New York Caps Storybook Year With Win Over Chicago
David Holusha
Monday May 26, 2003
After starting the season 0-6, New York not only went 8-2 in their final 10 games, but also won the division to boot. And now the team can add a home playoff victory to this Cinderella season as well.
The playoff victory in front of a raucous hometown crowd was also New York head coach Todd Shell`s first as the head man after three near misses.
“It feels great to get my first playoff win as a head coach,” said the smiling Shell in his post-game press conference. “I took San Jose in three times, but was disappointed not to advance. This team came up big and now we play on.”
The Dragons won it when kicker Ian Howfield delivered on the game-winning field goal with just over three seconds left in regulation, capping a 48-45 come-from-behind victory against the Chicago Rush.
"He`s made huge field goals for us,” said Shell. “I knew that we were going to win with him kicking at that spot. I had no doubt in my mind that he would put it through.”
Such confidence may have been the result of the animated “pep talk” Shell delivered to his kicker after he failed to get two successive kickoffs deep enough to hit the netting – and keep the ball out of Chicago Rush superstar Antonio Chatman’s hands. In the third quarter, Chatman displayed his explosive skills by returning two consecutive kickoffs (56 and 55-yards, respectively) for touchdowns.
“Coach just tried to impress upon me the need to hit the net,” said Howfield. “Maybe not as calmly as I’m telling you now.” Clearly Howfield could afford to laugh about it. His long road back to the league has been well chronicled. Car accident followed by years of rehab; and now the game winning field goal to advance the team. “I had a feeling it was going to come down to me,” Howfield said.
Star quarterback Aaron Garcia was upbeat as well. Asked about the heavily bandaged area above his left eye, Garcia said, “I’m going to get surgery after the season and they’ll fix it up good.” About the Dragons next opponent, the quarterback continued, “We’re happy to face Orlando again. They laughed at us on our own field.” (The last time the Dragons faced the Predators, Orlando gave New York one of its worst losses, a 72-56 defeat at home.) “Now we want to return the favor,” said Garcia.
As for his two top go-to receivers, the signal caller couldn’t be more satisfied. “William Holder and Chris Anthony showed the character of this team the way they continued to play hard, even though they were hurt.”
“Right now I’m kind of sore. I’ve got the kind of bruises that’s gonna’ hurt tomorrow,” said Holder. The WR/DB had been knocked out of the game earlier with a head injury. However, he made his way back to pull down two third-quarter touchdown receptions.
Garcia’s other primary target, Chris Anthony, was the picture of a bruised but unbowed warrior. “I cracked my knee on the boards, but it’s going to be ok,” he said. The WR/LB’s contributions were massive, leading the Dragons with 12 catches and 132-total yards.
So now the Dragons live to play another day. Howfield said, “My goal is to win an ArenaBowl.” Consider that a collective thought from the entire team.
David Holusha was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2003 to 2004.
