Predators can’t hold off Philadelphia Soul, fall 69-53
After a hard fought game by both teams, the Orlando Predators couldn’t hold onto their lead and lost their sixth game of the season Saturday night. The Predators fell to the American Conference leading Philadelphia Soul 69-53, in a shootout at the Amway Center, making them 1-6 for the season.
The first quarter started off with back to back turnovers by both teams. The Predators received the ball and marched down the field. Quarterback Justin Roper threw a pass in the end zone that was intercepted by former Orlando defensive back Rayshaun Kizer. On the Soul’s second play of their drive, quarterback Dan Raudabaugh threw an interception to Preds defensive back Travis Coleman. Orlando capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown pass from Roper to wide receiver Bobby Sippio. On the following kickoff, Predators wide receiver Jarvis Williams recovered an onside kick. Orlando took advantage of the onside kick, scoring on a 25-yard touchdown pass from Roper to wide receiver T.T. Toliver, giving the Predators an early 14-0 lead. The Soul answered with a scoring drive of their own on a rushing touchdown by fullback Melik Brown, making the score 14-7. On the Predators next possession, Roper found Toliver for another touchdown, increasing their lead to 21-7 to end the first quarter.
The Soul started out the second quarter with a score, a long 29 yardntouchdown pass from Raudabaugh to wide receiver Tiger Jones. On the Predators next possession, Roper led the offense down the field and capped the drive… Continue reading
Predators Add Former Florida Quarterback Chris Leak to Roster
The Orlando Predators added Chris Leak, quarterback of the 2006 National Championship Florida Gators, to the team’s roster today.
Leak started the season with the Arena Football League’s Jacksonville Sharks. In his only game with the Sharks, he threw for five touchdowns as the starting QB in the team’s win against Kansas City. Previously he played for Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.
“We think Chris is a great fit for the Predators,” says Predators Head Coach Bret Munsey. “He certainly has the tools to be a great quarterback in the league.”
Leak played for the Florida Gators from 2003 to 2006, under coaches Ron Zook and Urban Meyer. In 2006, he led the Gators to their first SEC Championship since 2000, and was named the MVP of the 2007 BCS National Championship game, in which the Gators defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Predators hold on for first win of season
The Orlando Predators lead most of the way and held on late for a 27-24 win at the Amway vs the Georgia Force. The win ended a 5 game losing streak for the O-town squad.
Both offences really struggled to move the ball most of the game. It was really a battle for field position as mostly short 7-12 yard passes were the norm here. Errant tosses down field and some dropped balls contributed to the lower than normal arena league score. The Orlando defense played well, swatting some passes down late in the game.
The Preds had a 24-14 lead late in the 3rd quarter, but Georgia nipped away and caused the 11,000 plus fans in attendance to hold their collective breath to the very last second. Kicker Mark Lewis knocked a 35 yard field goal through the uprights with only 38 ticks left on the clock, but that left the door open just wide enough for a Georgia comeback. A kick off return and few quick, short passes later, the visiting Force had a 37 yard attempt with 6 seconds on the clock to force overtime. The kick sailed wide right, and the home crowed erupted. The emotion on the Preds sideline was visible, as they celebrated the first W of 2012.
“We’ve been in every game so far this season and tonight we found a way to finish and get the win,” Preds coach Bret Munsey said. ”We’ve got as good a group of players as anybody in the league, and we’ve just got to believe in ourselves… Continue reading
Orlando Predators Sign QB Nate Davis
The Orlando Predators continue to shake up the team roster, adding quarterback Nate Davis to the team on Tuesday.
Davis, who started this season with the Arena Football League’s Kansas City Command, was a three-year starter at Ball State, and set the team’s all-time record for touchdown passes in a season in 2007. He decided to forego his senior season, and was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft.
Predators Sign Bobby Sippio
The Orlando Predators re-signed free agent wide receiver Bobby Sippio to the team today.
Sippio, who had been on Injured Reserve, had 112 receptions and 33 touchdown catches for the Predators in the 2011 season. He previously played for the Arena Footall League’s Chicago Rush, Tampa Bay Storm and Dallas Desperados, as well as the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. He led the Arena Football League with 53 touchdown receptions during the 2007 season with Chicago.
“We are hoping Bobby can have another record-setting performance this season,” says Predators Head Coach Bret Munsey. “He will obviously bring a new dimension to our offense.”
Sippio grew up in the Orlando area, playing football and basketball at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, and played football at Western Kentucky. He is also well-known for being featured as part of the HBO series Hard Knocks when he was with the Chiefs.
Orlando’s Arena Football League franchise since 1991, the Orlando Predators are entering their 21st year in the AFL. In that time, the Predators have advanced to the AFL Playoffs a league-leading 19 consecutive seasons and appeared in the Arena Bowl seven times, winning AFL Championships in 1998 and 2000.
Predators Announce the Addition of Ben Bennett to Coaching Staff
Orlando Predators Head Coach Bret Munsey announced the addition of Ben Bennett to the coaching staff, replacing Rob Keefe as the team’s Offensive Coordinator.
Recently named one of the 25 Greatest Players in Arena Football History and a member of the AFL Hall of Fame, Bennett played QB for the Orlando Predators throughout the early 90s, during which he twice earned First Team All Arena Honors and took the team to two ArenaBowls.
Prior to his professional career, Bennett played under Steve Spurrier for the Duke University Blue Devils, where he finished his college career as the top passer in NCAA Division I-A history.
Since retiring from the Arena League in 1997, Bennett has served as a coach in both the af2 and AFL, most recently as Offensive Coordinator for the New Orleans VooDoo.
