Written by Brett Korpi
Orlando, FL - Saturday night at the Amway Center in front of a United crowd, the Orlando Predators will be kicking off the Arena Football League’s post-season to start their hopeful run to ArenaBowl. The Predators (12-4, 2nd in the American Conference) will be hosting the in-state rival Jacksonville Sharks (7-9, 3rd).
Orlando will be looking to prove a great deal as they begin the road to ArenaBowl XXIX. Having suffered defeat in the final two contests of the regular season at the hands of perennial powers, Arizona Rattlers, and Philadelphia Soul. The Predators are ready to put the losses behind them and secure their spot in the American Conference title game. “Champions are not immune to defeat, but it's what you do after a loss is how you will be remembered. Lessons learned, It's Time.” Head Coach Rob Keefe posted on Twitter earlier this week.
With star quarterback Randy Hippeard on the Injured Reserve list, the Predators will be looking to veteran dual-threat Bernard Morris, who is 3-2 as a starter in ’16. To go along with 1,249 yards and 27 touchdowns through the air, the Marshall graduate amassed 155 yards and 8 TDs on the ground this season.
Morris will be looking to get the football to his talented group of receivers, who are ready to dazzle the crowd and put points on the scoreboard fast. Brandon Thompkins, the leader of the group, set a Predators franchise record with 135 receptions this season. Those catches resulted in 1,631 receiving yards and 38 TDs. However, Thompkins elusiveness does not end with the aerial attack. As a kick returner, he ran up 1,823 yards and 5 TDs. Those stat totals have put the Arkansas State alum at the top of the AFL in all-purpose yards, and in the conversation for postseason honors. His running mate Greg Carr has been equally impressive totaling 83 catches, 1,146 yards, and 28 TDs and should be hyped for the game after missing last week’s contest against Philly.
On defense, the Predators, are led by Varmah Sonie and Paul Stephens. The defensive backs each had six interceptions in the regular season. Sonie also led the team with 98 tackles.
Those two and the rest of the Orlando defense will have their hands full as they face a Jacksonville offense that ranked first in the AFL in total yards. Led by quarterback Tommy Grady, who has scorched Orlando this season for 872 yards and 16 TDs, the Sharks will be looking for revenge as they lost 2 of the 3 contests to the Predators this season. Grady will be looking to his own talented receiver. Hills, an MVP candidate, led the AFL in every receiving category. His totals are astronomical, 161 receptions, 2,020 yards, and 58 TDs. He finished just two short of Damien Harrell’s 60 TD record. He was also selected in the first round of this year's inaugural AFL China Draft.
Hills and Grady are not the only weapons on offense. The Sharks also boast the AFL’s best ground attack. Fullback Derrick Ross has dominated the ground game for Jacksonville. Carrying the 108 times for 399 yards and 20 TDs, Ross gives the Predators an extra wrinkle to worry about as they both try to prove who the best in the AFL is and who will move on in the road to ArenaBowl XXIX
It all starts this Saturday at 7:00 P.M. ET at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando.
Orlando will be looking to prove a great deal as they begin the road to ArenaBowl XXIX. Having suffered defeat in the final two contests of the regular season at the hands of perennial powers, Arizona Rattlers, and Philadelphia Soul. The Predators are ready to put the losses behind them and secure their spot in the American Conference title game. “Champions are not immune to defeat, but it's what you do after a loss is how you will be remembered. Lessons learned, It's Time.” Head Coach Rob Keefe posted on Twitter earlier this week.
With star quarterback Randy Hippeard on the Injured Reserve list, the Predators will be looking to veteran dual-threat Bernard Morris, who is 3-2 as a starter in ’16. To go along with 1,249 yards and 27 touchdowns through the air, the Marshall graduate amassed 155 yards and 8 TDs on the ground this season.
Morris will be looking to get the football to his talented group of receivers, who are ready to dazzle the crowd and put points on the scoreboard fast. Brandon Thompkins, the leader of the group, set a Predators franchise record with 135 receptions this season. Those catches resulted in 1,631 receiving yards and 38 TDs. However, Thompkins elusiveness does not end with the aerial attack. As a kick returner, he ran up 1,823 yards and 5 TDs. Those stat totals have put the Arkansas State alum at the top of the AFL in all-purpose yards, and in the conversation for postseason honors. His running mate Greg Carr has been equally impressive totaling 83 catches, 1,146 yards, and 28 TDs and should be hyped for the game after missing last week’s contest against Philly.
On defense, the Predators, are led by Varmah Sonie and Paul Stephens. The defensive backs each had six interceptions in the regular season. Sonie also led the team with 98 tackles.
Those two and the rest of the Orlando defense will have their hands full as they face a Jacksonville offense that ranked first in the AFL in total yards. Led by quarterback Tommy Grady, who has scorched Orlando this season for 872 yards and 16 TDs, the Sharks will be looking for revenge as they lost 2 of the 3 contests to the Predators this season. Grady will be looking to his own talented receiver. Hills, an MVP candidate, led the AFL in every receiving category. His totals are astronomical, 161 receptions, 2,020 yards, and 58 TDs. He finished just two short of Damien Harrell’s 60 TD record. He was also selected in the first round of this year's inaugural AFL China Draft.
Hills and Grady are not the only weapons on offense. The Sharks also boast the AFL’s best ground attack. Fullback Derrick Ross has dominated the ground game for Jacksonville. Carrying the 108 times for 399 yards and 20 TDs, Ross gives the Predators an extra wrinkle to worry about as they both try to prove who the best in the AFL is and who will move on in the road to ArenaBowl XXIX
It all starts this Saturday at 7:00 P.M. ET at the Amway Center in downtown Orlando.