Los Angeles - The Orlando Predators (8-2) snapped a two-game skid and emerged with a 43-41 road win over the LA KISS on Sunday night in front of a crowd of 6,287 at the Honda Center. In a back and forth battle that came down to the game’s final snap, the Predators earned the victory in the most improbable of ways.
The KISS went ahead 41-35 off a 21-yard touchdown reception by WR Brandon Collins with 3:10 remaining in the game and a missed PAT gave Orlando a chance to win it on their final drive. With 10 seconds left on the clock, Bernard Morris kept it on a designed run and raced three yards around the right end for the score, but another miss on the extra point attempt left the game tied, 41-41.
LA returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 14 and lined up for a game-winning field goal attempt with three seconds remaining on the clock, but an errant snap went past the holder and hit the back wall of the end zone, resulting in a game-winning safety for the Predators.
Morris started at quarterback for the Predators in place of an injured Randy Hippeard and scored four total touchdowns as he completed 16-of-26 attempts for 171 yards and two touchdowns while adding 45 yards and two scores on 10 rushing attempts.
Brandon Thompkins put forth an electric performance in multiple phases of the game as he racked up 217 all-purpose yards and three total touchdowns. Offensively, he hauled in a game-high eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. On special teams, Thompkins returned two kickoff for scores, each of which came from distances over 50 yards.
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Varmah Sonie notched his sixth interception of the season for the defense while adding five total tackles.
The Predators trailed 14-0 early in the second quarter as WR Donovan Morgan caught two touchdowns passes from KISS QB Pete Thomas to start the game. From there, Orlando would shake off the slow start and tie the game with two unanswered scores of their own. Morris first found Greg Carr wide open up the right sideline for a 13-yard score. Two plays into the ensuing KISS possession, Sonie halted the drive as he picked off the pass attempt by Thomas and the Predators converted the turnover into points to even the score as Morris ran it into the end zone from three yards out.
With 20 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Morgan caught a seven-yard score to give LA the lead at halftime, 21-14.
The Predators tied the game on the opening drive of the third quarter, capping off a lengthy 12-play, 47-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown strike from Morris to Brandon Thompkins. LA briefly regained the lead off a four-yard reception by Morgan, but Thompkins would take the ensuing kickoff the length of the field for a 56-yard touchdown return to tie it heading into the fourth quarter, 28-28.
Thomas connected with FB Rory Nixon on a 16-yard screen for a touchdown on the opening drive of the final frame, but Thompkins once again answered loudly with a dynamic play on special teams. Thompkins fielded the resulting kickoff in the end zone and burst up field, weaving through would-be tacklers before breaking free for a 55-yard touchdown return to tie the game at 35-35 midway through the fourth.
The Predators host the Cleveland Gladiators (5-5) in Week 11 on Saturday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase by calling 407-355-2200 or online at OrlandoPredators.com.
UNDER ARMOUR OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: LA WR Donovan Morgan
RIDDELL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Orlando DB Varmah Sonie
J.LEWIS SMALL PLAYMAKER OF THE GAME: Orlando WR Brandon Thompkins
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME: 7-yard TD reception by LA WR Donovan Morgan (Q2 | 0:20)
AFL HIGHLIGHT OF THE GAME: 55-yard kickoff return for TD by Orlando WR Brandon Thompkins (Q4 | 8:07)
Score By Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total
Orlando Predators 0 14 14 15 43
LA KISS 7 14 7 13 41
1st Quarter
LA – Morgan 6 yd pass from Thomas (Cejudo kick) 8:25.
2nd Quarter
LA – Morgan 7 yd pass from Thomas (Cejudo kick) 11:48.
ORL – Carr 13 yd pass from Morris (Lewis kick) 6:44.
ORL – Morris 3 yd run (Lewis kick) 2:55.
LA – Morgan 7 yd pass from Thomas (Cejudo kick) 0:20.
3rd Quarter
ORL – Thompkins 4 yd pass from Morris (Lewis kick) 7:22.
LA – Morgan 4 yd pass from Thomas (Cejudo kick) 2:10.
ORL – Thompkins 56 yd kickoff return (Lewis kick) 1:25.
4th Quarter
LA – Nixon 16 yd pass from Thomas (Cejudo kick) 9:02.
ORL – Thompkins 55 yd kickoff return (Lewis kick) 8:07.
LA – Collins 21 yd pass from Thomas (Cejudo kick failed) 3:10.
ORL – Morris 3 yd run (Lewis kick failed) 0:10.
ORL – Safety 0:00.
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