Preds Survive Storm in War on I-4
Jason Lucas
Monday February 20, 2006
This was the War on I-4 that had everything from that 1992 Semifinal game with a little flavor of Arenabowl 12 mixed with a pinch of Storm comeback that was until today an unprecedented feat.
In the first 24 minutes the Storm would dig themselves a 40-14 hole in which the Predators scored a touchdown on a muffed kick return, a fumble recovery returned for 35 yards and a touchdown as well as a touchdown aided by the Storm trying an onsides kick.
The final 36 minutes saw the Storm outscore the Predators 50-24 as the game went into overtime. As the overtime period started the Predators were short five players after losing Wide Receiver/Linebacker Clif Dell (Torn ACL), Defensive Specialist Kenny McEntyre (Groin), Wide Reciver/ Defensive Back DeAndrew Rubin (not specified), Offensive/Defensive Lineman Greg Krause (not specified) and Quarterback Joe Hamilton (Knee Sprain).
The Storm would pick up two first downs on their overtime possession and then the Predator defense would send them backwards. Facing 4th and 18 Storm Head Coach Tim Marcum decided to try a 39 yard field goal by Kicker Bill Gramatica. Gramatica would miss the kick wide to the right (ducks, then points and laughs at FSU fans).
The Predators would take over on their own 10 yard line to begin their overtime possession. Facing 3rd and 10 injured QB Joe Hamilton would find his Offensive Specialist Jimmy Fryzel for a first down to the Storm 15. The Predators would again face 3rd down, this time Hamilton found Jerrian James for first down yardage. Orlando would get to the Storm 2 yard line setting the stage for K Jay Taylor’s 17 yard game winning field goal that broke the Storm’s 12 game home winning streak. The 67-64 victory moves the Predators to 3-1 on the season.
Costly Win
As I was saying before, the Predators lost Clif Dell for the season on Sunday after he caught his foot in the turf. He will have season ending surgery later this week. Kenny McEntyre went down in the second quarter with a groin injury sustained when Storm OL/DL Ernest Certain was making the tackle on McEntyre’s fumble return for touchdown. McEntyre’s timetable is unknown at this point but as we all know any stint on the Injured Reserve list is a two game minimum. Joe Hamilton sprained his knee on the Predators second to last possession in the fourth quarter, but should be good to go against New York this week. The injury to Dell should open the door for the return of Lamont Moore to the Predators active roster as well as Javarus Dudley who could see time as the back-up DS or fill in for DeAndrew Rubin if he is unable to play.
Hooking Up
After three games of struggling to hook up Joe Hamilton and Jimmy Fryzel finally found each other this week at Tampa Bay executing three touchdowns of 27, 8 and 14 yards respectively. Fryzel caught 11 passes for 158 yards and the aforementioned three touchdowns. I have watched Jimmy Fryzel since his days at the University of Central Florida where he starred as a wide receiver with the reputation of going across the middle and taking the big hits while still holding onto the ball. Today at Tampa Bay Fryzel took everything the Storm had to offer often burning Storm DS Jonathan Ordway for scores and big third down conversions. The Predators will need this combination to be more consistent as the season progresses.
Hamilton had his best performance of the season finishing the game with 292 passing yards and six touchdowns. More impressively he did not throw an interception. Everywhere you go on AFL message boards fans have been discussing Hamilton’s play and his sub-par performances in the first three weeks. With today’s performance Joe really proved that he can run this team well when he uses his legs to help himself out. This week when there were no receivers open, Hamilton quickly tucked the ball and ran for a couple yards and lived to play another down. He was replaced by back-up QB Jake Eaton for one series, but when the game went into overtime Hamilton was back at the helm and led the Predators on their game winning drive.
That’s the War on I-4
When the Predators took a 40-14 lead with 6:26 to go in the second quarter I looked over to Arenafan’s owner, Joe Kauffman, and said "I’m not confident" to express that the Predators had not really done a whole lot to earn that big lead and with McEntyre now out for the game I knew the Preds still had a long way to go. Sure enough the Storm made me look like a genius; Stafford went off completing 15 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns to Lawrence Samuels who had a field day on Preds WR/DB Jermaine Mays. By halftime I was already getting a little nervous as the Storm got within 40-28. Even as we got in the elevator to go down for post-game interviews the Storm scored to make the score 64-56 and I’m still saying to myself, "This game isn’t over". When Jay Taylor lined up the short field goal and missed I had said just before that, "He’ll make it" showing that I have confidence in him, my bad! As you already know the Storm tied the game at 64 and we went into overtime. Now watching from field level the Predators have driven to the Storm 10 and gotten a first down. As Taylor’s 17 yard field goal sails through the uprights and into the slack net I could hardly feel my legs as I had just experienced another classic War on I-4 and really as a fan on either side of this game you can not be disappointed with the heart and effort shown on the field by your teams.
Off to New York
This week the Predators—and yours truly will be headed to New York to see if the Predators can extend their current three game win streak. A game against the New York Dragons always means one thing; a chance to beat up on QB Aaron Garcia and New York’s feeble offensive line. However, the Predators were left with only 15 healthy players after the War on I-4 battle in Tampa Bay. We should see the return of Lamont Moore this week in place of Clif Dell and hopefully the Preds will have enough fire power to get out of New York with a 4-1 record.
Jason Lucas is a part-time freelance writer based in the Orlando, Florida area. A former director of media relations with the Orlando Predators, Jason is making his return to Arenafan.com after a short stint as a public relations assistant with the UFL‘s Florida Tuskers in 2010. Lucas has followed the AFL since 1992 and began covering the Predators for Arenafan during the 2004 season. He held that position until being picked up by the Preds front office after the 2007 season. Jason‘s knowledge of arena football and love of the game is what drives him to continue covering the sport.