San Antonio Returns To Orlando, Shuts Out Preds in Second Half

Adam Markowitz
Thursday March 29, 2012

ORLANDO -- The last time that an Arena Football League team from San Antonio came to Orlando, the San Antonio Force became a dubious piece of league history, getting shut out by the Orlando Predators. It was, and remains nearly two decades later, the only shutout in the history of the league.

A little piece of history died in Orlando this week, as the old Amway Arena, the building in which the Force were shut out, was demolished. Now, the San Antonio Talons were able to put together a little piece of history on their own.

In a rare Thursday night game in Orlando, the Talons were able to shut out the Preds in the second half, erasing a 34-27 halftime deficit to take their second victory of the season.

The Predators got the ball out of the locker room and ran 6:22 off the clock, only to get stopped on downs at the San Antonio 9-yard line. It was the first of five second half possessions that all ended without any points hitting the scoreboard.

It was the first time that Orlando had been shut out in a half since 1999.

To make matters worse, the Predators dropped to 0-3 for the third time in franchise history. Both in 2010 and in 2001, they were able to bounce back and get into the playoffs, and matters should be easier to get the job done this year. There are 15 more games to play, and the Southern Division doesn't look like it is going to have any dynamite teams as it has had in recent years.

However, this Orlando team feels just a bit different. Collin Drafts came out of the gates in great shape on the first drive of the game, completing his first five passes. He went just 20-of-33 for 188 yards with three TDs and one INT for the rest of the duel. There wasn't a single play in the game that went for more than 20 yards for Orlando either.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Aaron Garcia was busy torching Ahmad Carroll and the Preds' secondary. The 41-year old threw for 317 yards and six scores. Jason Willis and Carl Moore both had huge games, combining for 17 grabs for 274 yards and all six TDs.

There is also something to be said about that old Amway Arena, which is now nothing more than a construction site. Orlando, a team that is 110-51 at home in franchise history, has now lost its first two home games for just the second time ever. The last time was in 1997. That team didn't lose another game at home for the rest of the year, including a first round playoff win over the New Jersey Red Dogs.

The Predators have never lost three straight home games to start the season. There has only been one three-game losing streak at home in team history, and that came at the end of the 2002 regular season. That was also the only year in which Orlando had a losing record at home (2-5), save for its inaugural season in 1991.

And now of course, that brings up the next question. Since that first season in team history, the Preds have never missed the playoffs. They've been in the second season for 19 straight years. They haven't always been forces in the postseason, but they have always gotten there.

The good news for the Predators is that they have two very winnable road games over the next two weeks against the Cleveland Gladiators and Pittsburgh Power. The bad news though, is that their next home game isn't until April 20th, nearly a full month from now.

It has already been a bizarre season for the 2012 Orlando Predators. They've played a game with replacement players on national television, and now, they have been shut out in a half of football. Their backup quarterback, Trevor Harris, has already left for the CFL, and Dan Whalen, the new backup, doesn't exactly exude a ton of confidence after a terrible stint with Cleveland last season.

So if the Predators can find a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a game that should have been won, what else is going to be ahead for the 2012 season?

Sure, it wouldn't be all that surprising to see the Predators catch a little bit of fire, finish out the year perhaps at 10-8 or so and get into the playoffs, especially in a weak division and a weak conference. But could the men in black and red really be in store for their worst season ever?

One thing is for sure, though. The Talons will head back to San Antonio with their heads held high, and they are going to leave the Predators wondering what is going to be in store for a team that is coming off of an epically bad offensive showing.