By: DJ Wagner
Orlando, FL – This game was definitely a struggle for both teams from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, this was a very hard-fought game, complete with some fantastic plays, and some silly mistakes, on both teams. We also saw the return of the Deuce for TC Stevens, as he hit three of them tonight. The Cobras run their record to 4-0 for the first time in team history
Carolina lost the opening toss, but the Predators deferred and decided to kick off to the Cobras. The Cobras started off well, driving down the field and Jonathan Bane connected with DJ Myers from nine yards out for the TD, the PAT was good from TC Stevens and it was 7-0 Cobras. The Cobras defense held, but on fourth down, Predators Kicker Daniel Justino connected on a 50-yard FG, to bring the score to 7-3. The Cobras were able to answer right back on a nice 30-yard drive that this time saw Bane connect with Lance Evans from twelve yards out and the TD, the PAT was perfect after a bobbled snap, and it was 14-3 Cobras. TC Stevens nailed his first Deuce of the season to take the lead to 16-3 and that is how the scoring in the first ended.
Orlando continued their drive, with the help of a pass interference call against the Cobras and finished with a 15-yard TD pass to Clarence Williams from Rakeem Cato, and the PAT was no good, so it was 16-9 Cobras. The Predators Delvon Randall came up with an over the wall Interception in the end zone to give the Predators the ball back with 10:26 to go in the half. They took the next eight plus minutes to drive the 45-yards and finished with a six-yard TD pass from Cato to Brandon Fuentes, the fake PAT run attempt by Fuentes failed, and it 16-15 and the Cobras had the lead with a bit over two minutes to go in the half. The Cobras were able to answer, driving the ball 30 yards and with 13 seconds left in the half, Bane connected with James Summers in the back of the end zone for the TD, the PAT was no good as the Cobras were penalized and had to do the PAT from ten yards further back. and it was 22-15 Cobras. But Stevens was to not be outdone and made up for the PAT with a Deuce to make it 24-15. The Predators attempted a Hail Mary at the end of the half, but were stopped five yards short, and at the end of the half it was the Carolina Cobras 24-15.
The Predators started out the second half driving the length of the field, and Cato connected with Anthony Cruz from five yards for the TD, but the PAT was wide left, and it was 24-21 Cobras with the lead. They extended that lead with a huge 47-yard drive. Bane to Summers again, this time from 20-yards out, and with a successful PAT it was 31-21 Cobras. TC Stevens with his third Deuce of the night and it was now 33-21 Cobras. That was our score through three quarters.
The fourth quarter started with an Orlando drive that led to a 23-yard connection between Cato and Larry Beavers for the TD, the Predators went for two and failed. 33-27 Cobras with about 13 minutes left in the game. The Cobras drive stalled out, but TC Stevens came through with a 41-yard FG to extend the lead to 36-27. The Predators answered quickly with Cato connecting from four yards out with Sha-Ki Holines the PAT was good and it was 36-34 Cobras, with 6:39 left in the game. The Cobras offense did what it has done so well all season long, and they were able to run out the final 6:39 to win the game 36-34 and to move to 4-0 for the first time in Carolina Cobra’s History.
The Orlando Predators fall to 1-3 for the season, having lost the Cobras twice in the last 15 days. The next game for the Cobras is just 5 days away as they welcome the San Antonio Gunslingers to the Greensboro Coliseum for the first time, so make sure you join us at the Greensboro Coliseum, Friday night as kickoff is at 7PM. Come cheer on your 4-0 Carolina Cobras!
