Written by Bob Mora
Orlando, FL - The Orlando Predators (4-0) and LA Kiss (2-2) battled on Saturday night in a 43-40 game that was not as close as the score at he Amway Center in Orlando, with the Preds picking up the W.
Orlando won the toss and elected to kick, Both teams scored on their first possessions. On the Kiss’ second drive, Orlando DB Varmah Sonie intercepted his first pass of the night. This setup Quarterback Randy Hippeard in perfect field position as he was able to find WR Greg Carr making a leaping catch in the end zone to give the Predators the early 13-7 lead, the extra point was missed.
On the ensuing possession, Kiss Quarterback Nate Stanley settled down and found D.J. Stevens with an 8-yard touchdown pass, the extra point was good giving LA a 14-13 lead ending the first quarter.
Orlando regained the lead 19-14, on a 4-play drive that was capped off with Brandon Thompkins breaking three tackles and scoring a 22-yard touchdown,
Stanley wasted no time and found Stevens on a 33 yard score, giving the Kiss the 21-14 lead. Orlando kicker Mark Lewis made a 21-yard field goal, thus giving the lead back to the Preds at 22-21 with just under 6 minutes to go in the first half.
After the Predators onside kick attempt failed, Stanley marched down field only to have Varmah Sonie intercept his pass in the end zone, for his second of the half. The Predators did not score and the half ended at 22-21 with Orlando on top.
The Predators started the second half with the ball and wasted no time as Randy Hippeard found WR Larry Brackins for a 5 yard score and took an 8 point lead. On the Kiss next drive, Stanley fumbled the ball and DL Mike Lewis recovered for Orlando.
Randy Hippeard found WR Brandon Thompkins on a short pass, that with some nice running turned into a 44 yard touchdown that made it a two score game. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball took a bounce off the bar and was recovered by LaMark Brown, the point after was good, making it 43-21 Preds at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter turned out to be better for LA, as Stanley found DJ Stevens for the third time in the end zone on a 15 yard pass, cutting the lead to 15. Then the LA defense came up big as DB Fred Obi intercepted Hippeard at mid-field. Then Stanley, after getting sacked by DL Willie Mcginnis, was intercepted in the end zone by Orlando LB Terence Moore.
The Kiss Defense stepped up and stopped the Predators with back to back sacks on Hippeard allowing the Offense to get the ball back. Then Stanley drove LA down the field and found WR Donovan Morgan on a 6-yard score, the 2-point conversion was no good making it a 43-34 score with 2 minutes left.
The Kiss on-sided the kickoff, and recovered it at the 11 yard line, giving them one last chance. Stanley again led his team down field, this time in 5 plays in 29 seconds, capping the drive with another Morgan TD reception to close the gap at 43-40, the pat was no good.
As the on-side kick was expected again, it came. But the Kiss were called offside, which gave Orlando the ball at the 4 yard line with 26 seconds left only having to run out the clock and secure the win in front of an announced attendance of 10,127.
The Predators will now head back on the road for a bout with the Cleveland Gladiators at Quicken Loans Arena, where they will put their undefeated record on the line Friday April 29th. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.
Orlando won the toss and elected to kick, Both teams scored on their first possessions. On the Kiss’ second drive, Orlando DB Varmah Sonie intercepted his first pass of the night. This setup Quarterback Randy Hippeard in perfect field position as he was able to find WR Greg Carr making a leaping catch in the end zone to give the Predators the early 13-7 lead, the extra point was missed.
On the ensuing possession, Kiss Quarterback Nate Stanley settled down and found D.J. Stevens with an 8-yard touchdown pass, the extra point was good giving LA a 14-13 lead ending the first quarter.
Orlando regained the lead 19-14, on a 4-play drive that was capped off with Brandon Thompkins breaking three tackles and scoring a 22-yard touchdown,
Stanley wasted no time and found Stevens on a 33 yard score, giving the Kiss the 21-14 lead. Orlando kicker Mark Lewis made a 21-yard field goal, thus giving the lead back to the Preds at 22-21 with just under 6 minutes to go in the first half.
After the Predators onside kick attempt failed, Stanley marched down field only to have Varmah Sonie intercept his pass in the end zone, for his second of the half. The Predators did not score and the half ended at 22-21 with Orlando on top.
The Predators started the second half with the ball and wasted no time as Randy Hippeard found WR Larry Brackins for a 5 yard score and took an 8 point lead. On the Kiss next drive, Stanley fumbled the ball and DL Mike Lewis recovered for Orlando.
Randy Hippeard found WR Brandon Thompkins on a short pass, that with some nice running turned into a 44 yard touchdown that made it a two score game. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball took a bounce off the bar and was recovered by LaMark Brown, the point after was good, making it 43-21 Preds at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter turned out to be better for LA, as Stanley found DJ Stevens for the third time in the end zone on a 15 yard pass, cutting the lead to 15. Then the LA defense came up big as DB Fred Obi intercepted Hippeard at mid-field. Then Stanley, after getting sacked by DL Willie Mcginnis, was intercepted in the end zone by Orlando LB Terence Moore.
The Kiss Defense stepped up and stopped the Predators with back to back sacks on Hippeard allowing the Offense to get the ball back. Then Stanley drove LA down the field and found WR Donovan Morgan on a 6-yard score, the 2-point conversion was no good making it a 43-34 score with 2 minutes left.
The Kiss on-sided the kickoff, and recovered it at the 11 yard line, giving them one last chance. Stanley again led his team down field, this time in 5 plays in 29 seconds, capping the drive with another Morgan TD reception to close the gap at 43-40, the pat was no good.
As the on-side kick was expected again, it came. But the Kiss were called offside, which gave Orlando the ball at the 4 yard line with 26 seconds left only having to run out the clock and secure the win in front of an announced attendance of 10,127.
The Predators will now head back on the road for a bout with the Cleveland Gladiators at Quicken Loans Arena, where they will put their undefeated record on the line Friday April 29th. Kickoff is set for 7 pm.