Week 8 (6/12/99): Albany vs New Jersey

'Birds rule roost

ALBANY -- All that needed to be said about the Albany Firebirds' performance Saturday evening came in the form of non-verbal communication.

It was when head coach Mike Dailey walked out of his team's locker room following the game. As he prepared to address the media, Dailey wiped away some tears. What his team had done the previous 30 minutes was in complete contrast of the first half. The effort was that emotional.

Albany held New Jersey to a paltry three points in the second half and used a spectacular 4-yard touchdown reception from Mike Pawlawski to offensive specialist Eddie Brown with 21.5 seconds remaining as the Firebirds revived themselves from a horrible first half to record a stirring 38-34 Arena Football League Eastern Division victory before 11,452 fans at Pepsi Arena.

The triumph gives Albany (6-2) the league's best record and a half-game lead over New England in the Eastern Division. Perhaps more importantly, it snapped a three-game losing streak against the Red Dogs (3-4) -- all three defeats coming in the final minute.

Even though New Jersey owned the statistical edge and forced more turnovers, it was Albany that found a way to secure the win in the waning seconds this time.

After Brown's touchdown, a gorgeous one-hand grab on a fade pattern, Albany's Jay Jones broke up a pair of passes in the end zone to preserve an immensely hard-fought victory.

"Our defense stepped up," Brown said. "In a lot of the years here, they've got no credit at all. This is the second straight game they've won and we held (New Jersey) to three points in the second half. Check and see the last time the Albany Firebirds did that."

"Oh my God, we did it," Albany lineman Mark Valvo said. "It's been a battle every time we play them. Of all the years I can remember, this one was a complete war. They're our arch-rival. They don't like us and we don't like them. We were really celebrating because this one meant a lot."

Dailey told his players at halftime about Albany's greatest comeback victory, a 51-49 road decision over St. Louis on Aug. 12, 1995, in a quarterfinal playoff contest. The Firebirds trailed 31-7 at halftime and the victory represented the largest recovery in AFL playoff history.

"I mentioned that to him so they knew we had an opportunity," Dailey said.

Albany's hope of leaving Pepsi Arena with the league's best record was on the verge of being vandalized by the Red Dogs.

New Jersey dominated the Firebirds on their home turf in the opening half like no team has since Orlando in 1995.

The Red Dogs' pass rush mauled Albany's offensive line repeatedly, forcing three interceptions of Pawlawski in the opening half while registering a pair of sacks.

On offense, Rickey Foggie carved up Albany's secondary. When they didn't score via the air, fullbacks Ron Perry and Jermaine Younger punched in three touchdown runs from a yard out to give New Jersey a 31-17 halftime advantage.

When asked what happened in the first half, Brown responded, "That was our twin brothers playing in our uniforms. We had to come back over here and play some football."

And that's exactly what Albany did in the second half.

"We came out with more intensity," said Pawlawski, who finished 15 of 26 passing for 201 yards. "Coach D challenged us in the locker room. He shouldn't have to do it.. Everyone on this teams loves Coach Dailey. I love him more than any coach I've ever had. He's our emotional leader and he always strikes a cord with me."

The Red Dogs opened the second half with the ball and chewed nearly seven minutes off the clock before Steve Videtich missed on a 33-yard field goal attempt.

Eddie Brown capped a six-play Albany drive with a 6-yard TD run to bring the Firebirds within 31-24 entering the final quarter.

With 11:44 left, Videtich drilled a 23-yard field goal to give New Jersey a 10-point cushion, but Pawlawski scored on a 2-yard TD run -- on a busted play -- with 9:10 left to shave the deficit to 34-31.

On New Jersey's next possession, a touchdown reception by Dimitrious Stanley was negated by a holding penalty. An interference penalty against Albany's Derek Stingley gave the Red Dogs a first-and-goal situation from the Firebirds' 5, yet they failed to score.

A fumble on third down by Foggie pushed New Jersey back, forcing Videtich to attempt a 29-yard field goal. The All-Arena kicker in 1998 pushed that effort wide right to give Albany a chance to steal a victory.

Completions to Van Johnson and Greg Hopkins moved the Firebirds into scoring position. After a 7-yard run by Leroy Thompson, Pawlawski fired a pass over the shoulder of New Jersey's Adrian Lunsford and into Eddie Brown's right hand for the game-winning points.

"Coach Dailey called my number and Pawlawski put it up. I needed to make a play for my team. It was pitch and catch," Brown said.

Still, the Firebirds' defense had to make another incredible stand.

"We won the Tampa Bay game on defense, the Arizona game on defense, last week against Orlando on defense and this game on defense," Dailey said.

In all the euphoria surrounding the resounding victory, Pawlawski offered a reminder. "It's ridiculous to play only one good half of football," Pawlawski said.