AFL: Kats Defeat Predators, 23-6

ORLANDO-The Nashville Kats defeated the Orlando Predators 23-6 in a Week 8 AFL game.

The Kats opened the game with a punt, then the Predators drove 52 yards on 11 plays. Abel White finished the drive with a 30-yard field goal to give Orlando a 3-0 lead with 7:34 to go in the first quarter. Nashville drove into scoring position, but Daniel Stevenson missed a 49-yard field goal attempt. The Predators would punt the ball on their next drive, then Orlan Capalletti sacked Curt Wardlaw and caused a fumble. Ham Sheets recovered for Orlando at the Kats 16-yard line. After four plays netted 12 yards, White kicked a 21-yard field goal to make it 6-0 with 14:51 remaining in the second quarter.

Nashville answered with an 8-play, 55-yard drive. Wardlaw threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Vince Caselli to take a 7-6 lead with 12:24 to go in the half. Orlando threatened to retake the lead, but Woodrow Richardson was picked off by Lando Reynolds at the Nashville 22-yard line. The Kats drove for another potential score, only for Stevenson's 24-yard field goal attempt to be blocked. Richardson would be picked off again, and RW Burns ran it back to the Predators' 44-yard line. Four plays later, Wardlaw threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Cobey Kingston to make it 14-6 with 34 seconds left in the second quarter.

The teams traded punts to open the second half, then Lyndon Trimmer recovered a Richardson fumble at the Orlando 27-yard line. Three plays and seven yards later, Stevenson connected on a 37-yard field goal to take a 17-6 lead with 8:03 to go in the third quarter. Reynolds would pick off Richardson again at the Predators' 49-yard line. Ten plays later, Vittorio Swane would score on a 13-yard reverse. Stevenson missed the extra point, and the score was 23-6 with 3:19 to go in the third. Not much else of note happened in the remaining eighteen minutes of the game.

Nashville (5-3) gained 307 yards of total offense. The Kats ran for 144 yards on 39 carries. Oliver Osler led the team with 69 yards on 21 carries. Wardlaw was 19-of-29 passing for 199 yards and 2 TD. He was sacked three times, losing 36 yards. Kingston led the receivers with 4 catches and 22 yards and a TD. The Kats visit the Milwaukee Mustangs next week.

Orlando (1-7) gained 267 yards of total offense. The Predators ran for 76 yards on 17 carries. D.J. Giles led the team with 43 yards on 9 carries. Richardson was 18-of-39 passing for 221 yards and 4 INT. He was sacked three times, losing 30 yards. Caleb Doering was the leading receiver with 5 catches for 65 yards. The Predators visit the Iowa Barnstormers next week.