Week 6 (5/28/99): Albany @ Orlando

'Birds fall to Orlando

ORLANDO -- Friday night's Arena Football League matchup between Orlando and Albany featured two of the most prolific scorers in league history. In the end, it was a play made by a second-year defensive specialist that led the host Predators to a thrilling 45-38 victory over the Firebirds before a crowd of 13,107 at the Orlando Arena.

Barry Wagner, Orlando's best at finding the end zone, scored four times, but Albany's Eddie Brown managed just one touchdown. The reason: Kenny McEntyre.

The two players rank in the top three in the league in scoring, and since 1993 either Wagner or Brown has won the scoring crown.

"Kenny did an excellent job, as did all of our defensive backs, on Eddie Brown,'' Wagner said after his club snapped a two-game losing streak against the Firebirds. "Eddie Brown is the most dangerous offensive player in this league, and Kenny and the rest of the defense did a great job of keeping him in check.''

With Orlando trailing 38-37, McEntyre set up what turned out to be the winning touchdown with his fourth interception of the year. On the next play, quarterback Pat O'Hara hit Wagner on a 24-yard scoring play for a 43-38 advantage.

Antuwan Wyatt ran it in for two for the game's final score with 6:14 left to play.

Orlando's defense stiffened and forced a fumble on Albany's next possession, but a missed field goal by David Cool with a little under three minutes to play gave the Firebirds (4-2) another chance to send the game into overtime.

Fortunately for coach Jay Gruden and his club, the Firebirds hopes came to end on a fumble at the Predators 3-yard line with 3 seconds left to play.

"I thought our defense really showed some intensity and stepped up tonight,'' Gruden said. "On offense, Pat stepped in and got the ball to Barry in key situations.''

Wagner, who entered Friday's game 10 points behind Brown for the AFL's scoring lead, caught six passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed the ball twice for six yards and a score.

The last time these clubs met was last July in Albany, the result was a 79-70 Firebirds victory. Friday night featured a scoreless first quarter.

According to Albany coach Mike Dailey, that was a big key for Orlando.

"You could tell early on they were playing with some real intensity on the defensive side of the ball,'' Dailey said. "They ran some different schemes and really put some pressure on our offensive line.''

Albany's quarterback, Mike Pawlawski, played well after missing last week's game against Arizona with a bleeding ulcer. He completed 27 of 46 passes for 322 yards and five touchdowns. He was picked off just once, by McEntyre.

McEntyre, a second-year player from Kansas State, went on an Orlando radio show FM and predicted if he could intercept a pass it would be a good night for Orlando.

"Those guys really gave it too me good,'' McEntyre said of the playful ribbing he took from the shows hosts. "But I went out and did what I said I hoped to do and we won the ballgame. I have to give a lot of credit to the defensive line, the put on the pressure I just tried to stay with whoever I was assigned to.''

Albany's kicking game hurt the team's chances Friday. Kicker Don Silverstri missed two chip-shot field goals (21 and 28 yards) in the first quarter.

Orlando fullback Tommy Dorsey set a team record with a 45-yard scoring run in the second quarter.