ORLANDO-D.J. Giles accounted for 149 yards of total offense and scored two touchdowns in a 27-30 victory for the Orlando Predators over the New York Dragons in a Week 11 AFL game.
The game started slowly with both teams trading punts. The Dragons would get on the board first with a 15-play, 80-yard drive ending it with a 3-yard touchdown run by Freddy Ashercraft to take a 7-0 lead with 2:19 left in the first quarter. On the first play's of Orlando's next possession, DJ Haji completed a 62-yard pass to Leonard Irving that set up a 22-yard field goal by Abel White with 2 seconds remaining in the first to make it 7-3.
The second quarter was very much a defensive struggle. Fahad Ruff intercepted a Faron Emerson pass and returned it 20 yards to the Dragons' 22-yard line, but White would miss a 34-yard field goal. The Dragons moved into scoring position, but Burt Hamrick missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. The Predators punted, then Emerson was intercepted again, this time by Silas Garris at the New York 43-yard line. White missed a 37-yard field goal attempt. After a Dragons punt, the Predators drove 42 yards on 8 plays. White would make a 52-yard field goal with 6 seconds remaining in the half, and the teams went into the locker room with Orlando trailing 7-6.
After the teams traded punts at the start of the third quarter, Emmett Romine sacked Haji at the Orlando 27-yard line forcing a fumble that was recovered by New York's Marty Yount. Six plays later, Emerson completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to Elvis Darnell to put the Dragons up 14-6 with 8:01 remaining in the third quarter. The Predators responded with a 7-play, 66-yard drive that ended with Giles scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point conversion tied the game at 14 with 4:29 remaining in the third.
After the Dragons punted, Orlando moved the ball 80 yards on 10 plays. Haji hit Giles for a 1-yard touchdown pass to give the Predators a 21-14 lead with 14:12 left in the fourth quarter. Emerson was then picked off by Steve Trevathan who returned it 40 yards to the New York 22-yard line. After three plays gained nine yards, White kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 24-14 with 11:53 remaining. After a 62-yard kickoff return by Hugh Strickland, the Dragons moved the ball 14 yards on 5 plays, and Hamrick kicked a 44-yard field goal to make it 24-17 with 9:46 left. Orlando then moved 34 yards on 6 plays, and White kicked a 49-yard field goal with 6:13 to go to make it 27-17. Emerson was again picked off, this time by Jack Stuckey. The Predators would punt, and New York would drive 62 yards on 8 plays. Hamrick kicked a 35-yard field goal with 1:01 left to make it 27-20. New York's onside kick failed, and Orlando ran out the clock.
Orlando (4-7) gained 378 yards of total offense. The Predators ran for 110 yards on 28 carries. Giles led the team with 58 yards on 16 carries and a TD, and also led the receivers with 8 catches for 91 yards and a TD. Haji went 25-of-37 passing for 284 yards a TD. He was sacked twice, losing 16 yards. Next week, Orlando visits the Albany Firebirds.
New York (5-6) gained 252 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for 108 yards on 26 carries. George Larron led the team with 47 yards on 9 carries. Emerson went 15-of-32 passing for 184 yards, 1 TD and 4 INT. He was sacked five times, losing 40 yards. Elvin Strait led the receivers with 4 catches for 47 yards. The Dragons will host the Nashville Kats next week.
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