ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Predators are now 4-0 after beating the LA Kiss 43-40 Saturday night.
Playing in front of 10,127 people at the Amway Center, quarterback Randy Hippeard spread the ball around as he hooked up with four different receivers for scores, the team said. The fourth-year signal caller finished the night completing 22-of-32 pass attempts for 273 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.
Brandon Thompkins paced the receiving corps with seven receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns, team officials said.
The Preds and Kiss traded scores to open the game as LaMark Brown scored from two yards out on a screen from Hippeard following a 1-yard touchdown run by LA's Rory Nixon. Team officials said Sonie made a leaping interception on the next Kiss possession and the Predators capitalized on the turnover, scoring on a leaping 11-yard touchdown reception by Greg Carr to build a 13-7 lead.
LA found the end zone on an 8-yard reception by DJ Stephens. Team officials said the Preds regained a 19-14 lead by Thompkins. Stephens scored on a 33-yard reception, but Mark Lewis kept the Preds ahead with a 21-yard field goal for a 22-21 halftime lead.
Orlando built a 43-21 lead with a 5-yard touchdown reception by Larry Brackins. LA struck back with three scores of its own in the fourth quarter. Officials said Stanley hit Stephens for a 15-yard touchdown before hooking up with Donovan Morgan for two more scores.
Orlando would recover LA's onside kick attempt and proceeded to run out the clock to seal the victory, officials said.
The Predators travel to play the Cleveland Gladiators at 7 p.m. Friday.