Phantoms Long, not Short on Talent
Jim Parcels
Thursday April 11, 2002
This past weekend Long had an impressive outing in his team’s first pre-season match which saw the Phantoms drop a 47-46 last-second decision in Grand Rapids on Saturday night.
Long had his best game as a professional hauling in five passes for a game-high 95 yards, scored two touchdowns and also led the club defensively with 3 ½ tackles.
“I really think Jerald Long came to play. This was like his coming out party.”, said Phantoms QB Chad Salisbury, who passed for two TDs in the loss on Saturday.
Long saw plenty of action against the defending Champions – an opportunity that will prove critical in making the roster this season.
“The preseason is fun. It gives you a chance to catch some balls,” said Long, the native of Welch, WV.
The 6.01, 185 lbs. WR/DB played his college football for the Thunder Herd at Marshall opposite Moss. Long caught passes from current New York Jet Chad Pennington in their drive to two NCAA-II title games.
The Phantoms receiver position is crowded with returning vets Charlie Davidsion, Kerry Brown, Ty Law and Luke Leverson also in the picture - a situation that Long is well aware of.
“I realize that we have a lot of returning vets, so I might have to sit back and wait for my chance,” said Long.
Last year Long played sparingly while battling a wrist injury that reduce him to just two games in a Phantoms uniform. He caught only 3 passes and recorded only two tackles before being place on injured reserve.
“Most of all, I’m just happy that I got back to playing after that injury a year ago,” said Long who dislocated his wrist near mid-season.
The contest in Grand Rapids saw the Phantoms lead for the entire game until Rampage K Brian Gowins nailed a 52-yard field goal with 0:01 left on the clock.
For the most part the Phantoms moved the ball well offensively under the direction of Salisbury and vet QB Pat O’Hara. Both threw two touchdowns and looked solid for three quarters.
However, the Phantoms played their 3rd string unit for the entire 4th quarter, while the Rampage chose to slot in their 1st unit to create an advertisement for the regular season.
Tales from the Crypt:
Veteran WR/DB Charlie Davidson provided the scare of the pre-season last week when the 29-year old crashed into a steel support beam at the Coffee Time Soccer Centre during practice. The 2nd-team AFL IronMan from last season was motionless for almost an hour near the end of the practice field after running a fly-pattern. Davidson was taken to hospital by ambulance but was released later in the evening with a concussion and neck strain. He dressed in Grand Rapids but did not take the field… Was it just me or did the clock suddenly halt at 0:01 during a deep pass by Rampage QB Todd Hammel on Saturday? Believe it or not, the clock was somehow stopped with one second left as the ball was falling to earth, setting up a last-second game winning field goal by Brian Gowins on the ensuing play… OL/DL Connell Spain was placed on IR earlier this week with a knee injury that hasn’t quite healed after off-season surgery. WR/LB Kerry Brown joined Spain on the sidelines this week after suffering a bruised sternum in Grand Rapids… Veteran AFL journeyman OL/DL Michael Harrison was signed last week after Spain was placed on IR. Harrison has played four seasons with both Florida and Houston… Rookie FB/LB Darryl Richardson looked great on a couple of rushes gaining 14 yards on 3 carries Saturday… QB Kahlil Carter took the reigns of the Phantoms offense in the 4th quarter after Chad Salisbury and Pat O’Hara combined for four TD passes… WR/DB Luke Leverson quietly had a strong game for the Phantoms in catching a game-high six passes… Former Argo Offensive Coordinator, and current Detroit Fury Head Coach Darrel “Mouse” Davis took in the Phantoms-Rampage game on Saturday. He was joined by former Eskimo star LB Malvin Hunter who is now a Fury Assistant Coach… The Phantoms “Stats Crew” of Adam Hook, Neil Luxton and yours truly made the 6-hour trek to Grand Rapids to take in the game… One difference from last year’s team during practices? The offensive linemen are actually soaked in sweat after workouts under new line coach Bob Landsee – something that was absent last year.
Jim Parcels was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2002 season.
