Orlando Predators Communications ORLANDO – January 26, 2016 – The Orlando Predators have agreed to terms with rookie defensive back Montell Garner, the franchise has announced.
“Montell is an instinctive defender who plays with good awareness in the secondary,” said Head Coach Rob Keefe. “He’s also a strong tackler who plays with physicality and can deliver some big hits coming downhill. We’re excited to see how Montell develops throughout training camp.” Garner (6-0, 195, South Alabama) signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent this past offseason. He attended training camp with the team and played in all four preseason games, logging nine tackles and a forced fumble. Prior to joining the Rams, Garner earned All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a senior at the University of South Alabama. A two-year starter for the Jaguars, Garner delivered 114 total tackles with one sack, 7.5 stops for loss, five interceptions, 14 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He spent his first two seasons at Navarro Junior College. A native of Dallas, TX, Garner prepped at Colleyville Heritage High School, where he lettered in football for two seasons for the Panthers. About The Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2016 as Central Florida’s most exciting and innovative professional sports franchise. Proud members of the Arena Football League, the Predators have achieved unprecedented success on the field. Orlando has advanced to the AFL playoffs a league-leading 22 times in their history while securing seven conference championships, including two ArenaBowl Championship victories in 1998 and 2000. Orlando Predators Communications ORLANDO – January 6, 2016 – The Orlando Predators have agreed to terms with veteran defensive back De’Mon Glanton, the franchise announced today. Glanton enters his fifth season in the Arena Football League.
“De’Mon is a physical presence in the secondary,” said Head Coach Rob Keefe. “He has the size and strength to matchup with some of the bigger receivers around the AFL. We’re looking forward to having another veteran presence on our defense.” Glanton (6-2, 207, Mississippi State) entered the AFL in 2012 as a rookie with the Iowa Barnstormers, where he spent the first three seasons of his career. During his time in Iowa, he totaled 219 tackles with two stops for loss, 10 interceptions, 20 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. Last season, Glanton played for the Portland Thunder and managed to lead the team with 71.5 total tackles despite playing in only 11 games. He also tied for the team lead with four interceptions while adding 10 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Glanton appeared in all 48 games of his collegiate career at Mississippi State University, where he posted 134 tackles with six stops for loss, 19 pass breakups, five interceptions, four quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles. A native of Atlanta, Glanton attended Mays High School, where he led his team to an 11-1 overall record as a two-way player during his senior season. About The Orlando Predators The Orlando Predators celebrate their 25th Anniversary in 2016 as Central Florida’s most exciting and innovative professional sports franchise. Proud members of the Arena Football League, the Predators have achieved unprecedented success on the field. Orlando has advanced to the AFL playoffs a league-leading 22 times in their history while securing seven conference championships, including two ArenaBowl Championship victories in 1998 and 2000. Written by Bob Mora ORLANDO, FL- The Orlando Predators (12-6) and Tampa Bay Storm (7-11) played for the third time in the 2015 season, and for the third time the Predators walked away with a win, sweeping the season series with a 59-40 victory. The Orlando Defense helped set the tone with constant pressure on Jason Boltus, who threw 2 interceptions in the first quarter. His first pick of the game was in the end zone by Emanuel Cook, the second by Terence Moore. Orlando took advantage of the Storm miscues, as Randy Hippeard would connect with Larry Brackins in the endzone, converting both turnovers into touchdowns. This gave the Predators a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. After Tampa found the end zone to start the second quarter, both teams scored on 1 play drives, Hippeard to Greg Carr for a 35-yard Preds score and Jason Boltus to T.T Toliver for a 45-yard Tampa score. Mark Lewis added a field goal for Orlando to make it 24-14 with under 5 minutes left in the half. The momentum swung in the favor of the Storm as they found the end zone twice on Julius Gregory touchdown receptions of 12 and 16-yards giving the Storm their first lead of the night at 27-24. As quick as they had the momentum, the Storm lost it on the point after attempt as Predator Jeremy Geathers blocked the kick and Austin Brown returned it for the 2 point score making it a 1-point game. This gave the Predators the ball with under a minute left in the half. Hippeard would then find Brandon Thompkins twice on the ensuing drive for completions of 11 and 16-yards. This set up a Hippeard to Carr 5-yard score ending the half at 32-27 with Orlando on top. After an unexpected injury to their kicker, Orlando was forced to have their wideout, Larry Brackins take on the role of 2nd half kickoffs. "We did not want to loose any players " Coach Rob Keefe said, "At this time last season we were pretty banged up going into the playoffs", after having to use Larry Brackins as his back up kicker due to an unexplained injury to kicker Mark Lewis. Brandon Thompkins started the third quarter with a 52-yard return to the 2-yard line setting a new club record for kickoff return yardage. Thompkins 1,854 return yards passed the old record held by Dominic Jones from 2013. This set up a Michael Simons 3-yard rushing score to make it 39-27 Orlando. After Tampa answered on Julius Gregory's third touchdown of the night, Hippeard found B. Thompkins for his only touchdown of the game, giving Orlando a 45-34 lead. With time winding down in the third it was getting close to crunch time for the Storm. As Boltus threw to the endzone on 4th down, Arness Ikner knocked down his pass giving the ball back to Orlando for the final