Preds Rock Wranglers
Jason Lucas
Monday March 28, 2005
After Austin jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter the Predators dominated the next 30 minutes of action with 37 unanswered points and never looked back. Orlando Predators quarterback Joe Hamilton had his best game of the season throwing six touchdown passes on 22 of 26 passing for 235 yards in only three quarters.
The Predators receivers had their best game of the season as well scoring seven touchdown receptions altogether. Jimmy Fryzel led the Predators in receiving with three touchdowns on 10 receptions for 115 yards, booking his best game since his debut outing in Chicago. Jerrian James had three touchdown receptions as well including a one-handed reception on a crossing route in the first quarter. Hamilton hit Cory Fleming for an 18-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the first quarter, extending Fleming’s touchdown reception streak to 33 games.
The big change on the Predators defense this week brought former Tampa Bay Storm defensive specialist Johnnie Harris to Orlando for his Predators debut Friday night. He intercepted Austin QB Scott Dreisbach, closing the Wranglers last drive of the game. The defense had their best outing by far in this game sacking Austin QBs twice and intercepting them twice. Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre made his triumphant return after injuring himself in Georgia last week by making an interception off of Wranglers QB Bobby Pesavento.
Random Observations
There is nothing personal meant in this observation but how in the world did Bobby Pesavento get taken out of af2? This guy should definitely be in af2 or maybe even the NIFL. It is really sad to read a message board and see fans screaming for…. John Fitzgerald? What is the world coming to when Fitzgerald is the best QB a team has to offer? Last year in the Jungle we watched Fitzgerald move the New Orleans VooDoo backwards on many occasions with his panicky style of quarterbacking. This guy has feet happier than Nick Lachey coming home to Jessica Simpson.
Speaking of Jessica Simpson, the Predators public address announcer "Doc" from local radio station XL 106.7 happened to mention having Aaron Carter sing the national anthem at the Predators vs. Los Angeles game on April 3rd. It could be worse because it could be Ashley Simpson (OUCH!). I have seen quite a few fans (mostly Storm fans) complain about the sarcastic anecdotes of Doc the PA announcer but he sure does keep the Predator fans in the game at key moments.
For the second time this season I will give the officiating crew for this game a big thumb’s up. Riley Johnson and his crew joined the David Lambros crew as one of the tops in the league with their performance. For anyone wondering after sitting through two games in a row with Jerome Boger’s crew, this game was a very refreshing experience. Last week the Predators played in Georgia and I watched an official make a critical call against the Predators number 22. Unfortunately for him, Herkie Walls’ retired number was nowhere to be found and his bogus homer call extended a Force possession costing the Preds any chance at a win. I would now like to nominate Pat Garvey for the AFL’s moron of the year award if they have it.
Week 10
On Sunday April 3rd the Los Angeles Avengers will travel to Orlando for what should be a great battle between two top AFL teams. The last two meetings have come down to the final play. In 2003 Tony Graziani hit Greg Hopkins on the last play to defeat the Preds in the Jungle completing a 12- point comeback in the last 20 seconds. In 2004 Joe Hamilton drove the Predators into field goal range for newly signed kicker Jason Wells to boot the game winner at the buzzer.
This year the faces have changed a little for the Avengers but the results have stayed the same as they come into this game with a 5-3 record. Avengers QB John Kaleo is coming off a game in which he torched his former team, the Tampa Bay Storm, for 301 yards and four touchdowns. He is no stranger to the Predators fierce defense and you can rest assured he will be prepared for the Jungle noise.
The Avengers manhandled the Storm 59-28 and look to improve to 2-0 all time in the Jungle this week, which will be a daunting task against the Predators. Game time is slated for noon and will be televised by our friends at NBC.
Change of Strategy
In my head I have been screaming for this move all season long. The Predators have one of the best defensive teams in the AFL, yet when they win the toss this season they have been taking the ball first and turning it over frequently.
The last two weeks the Predators have deferred and played defense first with great results. In Georgia Reggie Doster picked off Force QB Matt Nagy to start the game. This week on the Wranglers first drive (not counting Tacoma Fontaine’s opening kickoff return for a touchdown) Kenny McEntyre intercepted Bobby Pesavento and the Predators quickly turned that into a 14-7 lead.
Please, please, please keep letting the opponent have the ball first at all costs!
Fun Times
This week is going to be one of the most interesting AFL weekends of my personal experience. Saturday night I will be driving to Tampa to see the Storm take on the Georgia Force at 7:30 in St. Pete Times Forum. Sunday at noon the Predators host the Avengers.
Which brings me to the interesting part. Sunday April 3rd is the start of daylight savings time and we will be "springing ahead" an hour. After staying in Tampa Saturday evening I will be waking up and heading down I-4 East to the Jungle just in time to catch the Predators game. A weekend that eventful should lead to some interesting stories to be told in my column next week.
Until then you know where to find me!
Jason Lucas is a part-time freelance writer based in the Orlando, Florida area. A former director of media relations with the Orlando Predators, Jason is making his return to Arenafan.com after a short stint as a public relations assistant with the UFL‘s Florida Tuskers in 2010. Lucas has followed the AFL since 1992 and began covering the Predators for Arenafan during the 2004 season. He held that position until being picked up by the Preds front office after the 2007 season. Jason‘s knowledge of arena football and love of the game is what drives him to continue covering the sport.
