Dogs end Firebirds' season (Full Story)
August 8, 1998 - Final 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Totals New Jersey 66 Albany 59 Dogs end Firebirds' season
By James Allen
The RecordALBANY -- Last time, it was Alvin Ashley.
This time, the culprit turned out to be Adrian Lunsford.
For the second straight meeting, the New Jersey Red Dogs somehow found a way to keep the Albany Firebirds from forcing overtime in the final minute.
Lunsford stopped Albany receiver Greg Hopkins about two feet short of first down yardage with 40 seconds left as the seventh-seeded Red Dogs moved into the Arena Football League semifinals with a 66-59 victory over Albany before 10,636 stunned fans at Pepsi Arena.
For the second time in franchise history, Albany (10-5) lost a home playoff contest. The first defeat came back in 1994 when the Firebirds -- also then a No. 2 seed -- dropped a 40-33 verdict to Arizona in the semifinals.
After Lunsford's tackle stopped Hopkins at midfield and deprived Albany the ball on downs, a sign in the upper deck that echoed Albany's theme this season "One Vision, One Goal, ArenaBowl" quietly was packed away.
"No, I can't describe what I'm feeling right now," Albany quarterback Mike Pawlawski said seconds after the finish. "This is a team we thought could win it all. We're going to have to do a lot of searching."
The Red Dogs' stop of Albany was the only time the Firebirds' offense failed to score the entire game -- a contest that was delayed approximately 85 minutes because the officials were caught at the Detroit Airport. Their first flight was held up by the weather and when the crew transferred to a second flight, the plane experienced mechanical problems.
Once the officials arrived at Albany International Airport, they were given a police escort to Pepsi Arena.
One player who was pleased following the final horn was New Jersey offensive specialist Larry Ray Willis. One of the league's premier talents, Willis missed the past three games due to suspension.
Just like he did during the Red Dogs' 55-48 road victory over Albany in Week 9, Willis dissected the Firebirds' secondary at will -- grabbing 17 receptions for 177 yards and three touchdowns.
"This is huge -- absolutely huge," a beaming Willis said.
"Last year, we got into the playoffs as a first-year team. We weren't happy just being in the playoffs. We knew if we played a certain way, we could do this."
Most Valuable Player Rickey Foggie craved up Albany's defense by completing 39-of-59 attempts for 446 yards and nine touchdowns -- all new AFL playoff records.
Willis, often given 10- and 15-yard cushions by Albany's defensive backs, constantly got passes from Foggie and was able to work his way upfield before drawing contact.
"That's what I'm paid to do. I'm here to make bog plays," Willis said. "Rickey Foggie was great. We want to keep playing and reach the ArenaBowl."
Each offense had little trouble in the opening half.
New Jersey (9-6) grabbed the lead for good when Willis hauled in a Foggie 3-yard TD pass on third-and-goal with one minute.
After a 10-yard reception by Brown and three straight incomplete passes, Albany's season ended when Pawlawski's pass to Hopkins down the left sideline failed to gain the necessary real estate to keep the chains moving.
"I have a lot of respect for Albany," Willis said. "They're a great team and they really stayed with us until the end."
"We just didn't come up with the plays we needed to make," Pawlawski said.
Albany offensive specialist Eddie Brown finished with a playoff team-record four touchdown receptions in the first half -- including three straight in the second quarter.
The Firebirds' prolific scoring machines' first outburst, however, came on a option pass on the game's opening drive.
On first-and-goal from the 8, Brown took a pitch from Pawlawski and raced down the left corner of the end zone. With New Jersey's defense in hot pursuit of Brown, he reared up and lofted a shovel pass to a wide-open Cornelius White.
The Red Dogs wasted little time in responding. Offensive specialist Larry Ray Willis, back from a three-game suspension, hauled in consecutive pass from Foggie -- the second a 23-yard TD strike to knot the game at 7.
Albany's Greg Hopkins answered for Albany with a 48-yard reception from Pawlawski. The Slippery Rock product beat two New Jersey defenders at the 10 and scampered untouched for the score.
Alvin Ashley and Manny Pina, sandwiched around a 21-yard TD catch by Brown, allowed the Red Dogs to get through the opening quarter deadlocked with Albany at 21-21.
Brown second-quarter scores came on TD catches of 35, 14 and 3 yards. The third reception from Pawlawski came with 50 seconds remaining in the first half. The Firebirds' stiffened for the first time on New Jersey's final drive of the half, forcing a Steve Videtich 21-yard field goals with 4.3 seconds left to pull the Red Dogs within 42-38 at half.
Albany tied its playoff high for points in a half and Pawlawski completed 13 of 14 attempts for 240 yards and five touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes.
Foggie was equally impressive, matching Pawlawski's touchdown total while completing 21 of 29 passes for 268 yards.
NOTES: Tampa Bay, the No. 1 seed, defeated San Jose 65-46 earlier Saturday to improve to 13-2. The Storm will host New Jersey next weekend.
