Preds Secure 19th-Straight Trip To Playoffs With 85-49 Win
July 16, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
TULSA - The Orlando Predators secured its 19th-straight trip to the Arena Football League's postseason Saturday night with a dominating 85-49 win over the host Tulsa Talons.
The Preds (10-7) forced six turnovers on the night as Kenny McEntyre led the defensive effort with a forced fumble and two interceptions in the win. McEntyre now has an AFL-record 95 interceptions for his career. Rayshaun Kizer also intercepted two passes and finished with a team-high 8.5 tackles. Kizer improved his Preds' single-season interception record to 15 on the year.
Orlando trailed 7-0 early in the first quarter when quarterback Nick Hill replaced Collin Drafts and led the Predators on a three-play drive that ended with a 2-yard touchdown run by Bobby Sippio to tie up the game.
McEntyre forced a fumble on the next possession along the sideline to put the ball back in Hill's hands. Four plays later, Hill hooked up with Sippio for a 6-yard touchdown strike to give Orlando the lead for good.
Hill, who took over on the second possession of the game after the first ended in a turnover-on-downs, finished the night 33 of 42 passing for 345 yards and eight touchdowns. Sippio led all receivers with 12 catches for 167 yards and three touchdowns while Robert Quiroga caught 11 passes for 77 yards and four scores.
Tulsa tied the game twice in the first half, lastly at 21-21 with 9:33 to go in the second quarter. From there, the Preds scored three-straight times before halftime to break the game open, 42-21, at intermission. It was two touchdown catches by Quiroga and a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kizer that widened the advantage.
Josh Bush scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter for Orlando when he dove on a loose ball in the end zone on a kickoff by the Preds, then followed that up by taking back a kick 57 yards the other way for score.
Mark Robinson sacked Tulsa's backup quarterback Bobby Reid in the end zone for a safety early in the fourth quarter while George Gause got to Justin Allgood for a sack in the first quarter. Frisner Nelson also finished the night with a sack.
The Predators converted on 3 of 4 fourth-down attempts and were a perfect 7 of 7 on attempts in the red zone. The 85 points scored by Orlando is the most in a single game in the franchise's 20-year history.
T.T. Toliver finished with six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown and Travis Coleman ended the night with 5.5 tackles in the win.
Orlando, who currently holds the No. 4 spot in the American Conference, is at home on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against New Orleans. A win for the Preds and a loss by Georgia against the Iowa Barnstormers would move the Orlando to the No. 3 position. Jacksonville and Cleveland hold the top-two spots in the conference by way of winning the South and East divisions, respectively.
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Arena Football League Stories from July 16, 2011
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- Rush Clinch Central Division Title With 53-44 Win Over Vigilantes - Chicago Rush
- Preds Secure 19th-Straight Trip To Playoffs With 85-49 Win - Orlando Predators
- Orlando Predators Secure 19th-Straight Trip To Playoffs With 85-49 Win - Orlando Predators
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