ATLANTA-The Georgia Force managed to defeat the Albany Firebirds 16-7 in a Week 12 AFL game.
Georgia started with possession, but Gevan Crafton had the ball jarred loose and Oliver Mobile recovered for the Firebirds at midfield. Albany looked to score, but Wally Dancer missed a 45-yard field goal. The Force's next drive was thwarted as Butler Stonewall picked off Yannel Gansz at the Firebirds' 25-yard line. After trading punts, Albany had another chance to score, but Ward Hilton intercepted a Sinbad Gargaro pass at the Georgia 11-yard line. The Force would punt, then the Firebirds only took one play to score. The play was a 50-yard touchdown pass from Gargaro to Anthony Long to give Albany a 7-0 lead with 2:23 left in the first quarter.
The teams would trade punts, and on the Firebirds' kick, Crafton again fumbled. Brian Kirk scooped it up and ran 4 yards to the Albany 49-yard line. Unfortunately for the Firebirds, Dancer would miss another 45-yard field goal attempt. Georgia would punt, and then the Force short-circuited another Albany scoring threat. Raymond Clements would intercept a Gargaro pass at the Georgia 10-yard line. The Force then went on a 13-play, 84-yard drive, ending with Wilbur Ahmad kicking a 23-yard field goal with 8 seconds remaining to make it 7-3 at the half.
There was no scoring in the third quarter. Albany would punt to start, then Ahmad would miss a 49-yard field goal attempt. Another punt by the Firebirds brought on another field goal attempt by Ahmad, and he would miss from 44 yards out late in the quarter. Abdul Fowler would fumble on the handoff, and Sputnik Havner recovered for the Force at the Albany 37-yard line.
After the turnover, Georgia drove 37 yards on 9 plays. Gansz finished it off with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Clem Foulks giving the Force a 10-7 lead with 11:49 to go in the fourth quarter. The teams would trade punts, and this time Albany muffed a return. Jerreld Richmond lost the handle, and Heath Gairhan recovered for the Force at the Georgia 49-yard line. Ahmad ended a 7-play, 41-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal to make it 13-7 with 4:37 left in the fourth. Elson Saxon fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Conroy Spencer returned it 11 yards for Georgia to the Albany 14-yard line. After three plays, Ahmad kicked a 31-yard field goal to make it 16-7 with 3:23 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Georgia (7-5) gained 345 yards of total offense. The Force ran for 131 yards on 37 carries. Foulks led the team with 87 yards on 23 carries. Gansz was 27-of-38 passing for 241 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. He was sacked four times, losing 27 yards. Tinker Trice (52 yards) and Raven Bannon (41 yards) each caught 6 passes in the game. The Force visit the Tampa Bay Storm next week.
Albany (6-6) gained 189 yards of total offense. The Firebirds ran for 74 yards on 17 carries. Garland Davidson led the team with 56 yards on 6 carries. Gargaro was 13-of-30 passing for 165 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. He was sacked six times, losing 50 yards. Tico Ponder led the receivers with 5 catches for 58 yards. Next week, the Firebirds visit the New York Dragons.
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