VooDoo Defeat Defending Arenabowl Champion Sharks in Scrimmage on Saturday
Published on March 3, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS (March 3, 2012) - The New Orleans VooDoo defeated the defending ArenaBowl Champion Jacksonville Sharks, 49-28, in Saturday's scrimmage at Sea Best Field, scoring the game's final 28 points en route to victory.
The VooDoo were without a turnover in the game and forced three Shark mistakes. The VooDoo also did a good job of protecting the quarterback, yielding only one sack in the game, and also converted 3-of-5 third down attempts.
New Orleans also played next-to-perfect special teams with two touchdowns - a kickoff return and net recovery - while also converting all seven point-after-attempts.
"I am pleased with how hard our team played today. We avoided turnovers and forced a few," said VooDoo head football coach Pat O'Hara. "We have a long way to go but we are on the right path."
The VooDoo opened the game with a 58-yard kickoff return for a touchdown courtesy of Skyler Green. It was Green's only kickoff return of the game as three other players received opportunities to return kicks in the scrimmage.
Jacksonville bounced back with consecutive scoring drives engineered by quarterback Chris Leak to take a 14-7 lead midway through the second quarter before the VooDoo got its first offensive touchdown of the game with a 35-yard scoring strike from Kurt Rocco to Carlese Franklin to tie the game 14-14.
Rocco finished the game 5-of-9 for 79 yards and a touchdown, while Franklin checked out with 2 receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.
The Sharks showed there explosiveness by scoring on the first play of its next offensive possession via a 45-yard touchdown pass from Leak to take the 21-14 lead with 11:20 left in the second quarter; however the VooDoo engaged in the seesaw battle with Brian Zbydniewski tossing a 22-yard touchdown to AFL-veteran Quorey Payne to even the game with 6:15 left in the first half.
Zbydniewski engineered the longest VooDoo drive of the game for the score, taking the offense 38 yards on seven plays while using 4:12 of game clock. Zbydniewski led all VooDoo passers with 171 yards and 3 touchdowns, completing 11-of-17 passes and his go-to receiver was Payne, who led all receivers with 125 yards and 2 touchdowns on 5 receptions. Payne also had a rushing touchdown in the win.
After halftime, the VooDoo defense limited the Sharks to just one second-half touchdown and scored the game's final 28 points for the victory.
The VooDoo's leading tackler was Demarcus Robinson with 7.5 total tackles (7 solo), a pass breakup and a special teams touchdown by recovering a kickoff of the net. Following him was Jorrick Calvin with 5.5 total tackles (4 solo) and a pass breakup.
Rookie Jeremy Kellem also had an outstanding arena football debut with 2 interceptions to go along with 3.5 total tackles (3 solo) and 0.5 stops for a loss.
The VooDoo will travel back to New Orleans on Sunday and resume training camp on Monday at the Alario Center.
Arena Football League Stories from March 3, 2012
- Tampa Bay Storm Announce Opening Roster - Tampa Bay Storm
- Barnstormers' Roster Set as Training Camp Closes - Iowa Barnstormers
- Gladiators Conclude Training Camp, Trim Roster - Cleveland Gladiators
- VooDoo Defeat Defending Arenabowl Champion Sharks in Scrimmage on Saturday - New Orleans VooDoo
- Sharks Fall to VooDoo in Scrimmage, 49-28 - Jacksonville Sharks
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