Written by Bob Mora
ORLANDO- Portland Thunder traveled to Orlando with hopes of walking out with a win in there first meeting with the Orlando Predators. But Bernard Morris and the Orlando Predators had other plans as they toppled the Thunder 69-37 Saturday at the Amway Center.
Thunder Quarterback Darron Thomas started the scoring with an 8 yard passing touchdown to WR Duane Brooks to take an early 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff Orlando returner Brandon Thompkins ran 58 yards untouched for the score giving the Preds a 7-6 lead.
On the Thunders next possession, After a 35 yard return from Brooks, DL Jeremy Geathers forced Thomas to fumble and recovered to return 22 yards for the Defensive score making it 14-6 Predators. That did not discourage the Thunder as Thomas led them down field on a 6 play 42 yard drive finding WR V'keon Lacey from the 12 to make it 14-12. Extra point was missed.
Predators Quarterback Bernard Morris finally touched the ball with 5 minutes left in the quarter and only took 3 plays to have Brandon Thompkins score to give Orlando a 21-12 lead to end the first quarter.
The second quarter started good for the Thunder. Thomas led the team on a 10 play drive highlighted by 350 lb. OL Jeraill McCuller 1 handed 7 yard scoring pass that made it a 2 point game.
After Orlando turned the ball over on downs, Thomas looked as if he was ready to take control and was marching the team down the field for a go ahead score only to have injured his left knee and was helped to the locker room. He would only return to watch the game from the sidelines with his knee wrapped in ice, backup quarterback Kyle Rowley entered only to have the drive end at the 16 on a fourth down incomplete pass.
That is where the momentum changed, on the predators next possession Morris rushed in from the 9 to score and put the Predators back up by nine 28-19. On the kickoff, Orlando went for an onside kick and Calvin Fance recovered and advanced the ball to the Portland 11yard line. 2 plays and 14 seconds later Morris again found Thompkins for a 8 yard touchdown pass extending the lead to 35-19.
Orlando's next attempt at the onside failed as Bryce Peila recovered for the Thunder and on the first play Rowley found Lacey on a 10 yard score, The kick was blocked making it 35-25 with 32 seconds left in the half.
Not satisfied with a 10 point halftime lead, Morris took 2 plays to find WR Julian Williams in the end zone for a 28 yard touchdown pass, which was the catch of the game and made the score 42-25 Predators at the half.
Orlando started the third quarter with a 3 play 44 yard drive ending with Morris to Thompkins 33 yard score extending the lead to 23 point. On Portland's next possession, after Lacey was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, Rowley threw in the endzone only to have Predator DB Emanuel Cook intercept the ball for a touchback.
Orlando took 8:17 off the clock with a 10 play 45 yard drive that had Morris find WR LaMark Brown from the 16 yard line to put the Predators up 55-25 as the 3rd quater came to a close.
Both teams scored twice in the final quarter, Rowley found Jared Perry on a 9 yard pass on the Thunders first possession, only to have Orlando recover the onside kick. Morris ran it in 3 plays later for the score from the 1 yard line. On the Thunders next possession, after a couple of Rowley completions to Perry and Brooks, they executed a successful Kyle Rowley pitch to Jared Perry who passed to Duane Brooks for a 2 yard touchdown giving the Thunder there final score of the game.
The attempted onside kick by Portland was knocked out of bounds by the Predators Larry Brackins at the Portland 15, giving Orlando another chance to score, where Morris found Julian Williams for Williams second score of the night and to make it a 69-37 final.
The Thunder had 9 penalties for 54 yards, " We lost our self-composure, the turnovers, the penalties", Portland coach Mike Hohensee commenting on the teams play. " We have got to regain our composure and understand we are going to be a successful team ".
The announced attendance was 10,583.
"I really feel that we could have won by more " stated coach Keefe," I am never gonna be content in a win, you can always find something to correct".
With the win, Orlando maintains a 1 game lead in the division over Jacksonville and they improve to 5-4 on the season as we reach the half way point of the season next week. The Preds will now travel to Cleveland to face the Gladiators for the 2nd time this season. Cleveland won the first battle, so the Preds will be out for revenge on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Orlando team leaders:
-QB Bernard Morris- 16-23-221 6 passing TDs,2 rush TDs.
-WR Brandon Thompkins- 7-107 3 TDs , 1 TD kick return.
-WR julian Williams- 4-59 2 TDs.
-DB Rod Issac - 11.5 tackles
-DB Emanual Cook- 6.5 tackles.
Portland team leaders:
-QB Darron Thomas - 14-20-107 3 TDs.
-QB Kyle Rowley - 16-20-1int- 176 2 TDs.
-WR Duane Brooks - 12-101- 2 TDs.
