ALBANY, NY – The Firebirds clawed their way back from a seventeen-point halftime deficit to make it a nine-point contest heading into the fourth quarter, but Manchester converted on fourth-and-thirty with a 42-yard touchdown pass to Emery Sammons and the Wolves never looked back as they downed Albany 59-45 Saturday night at the Times Union Center.
The Firebirds fumbled the ball on the ensuing kickoff and quarterback Mike Potts added a dagger with a QB-keeper to make it 52-29. Wolves fullback Paul Jefferson and Albany signal caller Stephen Wasil exchanged rushing scores in the final minute of the game.
The Firebirds defense did not allow a touchdown in the third quarter, but defensive back Eric Harris returned an interception for a score to keep the Wolves ahead. Alvin Ray Jackson scored twice in the quarter to make it 38-29 before the fourth.
Manchester registered three defensive stops in the first half to open the third quarter with a 31-14 lead. Recievers Jared Jones and Anthony Rodriguez scored Albany’s only points of the first half. Potts scored the games first touchdown on a QB-keeper and later found receivers Steve Savoy, Deyon Williams and Emery Sammons in the endzone. The Firebirds did not score on three second-quarter possessions.
Score by Quarters1234Final
Albany Firebirds (6-8)140151645
Manchester Wolves (7-7)171472159
PASSING LEADERS: (Comp-Att-Yds-TDs-INT)
ALB: WASIL, Stephen – 45-24-292yds-5TD-1INT
MCH: POTTS, Mike – 24-17-246yds-4TD-1INT
RECEIVING LEADERS: (Rec-Yds-TD)
ALB: JACKSON, Alvin Ray: 10-121-2TD
MCH: SAMMONS, Emery: 7-127-2TD
Russell Offensive Player of the Game: Mike Potts (MCH)
Aaron’s Defensive Player of the Game: Charles Bryant (ALB)
JLS Ironman of the Game: Alvin Ray Jackson (ALB)
The Big Game Catch of the Game: Alvin Ray Jackson (ALB)
Nifty Hit of the Game: Anton Lindsay (ALB)
The Firebirds complete the 2009 regular season with a pair of road games. They’ll head to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday, July 18th for a 7:30 p.m. start, before playing their season finale in Milwaukee on Friday, July 24th in an 8:05 p.m. kickoff. Fans can catch all of the action at Broadway Joe’s of Albany viewing parties. For more information please contact the Firebirds at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyfirebirds.com.
