Unbelievable, Georgia rallies from 21 down to win 63-62 against the Soul
Tuesday May 13, 2008
DULUTH, GA – The Georgia Force rally to score the games final 22 points to defeat the Philadelphia Soul 63-62. Georgia was down by 21 points with less than three minutes to play when QB Chris Greisen’s one-yard touchdown run for a score sparked the remarkable comeback. With 16 seconds remaining in the contest, Offensive Player of the Game WR Troy Bergeron hauled in an 11-yard touchdown grab and then caught the ensuing two-point conversion to secure Georgia’s fifth win of the season. Bergeron finished the game with game highs in receptions (12), receiving yards (126) and touchdowns (three). Force FB/LB Matt Huebner earned Ironman of the Game honors by posting seven rushing yards on four carries with two touchdowns on the ground and adding one reception for six yards and a score through the air to cap-off his offensive production. Huebner then collared 2.5 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack on defense.
Georgia and Philadelphia battled back and forth in the first quarter with the Soul holding onto a 14-7 lead. The Force opened the game with an eight-play drive that consumed over four minutes and resulted in a one-yard touchdown run by FB Matt Huebner. The rushing score marked the fifth of the season for Huebner and tied his career-high that he set in 2007. Philadelphia responded on their first drive when FB/LB Clifton Smith carried the ball into the endzone from one-yard out to tie the score. Soul K Connor Hughes struck the upright on the ensuing kickoff and WR/LB Sean Scott recovered it in the endzone for the Philadelphia score.
The Force battled back in the second quarter by outscoring the Soul, 27-21, but still found themselves down 35-34 at the end of the first half. Georgia’s first score of the quarter came on a three-yard run by WR Damien Groce to tie the game at 21. Following a 13-yard touchdown pass to OL Phil Bogle from QB Matt D’Orazio, Bergeron hauled in a 22-yard touchdown grab in the corner of the endzone to keep pace with the Soul. The two teams would trade scores throughout the remainder of the quarter with a missed PAT by Force K Carlos Martinez being the difference.
Philadelphia rallied in the third quarter to take a 56-41 lead heading into the fourth and final quarter of action. Huebner’s one-yard touchdown run in the quarter marked his sixth of the season, surpassing his previous high of five set last season and tied earlier in the contest. The Soul’s scores came on a three-yard pass to WR Kenny Henderson and two touchdown grabs by WR Larry Brackins.
Georgia was shutout for most of the final quarter before producing a 21-point comeback in the three minutes of the game. The Force rally was started with a one-yard touchdown run by QB Chris Greisen and was followed with a defensive stop. Hughes missed a 20-yard field goal attempt with one minute remaining in the game and Groce raced 39 yards down the field to set-up terrific field position for the Force. Bergeron hauled in his second touchdown catch of the night on a seven-yard pass from Greisen. Martinez made amends for his missed PAT in the first half by kicking a perfect onside kick, which Force DE R-Kal Truluck recovered. Georgia marched 35 yards down the field on four plays including an 11-yard touchdown pass to Bergeron. The Force offense went back on the field for a two-point conversion attempt that was successfully executed with a pass from Greisen to Bergeron. Hughes would miss a 43-yard field as time expired to secure Georgia’s 63-62 win.
