The Orlando Predators lived on the edge during their last matchup with the Jacksonville Sharks. They faced a 17-point deficit and came back to win, forcing turnovers and stops to defeat the Sharks.
Lightning would not strike again. And this time, the loss hurt even more.
The division champion Predators fell at the Amway Center to the Sharks 55-33 in the conference semifinals of the Arena Football League Playoffs, ending the Predators’ season in disappointing fashion.
Jacksonville had control of the game from the very beginning and quickly built a lead, taking advantage of several Orlando miscues. The Sharks solid defensive line put pressure on Predators quarterback Randy Hippeard throughout the night and the Predators failed to convert on several first-half fourth-down opportunities.
Things stated to fall apart though as the Predators struggled with turnovers in the second and third quarters. Even after Orlando brought the deficit to one possession early in the third quarter, fluky turnovers hurt Orlando and snuffed out the chances.
The icing on the cake came on the first play of the fourth quarter when Greg Reid picked of a Hippeard pass off the top of the wall at the Sharks’ 1-yard line. That set up Jacksonville for a six-play, 49-yard drive that seemed to put the game out of reach with too little time remaining.
Orlando’s mismanagement of an onside kick late in the second quarter followed by the first interception of the game (initially ruled an interception and then a fumble recovered by Orlando, but called back after video review), created too large of a deficit.
When the Predators turned it over on downs deep within their own territory midway through the fourth quarter, all Jacksonville had to do was punch it in with fullback Derrick Ross to finish the game off.
The Sharks simply had the Predators’ number throughout the game. The defensive line dominated Orlando’s offensive line, getting pressure on Heppeard throughout the game. The secondary closed down the underneath routes, forcing Orlando to go over the top where they did not have the time to complete those high-risk passes.
Hippeard finished 25 for 46 for 287 yards and five touchdowns on the game. Larry Brackins finished with only four receptions for 34 yards while big tight end Greg Carr had nine receptions for 105 yards.
Jacksonville was simply more in rhythm and efficient throughout the game. The Predators could not disrupt the Sharks throughout the game. They were playing catch up the entire game, unable to get enough stops at the end.
Turnovers are killer in such a fast-paced game like Arena Football. The Sharks were not committing any while the Predators had two at key times.
Despite Orlando’s successful season, this was a bitter pill to swallow. The Predators had defeated the Sharks in two of three games before this. These were familiar opponents.
The Sharks just had the extra edge.
