The Orlando Predators feel like they are back.
There were dark times a few years ago with ownership struggling and the team away from the Amway Center for the first time since the new building opened — oh how they missed the original jungle. For a minor league franchise, it was a precarious and dangerous time. Even for the greatest franchise in Arena Football history.
The excellence was gone. The Predators were at the bottom of the standings.
Now they are back at the top, again. And this time it feels very right.
Back downtown, the Predators have clinched their second straight Southeast Division title and a return trip to the AFL Playoffs with a 64-50 win over the Jacksonville Sharks at Amway Center on Saturday.
This was a game where the Predators had to scratch and claw their way out of a gigantic hole. The Sharks opened a 17-0 lead in the second quarter before the Predators offense awoke and ran away from the Sharks for the win.
It was a moment to be proud of as the Predators prepare now for the final War on I-4 of the regular season next week at Amway Center and the Playoffs beyond.
“To win back-to-back South Division championships in the first two years of this staff is unbelievable,” head coach Rob Keefe said following the game to ArenaFootball.com. “It means the world to me. I’m so excited for this organization.
“What I was proud about – and it almost makes me tear up – is we were down 17-0,” Keefe added. “To win this thing 64-50, I think it speaks to the character, I think it speaks to the heart, I think it speaks to the fan base that continued to provide us great energy. It was a great win all-around.”
The Predators cut that 17-0 lead to 30-27 at the half and dominated the second half from there. Larry Brackins had four receptions for 41 yards and quarterback Randy Hippeard completed 16 of 21 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Those are certainly not typical Arena Football stats. The Predators had 173 return yards on five returns and had a pick-six to help support the effort. Defense and special teams can win even in Arena Football.
And the Predators are seemingly back where they belong at the top of the league.
More goals for Cyle Larin in important win for Orlando City
Orlando City certainly is happy to see July come to a close. It was not the best month for the Lions, except for the announcement of a new stadium design and Kaka’s MVP performance at the MLS All-Star Game. None of that gets the team any closer to a playoff berth.
A new month hopefully means the team can turn a new leaf.
Orlando City erased a 1-0 deficit with two goals from rookie sensation Cyle Larin, Darwin Ceren and Aurellian Colin in a 5-2 victory at the Citrus Bowl over the Columbus Crew.
This was a very important win as Ty Rothschild of O-Town’s 11 noted:
This was a must win. Not a game we really need to win, or a game where a tie would be okay. No, Orlando City had to win this game to avoid a stretch in the season that would have been catastrophic to the Lions playoff chances.
The Crew sit in second place in the Eastern Conference, and Orlando City ended up going 1-1-1 against them this season, adding in a second victory in U.S. Open Cup play. The Lions needed the shot of confidence after the difficult July and scoring a win against a top Eastern Conference foe should add some confidence.
This month should prove also to be tough. The Lions head to Toronto later this week to take on Toronto FC in a midweek tilt. That is another sort of revenge game after Toronto FC walked out of Orlando with a dominant 2-0 win behind Jozy Altidore’s brilliance.
The Lions are still fighting for playoff positioning. This win will go a long way toward staying in that race as the season quickly nears its end.
Nikola Vucevic lives a Dream… or at least Hakeem
Nikola Vucevic scored only six points in the NBA Africa Game as his Team World got away with the win.
But that was not at all the moment he or anyone will remember.
In the second quarter, NBA legends Dikembe Mutombo and Hakeem Olajuwon stepped onto the court wearing throwback jerseys to the delight of fans around the world. Both obviously were not moving like their young selves. But they did show flashes.
Unfortunately, Olajuwon put Vucevic on a poster with a geriatric Dream Shake:
Sorry, Nik.
