UNIONDALE, NY-The New York Dragons took the lead in the last two minutes, and held off the Albany Firebirds 30-28 in Week 13 of the AFL season. As a result, the Grand Rapids Rampage are one win away from wrapping up the AFL Eastern Division.
The teams traded punts to start the game, then Albany got the first break when Butler Stonewall recovered a Faron Emerson fumble at the New York 11-yard line. After three plays netted eight yards, Wally Dancer kicked a 20-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead with 7:18 left in the first quarter. The Dragons would respond with a 7-play, 68-yard drive. George Larron would score on a 6-yard touchdown run to give New York a 7-3 lead with 3:13 left in the first.
After the Firebirds punted at the end of the first quarter, the Dragons were on the move again, driving 70 yards on 7 plays. Jose Trust ended the drive with a 27-yard field goal to make it 10-3 with 10:53 to go in the second quarter. Albany punted on their next drive, and New York looked to extend their lead, but Trust missed a 41-yard field goal attempt. Following the miss, the Firebirds drove 57 yards on 10 plays. Dancer kicked a 29-yard field goal to make it 7-6 with 1:54 remaining in the half. Melvin Betts fumbled the ensuing kickoff for the Dragons, and Travis Edgar recovered for Albany at the New York 34-yard line. Three plays later, Sinbad Gargaro hit Tico Ponder for a 4-yard touchdown pass with 47 seconds to go giving the Firebirds a 13-10 halftime lead.
Albany punted to open the second half, then New York went on a 7-play, 59-yard drive. Emerson threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Barry Starr reclaiming the lead for the Dragons at 17-13 with 10:40 left in the third quarter. After another Firebirds' punt, the Dragons moved 43 yards on 9 plays. Freddy Ashercraft finished it off with a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 24-13 with 4:27 to go in the third. Albany struck back with a 7-play, 53-yard drive, ending it with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Gargaro to Anthony Long. The 2-Point Conversion was good, and the Firebirds trailed 24-21 with 1:23 left in the third quarter.
The Dragons would punt, then Gargaro would get picked off by Omar Wheeley who ran it back 39 yards to the New York 45-yard line. Following a 10-play, 47-yard drive, Trust kicked a 25-yard field goal to make it 27-21 with 8:34 left in the fourth quarter. The Firebirds would take four plays to travel 69 yards, the final 43 coming on a Ponder touchdown run to give Albany a 28-27 lead with 6:58 remaining in the fourth. The teams traded punts, and the Dragons were fortunate to start at midfield. After a four-play, 15-yard drive, Trust drilled a 52-yard field goal to give New York a 30-28 lead with 1:37 remaining in the game. The Firebirds couldn't convert a fourth down, and the Dragons ran out the clock.
New York (3-10) gained 388 yards of total offense. The Dragons ran for 144 yards on 36 carries. Larron led the team with 67 yards on 14 carries and a TD. Emerson was 19-of-29 passing for 259 yards and a TD. He was sacked twice, losing 15 yards. Chase Hamil was the leading receiver with 6 catches for 74 yards. Next week, the Dragons visit the Arizona Rattlers.
Albany (6-7) gained 331 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 123 yards on 20 carries. Ponder led the team with 55 yards on 7 carries and a TD. He also led with 8 receptions for 74 yards and a TD. Gargaro was 22-of-37 passing for 208 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. He was not sacked in the game. Next week, the Firebirds visit the San Jose Sabercats.
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