Preds one game away from ArenaBowl
May 29, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Orlando Predators News Release
UNIONDALE, NY (May 29, 2005) --Orlando's defense forced three turnovers and recorded four sacks to lead the Predators to an impressive 47-42 road win over the New York Dragons in the quarterfinals of the Arena Football League.
The win lifted the Predators to 11-6 on the season and sent them into the National Conference championship next game in Atlanta against the Georgia Force, 12-5, which routed Tampa Bay 62-46 on Sunday. The winner earns a spot in ArenaBowl XIX in Las Vegas on June 12.
"Perhaps we made this game closer than we needed to, but the main thing is that we advanced by winning a road playoff game," Head Coach Jay Gruden said. "We need to enjoy this game tonight but get back to work and get ready for a great Georgia Force team."
Orlando never trailed in the game, using two turnovers to build a 10-point lead at halftime. After taking a 44-28 lead late in the third quarter and having possession, the Dragons defense stiffened and allowed New York to get back in the game.
Still, it was a dominating performance by the Predators defense from the beginning, limiting the high-flying Dragons offense to just 42 points. The Dragons came into the game among the top five teams in scoring and had scored 50 or more points in 14 of 16 games.
Offensively, the Dragons moved the ball as Aaron Garcia threw for 308 yards and six touchdowns without an interception. But the Predators defense got two sacks each from Elfrid Payton and EJ Burt and forced three fumbles.
Offensively, Joe Hamilton threw for 203 yards and four touchdowns and ran for one other. Cory Fleming led all Predators receivers with nine catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Chris Anthony had a game-high 12 catches for 121 yards and four touchdowns. Mike Horacek added six catches for 100 yards and Will Holder had six for 66 yards and two scores.
Orlando found an unsung hero in kicker Ken Hinsley, who was signed as an emergency kicker to replace the injured Jay Taylor on Sunday. Hinsely hit two of four fields goals that provided the Predators with their final margin of victory.
The Predators broke on top early, taking the opening kickoff and driving 45 yards for a touchdown. Joe Hamilton hit Jimmy Fryzel on an 18-yard scoring pass to give the Predators a 7-0 lead at the 10:12 mark.
New York answered on their first possession. Faced with a 4th and goal on the three, Garcia found Chris Anthony in the back of the end zone to tie the score at 7-7. On the play, the Dragons took advantage of Kenny McEntyre, who slipped and fell in the end zone to leave Anthony wide open.
After a failed on-sides kick, the Predators needed just one play to make it a 14-7 game as Hamilton found Cory Fleming on a 14-yard slant pattern for a 14-7 lead.
Orlando got the first break of the game as Will Holder fumbled the ensuing kickoff and kicker Ken Hinsley recovered for the Predators. But Orlando could only pick up five yards on three plays before Hinsely booted a field goal to make it a 17-7 fame at the 1:09 mark of the first quarter.
The Preds upped the lead to 24-7 after recording another big stop. Fullback Josh White fumbled on the three yard line and Reggie Doster recovered in the end zone. Hamilton directed a 45-yard drive that ended in a Joe Hamilton 3-yard run at the 9:30 mark.
New York finally got back on the board at the 7:04 mark as Garcia hooked up again with Anthony -- hitting him in the back of the end zone on an 18-yard touchdown pass to make it a 24-14.
Orlando took all but one minute off the clock before taking a 31-14 lead on Fleming's 5-yard touchdown pass on fourth down. The Predators got some help on the drive when New York was called for an illegal defense on a third and eight play to pick up an automatic first down.
Will Holder 22-yard touchdown reception from Garcia cut the Predators lead to 31-21 at the half.
The Predators got another huge break on the first play of the second half. With the Predators clinging to a 10-point lead, Gracia was sacked and fumbled, the ball rolled into the end zone where Justin Cleveland fell on it for a touchdown and a 37-21 Predators lead.
Anthony pulled the Dragons back to within nine points, pulling in a 4-yard touchdown pass at 9:44 in the third period. The play capped on a 39-yard drive by the Dragons that included a 24-yard completion to Mike Horaek.
Fleming's third touchdown of the game upped the lead to 16. Fleming caught a stop pattern over the middle at the 18 and when the defender failed to make the tackle, Fleming walked it in for a 33-yard touchdown and a 44-28 Orlando lead.
Orlando had a chance to put the game away when they recorded another defensive stop late in the third quarter, but a holding penalty followed by two Hamilton incompletions and a missed field goal gave the Dragons the ball back with a 16-point deficit.
New York took advantage of the stop, as Garcia brought the Dragons back to within eight points on the next possession. Garcia found Holder in the back corner of the end zone on a third and eight to make it a 44-36 game.
From there, the New York defense held but Hinsley, an emergency kicker signed just before kickoff, booted a 29-yard field goal to give the Predators a 47-36 lead at the 1:02 mark.
A tough Predators defense forced New York to use five plays and all but nine seconds of the game clock before Garcia hit Anthony of his fourth touchdown pass to make it a 47-42 game. But the Dragons missed on the two-point conversion and the Predators recovered the on-sides kick and ran out the clock.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 29, 2005
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