Prowlers prepare for bye week
June 7, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Greensboro Prowlers News Release
Greensboroâ When the Albany Conquest visited the Greensboro Coliseum, they brought a 7-1 record into the game, and with a late fourth quarter drive gave the Conquest a 48-47 victory. It has been a little over one year ago since the Greensboro Prowlers last faced a team that entered a game with a 7-0 record, and that was the Richmond Speed. On that night, the Prowlers fell 66-57.
Greensboro (4-6) got off to a rough beginning, allowing Albany's Corey Hill to 29-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Vena on the opening drive of the game. Offensive Specialist Corey Sullivan answered at the 5:47 mark, capping a five play drive and evening the game at 7-7. The final touchdown of the quarter came when Jamie Ware scored on an 11-yard strike to make the score 14-7 through one quarter.
In the second, the Conquest (8-1) scored after a strong defensive stand on a fourth down, forged a 21-7 lead. Following an Albany fumble, the Prowlers immediately pounced on the opportunity to get themselves back into a tough defensive battle. Bobby Sippio, the Ironman of the Game, pulled in a 10-yard touchdown reception from Caleb Slover to close first half scoring and make the Greensboro deficit 21-14.
Greensboro, who deferred the opening coin toss to the second half, tied the game up at 12:43 of the third, as Sippio again would score, this time on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Caleb Slover. Just over four minutes later, Albany would reassume control of the lead with a 1-yard run by Phil Taylor and would by leading 27-21. The Prowlers would cut into the lead with a 46-yard field goal from James Thomas who closed third quarter scoring with Greensboro trailing 27-24.
The scoring outburst between each team came in the fourth quarter with Greensboro beginning the track race. Bobby Sippio socred on an 18-yard pass from Slover, giving Greensboro led 31-27 with 13:34 remaining. Albany answered when Game Most Valuable Player Ryan Vena completed a 30-yard pass to Phil Taylor and would give the Conquest a 34-31 advantage.
The Prowlers then got help from David Hill, making his first appearance since early in the season, as he hauled in a 23-yard pass from Slover to give Greensboro a 38-34 advantage. James Thomas would then convert his second field goal, and pushed the Prowlers to a 41-34 lead. Albany was not to be outdone, as Jamie Ware capped a 45-yard drive and tied the game at 41-41 with 1:47 remaining. With just 52 seconds remaining, Bobby Graham made a 3-yard run to give the Prowlers a 47-41 lead. Albany would capitalize off a Prowlers missed extra point, just 38 seconds later as Vena completed the game winning touchdown pass to Jim Jones in the back of the end zone.
Defensively the Prowlers were led by Defensive Player of the Game Adrian Jones who made his first appearance in a Greensboro uniform, with 13 solo tackles and 16.5 in the game, tying him for the most tackles in franchise history for a single game with Jermaine Toney. Also key for the Prowlers was Abdallah Wiggins with two sacks.
The Prowlers now receive their bye week of the season, and return the following two weeks when on June 21st they face the Florida Firecats, and on the 28th will play the Norfolk Nighthawks.
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