The yellow hankey on the field was more of a consolation prize to the disaster that may have been unfolding in front of them.
Randy Hippeard on fourth and goal escaped the pocket and fired a pass through the end zone and incomplete. A skirmish between receiver and cornerback ensued in the tunnel leading to the locker room areas in the Amway Center and the Predators’ composure was slowly slipping.
The Orlando Predators would have to cling to a two-point lead and hope the Tampa Bay Storm could not find its way into the end zone or, perhaps more embarrassingly, win the game on a field goal.
Storm quarterback Jaosn Boltus was harassed throughout the game by a defensive line itching for a sack and chased him out of the pocket. On fourth down from about midfield, he threw across the field and into Kent Richardson’s hands, helping the Predators preserve a 42-40 victory and a 7-0 record at Amway Center on Friday night.
Survive was the absolute right term as the teams combined for 20 penalties and 128 yards split nearly evenly between them. It was an undisciplined and frustrating evening for a Predators team that has looked nearly unbeatable throughout the season so far.
Their penchant for penalties and surviving by the skin of their teeth nearly came back to bight them.
“We thought we could just show up,” coach Rob Keefe said. “It seems like we are the five years olds that when the parent says don’t touch the stove, we are just going to have to touch it to see whether it is hot or not. Obviously, they didn’t listen to me. It doesn’t feel like we won the game. We’re 7-0, but it feels like i am 6-1 because I’m pretty irritated. It’s a lesson we have to learn the hard way but still win. You can’t just show up on the day of the game and expect a victory.”
The Predators have flirted with defeat several times already this season, getting off to slow starts and facing long fourth downs to stay alive. This game there were several opportunities left on the board Orlando could not convert and each one seemingly came closer to costing the Predators the game.
The Predators and the Storm exchanged touchdowns and stops through the first half as the Storm tried to dink and dunk and kill the clock to slow the Predators offense down.
Orlando’s offense never really got into a rhythm with 13 total plays in the first half.
The Predators’ usually strong clock management to end the first half was terrible. The team failed to score right before the half, with Hippeard completing a pass to Greg Carr that was downed at the five. Orlando went to the locker room trailing by six points, getting the ball to start the second half.
“We expected them to come out and give us everything they have,” Hippeard said. “When your back is against the wall, you can’t do anything but come out swinging. They gave us some fits when we started getting close. With Boltus coming back, that gave them some inspiration. They came out fighting just like we thought they would.”
Hippeard completed 16 of 26 passes for 220 yards and five touchdowns. Greg Carr had half of those completions for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Brandon Thompkins made just two catches for 29 yards, but did return a kickoff for a touchdown and caught a 21-yard pass for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Orlando was in control for the entire second half, taking the lead on the first possession. The Predators got a stop on fourth down and then converted to start the fourth quarter with Hippeard lofting a pass to Carr, who caught it over an interfering defender.
That gave Orlando a nine-point lead. But missed opportunities continued to plague the team.
There were several dropped interception opportunities from the Predators. Orlando actually scored on a pick-6 by Calvin Fance that was called back by an illegal defense. The Predators also had a touchdown called back by a penalty on offense. It seemed there were penalty flags flying on nearly every play at points.
On one kickoff return, Predators cornerback Emanuel Cook and Storm cornerback Cameron McGlenn were ejected for fighting near midfield. It was that kind of ugly, undisciplined game.
“It’s like I am coaching in an insane asylum right now because nobody wants to listen to me,” Keefe said. “We’re 7-0, but we’re playing undisciplined football. Then they step up when they have to. At the beginning of the season, we can get ourselves out of these situations. The only team right now that can beat the Orlando Predators is the Orlando Predators, and that’s disappointing.”
The Predators had the opportunity to put the game away on several occasions and failed to do so, needing a bailout play and a decision not to kick a field goal from the Storm to hold on for the victory. The game ended on three consecutive stops with the Predators seven yards away from putting the game away a little more comfortably.
An exasperated Keefe said the only thing he can do at this point is threaten to pull guys from the field. And the team has to find its motivation even at 7-0.
The Predators had to learn a lesson while winning. Getting just 32 plays and just 18:51 of possession, is not going to get the job done. Giving up opportunities for turnovers or sacks, committing penalties and failing to convert third downs to face fourth-down situations is not going to get the job done. Not when the schedule toughens up considerably and the team maintains this target on its back.
“It’s like the NBA, if you are not going to make the calls, you have to go with it. If they are going to foul you hard, and they aren’t going to blow the whistle, you have to accept the fact that’s how the game is going to be played. We have to understand if you are getting out-physicaled right now, you have to rise above it. We played lazy football. We played uninspired football and at the same time we lost our heads about it. That’s a crappy win, but a win nonetheless.”
