Valor Top Brigade, 34-30, Behind Brackett's Five Touchdowns
Sunday July 23, 2017
Washington keeps playoff hopes alive with two weeks remaining
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Valor (2-10) defeated the Baltimore Brigade (4-8), 34-30, Saturday night at Verizon Center. QB Sean Brackett threw four touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Valor offense and earn the game’s Most Valuable Player award.
“It was exciting,” Valor Head Coach Dean Cokinos said after the game. “I think the fans enjoyed it. This is what arena football is. It usually comes down to the last play.”
After a Washington return touchdown on the opening kickoff was negated by a penalty, the Valor wasted no time getting back on the board. Brackett found WR T.T. Toliver for a 45-yard touchdown to give the Valor a 7-0 lead. The Brigade answered with a scoring drive of their own, capped off by a two-yard touchdown run by FB Rory Nixon. A three-yard Brackett touchdown run ended what was a nearly 10-minute scoring drought, giving Washington a 14-7 advantage. Baltimore answered with a touchdown on their next drive, as QB Shane Carden found WR Milton Williams for an eight-yard score, knotting the score once again. With only 20 seconds remaining in the half, Brackett connected with Toliver for a second time, giving the Valor a seven-point lead at halftime.
Baltimore started the second half quickly, scoring on their second play from scrimmage when Carden found WR Brandon Thompkins for a 36-yard touchdown reception. Both teams would trade scores on their ensuing possessions, but a missed point after attempt by the Brigade left Washington with a one point, 28-27 lead after three quarters. Strong defensive play in the fourth quarter left the score unchanged entering the final minute of play. Brigade K Pat Clarke drilled a 21-yard field goal with 56 seconds remaining in the game, giving Baltimore their first lead of the night, 30-28. The Valor, however, landed the final strike, as Brackett connected with Toliver for the third time with just four seconds left in the game, giving Washington a 34-30 lead. The Valor intercepted Carden’s ensuing Hail Mary attempt to seal the victory.
KEY STAT: The 64 total points were the fewest scored in an AFL game this season and the 34 points by the Valor were the fewest by a winning team this season.
MVP: WAS QB Sean Brackett – 16-31 passing, 175 yards and five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: WAS WR T.T. Toliver – six receptions for 113 yards and three touchdowns
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: WAS DB Michael Knight – game-high eight solo tackles, two interceptions and one pass break-up
The Valor are back in action next weekend at Verizon Center, taking on the Cleveland Gladiators on Sat., July 29 at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network.
IN QUOTES:
VALOR HEAD COACH DEAN COKINOS
On the game:
"Good to finally pull one of these close ones out. As we mentioned earlier going into the game, from our very first game we played Baltimore here to this game tonight we had 12 different players playing tonight. Being an experienced team and then having to build a core and then having to revamp your team midseason with new players and rookies. That's kind of what we have been doing all year is building. We've played a lot of tight games just like this that we haven't captured a win, so for our players first and foremost, the organization second and the fans it was finally good to pull one of these games out. It was exciting and I think the fans enjoyed it and this is what arena football is. It usually comes down to the last play. I think our fans and our organization got a good taste of arena football tonight. Baltimore played extremely hard, we have to credit them. They are our brothers in the organization. They've been playing really well too."
On the last drive:
"I first was a little surprised they didn't onside kick, they kicked it deep so we changed our strategy once we received the ball on our five. The first goal was to get out of our end zone into midfield and we did. T.T. [Toliver] had a nice dig out on that in-cut. Once we established field position the second goal was just to burn clock and make them use their timeouts. Thats why we gave the ball to [Will] Corbin, and he just did a great job of moving the sticks and making them use their timeouts. Knowing that if we got it down to a manageable situation a field goal wins it. As it got down they didn't use their last timeout and it got down to second down and we decided with as much time was left that we should go for a touchdown twice and if we fail we'll kick the field goal and try to win it there. Sean [Brackett] just pulled us out there on that scramble play."
VALOR QUARTERBACK SEAN BRACKETT
On what was going through his mind on the final drive:
“Just win the game. Our backs were against the wall [and] we needed a win in the worst way. We’re just trying to stay alive. We’re still alive for the playoffs – that was the biggest thing. We know we needed a score and we had to go back on top. We had the interception the possession previous to that, so I personally had to step up and take the team to another touchdown and take the lead back. That was big for us and we’re glad we got the win.”
On what was different tonight than the last few weeks:
“We’re a very hard working group [and] we’re a resilient group, so with all the losses that we’ve had we come to work every day. I think this week the intensity rose even more – another level – because we know that we have to go 3-0. There’s not one person in the locker room that wants to go home. We want to keep playing, we want to go to the playoffs, we want to the Arena Bowl. That was our mindset, we have to win this game, take care of this game and then go forward next week and take it one week at a time. That’s what our mindset was.”