One quarterback is an AFL legend, holding every major passing record in league history. The other was making his first start in the AFL.Aaron Garcia and Anthony Morelli might be at the opposite ends of their AFL careers, but both put on a pretty good offensive showing Saturday night in a 65-40 game won by the Jacksonville Sharks. Both quarterbacks threw for five touchdowns with Garcia winning the yardage battle 297-290.
The game quickly turned into an offensive shootout, which wasn’t good news for the Pittsburgh Power. Both teams scored touchdowns on their first three drives, but after falling behind 28-21 it was the Power who blinked first.
Backed up deep in their own territory, the Pittsburgh offense had several dropped passes as they tried to move the ball away from the goal line. Two straight delay of games backed the ball up to the one inch line and once Morelli’s pass on fourth down hit the turf, you just knew the tide was beginning to turn.
The difference in this game came down to execution on fourth down. Jacksonville was 3-for-3 including a touchdown, while Pittsburgh failed to convert any of their three attempts.
Lonnell DeWalt returned to the Power lineup after serving a one game suspension. His 45 yard touchdown catch was voted highlight of the game. He also added a one-handed touchdown catch over the wall which was voted the Cutter Catch of the game.
Sale’ Key was the NiFTy Playmaker of the Game catching 11 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Two of those catches were big fourth down conversions for the Sharks.
Coach Siegfried may not have been thrilled that his team lost, but he was proud of the effort put forth by the guys. “We’re a young team but one thing these guys do is fight. They never give up.”
Pittsburgh travels to New Orleans to face the VooDoo Thursday night. Jacksonville hosts Cleveland on Saturday night in a battle of both division leaders in the American Conference.
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