Thunder Win by One
July 13, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Mahoning Valley Thunder News Release
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - On a thrilling Friday the 13th on Cortland Banks Field at the Chevrolet Centre, the Mahoning Valley Thunder claimed a one-point, overtime victory over the Albany Conquest, 65-64 in front of 3,464 screaming fans.
Trailing 50-38 with 8:46 left in the game, QB Glen Gauntt found WR/DB Brian Majors for a 36-yard touchdown strike, closing the gap to just six points. On the ensuing kickoff, a bit of good fortune fell upon the Thunder.
K Derek Schorejs' kick bounced off the bottom of the goal post and fell into the hands of OL/DL Mike Lane. Lane recovered the ball one yard for his first career touchdown. Following a Schorejs PAT, the Thunder had their first lead of the game - 51-50 with 4:38 remaining.
Albany took a 58-51 advantage before WR Chris Johnson caught his sixth touchdown of the game, knotting the score at 58, sending the game into overtime.
Johnson grabbed his franchise-best seventh touchdown of the game in overtime, giving the Thunder a 64-58 lead. Albany's QB Ryan Hart found WR Eddie Montgomery in the end zone to pull the Conquest to within one. Head Coach Pete Costanza opted for the two-point conversion to win the game, but the pass fell incomplete, preserving the Thunder's fourth home win of the year.
Gauntt finished 22-of-32 for 314 yards and eight touchdowns. QB Mike Schneider completed 4-of-4 passes for 48 yards and one touchdown. Johnson re-wrote the Thunder record books with 16 catches, 238 yards and seven touchdowns - all franchise records.
Hart completed 34-of-46 passes for a game-high 327 yards and seven touchdowns. His favorite target was Youngstown native WR/DB Chris Curd who grabbed three touchdowns on seven catches. Curd's 87 yards put him over the 1,000 yard plateau, marking the third Conquest receiver to reach the special honor.
The Thunder head to Tennessee Valley next week while the Conquest take on the Manchester Wolves at the Times Union Center in Albany.
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