What is it with the blown leads at Consol Energy Center this week? Pittsburgh fans watched their hockey team blow leads in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to cross-state rival Philadelphia. The arena team chose to flip the script this time around.
When all was said and done, the Power (2-3) completed the largest comeback (31 points) in the 25 years of the Arena Football league, winning 57-54 in overtime against the Orlando Predators (0-5).
The Power offense once again struggled early. Two of their first three drives ended with failed fourth down conversions. Down 20-7, and driving, Mike Lucian let his man come free and Andrico Hines was knocked silly and out of the game. The injury may have been a blessing in disguise for Pittsburgh given how inaccurate Hines was slinging the ball around.
Derek Cassidy entered the game in relief of Hines and his first drive ended with a pick-six by Eddie Moten to put Orlando up 34-10.
The Power secondary changed tactics at halftime according to defensive back Larico Stevenson. They shifted to man defense and the results were very evident. Stevenson's interception on the Predators second drive got the ball rolling. Pittsburgh got lucky on a Eddie Moten interception that was then fumbled in the end zone and recovered by P.J. "Superman" Berry for a Power TD .
The next Predators drive ended when T.T. Tolliver dropped a 4th down conversion. Chris LeFlore then had back to back interceptions as Orlando was fading fast. The Preds had one last chance to win it in regulation but kicker Mark Lewis missed a field goal wide left and the game went to overtime.
Pittsburgh's defense once again held Orlando in check, forcing the Predators to settle for a Lewis field goal. Pittsburgh then won it when Cassidy found Christian Wise in the end zone for the game winning touchdown. to send the 4464 fans at Consol into a frenzy.
After the game Coach Siegfried spoke about how the bench remained positive despite the circumstances. He said the players impressed him with how focused they were on coming back. He said this the biggest successful comeback he had ever been part of at any level of football. Siegfried also gave a lot of credit to Derek Cassidy for showing toughness in the face of adversity.
Larico Stevenson credited Coach Derek Stingley for making the halftime adjustment on coverage and also gave a big amount of credit to the Power fans for their energy.
P.J. Berry spoke up about putting the game on his shoulders when he returned a kickoff in overtime to the Predators 19 to set up the game-winning touchdown.
It wasn't pretty for most of the game, but at least it was historic.
Stats for Pittsburgh:
Derek Cassidy: 12-22, 148 yards, 5 TD, 1 RUSH TD, 3 INT
Mike "Joystick" Washington: 7 rec, 65 yards, 2 TD.
Randy Hymes: 5 rec, 72 yards, 2 TD
P.J. Berry: 3 rec, 66 yards, 1 TD, 7 kickoffs for 151 yards.
Chris Wise, 1 rec, 19 yards, TD (Game Winner)
Chris LeFlore: 2 INT
Larico Stevenson: 1 INT
Stats for Orlando:
Justin Roper: 24-46, 245 yards, 6 TD, 3 INT
Bobby Sippio: 7 rec, 83 yards, 3 TD
Nate Forse: 7 rec, 65 yards, 1 TD
Dwayne Eley Jr.: 6 rec, 62 yards, 1 TD
T.T. Tolliver: 4 rec, 35 yards, 1 TD
Eddie Moten, 2 INT, 1 TD