Story by: Trevon Purdie
Saturday night, The Orlando Predators faced the Pittsburgh Power at CFE Arena in front of 5,008 fans.
The Predators would send score the first points of the game, when quarterback Bernard Morris ran the ball 19 yards for the score. Pittsburgh scored on its very first play, with Quarterback Tommy Grady connecting with Prec Rodriguez for a 42-yard touchdown. The teams were evenly matched in the first half with neither team leading beyond 7 points.
Bernard Morris completed 8-15 passes for 103 yards and 2 touchdowns at the half. Morris would also run the ball for 32 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tommy Grady ended the half on 12-19 passes, 159 yards, and 3 touchdowns. Marlio Jackson would rush for a Pittsburgh touchdown in the second quarter. The score at the half was tied 28-28.
In the third quarter after 5 minutes of play, Tommy Grady would connect with Rodriguez for the second time, on a 13-yard touchdown. This puts the score 35-28 to start the half. Bernard Morris would use just 3 plays to connect with wideout Greg Carr on a 15-yard touchdown. The score was tied once again with 8 minutes left in the quarter. Pittsburgh would score on another Grady- Rodriguez combination for 2 yards to end the quarter with the lead.
The fourth quarter would play out like most of the game, with each team trying to pull away with the lead. The Predators would stop playing catch up, when defensive back Tracy Belton intercepted a tipped pass for a touchdown. This put Orlando up 55-48 with 7 minutes left in the quarter. Grady would hit wideout Hank Edwards on their next drive to tie the game with 4 minutes left of play. The Predators would return the favor with Morris connecting with Carr on a 45-yard bomb to regain the lead, but Mark Lewis would miss the extra point. Pittsburgh would run the clock down to just one second for the final play of the game. On the final play Grady found Edwards in the end zone to tie the game. Julian Rauch would make the extra point, giving the Power a one-point victory over the Predators.
Orlando heads to Des Moines, Iowa to face the Iowa Barnstormers. Pittsburgh travels back home to face the Cleveland Gladiators.