Orlando Predators games are loud. Their introduction has always involved fire, smoke and pyrotechnics, a firework launching with each cord of Guns ‘n Rose’s “Welcome to the Jungle.”
This was an unusually muted entrance for the first game for the Predators at Amway Center since the horrific shooting at Pulse night club two weeks ago. It was a tragedy that hit close to home for the Predators as two season ticket holders, including women’s football team Orlando Anarchy coach Cory James Connell, were enjoying the Predators’ win over the Cleveland Gladiators just hours before the shooting.
The team always enters the field locked in arms before running through the smoke and special effects. Friday though the Predators all walked through the tunnel and onto the field in arms. No pyrotechnics, no smoke.
The Predators were together as a team and together with their city. Playing for each other.
It was a meaningful moment and a performance that showed the Predators’ and the city’s strength.
“Our whole outlook on things as far as dealing with the city is we want to uplift the city as much as we can,” quarterback Bernard Morris said. “We want to do our part. If it’s a small part or a big part, we want to let the city know that no one is alone. We’re all here together. You could see that with the way we rallied around the football tonight.”
The touching tribute before the game and the symbolic silence of the team walking onto the floor before finally the team’s trademark song played before kickoff, set the tone for the team.
From the beginning the Predators marched 44 yards down the field in five plays, Bernard Thompkins bouncing and dashing past defenders to set up the first score, a nine-yard quarterback draw for Morris, playing for an injured Randy Hippeard.
It was the first of eight scores Morris would be responsible for in a 56-33 win over the rival Tampa Bay Storm at Amway Center on Friday. Morris threw for 131 yards on 16-for-23 passing as Orlando only needed 165 yards of total offense to win. Morris added three rushing touchdowns too.
After a slow start, he picked the Tampa Bay Storm’s defense apart, finding receivers wide open on multiple occasions and using his speed to get past defenders around the goalline, adding a new dynamic to the Predators’ offense.
The defense took control from there, forcing three interceptions and getting a stop on the first possession and never looking back. It was a relentless effort the 1-11 Storm could not withstand.
“I just know what we’re capable of. It’s almost like a parent when you see your child come home and they have a B on the tes.t I know you can get A+’s, I know you can do it. These guys don’t waver. They step up to the challenge. We’re at the stage of the year where we are starting to realize there are three games left. This is it.”
The Predators put a vice grip on the standings just like they put a vice grip on the Storm. They won their first game by more than 10 points since a May 7 victory over the Arizona Rattlers. Since then the Predators have struggled with consistency, pulling games out at the last second time and time again, but somehow surviving.
There was anguish and frustration for coach Rob Keefe in some of these moments, even in victory. Now, after defeating the Jacksonville Sharks last week by 10 points, the team has hit a nice groove heading into its bye week before hitting the final three games of the season.
The Predators are now 11-2, still a game clear of the second-place Philadelphia Soul and Arizona Rattlers. They will play both teams in their final three games. Orlando has already clinched home playoff game and is now trying to wrap up the conference guarantee two home games on the way to the Arena Bowl.
With the way the defense played, it is hard to argue the Predators could not reach that mark.
Orlando was hounding on defense forcing those three interceptions and stifling Jason Boltus with pressure. He completed 29 of 45 passes for 242 yards and four touchdowns, but never recovered from a couple of stops in the first quarter and a failed attempt to score at the end of the first half along with a failed drive to start the second.
Orlando was able to run the clock, taking advantage of 13 Tampa Bay penalties for 110 yards. Those penalties extended drives, made up for Orlando mistakes and took touchdowns off the board for the Tampa Bay.
This was a complete effort with the Predators showing extreme will and dominance to put it completely away. Even with their backup quarterback in the game.
“I rely on my experience a lot and rally around my guys,” Morris said. “I’m not out there alone. Everyone made plays tonight on both sides of the ball. We just came out and had fun and put on a show for the crowd.”
It was quite a show. From Morris juking by a defender to score a rushing touchdown to his lofting a pass perfectly to Greg Carr for one of Carr’s three touchdown snags. From Emmanuel Cook ripping the ball away from a receiver in the endzone to save a touchdown to Willie McGinnis fighting though an offensive lineman ripping off his helmet to record a sack.
The Predators were completely in control and completely united. And did well to honor the city the play for on yet another emotional night.
