Predators last second touchdown pass upends Wrnaglers 46-45

Sunday May 20, 2007

Austin, Texas—Shane Stafford hit Jimmy Fryzel on a 7-yard touchdown pass as time expired as the Orlando Predators recorded a come-from-behind 46-45 win over the Austin Wranglers.

The win, Orlando’s fifth in sixth games, moves the Predators to 7-4 on the season and 5-2 in the Southern Division.  Austin, who never trailed until final play of the game, fell to 3-8 on the season.  Orlando trailed by as many as 15 points in the game.

“It wasn’t pretty but we’ll take it,”  Head Coach Jay Gruden said.  “This team had a lot of things go wrong today but never quit.”  On the game-winning play, the Predators ran a crossing route to Fryzel who caught the ball on the corner.  “Play was called “goal line doc” and my only read on the play is to make sure they are in man coverage and not zone.   Jimmy was the primary receiver and ran a great route,” Stafford.

The winning touchdown drive was set up when the Predators scored late in the game on a touchdown pass that cut the lead to 45-40 with a little more than two minutes remaining.  Orlando elected to kick the ball deep and the Predators defense held – forcing a 29-yard field goal attempt from Mark Lewis that sailed just wide.

From there, Stafford led the Predators on a seven-play, 38-yard touchdown drive that ended on Fryzel’s game winning catch.

The Wranglers scored on their first possession, driving 35-yards for a 7-0 lead.   Kevin Nickerson covered the last 14-yards of the drive with a touchdown reception from Lang Campbell.

Stafford’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Dudley made it a 7-7 game at the 6:59 mark of the first period.  Stafford was solid on the drive, completing three of four passes for 39 yards.

Orlando would then get the first defensive stop of the game on Marlon Moye-Moore’s third interception of the season in the end zone.  But Orlando’s ensuing drive stalled and Jay Taylor’s 33-yard field goal gave the Predators a 10-7 lead with 1:48 remaining in the first period.

Austin regained the lead at the 11:42 mark, as Otis Amey ran it in from the two-yard line.  The play capped a six-play, 46-yard drive that was aided by a roughing the passer penalty on Greg White.

Orlando regained the lead on its next possession, but it was not easy.  After driving down to the eight-yard line, an offensive holding penalty set them back to the 18. Ron Johnson picked up eight yards on the next play, before Stafford misfired to set up a third and goal from the eight.  Stafford would then elude a big rush and hit Dudley on the goal line for a touchdown and a 17-14 lead at the 7:13 mark of the second period.

Amey’s second touchdown run of the half made it 21-17 with 2:56 remaining.  The drive capped a 48-yard touchdown march that Campbell covered in six plays.  Austin then came up with a defensive stop of their own, taking over on downs.   Austin was aided on two offensive penalties that kept the Predators from picking up a first down.  From there, Campbell scored on a one-yard run to make it 28-20.  The stop was set up with a kickoff that the Predators failed to handle that went out at the one-foot line – keeping the Predators in a deep hole.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Predators avoided disaster.  Ryan Bowers fumbled the kickoff and Orlando Predators linebacker Marlon Moye-Moore recovered and fumble but proceeded to fumble and Austin recovered.  Officials explained under AFL rules however, that a fumbled ball recovered by the receiving team was dead at that point  -- giving the Predators the ball on the eight.  Stafford would then hit Johnson out to the 20 and on the last play of the half, Taylor booted a 45-yard field goal to make it a 28-20 game at the half.

Austin then upped the lead to 35-20.   The Predators picked up a big gain on their first possession, but on the next play, Orlando fumbled the center-quarterback exchange and Austin recovered.  Campbell then hit Amey from eight yards out for a 15-point lead.

The Preds cut the lead to 35-27 on a 4-yard pass from Stafford to Johnson.  A pass interference penalty on Damon Mason away from the ball on a third and goal play set up the touchdown – giving Orlando a first goal on the four.

Austin made it a 15-point game on its next possession as Campbell hooked up with Derrick Lee on a 29-yard hitch and go pattern to make to 42-27 at the 1:28 mark of the third period.

Orlando answered on their possession with Stafford hitting Jimmy Fryzel on a 15-yard scoring pass on a third and 10 play.  The Predators then missed a golden opportunity to get back in the game.  Greg White sacked Lang Campbell forcing a fumble and recovering it.  But Orlando failed to capitalize and Austin held on downs.  A Mark Lewis field goal then upped the lead to 45-34 with 4:12 remaining.

Orlando needed just one play to make it a 45-40 game, as Stafford came over top and hit Dudley on a 32-yard touchdown pass.