Jonathan Brown’s Sack Secures Indiana’s OT Victory
Marc Viquez
Saturday May 8, 2004
“It was one of those distinctive rushes,” said Brown. “From playing the outdoor game so long I kind of felt my man overset me a little bit, so I did a fake outside and went inside on him”
The team went back to their old ways, after dropping two straight, playing almost flawless ball the whole way. Unfortunately, Detroit would not succumb and kept finding ways to get back into the game, eventually tying it up on a two-point conversion at the end of regulation.
“I thought it was going to be 45-44, not whatever it was,” said Indiana head coach Mike Wilpolt. “Those last two series [Adrian] McPherson makes a spectacular play and J.B. makes one on defense and that is what we did not have the entire game”
Quarterback Adrian McPherson accounted for nine touchdowns, tossing six and running for three more. It was his 8-yard run that gave the Firebirds the lead for good in overtime, but it was his 37-yard touchdown run that excited the crowd early in the fourth period.
“I told him early in the week, ‘If the pass isn’t there, make something happen with your feet,’ ” added Wilpolt. “He has great ability to make big plays which you saw with his feet. If you feel you can make something happen, make it happen, but don’t take a big hit”
When McPherson was not running he was driving the team down field with his arm as he connected with Anthony Hines (166 yards receiving) on a 4-yard toss to end the first half and then with Brett Bech on an eight-yard score on the opening drive of the second half. Those two plays put Indiana in a comfortable position they would not relinquish for the rest of the game.
“It was big, that touchdown right before halftime, because we got possession to start the second half, so they have to play catch up,” said Wilpolt. “That is what we have been struggling with. We’ve been the team playing catch up, but this week we’ve been the team that’s been ahead.”
Detroit did not succumb to anything the Firebirds threw at them through most of the game as Carl Bond hauled in a franchise record tying six touchdowns—he had six total touchdowns coming into the game—and Ron Carpenter sliced through the defense on special teams. Carpenter tallied up 257 yards on kick returns, putting the Fury in favorable field position.
“It’s easier to play defense when you got 45 yards as opposed to 20-25 yards,” said Wilpolt. “[Bond] is one of the best, but we have to correct all of our special teams. We’ve done poor the last few weeks with kickoff coverage and kickoff returns. We have got athletes that can get down there. We have little guys that are fast and big guys that can run, but we’re just not making the plays”
“We won as a team today,” said Brown who was playing in just his sixth game of the season after playing for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe last season. “We have a great group of guys. We all play hard, practice hard. We fight out everyday. I am just happy for this team.”
Once again, the Firebirds came together and played near perfect ball after losing to Las Vegas and Arizona the previous two weeks. McPherson did not throw an interception, the team was able to execute on a fourth down and one and the defense came up with the big play that was needed. They will need to continue this type of play with both the Colorado Crush and the Chicago Rush on the docket to close out the season.
“Colorado is playing for home field advantage and we have to get better than where we were tonight. We don’t need help, we just got to win two and see what happens,” said Wilpolt.
The next two weeks should be interesting.
A fan of the sport since 1990 Marc has covered both the New Jersey Gladiators and Cincinnati Swarm (Af2) for Arenafan Online. Marc now resides in Indianapolis after graduating with a Masters in Sports Management from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. When not at a Firebirds game Marc can be found traveling the Midwest covering sports for various Internet and print publications.
