 1-1.
"This was one of the most bizarre games I have been associated with," Predators head coach Jay Gruden said. "It just seemed like we were out of sync all game. Our offense really struggled for the first three quarters."
Part of Orlando's trouble came when starting offensive guard Jim Sodano went down with a knee injury on the second play of the game. The injury was diagnosed as a torn patella tendon and he will be lost for the season. In addition, starting wide receiver Jimmy Fryzel was lost with a pulled hamstring. He will most likely go on injured reserve and will miss four weeks.
"It really wasn't an excuse, because we didn't execute offensively," Gruden said about the injuries. "The bottom line is we dropped three potential touchdown passes and put ourselves in second and long and third and long all night. LA is too good a team to do that and expect to win."
Stafford struggled for much of the night, he was just six of 18 at halftime for 70 yards with an interception and a fumble. Los Angeles took advantage of the turnovers, building a 17-10 lead at halftime.
Trailing 23-17, the Predators missed a golden opportunity when Marlon Moye-Moore recovered a fumble in the third quarter. But a dropped pass and a couple of penalties - including a holding call on a touchdown pass resulted in no points.
Trailing 37-24, the Predators would attempt a valiant comeback attempt. A Kevin Nagle touchdown run cut the lead to 37-30. But Jay Taylor missed a critical extra point and after a Predators stop, Orlando tied the game with just seven seconds left on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Shane Stafford to Javarus Dudley.
LA won the toss and overtime and after Turner's touchdown, Stafford drove the ball to the LA 12, but misfired on four straight passes.
For the game, Stafford hit 22 of 46 for 274 yards and three touchdowns, DeAndrew Rubin led all Orlando receivers with 11 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns; Dudley had seven catches for 105 yards.
Lenzie Jackson (11-124) and Kevin Ingram (10-113) each went over the 100-yard mark for the Avengers.
The loss, which came in front of 12,787 Predators fans, was the fourth time in five games in the Orlando-Los Angeles series that the game was decided on the final play.
Orlando now has just three days to get ready for a key division game with the Austin Wranglers (1-1). Kickoff is slated for Friday night at 7:30 at Hummer Field.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 12, 2007
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