ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Predators were eliminated from ArenaBowl contention after losing in overtime 69-68 to the Jacksonville Sharks in the first round of the postseason.
The teams played in front of 12,171 fans at Amway Center, Predators team officials said.
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The Predators (12-5) took an early 14-7 advantage as Bernard Morris connected with Larry Brackins on two first quarter touchdown throws. Officials said Orlando added to the lead on the opening drive of the second quarter when Terence Moore picked off a pass by Jacksonville's quarterback, Tommy Grady, and took the ball 42 yards to the end zone to go ahead 21-7. Orlando managed to take a 28-27 lead into the half.
Jacksonville (8-9) took its first lead off a 14-yard scoring reception by Joe Hills on the opening drive of the third quarter, but Brackins answered with his fourth touchdown catch as he stiff-armed a defender and raced 41 yards to the end zone for a 35-33 advantage, officials said.
The Predators held a 48-46 lead midway through the fourth quarter after exchanging rushing touchdowns with the Sharks. Team officials said Morris capped off two drives with three-yard scores on the ground, while Derrick Ross ran for a pair of one-yard touchdowns for the Sharks. Ross would score from a yard out for a third time a series later, giving Jacksonville the 53-48 lead with less than five minutes to play in regulation.
Morris and Orlando battled back, scoring off a seven-yard pass to LaMark Brown to retake the lead, officials said. With 54 seconds remaining, the Sharks scored on a 10-yard reception.
Orlando regained possession and drive to the goal line before running down the clock to just one second. Facing fourth-and-goal from the one, Morris kept it on a run and stretched the ball over the goal line to tie the game, 61-61. Officials said Orlando had a chance to win it on the PAT but missed the attempt, which sent the game into overtime.
The Predators received to start the overtime period and converted its possession into points as Morris scored on a three-yard run to break the tie in favor of Orlando, 68-61. Officials said Jacksonville found the end zone moments later as Ross scored for a fourth time on the ground.
Orlando appeared to have sealed the victory after breaking up Grady's pass on the 2-point conversion, but the Predators were flagged for pass interference and Ross ran it in from a yard out, sealing the defeat for Orlando.