Special Night For Predators Leads To 62-54 Win Over Power
July 2, 2011 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
The Orlando Predators got big plays from its special teams unit Friday in front of a season-high 15,726 at the new Amway Center. The Preds (9-6) overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to hand the Pittsburgh Power (8-7) a 62-54 loss.
Trailing 40-27 at halftime, the Predators jumped on the Power during its first possession of the second half before spot-on kicks by Mark Lewis helped Orlando take the lead for the first time of the night.
Quarterback Collin Drafts capped Orlando's first drive of the third quarter with a six-yard touchdown pass to T.T. Toliver at the nine minute, 46 second mark to make it 40-34. From there, Lewis sent two consecutive kickoffs bouncing off the iron, each of which were recovered by Chris Duvalt and brought in for touchdowns.
The first return by Duvalt, who was activated from the injured reserve list earlier in the week, gave Orlando its first lead at 41-40 with just over nine minutes to go in the quarter. His second recovery off the net made it 48-40 in favor of Orlando during a third quarter in which the Preds tallied 28 points.
After trading touchdowns to close out the third quarter, Orlando held a 55-47 lead heading into the final 15 minutes.
The Power got within one point, 55-54, early in the fourth quarter when Bernard Morris hit Lonnell Dewalt for a touchdown from 11 yards out to cap a six-minute drive.
Orlando then logged its own six-minute drive before reaching paydirt when Drafts found Robert Quiroga in the corner of the end zone on a seven-yard pass.
Travis Coleman intercepted Morris in the end zone inside the final minute of the game to close the book on the Power. It's Coleman's ninth interception this season.
Drafts, making his first start as a Predator in place of Nick Hill, went 23 of 34 passing for 264 yards and five touchdowns. He also rushed for 26 yards and a score.
Toliver led Orlando with eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns. Quiroga caught six passes for 84 yards and two scores while Josh Bush had seven receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Trailing 19-7 late in the opening quarter, Drafts rushed in for a 10-yard touchdown to cut the deficit.
But Pittsburgh picked up right where it started by responding with an eight-play drive to score once again. They then turned an interception, off the fingertips of a Preds receiver, into another score from the one-yard line.
Trailing 33-14, the Preds converted its longest drive of the half into points as Drafts hit Quiroga streaking down the sideline for a 36-yard touchdown with one minute, 59 seconds to play in the first half, though the extra-point attempt failed.
The two teams exchanged touchdowns in the final minute of the second quarter as the Power took a 40-27 lead into the halftime break. Preds linebacker Marlon Moye-Moore saved one final Pittsburgh score in the first half by stripping DJ Hall of the ball just seconds before intermission. Rayshaun Kizer jumped on the loose ball at the nine-yard line to help halt the threat.
The Preds trailed right out the gate, falling behind 13-0 early in the first quarter as Pittsburgh scored on the opening possession of the game then turned an Orlando fumble into a touchdown two plays later.
A 54-yard kick return for touchdown by Bush followed to put the Preds on the board with seven minutes, 29 seconds to play in the first quarter. But another two-play drive by the Power made it a two-score advantage once again. Pittsburgh missed two extra point tries in the first.
Kizer finished with five tackles while Pierre Turner was in on four tackles. George Gause recorded a sack for Orlando.
The Preds are on the road the next two weeks at San Jose and Tulsa before hosting the season finale against New Orleans.
AWARD WINNERS
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game - Collin Drafts (ORL)
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game - Marlon Moye-Moore (ORL)
JLS Ironman of the Game - Robert Quiroga (ORL)
Cutters Catch of the Game - Chris Duvalt (ORL) - First catch off net in third quarter for TD.
Nifty Playmaker of the Game - Josh Bush (ORL)
Spalding Highlight of the Game - Chris Duvalt (ORL) - Second catch off net for TD (back-to-back).
National Guard MVP of the Game - Chris Duvalt (ORL)
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Arena Football League Stories from July 2, 2011
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- Blaze Fall to Chicago, 35-59 - Utah Blaze
- Barnstormers Stand Tall, Defeat Tulsa 55-53 - Iowa Barnstormers
- Special Night for Predators Leads to 62-54 Win Over Power - Orlando Predators
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