Firebirds use the Force to Defeat Darth Jersey
Steve Sgambelluri
Sunday June 18, 2000
Well, if that’s the case, then the only words Yoda would have uttered to the Albany Firebirds before they took the field against the New Jersey Red Dogs would be, “May the force be with you; you’ll surely need it.”
And need it they did. But more importantly, they got it.
Banged up and bruised, Albany, who was without the services of four key players, took command after a suspect first half, and handed the Red Dogs a 61-54 defeat Friday night in Albany. DB Derek Stingley, FB/LB Tim Brown, WR/DB Jay Jones, and FB/LB Leroy Thompson, all of whom are key elements on both sides of the ball in the Firebirds attack, were simply spectators in a game that saw Albany give up 40 points before the break.
Amazingly enough, the Firebirds would allow just 14 more points over the next 30 minutes, upgrading their defense from first gear to fifth gear in a matter of minutes.
“We kept fighting,” said Firebirds head coach Mike Dailey. “We had guys that could’ve tanked but they didn’t. They came together.”
New Jersey owned a 40-27 advantage after two quarters. And early in the second half, the Red Dogs looked like world class, state of the art spoilers. Not just the game, but the season was scattering out of control for the Firebirds, like a first-time skater on ice
After quarterback Mike Pawlawski found wide receiver Greg Hopkins on a 37-yard scoring play, Jersey came right back when quarterback Tommy Maddox connected with Jason Walters for a 9-yard score.
That’s when the roof caved in on the Red Dogs.
Ending the third quarter and trailing 47-41, Albany defensive back Na’il Benjamin intercepted a Maddox pass to give the Firebirds new life. From there, fullback Jon Krick scored on a two-yard spurt on first and goal to tie the game. Nelson Garner’s kick gave Albany the lead 48-47.
After John Sikora tore through the Red Dog front line to sack Maddox for a ten-yard loss, defensive back Van Johnson made an unheard of, behind the neck, one handed interception with his right hand to bring the 9,233 fans to life.
“I make those catches all the time,” Johnson joked. “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
Five plays later, Krick found himself in the end zone once again, this time after a 1-yard plunge on second and goal, extending Albany’s lead to 55-47.
And if that wasn’t enough, the air hadn’t been totally let out of the balloon. On the ensuing kickoff, Garner’s kick bounced off the top rail, making it a live ball. Albany’s Carl Sacco recovered and on the next play, Pawlawski found a wide-open Curtis Anderson on a nifty slant play to increase Albany’s lead to 61-47.
“You never know,” remarked Dailey of the unforeseen turn of events. “How can you coach something like that?”
“I was just running down,” explained Sacco. “I never expected that to happen.”
That very play seemed to break Jersey’s back. The Red Dogs weren’t out of it just yet, but when Pawlawski rifled a perfect pass to Benjamin on third and 18, the clock showed just 52.3 seconds remaining and Albany ran out the clock.
Coming off a disappointing loss to the Buffalo Destroyers last week, Albany couldn’t afford to let this one slip away. And with all four pivotal Firebirds being out of action, things didn’t look good in the first half.
“I’m proud of the guys,” Stingley said, out with a knee injury. “After Na’il’s interception, I jumped out of my seat. I’m just so proud of everyone for getting the victory.”
Proud may not be the right word. Determined and committed may be better. After all, when you’re defending ArenaBowl Champions, you don’t just sit back and let things take off against you. Champions rise above adversity; champions answer the call for challenges; more importantly, champions, as much as it may bother the opposition, get lucky. And maybe, just maybe, that luck came from an unknown force.
“It was a true test of our character,” said veteran defensive linemen Joe Jacobs. “Everybody’s banged up, that’s a test of a true champion.”
A true champion, one who delivers in clutch times, who elevates and stands alone in greatness, finds a way to win.
Just imagine Luke Skywalker without his sword. He’d probably find a way to win. The Albany Firebirds certainly did.
Steve Sgambelluri was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.
