Saturday May 25th
The Carolina Cobras were back at home in the Greensboro Coliseum to take on one of the National Arena League’s newest expansion team, the Orlando Predators. Despite having experience on their side, Carolina suffered their first home loss in 336 days with a final score of 69-76 against Orlando.
The first quarter of play keep the contest close with matching touchdown by both teams. Jordan Jolly and Prince Shonola put points on the board for Carolina with receiving touchdowns from Charles McCullum, while Michael Lyons mustered a touchdown grab from quarterback Bryan Hicks for Orlando and Desmond Maxwell punched one into the endzone on a rushing attempt after a recovered Carolina fumble.
Both the Cobras and Predators kickers, Nick Belcher and John Lunsford, missed on a extra point to keep the score knotted 13-13 and the end of the period. The ball in hand to open the 2nd for Orlando paid off with a connection from hicks to Predators wide receiver Darrin Peterson. Not to be outdone, Carolina fired back on the ensuring Drive with a McCullum-Jolly touchdown once again. Carolina newcomer LaVon Pearson would make his first touchdown as a Cobra bookended by Orlando’s Derrick Macon’s two touchdowns receptions. Lunsfords second extra point attempt on the quarter was blocked by Carolinas special teams unit and Linebacker Pasquale Vacchio was able to scoop up the loose ball for a extra two points on the safety.
After the smoke cleared and the halftime horn sounded Carolina trailed while headed to the locker room for just the second time this season at 29-33. Orlando opened the second half scoring with a Hick-Macon touchdown that once more was matched by McCullum-Jolly. Orlando stretched their lead with a Lyons touchdown on the following drive combined with a deuce kick from Lunsford to take a 36-47 lead over the Cobras. a underthrew pass gave the Predators an interception from McCullum, although that drive ended in no points for Orlando as Lunsford wasn’t able to make a 29 yard field goal. Fullback for Carolina was able to net a rushing touchdown for his team before Lyons was found open in the end zone in the final minute of the quarter.
The final quarter opened with Pearson netting his second Carolina touchdown of the night. From there the game was delayed several minutes on the point after attempt to tend to a injured Cobras player on the field, but resumed shortly after. Still down by a score Carolina couldn’t get the stops need by the normally stellar defense as Orlando was able to go drive for drive with the Cobras throughout the fourth, matching touchdowns by Shonola and Jolly while doubling up with a deuce by Lunsford. A last ditch effort by Pearson was enough to earn a touchdown but not win the game.
A final score of 69-76 in favor of the Orlando Predators gives them their second win of the season at an overall record of 2-5, while also dropping the Carolina Cobras to 4-2 on the year. Carolina will have a chance to regroup as they travel to southern Georgia to take on the Columbus Lions for their second meeting of the year. The Carolina Cobras away games are live streamed via the National Arena League’s Youtube Live Channel and fans are encouraged to join the Carolina Cobras road game watch party at Cooper’s Ale House on South Swing Road in Greensboro.