few minutes of the third. Randy Hippeard then went to work formulating an 8 play 39-yard drive that pretty much put the game out of reach on Larry Brackins third scoring reception of the night, putting the Predators up by 19 with 7:28 left in the game. The teams exchanged rushing touchdowns and then each turned the ball over on 4th down on each of their respective drives to end the game at 59-40. This years 3rd installment of the War-On-I4 was played in front of 15,188 fans, the largest announced crowd of the year for the Predators. Orlando's Randy Hippeard finished the game completing 23 of 30 passes for 255-yards and 6. Greg Carr was Orlando’s leading receiver with 10 receptions for 109-yards and 2 scores. Larry Brackins added 4 receptions for 42-yards and 3 receiving td's and a rushing score. “I'd rather have a 5-0 run going into the playoffs than a 1 game loosing streak," said Keefe when asked about the playoffs, " When you win 5 in a row going into the playoffs it gives you confidence " Orlando will host the Jacksonville Sharks next Saturday, August 15th, at the Amway Center in the first round of playoffs. The Predators won the season series against the Sharks 2-1, with each teams wins coming at home. "We are very aware that Jacksonville is a good team and even though we beat Jacksonville last time, we know 100 percent that they are coming for us " added Keefe " We are getting healthy, we are getting rhythm and momentum at all the right time" 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. Written by Bob Mora ORLANDO- The 56th version of the "War on I-4" lived up to all the hype with a thrilling come from behind, 63-62 overtime victory for the Orlando Predators over the Tampa Bay Storm, in a battle for first place of the South Division. Orlando took 6 plays in 3:48 to put the first score up with a Bernard Morris to Kendall Thompkins 11 yard pass for the early 7-0 lead. Tampa wasted no time answering the Predators score, Storm kick returner Kendrick Ings returned the following kickoff after the score to the Orlando 6 yard line. This put the Storm in perfect feidl position and on Tampas opening play of their drive, QB Jason Boltus connected with Julius Gregory in the end zone to even the score at 7-7. After Orlando turned the ball over on downs on their next possession, Boltus marched Tampa down field and found TT Toliver for the 9 yard score on a 5 play 24 yard drive to give Tampa the 14-7 lead at the end of the 1st quarter. Starting the 2nd quarter Morris took 3 plays to go 37 yards, finding Brandon Thompkins for an 18 yard score to make it 14-14, Boltus answered on the next play with a 47 yard TD pass to Emery Sammons, the extra point was no good. On the ensuing kickoff, the ball hit the crossbar and bounced out to the 13-yard line only to be recovered by the Storms James Harrell who ran it in for the score putting Tampa up 27-14. Each team scored 2 more times in the half, Morris finding Kendall Thompkins for 24 yards and Brandon Thompkins for a 28 yard score, while Boltus found Kendrick Ings for a 34 yard score and T.T. Toliver for a 9 yard score making it 41-28 at the half Storm QB Jason Boltus ended the half with 12 completions on 15 passes for 170 yards and 5 Touchdown passes. Tampa opened up the second half with a Boltus to Phillip Barnett 21 yard touchdown putting the storm up 48-28, Orlando turned the ball over on downs only to get it back on a Nick Taylor interception setting up a two yard touchdown run by Michael Simons, the extra point was no good, making it 48-34 Storm. Boltus found Toliver again on a 29 yard score to put Tampa up 55-34 which looked like it could be the game, however Orlando decided it was time for a comeback. Kendal Tompkins scored on a 26 yard pass to make it 55-40, Orlando's defense tightened up and forced Jason Boltus to throw an interception to Terence Moore who returned it for a 25 yard touchdown and made it an 8 point game with a minute left in regulation. Tampa tried to put the game out of reach with a Craig Peterson 20 yard field goal which was missed allowing Orlando a chance, Bernard Morris marched the team down field finding Brandon Thompkins for a 3 yard touchdown pass to make it a 2 point game. Then Morris found Kendall Thompkins in the back of the end zone to make it 55-55 at the end of regulation, sending the War on i-4 into overtime. Tampa took the first possession in the overtime and did not waste any time, with Boltus finding Toliver for a 20 yard touchdown, it was Tolivers 4th TD on the night. The Sorm connected on the extra point, giving them a 62-55 lead on the hometown Preds. Orlando knew what they had to do and quarterback Bernard Morris drove the team 48 yards on 8 plays handing the ball to FB Michael Simons for a 1 yard rushing touchdown to cap off the drive. In Orlando’s 3rd Overtime appearance of the season, they once again found themselves with a touchdown in overtime and having a chance to go for two to win the game. However, the last two games that the Preds have gone for two this year in overtime they have lost the game. Had Coach Rob Keefe did not hesitate with his decision, yet again electing to go for two and the win. Morris found Brandon Thompkins in the middle of the end zone for the two point conversion, thus sealing the 63-62 win and giving the Predators sole possession of first place in the South Division. Here are your key stats to take away from the game. For Orlando QB Bernard Morris was 24 of 43 for 271 yards and 6 TDs passing and 86 yards on 8 carries. WR Kendal Thompkins caught 14 passes for 150 yards and 3 TDs, WR Brandon Thompkins caught 6 passes for 88 yards and 3 TDs, returned 5 kickoffs for 83 yards. FB Michael Simons rushed 2 times for 3 yards and 2 TDs DB Emanuel Cook had 7 tackles DL Meshak Williams had 2 tackles and 1 sack For Tampa Bay QB Jason Boltus was 22 of 36 for 279 yards and 8 TDs passing and 4 yards on 6 carries. WR TT Toliver caught 10 passes for 104 yards and 4 TDs, WR Julius Gregory caught 5 passes for 40 yards and 1 TD, WR Kendrick Ings caught 4 passes for 60 yards and 1 TD, Returned 4 kickoffs for 98 yards, DB Rick-J Hill had 7 tackles DL Brandon Sesay, DL Everett Dawkins, And NG Richard Clebert each had a sack. Announced attendance was 10,971. |
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