“It is great to have Ben back with the Predators,” says Munsey. “Throughout his college and Arena Football career, he has proven that he knows what it takes to be a winner.”
Orlando’s Arena Football League franchise since 1991, the Orlando Predators are entering their 21st year in the AFL. In that time, the Predators have advanced to the AFL Playoffs a league-leading 19 consecutive seasons and appeared in the Arena Bowl seven times, winning AFL Championships in 1998 and 2000.
3rd defeat of the season
The Orlando Predators lost their third consecutive game of the season Thursday against San Antonio. The team lost 47-34 to the Talons, dropping their record to 0-3 for the season.
The game opened up with a high-scoring first quarter. The Talons scored on their first offensive play, a long touchdown pass from Aaron Garcia to wide receiver Jason Willis. The Predator offense answered on their next drive with a touchdown pass from Collin Drafts to wide receiver Dwayne Eley, Jr. The Talons scored on their next possession with a pass from Garcia to wide receiver Carl Moor,e but missed the extra point attempt. With 1:33 left in the first quarter, T.T. Toliver caught a 14-yard touchdown reception from Drafts, making the score 14-13 at the end of the quarter.
The Talons opened up the second quarter with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Garcia to Moore, his second of the game. On the Talons next possession, defensive back Travis Coleman intercepted a Garcia pass and returned it for a touchdown. Mark Lewis missed the extra point attempt, tying the score 20-20. The Predators then followed up with another touchdown on a 10-yard pass to Nate Forse. The Talons quickly followed up with a Garcia rushing touchdown, making the score tied 27-27. With seconds left in the second quarter, the Predators were able to score on a touchdown pass from Drafts to Eley, Jr., giving Orlando a 34-27 lead at the half.
The second half started out slow, with the first score… Continue reading
Orlando Predators return to The Jungle to take on the San Antonio Talons at the Amway Center
Following a tight loss to the Chicago Rush last week, the Orlando Predators return to the Amway Center on Thursday night looking for their first win of the season against the San Antonio Talons. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The Preds lost to Chicago 51-49, falling to 0-2 on the season, but played a strong game versus the Rush, with back and forth scoring taking place throughout the night.
The Preds defense will be put to the test this week as they face off against ex-Orlando Predator Robert Quiroga. Quiroga finished last season with the Preds as their top receiver, with 126 receptions for a total of 1553 yards. He is off to a slow start this season, with no catches yet recorded for the Talons and he was inactive for the team’s previous game against the Spokane Shock. Quiroga is hoping to get his chance to improve his numbers this week against the Preds.
Also on the Preds’ radar this upcoming game will be Jomo Wilson, who has made 18 receptions for 271 yards and 6 touchdowns in the first two games of the season, as well as Carl Moore and Jason Willis who have both racked up close to 200 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns a piece.
Fred Shaw will prove to be a threat for the Predators on offense, tying third in the league for interceptions and recording 11 solo tackles in two games for the Talons.
Following this week’s game against Spokane, the Preds… Continue reading
Orlando Predators Fall to the Chicago Rush, 51-49
The Orlando Predators played their first away game of the season Thursday at the Allstate Arena against the Chicago Rush. The Preds fell to the Rush 51-49 making their overall record for the season 0-2.
The game was off to a busy start for the Predators, with defensive back Simeon Castille recovering a fumble for a touchdown on the opening kickoff. After a Travis Coleman interception, Preds quarterback Collin Drafts hit wide receiver Dwayne Eley Jr. for a 36-yard touchdown pass, spreading the lead 14-0. The Rush scored a touchdown on their next possession, bringing an end to the first quarter, with a score of 14-7.
The Rush started off the second quarter capitalizing off a Drafts interception with a long touchdown pass to Reggie Gray, tying the game 14-14. The two teams exchanged touchdowns, making the score 21-21. With under a minute to play, the Rush scored on a rushing touchdown, leaving 26 seconds on the clock. Drafts led the offense down the field, ending the drive on a touchdown strike to wide receiver T.T. Toliver, tying the score 28-28. With seconds left on the clock, Rush defensive back Kelvin Rodgers returned the kickoff for a touchdown, ending the first half with a 35-28 lead.
The Rush opened up the second half with another touchdown pass to Gray, his fourth of the game. The Predators answered with a Drafts rushing touchdown, cutting the lead 41-35.
To start the fourth quarter, the Rush added a field goal and the Predators… Continue reading
Orlando Predators Moving Forward With Original Roster
The Orlando Predators announced today that the players from the 24-man roster posted at the end of training camp will be on the field when the team resumes practice on Saturday, March 17.
“The Orlando Predators players, owners and coaches have come together, and we are united and resolute in our intentions to move forward as a team,” said Managing Partner Brett Bouchy. “We sincerely apologize for the negative impact the events of last week may have had on our fans.”
The Orlando Predators are also offering every person who had a ticket for Friday’s home opener a ticket in the same price range for an upcoming Predators home game. Patrons can redeem their complimentary ticket by calling the Orlando Predators office at 407.648.4444.
The season opener for the Orlando Predators was held on March 9 at the Amway Center under the threat of a work stoppage by the AFL Players’ Union. The Arena Football League released the following statement on Saturday, March 10:
“On Friday, March 9, 2012 the AFLPU entered into a work stoppage at 6:35 pm ET. The AFLPU then retracted the claim and instructed players to go back to work at 1:03 am ET. The AFL’s 20-week regular season schedule and three-week playoff schedule will remain as slated culminating with ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans on August 10.”
The team’s next practice will be held at 10 a.m. at the Orlando Citrus Bowl on Saturday, March 17. Coaches, owners and players will be available to the… Continue reading
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