DETROIT-Despite five turnovers, the Detroit Drive were able to hold off the Orlando Predators twice on fourth downs late in the game to hang on for a 24-19 victory in Week 3 of the AFL season.
Detroit got the ball rolling on its first possession, driving the ball 76 yards on 9 plays. Rocky Adams put an end to the drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give Detroit a 7-0 lead with 10:42 to go in the first quarter. Orlando moved the ball effectively on its first drive, going 60 yards on 10 plays, but had to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Abel White to make it 7-3 with 4:33 remaining in the quarter.
The next possession for the Drive saw them move the ball 41 yards on 9 plays. Cletis Frayer made a 46-yard field goal with 14:11 left in the second quarter to put Detroit up 10-3. Orlando's RW Warden would fumble the ensuing kickoff, and the Drive's Corwin Lindstrom recovered at the Preds' 28-yard line. Six plays later, Lou Couch threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Vern Kelly to give Detroit a 17-3 lead with 11:28 to go in the half. Orlando would move down the field on its next possession, only to be victimized by a Jeffrey Wilkey interception returned to the Detroit 33. Detroit would punt, and then Orlando punted, but caught a break when Renaldo Halter muffed the return and Nate Devron recovered for Orlando at the Drive 23-yard line. Three plays later, DJ Haji threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to D.J. Giles to pull Orlando closer at 17-10 with 5:39 left in the second. On the ensuing kickoff, Lovell Denson fumbled for Detroit and Darius Talie recovered for the Predators at the 34-yard line. Orlando would drive 27 on 8 plays, and White would connect on a 24-yard field goal with 1:43 remaining to make it 17-13 in favor of Detroit at the half.
The third quarter saw sloppy play from both offenses. On Orlando's first possession, they drove 57 yards on 10 plays, and sent White on to attempt a 31-yard field goal. But the kick was blocked and returned by Detroit's Sy Kellums to the Orlando 44-yard line. But Couch would be sacked by Ringo Flack of the Predators, and fumbled. Silas Garris of the Predators recovered at the Orlando 31. Orlando attempted to make a big play, but Tad Adler intercepted the pass for Detroit at his own 21. Detroit would try to move the ball themselves, but Couch fumbled again after being sacked by Flack, and Garris would again recover at the Detroit 35. Four plays later, Haji, feeling the pressure, took off and scrambled 25 yards for a touchdown with 1:40 left in the third. White missed the extra point, and Orlando was only ahead, 19-17, as the third quarter drew to a close.
On Detroit's subsequent drive, the Drive moved the ball 71 yards on 6 plays. Couch put the finishing touches on the drive with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Ahmed Sohn with 13:37 left in the game to give the Drive a 24-19 lead. The Predators would punt, and Couch might have gotten a little greedy on Detroit's next possession, as Garris would pick off his pass and return to the Orlando 35-yard line with 8:22 left. The Predators would move the ball effectively until they got into the red zone, and facing a fourth down on the Drive 13-yard line, came up short with 2:17 remaining. The Drive would punt, and Orlando had another shot, but Haji's pass with 55 seconds left on fourth down came up short again, and the Drive escaped, still undefeated.
Detroit (3-0) gained 344 yards of total offense. The Drive gained 89 yards on 22 carries rushing. Patch Brolie led the team with 35 yards on 6 carries. Adams carried 5 times for 14 yards and a TD. Couch was 25-for-34 passing for 275 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 20 yards. Kelly was Detroit's leading receiver, with 7 catches for 69 yards and a TD. Sohn caught 4 passes for 57 yards and a TD. The Drive are on the road next week against Eastern Division rival New York Dragons.
Orlando (1-2) gained 337 yards of total offense. The Predators gained 95 yards rushing on 24 carries, Haji led the team with 39 yards on 4 carries, 25 of which came on his TD run. Giles carried 12 times for 31 yards, and caught 4 passes for 32 yards and a TD. Haji was 24-for-39 passing for 242 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT, and was not sacked. Steven Thompson caught 5 passes for 42 yards. Caleb Doering caught 5 passes for 26 yards. The Predators return home next week for a Southern Division game against the Nashville Kats.
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