The Pittsburgh Power (13-3) avoided a scare in the Graveyard, holding off the New Orleans VooDoo (2-13) on the road, 48-43. The Power have won ten-straight contests heading into their second Bye Week in 2014.
Tommy Grady and Prechae Rodriguez worked their magic connecting for five touchdowns on the night. Grady finished the game 21-of-37 for 296 yards and seven touchdowns, moving into tenth place all time in Arena Football history for passing touchdowns.
After the teams traded turnovers to start the game, New Orleans got on the board first with a touchdown pass from VooDoo quarterback Adam Kennedy to Courtney Smith. The VooDoo defense forced a turnover on downs to end the first quarter and capitalized early in the second period with a Kennedy touchdown run to give New Orleans a 14-0 lead.
Pittsburgh finally got on the board with 8:04 left in the first half when Grady and Rodriguez linked up to make it 14-7. The Power defense forced a turnover on downs, which enabled the Power to tie things up at 14 on a four-yard touchdown pass from Grady to fullback Tommy Taggart.
The Power and VooDoo traded touchdowns late in the second period to make it 21-21, but New Orleans was able to sneak ahead before heading into the locker rooms with a 45-yard field goal from kicker Jose Martinez.
The Power received the ball to start the second half, allowing them to take their first lead of the contest under three minutes into the period with a 12-yard strike from Grady to Rodriguez. Kennedy and the VooDoo answered with a eight-yard pass to Quorey Payne, but Pittsburgh reclaimed a 34-31 lead heading into the fourth on another Grady-to-Rodriguez connection.
It didn’t take long for the VooDoo to climb back on top in the final frame with Kennedy finding the end zone on the ground for the second time to make it 37-34 New Orleans. Grady and Rodriguez answered to put Pittsburgh up with 10:36 left in the game, then Maurice Fountain sacked Kennedy on fourth down to swing momentum fully in Pittsburgh’s favor. Grady found wide receiver Hank Edwards for an eight-yard touchdown that put the Power up by two scores with one minute left to play. Kennedy and Larry Beavers hooked up for a 37-yard score, but it was too late for the VooDoo’s comeback attempt with the Power coming out on top, 48-43.
The Power have their second Bye Week of the season before traveling to Des Moines for their second meeting with the Iowa Barnstormers on July 19. Kickoff between the Power and Barnstormers is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.
AWARD WINNERS
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game:
Prechae Rodriguez, Pittsburgh
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game:
Demarcus Robinson, New Orleans
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game:
Quorey Payne, New Orleans
Cutters Catch of the Game:
New Orleans WR Quorey Payne’s 4th Quarter Touchdown
AFL Highlight of the Game:
New Orleans DB Demarcus Robinson’s Interception Return