The Orlando Predators were searching for that stop. The stop the defense always seems able to create and help the Predators earn the win. They have 12 of them to this point. Playing with fire or simply dominating, the Predators always found a way.
Orlando was playing with fire against the 11-win Arizona Rattlers on the road. When the team got its chance to go up finally after trailing the entire game and paying for its mistake, Orlando had to take advantage.
For the first time all year, the Predators failed to make that play they needed.
After recovering a fumble early in the fourth quarter, the Predators had four chances in an and-goal situation to take the lead after trailing by two scores for much of the game. This was their chance to steal the game and make that race to the end that creates the excitement of Arena Football.
Bernard Morris missed a receiver in the corner of the end zone on second down. And missed another receiver. His pass sailed through the back of the end zone on fourth down. The Predators had their stop and then lost their opportunity again.
Arizona was not going to let Orlando have another, staking its claim to the league’s best record and home field for the Arena Bowl, perhaps.
After that incompletion, the Rattlers immediately turned it into a 30-yard score. The ensuing kickoff went off the goal posts and bounced back into play. Arizona recovered and scored a play later. The Predators went from knocking on the door to take the lead to down by three scores.
The Predators never fully recovered as time ran down on them. Eventually they settled for a field goal to take the tiebreaker over the Rattlers should the teams meet again in the Arena Bowl, falling 62-45 at Talking Stick Resorts Arena in Phoenix on Monday. The matchup of the two best teams in the Arena Football League turned into a rout for Arizona and that team’s statement of supremacy.
The Predators will have a bye week to think about this one before a big matchup with the Philadelphia Soul, the team in second place in their conference, at the Amway Center.
Orlando and Arizona both struggled to get stops until the second quarter. Morris led the Predators into the red zone and missed on a throw. It bounced off the field goal netting and into the hands of an Arizona defender in the end zone. That opened the door for the Rattlers to take a two-score lead they did not relinquish until that fourth-quarter fumble.
Morris threw for 285 yards and four touchdowns, but completed only 25 of 40 passes. His counterpart, Nick Davila, missed only two passes in throwing for 289 yards and seven touchdowns.
Brandon Thompkins made 12 of Morris’ 25 completions for 141 yards.
The Predators found themselves in bad down and distances again, but kept finding their way out to keep pace. They just needed that one break defensively. The one break they could not take advantage of.
That is what happens with teams that are virtually even. The Rattlers have come a long way since the Predators waltzed to a 77-59 win at Amway Center in May. Orlando has too, of course. The team was right in this game except for one fluky play off the netting.
Morris is not as sharp as Randy Hippeard despite his dynamic ability to run the ball — Morris had two rushing touchdowns including a beautiful 30-yard run. The Predators will have to respond well to this defeat to close the season and regain momentum and confidence heading into the Playoffs.
For once, the Predators’ dangerous play with difficult situations did not pay off. The team could not make the plays it had to make to eke out a win on the road. Confidence has been restored to the Predators’ main competition.
