The Orlando Predators were playing catch up the entire game. Deferring to the second half and then missing out on a 4th-and-goal on the very first drive, the Predators got put in the unenviable position in Arena Football of always chasing.
Varmah Sonie’s interception late in the first half helped even things up and get the Predators down a score. But it was always an uphill climb.
Even more so with the pregame announcement Randy Hippeard was unavailable to play. Backup quarterback Bernard Morris would get the start. The deck was stacked.
Chance would have to help the team in the end.
Morris ran in a touchdown with 14 seconds left to give the Predators a tie. They missed the extra point, giving the L.A. KISS the last shot for the win.
With a long field goal to go, Los Angeles lined up for the go-ahead field goal and then gave the game away. The ball squirted away from the holder and flew into the back of the end zone, hitting the wall out of play. It was a safety and the Predators escaped the Honda Center with a 43-41 win over the L.A. KISS on Sunday.
The Predators were not particularly sharp on either end, but did enough. The game came down to the final possession as it so often does in Arena Football. That was thanks to a defense that got enough pressure on Pete Thomas and Morris finishing possessions off and working methodically down the field after missing out on that first drive. Morris’ mobility certainly helped around the goalline too.
And Orlando needed some big plays to keep pace and create some more time as L.A. tried to slow the game down itself.
Brandon Thompkins recorded two kickoff returns for touchdowns in the second half to match L.A. and keep Orlando within one possession. He added eight receptions for 82 yards too.
Morris threw for 171 yards and two touchdowns on 16-for-26 passing. His inaccuracy slowed the team down, but he found ways to get the Predators moving and to score eventually.
The turning point play though came late in the first half. Thomas threw a deep pass toward the end zone where Varmah Sonie was in one-on-one coverage. Sonie took the ball away from the receiver at the goal line, returning it to midfield. That set up the Predators for a touchdown that tied the game after they trailed 14-0. That was the stop they needed to even the game up.
L.A. was able to score on the final possession of the first half, managing the clock well to prevent Orlando from having a chance, to take a lead heading into the locker room and put the chase on for Orlando.
The Predators kept up, but could not get the stop they needed to take control. Not until the KISS made their big error.
Special teams do matter, even in Arena Football. Orlando can count itself fortunate to snap its two-game losing streak and leave the West Coast with a win.
Monday at Copa America
Copa America returns to Orlando for the second of three group-stage games on Monday night at Camping World Stadium.
Bolivia will take on Panama in Group D, the final group to begin its play in the tournament. Bolivia and Panama are probably the underdogs in the group that includes Argentina and Chile in the other matchup taking place later in the evening.
Panama is undoubtedly the favorite after last year’s bronze medal in the Gold Cup. Bolivia won its first Copa America game since 1997 at the last Copa America tournament.
There are no recognizable stars on either team. It being a Monday night game too, attendance could be a little rough — especially considering Saturday only drew 14,000-plus on weekend with a higher profile team in Costa Rica playing.
Copa America though has had some very competitive games and plenty of controversy even at this early stage of the tournament. Hopefully there will be more end-to-end action and opportunities to score than Saturday’s game between Costa Rica and Paraguay.
Orlando Magic Daily Podcast offseason preview
The offseason for the Orlando Magic has officially begun as the countdown to the NBA Draft is on.
There is a lot of excitement about it with the potential for free agency and the promise of new coach Frank Vogel. The team got to 35 wins and the next step for the group is to leap into the Playoffs. There is certainly pressure to do that.
That is what makes this offseason so important for the team. Probably the most important for the franchise in this rebuild.
On the Orlando Magic Daily Podcast, Orlando Magic Daily staff writer Zach Palmer and I discussed everything there is to know about the Magic’s offseason — from options at the draft to different permutations in free agency.
It certainly will be an interesting time for the Magic in the next two months as they try to reshape the roster and make the Playoffs in 2017.
