Last Second Field Goal Lifts Predators Past Cleveland

Sunday June 12, 2016

 ORLANDO – June 11, 2016 – With only seconds remaining on the clock, kicker Mark Lewis successfully booted a 23-yard field goal to push the Orlando Predators (9-2) past the Cleveland Gladiators (5-6) in a 59-56 victory.

Randy Hippeard returned to action after missing last week’s game due to injury and scored six total touchdowns. The fourth-year signal caller completed 23-of-34 attempts for 316 yards and four touchdowns while adding 22 yards and two scores on seven carries. Brandon Thompkins hauled in eight receptions for a game-high 127 yards and two touchdowns, while Greg Carr caught nine passes for 95 yards and two more scores. Fullback John Martinez also found the end zone, rushing for 11 yards and two touchdowns.

Varmah Sonie paced the defense with 4.0 total tackles while adding a forced fumble that was recovered by linebacker Terence Moore. Kent Richardson recorded his third interception of the season to go along with 3.0 tackles and a pass breakup. Defensive end Darryl Cato-Bishop logged 3.0 total tackles, including a half-sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. Cato-Bishop now leads the AFL with 10 tackles for loss on the season.

The Predators jumped out to an early 21-7 lead in the first quarter, beginning with a one-yard touchdown run by Hippeard on the game’s opening series. One snap into Cleveland’s first possession, Sonie jarred the ball free after laying a big hit on WR Larry Beavers and Moore recovered the fumble for Orlando. Hippeard promptly converted the turnover into points, firing a 26-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Thompkins on the next play from scrimmage.

Cleveland QB Arvell Nelson connected with Beavers on a 37-yard touchdown pass a series later, but Orlando would need just one play to respond as Hippeard completed a short throw again to Thompkins, who shed a tackle and broke free for a 32-yard score.

Following a 14-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to WR Devin Wilson for Cleveland, the Predators pushed the lead back to two scores midway through the second quarter as Hippeard eluded the pass rush and scrambled to the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown and a 28-14 advantage. The Gladiators scored late in the quarter off a six-yard reception by WR Quentin Sims, but Orlando would take a 35-21 lead into the locker room at the half after Hippeard hooked up with Carr on a two-yard touchdown pass as time expired.

Cleveland managed to tie the game with two unanswered scores to start the third quarter. WR Collin Taylor caught a 33-yard score on the opening series of second half and the Gladiators recovered a fumble on the following Predators drive. Sims caught a four-yard pass from Nelson to even the score, but Orlando would regain the lead off a one-yard touchdown run by Martinez as time expired in the third.

The teams traded scores throughout much of the fourth quarter, resulting in a 56-56 tie in the game’s final seconds. Sims caught a 37-yard score for Cleveland on the first play of the fourth and the Predators answered as Carr came up with a five-yard touchdown reception. The Gladiators would once again tie it off a 30-yard reception by Sims.

Orlando regained the lead with 45 seconds left to play off another one-yard scoring run by Martinez, but the Gladiators would recover the Predators’ onside kick attempt and convert the good field position into another game-tying score as Beavers caught a four-yard touchdown pass.

With 23 seconds remaining on the clock, the Predators set out on their final drive. Hippeard completed an 11-yard pass to Kendal Thompkins before hitting Carr for a 21-yard gain to the opponent’s eight yard-line to set Lewis’ game-winning kick.

The Orlando Predators travel to take on the rival Jacksonville Sharks in Week 11. Kickoff from Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 18.

UNDER ARMOUR OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Orlando QB Randy Hippeard

RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Orlando LB Terence Moore

J.LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME: Cleveland QB Arvell Nelson

CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME: One-handed 4-yard TD reception by Cleveland WR Quentin Sims (Q3 | 6:23)

AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME: Game-winning 23-yard field goal by Mark Lewis (Q4 | 0:02)

ABOUT THE ORLANDO PREDATORS
The Orlando Predators celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2016 as Central Florida’s most exciting and innovative professional sports franchise. Proud members of the Arena Football League, the Predators have achieved unprecedented success on the field. Orlando has advanced to the AFL playoffs a league-leading 22 times in their history while securing seven conference championships, including two ArenaBowl Championship victories in 1998 and 2000.