Milwaukee Faced with Powerful Predators after First Win
John Hoh
Friday June 22, 2001
At the same time, the differences couldn’t be more staggering. After its 0-3 start, Orlando has ripped off six straight wins to challenge for the Southern Division crown. Milwaukee’s victory last week was its first of the season and has the Mustangs clinging by the thinnest of hopes for a playoff berth.
The Mustangs not only have Predator momentum coming into the game against them, but also history. Orlando has won all four meetings between these teams. If Milwaukee is to break the schneid, this would be the ideal game.
Both teams come into the game having scored over 30 points in the fourth quarter in last week’s games: Milwaukee tallying 35 against the Grand Rapids Rampage and Orlando tallying 33 against the New York Dragons.
Orlando has three sack attackers among the league leaders: Eason, Allen, and Mccall. The Mustang offensive line will have its work cut out protecting McDougal. McDougal will need to make quick reads and deliver the ball quickly. Kenny McEntyre is second in the league with seven interceptions, a concern for the Mustangs who seem to find the open defender. A key for the Mustangs is stopping Siaha Burley who leads the league in scoring. Craig Whelihan has come back from a slow start to position himself among the AFL leaders at quarterback.
The Mustangs need to build on the momentum of last week’s victory over Grand Rapids. If they win at the TD Waterhouse Arena, they can still salvage something from this season. A loss and the Mustangs can start polishing the golf clubs.
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
