Just Another New Jersey vs. Firebirds’ Game
Marc Viquez
Tuesday July 10, 2001
The game came down to the final play, a Steve Videtich’s extra point attempt that gave New Jersey the one point margin and its second victory of the year. Videtich, an original Red Dog player, recalls how anything is possible when these two teams collide.
“I don’t know, that is what I told Joe Borgoes. He and I were at the start of the Red Dogs and I told him that its just a classic Firebirds and New Jersey match up,” said Videtich who booted 14-points through the uprights. “I don’t know what it is but just that these two teams bring out the best in each other. It’s the old cliché that when these two teams get together you can through out the records.”
The average margin of victory between the two squads is 7.4 points, and it was the third time a victory was decided by one-point. It was also the seventh time a win was decided on a touchdown or less. “It’s a lot of fun playing them and you can always count on exciting games,” said Videtich who likes what he sees in the teams’ fortunes since the early part of the season.
The record books were not off the charts like the night before in Long Island, but it was the Gladiators’ first win since the May 11th manhandling of Detroit. The 62-points were the most points New Jersey scored this season and it was in front of the largest crowd of the year (4,361). They were also the highest points New Jersey has put up since a 69-63 loss to the New England Sea*Wolves on June 30, 2000. This was only the second time this season that New Jersey led all the way, until Indiana tied it up twice in the fourth quarter.
Newcomers like QB Connell Maynor and OS Coco Blalock, who scored the winning touchdown in overtime, caught the rivalry bug and kicked it up a notch. Blalock enjoyed his third week of progress earning game MVP honors scoring three times (once on a 54-yard missed field goal try). Maynor tossed four TD passes for 228-yards since coming in for an injured Todd Bankhead in the second quarter. Albany veterans OS Eddie Brown and WR/LB Greg Hopkins combined 28-receptions, 308-yards, and 5 touchdowns and QB John Rayborn passed for a quite 370-yards and 6-touchdowns.
The “old-fashion” Arena Football game was a good way to part terms with a skeptical New Jersey fan base that have seen their share of losing at the Meadowlands. It was the third straight game that New Jersey was in the game until the fourth and you can see the beginnings of a team that is reaching their full capacity. Whatever the reasons are about the type of game these two teams play, it can always guarantee absolute chaos on the field and fans glued to their seat. It is too bad they can’t do it again this season!
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.
