Force lose in final seconds to Predators 65-62

Sunday April 20, 2008

DULUTH, GA – The Georgia Force suffered their fourth loss of the season and their second to Orlando as the Predators scored the games final 13 points to win, 65-62. Orlando scored the final points of the contest on an eight-yard crossing pattern to rookie WR Chas Gessner from the arm of QB Shane Stafford with five seconds remaining in the game. Georgia was led offensively by WR Troy Bergeron who tallied six receptions for 118 yards with two touchdowns as he returned to action after missing the previous three games. Force NT Ernest Allen was named Defensive Player of the Game after collaring two tackles and two sacks for a Georgia defense that posted a season-high four sacks in the game. Force rookie LB Cam Newton continued his solid play has he recorded 4.5 tackles and one interception, which he returned 12 yards for a score in the second quarter.

Georgia spotted Orlando a 14-point lead to begin the game and trailed 21-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Predators defense produced a stop on the opening possession of the game and tallied seven points on an eight-yard pass from Stafford to Gessner. Orlando’s 10-year veteran DB Kenny McEntyre intercepted Greisen and returned it 13 yards for the score. The Force offense finally got on the board with a four-yard strike from Greisen to Bergeron to bring the score to 14-7. Orlando responded with a 33-yard screen pass to FB Odie Armstrong to cap the scoring in the first quarter of play.

The Force fought back in the second quarter with two turnovers, two offensive scores and a pair of field goals by K Carlos Martinez to give Georgia a 33-31 lead entering the half. Georgia WR Carl Morris started the scoring with a four-yard touchdown grab over Orlando’s McEntyre. The two teams traded field goals following the score to make the score 24-17. Force rookie LB Cam Newton struck again as he intercepted Stafford and returned it 12 yards for the touchdown. The touchdown marks the fourth defensive touchdown of the season for Newton and his third in the last two games. Georgia DE R-Kal Truluck tallied his first sack on the following possession and forced Stafford to fumble, which Truluck managed to fall on top of for the second consecutive turnover. The Force offense capitalized with a  one-yard run by FB Matt Huebner to give the Force a 30-24 lead. Following an Orlando touchdown, Martinez drilled a 31-yard field goal to end the first half.

Georgia and Orlando traded scores in the third quarter, giving the Force a 47-45 lead going into the final quarter of action. Greisen found WR Tiger Jones for both Georgia scores in the quarter with one coming from 24 yards out and the other from 13 yards. The Force defense harassed Stafford in the quarter and even knocked him out the game mid-way through the quarter, but he returned to play the fourth quarter. Allen collared two sacks in the quarter for the Force defense.

Georgia increased their lead to 10 points, 62-52, with 5:39 remaining in the game with two offensive scores and safety by DE Jermaine Smith. Huebner tallied his second rushing touchdown of the game and Bergeron hauled in a 35-yard bomb from Greisen. The Predators battled back and with five seconds remaining in the game Stafford found Gessner for the game-winning score from eight yards out.

SCORE             1          2          3          4          TOTAL
ORL                  21        10        14        20        65      
GA                   7          26        14        15        62

PASSING
GA – Chris Greisen                  37-21-274-5-2
ORL – Shane Stafford              36-22-262-5-1

RECEIVING
GA – Carl Morris                     8-69-1
ORL – Ron Johnson                   11-122-1

RUSHING
GA – Matt Huebner                 5-7-2
ORL – Odie Armstrong 3-2-0

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: FB Odie Armstrong, ORL
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: NT Ernest Allen, GA
IRONMAN OF THE GAME: WR T.T. Toliver, ORL