Georgia Force (6-5) battle back from 13 down to beat New York, 72-67
Sunday May 18, 2008
UNIONDALE, NY – For the first time in franchise history the Georgia Force tallied a regular season victory in New York with a 72-67 comeback victory over the Dragons. Georgia rallied from a 13-point halftime deficit to secure the win as a number of Force players set or tied numerous club records. Rookie WR Tiger Jones hauled in 15 catches for 224 yards with six touchdowns and was named Offensive Player of the Game for his efforts. His 224 receiving yards surpassed the previous high of 194 set by teammate WR Troy Bergeron at Austin (6/9/07), and his 15 catches with six touchdowns each tied franchise single-game records. QB Chris Greisen completed 32 of 39 passes for a career and franchise-high 403 yards with nine touchdowns in the win. The Force offense also recorded a franchise single-game high 432 total yards of offense. Rookie DB Stephen Cason who re-joined the club this week collared a career-high 14 tackles and three passes defensed to lead the defense.
Georgia manufactured 14 points in the opening quarter of play and held a 14-7 advantage over the Dragons at the end of the quarter. On the first offensive series of the game, Greisen connected with Bergeron on three occasions including a 26-yard touchdown to cap off the drive. New York answered with a six-yard touchdown pass from QB Aaron Garcia to WR/LB Chris Anthony. The Force put the final points on the board of the quarter when Greisen found WR Tiger Jones from four yards out.
New York rallied in the second quarter to outscore the Force 34-14 and hold a 41-28 advantage entering the half. After trading scores to open the second quarter, the Dragons ran-off 21 unanswered points on the back of two Force turnovers. Both of Georgia’s scores came on passes Jones from Greisen with the final one coming from 42 yards out. New York WR Kevin Swayne tallied three touchdown receptions in the quarter and WR Jason Willis added the other two.
The Fore managed to cut into the Dragons lead in the third quarter, but still found themselves trailing 54-42 with just one quarter left to play. Georgia’s defense produced their first stop of the game with an interception by newly acquired DB William Fields. Georgia capitalized with a touchdown pass from Greisen to Jones. The pair would work together again in the quarter to score from four yards out. Willis and Anthony each scored for the Dragons in the quarter.
For the second-time in as many weeks the Force battled back from a fourth quarter deficit to seal a victory. The Force battled back from 12-down in the final quarter for their third consecutive win with a 72-67 win over the Dragons. Georgia’s offensive weapons, WR Carl Morris, Bergeron, Jones and FB/LB Matt Huebner all scored touchdowns in the final period of play to assist in the comeback. Morris sealed the victory with a blocked field goal attempt by Dragons K Steve Azar that bounced back through the back of the endzone for a safety.