-WR Jared Perry - 8-79- 1 TD
-WR V'keon Lacey - 7-77- 2 TDs.
Thunder Quarterback Darron Thomas started the scoring with an 8 yard passing touchdown to WR Duane Brooks to take an early 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff Orlando returner Brandon Thompkins ran 58 yards untouched for the score giving the Preds a 7-6 lead.
On the Thunders next possession, After a 35 yard return from Brooks, DL Jeremy Geathers forced Thomas to fumble and recovered to return 22 yards for the Defensive score making it 14-6 Predators. That did not discourage the Thunder as Thomas led them down field on a 6 play 42 yard drive finding WR V'keon Lacey from the 12 to make it 14-12. Extra point was missed.
Predators Quarterback Bernard Morris finally touched the ball with 5 minutes left in the quarter and only took 3 plays to have Brandon Thompkins score to give Orlando a 21-12 lead to end the first quarter.
The second quarter started good for the Thunder. Thomas led the team on a 10 play drive highlighted by 350 lb. OL Jeraill McCuller 1 handed 7 yard scoring pass that made it a 2 point game.
After Orlando turned the ball over on downs, Thomas looked as if he was ready to take control and was marching the team down the field for a go ahead score only to have injured his left knee and was helped to the locker room. He would only return to watch the game from the sidelines with his knee wrapped in ice, backup quarterback Kyle Rowley entered only to have the drive end at the 16 on a fourth down incomplete pass.
That is where the momentum changed, on the predators next possession Morris rushed in from the 9 to score and put the Predators back up by nine 28-19. On the kickoff, Orlando went for an onside kick and Calvin Fance recovered and advanced the ball to the Portland 11yard line. 2 plays and 14 seconds later Morris again found Thompkins for a 8 yard touchdown pass extending the lead to 35-19.
Orlando's next attempt at the onside failed as Bryce Peila recovered for the Thunder and on the first play Rowley found Lacey on a 10 yard score, The kick was blocked making it 35-25 with 32 seconds left in the half.
Not satisfied with a 10 point halftime lead, Morris took 2 plays to find WR Julian Williams in the end zone for a 28 yard touchdown pass, which was the catch of the game and made the score 42-25 Predators at the half.
Orlando started the third quarter with a 3 play 44 yard drive ending with Morris to Thompkins 33 yard score extending the lead to 23 point. On Portland's next possession, after Lacey was ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct, Rowley threw in the endzone only to have Predator DB Emanuel Cook intercept the ball for a touchback.
Orlando took 8:17 off the clock with a 10 play 45 yard drive that had Morris find WR LaMark Brown from the 16 yard line to put the Predators up 55-25 as the 3rd quater came to a close.
Both teams scored twice in the final quarter, Rowley found Jared Perry on a 9 yard pass on the Thunders first possession, only to have Orlando recover the onside kick. Morris ran it in 3 plays later for the score from the 1 yard line. On the Thunders next possession, after a couple of Rowley completions to Perry and Brooks, they executed a successful Kyle Rowley pitch to Jared Perry who passed to Duane Brooks for a 2 yard touchdown giving the Thunder there final score of the game.
The attempted onside kick by Portland was knocked out of bounds by the Predators Larry Brackins at the Portland 15, giving Orlando another chance to score, where Morris found Julian Williams for Williams second score of the night and to make it a 69-37 final.
The Thunder had 9 penalties for 54 yards, " We lost our self-composure, the turnovers, the penalties", Portland coach Mike Hohensee commenting on the teams play. " We have got to regain our composure and understand we are going to be a successful team ".
The announced attendance was 10,583.
"I really feel that we could have won by more " stated coach Keefe," I am never gonna be content in a win, you can always find something to correct".
With the win, Orlando maintains a 1 game lead in the division over Jacksonville and they improve to 5-4 on the season as we reach the half way point of the season next week. The Preds will now travel to Cleveland to face the Gladiators for the 2nd time this season. Cleveland won the first battle, so the Preds will be out for revenge on Friday night at Quicken Loans Arena.
Orlando team leaders:
-QB Bernard Morris- 16-23-221 6 passing TDs,2 rush TDs.
-WR Brandon Thompkins- 7-107 3 TDs , 1 TD kick return.
-WR julian Williams- 4-59 2 TDs.
-DB Rod Issac - 11.5 tackles
-DB Emanual Cook- 6.5 tackles.
Portland team leaders:
-QB Darron Thomas - 14-20-107 3 TDs.
-QB Kyle Rowley - 16-20-1int- 176 2 TDs.
-WR Duane Brooks - 12-101- 2 TDs.
-WR Jared Perry - 8-79- 1 TD
-WR V'keon Lacey - 7-77- 2 TDs.