UNIONDALE, NY-Dom Wenning kicked a 36-yard field goal with 11 seconds left to lift the Albany Firebirds to a 30-27 victory over the New York Dragons in a Week 8 AFL game.
The Firebirds did not have a good start as Sinbad Gargaro had a pass intercepted by Hans Magnolia at the New York 45. But the Dragons couldn't move the ball and had to punt. Albany then went on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that was sustained when punter Flint Percell recovered from a bad snap and completed a 12-yard pass to Stud Springs for a first down at the Dragons' 48. Gargaro would finish the drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Pinky Gardner and gave the Firebirds a 7-0 lead with 7:48 left in the first quarter. The Dragons would respond with a 10-play, 62-yard drive that ended with Faron Emerson throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to Booker Starling with 2:08 left in the first to tie the game at 7-7.
The Firebirds would punt on their next drive, and New York would move 60 yards on 7 plays. Emerson would finish the drive off with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Freddy Ashercraft to give New York a 14-7 lead with 12:16 remaining in the half. Albany was quick to respond, finishing a 4-play, 67-yard drive with Gargaro unleashing a 50-yard bomb to Teddy Harley for a touchdown to tie it at 14 with 10:32 to go in the second quarter. The Dragons would then drive 40 yards on 7 plays, with Burt Hamrick kicking a 43-yard field goal to take a 17-14 lead with 6:56 to go in the first half. After Albany went three-and-out, New York would drive 29 yards on 4 plays, and Hamrick would kick a 53-yard field goal with 3:11 left in the second quarter to give the Dragons a 20-14 lead. The Firebirds would fumble the ensuing kickoff, but Butler Stonewall would intercept Emerson and return it to the Firebirds' 29-yard line. However, Gargaro would be victimized again by Magnolia at the Albany 41. But the Firebirds would get it back after Stanford Barbee picked Emerson off and return it 48 yards to the New York 25. Three plays and seven yards later, Wenning would kick a 35-yard field goal with 1:42 to go in the half and Albany would go to the locker room down 20-17.
In the third quarter, the Dragons started with an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Emerson would finish the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Elvis Darnell with 9:28 left in the third to go up 27-17. A long kickoff return by Tico Ponder started a 9-play, 25-yard drive that Wenning ended with a 36-yard field goal to make it 27-20 with 5:12 to go in the third quarter.
After that, punting dominated the remainder of the third quarter. In the fourth, Emerson was picked off by Finley Noon at the New York 36-yard line. But Ponder fumbled and Dusty Mills recovered for the Dragons at their own 18. After that, the teams traded punts. Melvin Betts would fumble a handoff, and Austin Carle recovered for the Firebirds at the Dragons' 41-yard line. Seven plays later, Albany scored on a 4-yard touchdown run by Scooter Colby to tie the game at 27 with 3:38 left in regulation. The Dragons went three-and-out, and the Firebirds started at their own 29 with 1:52 to go. After Albany gained 52 yards on 6 plays, Wenning came out and calmly drilled the 36-yard game winner with 11 seconds to go, and Albany moved into second place in the Eastern Division.
Albany (5-3) gained 306 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 67 yards on 25 carries. Abdul Fowler led the team with 29 yards on 10 carries. Gargaro went 19-of-32 passing for 247 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked twice, losing 20 yards. Harley led Firebird receivers with 7 catches for 83 yards and a TD. Albany will visit the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.
New York (4-4) gained 383 yards of total offense. The Dragons gained 124 yards rushing on 33 carries. George Larron led the team with 54 yards on 13 carries. Emerson was 22-of-39 passing for 259 yards, 3 TD and 4 INT and was not sacked. Larron caught 5 passes for 71 yards. Darnell caught 5 passes for 35 yards and a TD. The Dragons are on the road against the Dallas Desperados next week.
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