Georgia Force fall to 3-5 after 66-61 loss to Arizona

Sunday April 27, 2008

PHOENIX, AZ – Late turnovers in a 66-61 loss to the Arizona Rattlers drop the Georgia Force to 3-5 on the year. The two teams were matched in an offensive battle that saw a combined 84 points scored in the first half, but two second half interceptions by the Rattlers defense resulted in Georgia’s fifth loss of the season. Georgia rookie WR Tiger Jones earned Offensive Player of the Game honors after recording 140 receiving yards on seven catches with four touchdowns. WR Damien Groce also had his most productive game as a member of the Force as he tallied 206 all-purpose yards after hauling in 11 receptions for 128 yards with one touchdown, and adding 73 return yards on special teams in addition to five rushing yards.

Georgia and Arizona combined to put 42 points on the board in the first quarter as the clubs ended the quarter knotted at 21. For the third straight game, the Force found themselves down by a score of 14-0 with more than 10 minutes remaining in the first. Rattlers QB Lang Campbell completed a 31-yard touchdown pass to WR Trandon Harvey on their first play from scrimmage. On the following kickoff the ball bounced off the crossbar and was recovered by the Rattlers. On the very next play, Campbell connected with WR Todd Davoe from seven yards out. Georgia battled back with a 27-yard touchdown strike to Jones from QB Chris Greisen and a one-yard touchdown run by Greisen later on. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball rebounded off the net and Force WR Carl Morris recovered it in the endzone to tie the score at 21.

The scoring continued for both teams as the first half ended with Georgia and Arizona tied at 42. Georgia’s offense continued to be led by Greisen and Jones as the two combined for two scores in the quarter. Jones finished the first half with 124 receiving yards on six grabs with three touchdowns. Greisen was as efficient as he has been all season as he completed 15 of 19 passes for 229 yards and four touchdowns in the first two quarters of action.

The third quarter ended with the Rattlers leading the Force, 56-49. Each team scored on their first possessions of the quarter, but Arizona DB Aric Williams interception of Greisen in the endzone proved to be the difference in the scoring. The Rattlers capitalized with a three-yard rushing score by FB Chris Robinson to give Arizona a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter.

Georgia fought back in the final quarter of action by outscoring Arizona, 12-10, but was unable to come away with the victory. The Rattlers were able to run out the final minute of the contest and hold on for a 66-61 victory.

SCORE             1          2          3          4          TOTAL
GA                   21        21        7          12        61
AZ                    21        21        14        10        66

PASSING
GA – Chris Greisen                  28-42-383-7-2
AZ – Lang Campbell               17-29-187-5-0

RECEIVING
GA – Damien Groce                11-128-1
AZ – Todd Davoe                    6-40-1

RUSHING
GA – Damien Groce                1-5-0
AZ – Chris Robinson                 8-19-3

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: WR Tiger Jones, Georgia
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: DB Aric Williams, Arizona
IRONMAN OF THE GAME: WR Trandon Harvey, Arizona