Firebirds burn 'Hawks, clinch 2nd seed (Full Story)
July 25, 1998 - Final 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Totals Albany 16 19 28 14 77 New York 10 7 13 6 36 Firebirds burn 'Hawks, clinch 2nd seed
MARK SINGELAIS
Staff writerNEW YORK CITY -- The game is fun again for the Albany Firebirds. Just as important, they can play the next two at home.
Spurred by quarterback Mike Pawlawski's eight touchdown passes, the Firebirds routed the New York CityHawks, 77-36, Friday night at Madison Square Garden. The game was watched by a crowd of 6,617, including 130 Firebirds fans who drove down from Albany.
The Firebirds (10-4) clinched the No. 2 seed in the Arena Football League playoffs that begin next weekend. Depending on this weekend's other results, the Firebirds will host Houston, New Jersey or San Jose in the first round at Pepsi Arena next Saturday.
By beating New York (3-11), the Firebirds also assured that, if they win in the first round, they'll host a semifinal game the weekend of Aug. 14-15.
In other words, the road to the ArenaBowl goes through Albany.
"It was a great team effort,'' said Albany offensive specialist Eddie Brown, named the game MVP after catching eight passes for 91 yards and four touchdowns. "Everybody was flying around trying to make a play. This is what it's all about. And it's fun. I'm excited about going to work, too. There was a time when I hated going. But now I look forward to it.''
Chad Dukes was named the game's Ironman, running for 30 yards and a touchdown. Rookie Jay Jones returned a kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown, Greg Hopkins caught two touchdown passes, and Tim Brown and Cornelius White each added a touchdown.
The Firebirds are entering the playoffs on a roll. They've scored 79 and 77 points in their last two games, their two highest point productions of the year.
"You've got to love it going into the playoffs,'' said Pawlawski, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 253 yards.
The Firebirds capitalized on two turnovers to take a 16-10 lead after a first quarter in which Albany didn't get a first down.
On the opening kickoff, Albany kicker Don Silvestri hit the left upright, and the ball caromed wildly before being recovered by Albany's Leroy Thompson at the CityHawk 4 yard-line.
Pawlawski fired a 4-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Brown on Albany's first offensive play for a 6-0 lead only 1:03 into the game.
New York quarterback Mike Perez opened the game with three-step drops to keep the Albany lineman at bay, just like he did in New York's win at Albany earlier this season.
But Albany lineman Mark Valvo sacked Perez, forcing the former Firebird quarterback to fumble, and Firebird Carl Sacco of Albany Academy recovered at the New York 10. Albany converted that miscue into Tim Brown's 10-yard touchdown reception on a screen pass, taking a 16-3 lead with 4:16 left in the first quarter.
Albany fullback-linebacker Tim Brown said that defensive coordinator Dennis Fitzgerald implemented a game plan that took away New York's short passes. Unable to find his first option, Perez was subject to the Albany pass rush. He also lost a fumble on a Leroy Thompson sack in the second quarter.
"Coach Fitzgerald had changed the defense up,'' Brown said. "He had the defensive backs playing up close, and that's a scheme we worked on all week. We got rid of (New York's) first route, and our linemen played great.''
Albany built its lead to 22-10 and then made a key short-yardage stand in the second quarter. New York had 4th-and-1 from the Albany 6 when the center snapped the ball before Perez was expecting it. The surprised Perez was tackled for a 2-yard loss by Albany's Sean Tremblay, turning possession over to the Firebirds.
Eddie Brown's 29-yard touchdown catch, featuring a gorgeous fake on New York defensive back Jeff Russell, and Chad Dukes' 4-yard scoring run gave Albany a 35-17 lead at halftime.
