It looks like the Georgia Force have taken notes from the Falcons on how to win dramatic games.
In front of over 6,000 fans at the Gwinnett Arena and a nationally televised crowd, the Force earned a very close 55-48 victory over the Dallas Vigilantes. The game could have gone into overtime as Dallas was driving and was able to get the Force 10-yard line with three seconds left in the game. But Dallas receiver Matt Fields caught a Dan Raduabaugh pass at the 1-yard line, but can’t cross the end zone when time expired thanks to Ahmad Hawkins coming up with huge tackle.
“I think it was a good arena football game,” Force head coach Dean Cokinos said. “It was sloppy there at the end, but it came down to the last play and that’s what you want in arena football.”
Force quarterback Brett Elliott, who was named Offensive Player of the Game was able to find Larry Shipp for a 29-yard touchdown pass with 11 seconds left in the game which turned into the game-winning touchdown for Georgia.
Elliott finished the game with 373 passing yards and seven touchdowns while Shipp had nine catches for 213 yards and three touchdowns.
Dallas was leading 13-7 after the first quarter. Fullback Derrick Ross scored on a 1-yard touchdown run and Radauabaugh throwing a 29-yard touchdown pass to Tiger Jones on their next drive.
But the Force would answer right back in the second quarter, scoring 14 points in a matter of seconds as Dallas would fumble the ensuing kickoff after a Force touchdown. That led to Ryan Bowers recovering the ball in the end zone to make the score 21-13. But Dallas come roaring back as Ross scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter. Ross would end the day with four rushing touchdowns on top of 66 yards on 13 carries. The Vigilantes also scored a defensive touchdown when Justin Warren sacked Elliott, forced the fumble and was recovered by Luis Vasquez for the go-ahead touchdown for a 34-28 lead going into halftime.
The Force got the scoring started in the third quarter with an Elliott 3-yard touchdown pass to Mike Johnson to take back the lead. Dallas and Georgia would exchange turnovers, but Dallas would capitalize on the Force turnover as Fields scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to give Dallas the 41-35 lead. The Force would answer on the next drive with an Elliott 38-yard touchdown pass to Larry Shipp to tie the game at 41 due to a miss PAT by Carlos Martinez.
Georgia did have problems protecting the football, committing four turnovers including three fumbles. But they ended the night with a turnover margin of zero because they also forced four turnovers including an interception by Hawkins in the fourth quarter. He was named Defensive Player of the Game for his efforts which included the game-saving tackle at the end of the game.
“I just stood in the goal line and (Fields) just ran the route 1-yard short,” Hawkins said talking about the final play of the game. “I just did what I was taught and he made the job easy for me.”
The Force improved their record to 3-1 and they are currently tied with the Jacksonville Sharks for the American Conference South Division lead. Their next game will be on Saturday when they face the Orlando Predators at the Gwinnett Arena.
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