ALBANY, NY-The Albany Firebirds held on the ball and controlled the clock in defeating the Detroit Drive 23-20 in Week 2 of the AFL season.
The Firebirds began the game with a 13-play, 65-yard drive, ending with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Sinbad Gargaro to Garry Farr to give Albany a 7-0 lead with 9:46 left in the first quarter. Renaldo Halter fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Travis Edgar fell on it for the Firebirds at the Detroit 37-yard line. Wally Dancer would miss a 56-yard field goal attempt, then the Drive moved 37 yards on 5 plays. Cletis Frayer finished it off with a 34-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 6:05 to go in the first.
The teams traded punts late in the first, then at the start of the second, Gargaro was intercepted by Stan Florin who returned it 15 yards to the Drive 22-yard line. They exchanged punts again, then Detroit drove 55 yards on 7 plays. Frayer kicked another field goal, this one from 39 yards out, to make it 7-6 with 6:43 to go in the half. The teams traded punts one more time before the halftime gun.
After forcing Detroit to punt again to start the third quarter, Albany went on a 12-play, 44-yard drive. The Firebirds lined up for a 19-yard field goal attempt, but it turned into a fake, as backup QB Kirk Redden ran in for a 2-yard touchdown to extend Albany's lead to 14-6 with 8:20 left in the third quarter. Lou Couch would be picked off by Wayne Davison at the Albany 26-yard line. The Firebirds tried to drive for a score, but Dancer missed a 43-yard field goal attempt.
Detroit's next possession appeared primed for a touchdown, but Austin Carle would pick Couch off in the end zone. However, on the next play, Florin picked off Gargaro and ran 27 yards for a touchdown. The Drive missed the 2-point conversion and the score was 14-12 with 11:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Firebirds recovered from that mistake and drove 67 yards on 10 plays. Gargaro finished it off with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Long. Albany missed their 2-point attempt, and the score was 20-12 with 6:58 to go in the fourth. On the ensuing Drive possession, Couch was picked off again, this time by Pepe Kell at the Detroit 23-yard line. After three plays netted five yards, Dancer booted a 35-yard field goal to make it 23-12 with 4:28 left in the game. The Drive offense would finally answer with a 5-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass from Couch to Patch Brolie. Detroit successfully converted for two, and the Drive trailed 23-20 with 2:39 left in the fourth quarter. But Albany would run the ball and kill the clock to secure the win.
Albany (2-0) gained 315 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 142 yards on 35 carries. Tico Ponder led the team with 61 yards on 16 carries. He also led with 6 receptions for 59 yards. Gargaro was 19-of-37 passing for 206 yards, 2 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 33 yards. The Firebirds visit the Grand Rapids Rampage next week.
Detroit (0-2) gained 279 yards of total offense. The Drive ran for 36 yards on 18 carries. Brolie led the team with 23 yards on 5 carries. He also led with 7 receptions for 64 yards and a TD. Couch went 17-of-27 passing for 249 yards, 1 TD and 3 INT. He was sacked once for a 6-yard loss. The Drive will host the New York Dragons next week.
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