Gut Check in the Graveyard
Jack Bedell
Wednesday May 18, 2005
While QB Andy Kelly and the VooDoo offense piled up touchdowns and produced phenomenal numbers, they did have a couple of difficult series (turning the ball over on downs and giving up an interception for a touchdown) that put the team behind the eight ball. To make up the difference and give the club a chance to pull off the comeback, it definitely took a total team effort.
With their playoff lives on the line, the VooDoo veterans took charge at halftime and came out determined to give the fans in the New Orleans Arena the performance they deserved. Whether it was Kelly throwing nine touchdowns, OS Aaron Bailey catching 12 balls for 134 yards and five scores, or DS Alvin Porter making 10 solo tackles, the VooDoo brought everything they had to hold on to their playoff chances.
At times, though, even Coach Mike Neu had to admit things looked bleak, "No question about it. You know those [offensive turnovers and stops], as much as you try to knock them out of your head, you think, ‘Oh man, our playoff hopes are starting to sneak away.’ I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t thinking about that. You just try to keep it in the back of your mind and use it for motivation. I’m proud of our guys because we kept battling, and it was a great comeback."
DEFENSE, GOOD TO SEE YA
After trailing by as many as 13 points into the fourth quarter, and giving up a touchdown on every Wranglers possession, the VooDoo defense came up with two brilliant stands to swing the game. Down 62-56 with 3:13 left, DS Chris Pointer drew a pass interference call against Wranglers WR/LB Darren Chiaverini to force a fourth-and-18 situation QB John Fitzgerald could not pick up, giving the VooDoo offense the opportunity to take the lead for the first time since their first possession.
The second stop came after a failed VooDoo on-side kick at the one-minute warning, when it looked like a foregone conclusion the Wranglers would score from the VooDoo 14-yard line to regain the lead. On first down, OL/DL Abdul-Salaam stuffed Wranglers FB/LB Henry Bryant for no gain. On second down, John Fitzgerald completed an 8-yard pass to WR/LB Darren Chiaverini. On third down, OL/DL B. J. Cohen crushed Fitzgerald for a three-yard loss on a poorly-executed quarterback option into the dasher boards. Then on fourth down, ADT Defensive Player of the Game Chris Pointer shook the ball loose from Chiaverini with a well-timed hit to spoil what would have been a sure first down for the Wranglers.
The importance of those two defensive series was definitely not lost on Coach Neu, "That’s huge, man. Our defense doesn’t get enough credit. They’ve been so strong now for two years. That’s a credit to Coach Porter talking to those guys between series. Every time they come off the field, Coach Porter’s over there talking to Chris Pointer and Alvin Porter, telling them to keep believing. And they stepped up when we needed them most."
B. J. FINALLY GETS A CALL
Mugged all year on his way to collecting 10 sacks, OL/DL B. J. Cohen was finally rewarded with a call Saturday night. With a clear shot at lead-footed John Fitzgerald, Cohen was tripped soccer-style by a Wranglers lineman. Since B.J. nearly landed in his lap, referee Riley Johnson had no choice but to throw the flag. The mark off drew a sizeable mock ovation from the crowd.
SPEAKING OF STRANGE CALLS
Probably the most curious call of the night came with 36 seconds remaining when Wranglers coach Skip Foster passed up the opportunity to regain the lead with a short field goal attempt. On fourth down with two yards to go, Foster elected to go for the first down with the Fitzgerald pass to Chiaverini that was broken up by Pointer. Asked to defend his decision, Foster explained, "36 seconds is simply too much time to give their kicker." Thanks, Coach. We needed that.
THE KELLY AND BAILEY SHOW
QB Andy Kelly and OS Aaron Bailey both posted career nights Saturday. Kelly’s nine touchdowns gave him 93 on the year, a career high with a game still to play, and his 46 attempts helped him shatter his own record for attempts in a single season with 662. Bailey’s five touchdown catches were also a career high, and his 12 receptions moved his total for the season into second place all-time for receptions in a year.
On a personal note, it’s really been a pleasure watching Kelly and Bailey go about their business this year. I’ve witnessed their leadership at practices and on the field come game time, and I’ve felt the confidence they’ve brought to this team, especially to the VooDoo offense. They are both rare talents, and playoffs or not, they’ve given VooDoo fans everything they could have asked for this season.
SOUTHERN DIVISION SHOWDOWN
It doesn’t take the NBC cameras showing up this Sunday in Orlando to make any of us realize how important this game against the Predators is. A victory guarantees a playoff spot. A loss guarantees a long offseason. Let’s hope the VooDoo team that came out after halftime to take it to the Wranglers finds its way to Orlando. With that combination of guts and talent, I like their chances.
Jack Bedell was an inaugural season ticket holder for the af2's Lafayette Roughnecks and the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo. He's been a fan of the league since he first saw Browning Nagle heaving touchdowns for the Buffalo Destroyers. Jack's married to a lovely wife, Beth, and has two sons, Jack and Samuel Eli. He works as an associate professor of creative writing at Southeastern Louisiana University.
