Post by Banana Cat on Mar 26, 2011 16:20:05 GMT -5
www.albanyherald.com/sports/headlines/Over_the_Speed_bump_118694909.html?ref=909
Over the 'Speed' bump
In Albany’s first road game of the season Friday night, the Panthers pass the test with flying colors, running over the Carolina Speed, 58-45, to improve to a perfect 2-0.
Mar 26, 2011
Reporter: Mike Phillips / albanyherald.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Road Panthers?
No one has ever called them that, but after struggling on the road a year ago, the Albany Panthers couldn’t have felt much better after Friday’s 58-45 win against the Carolina Speed, ruining the Speed’s home opener and home debut in the Southern Indoor Football League.
“It does feel good to win on the road,’’ Panthers coach Lucious Davis said. “Last year we lost our first game on the road, so this feels good to win the first one on the road.’’
Panthers general manager Will Carter felt the same way.
“Absolutely,’’ Carter said. “It’s always tough to win on the road, and this was their home opener. It was an all-around team effort. We can play better, but any time you can win on the road we’ll take it.’’
The team’s quarterback dilemma took another turn toward Cecil Lester, who replaced former Albany State star A.J. McKenna early and led a comeback that didn’t end until the Panthers had put this one away early in the fourth and Lester had thrown six touchdowns.
McKenna started the opener last week, but had to be replaced by Lester, who rallied the Panthers to a 30-27 comeback win against Louisiana. McKenna didn’t last long Friday.
He went 0-for-2 on his first two passes and left after playing just one series.
“The reason I made the change so early is that A,J. missed his first two reads,’’ Davis said. “That’s why I played him just one series. I think he just needs to settle down and relax. I think he was a little too excited going into this game.’’
Lester, a seven-year veteran of arena football who was the SIFL’s MVP a year ago, was down 6-0 when he took over, but led the Panthers to a 24-21 halftime lead and then put the game away in the second half after a 37-21 lead after three.
Antwone Savage and Antwon Cutts both caught two touchdown passes each and John Harris had a TD catch. C.J. Washington ran a kickoff back for a TD and Derrick Wimbush ran for a touchdown to help the Panthers get off to a 2-0 start.
They will next meet Columbus, which won the SIFL title a year ago, at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday night at home in the Albany Civic Center.
“It feels good to be 2-0,’’ Davis said. “But in our two games we haven’t played that well. We’re not going to beat Columbus playing the way we’ve been playing. We’re making too many mistakes and too many penalties.
“But it does feel good to win on the road. We just have to play better. ‘’
In Albany’s first road game of the season Friday night, the Panthers pass the test with flying colors, running over the Carolina Speed, 58-45, to improve to a perfect 2-0.
Mar 26, 2011
Reporter: Mike Phillips / albanyherald.com
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Road Panthers?
No one has ever called them that, but after struggling on the road a year ago, the Albany Panthers couldn’t have felt much better after Friday’s 58-45 win against the Carolina Speed, ruining the Speed’s home opener and home debut in the Southern Indoor Football League.
“It does feel good to win on the road,’’ Panthers coach Lucious Davis said. “Last year we lost our first game on the road, so this feels good to win the first one on the road.’’
Panthers general manager Will Carter felt the same way.
“Absolutely,’’ Carter said. “It’s always tough to win on the road, and this was their home opener. It was an all-around team effort. We can play better, but any time you can win on the road we’ll take it.’’
The team’s quarterback dilemma took another turn toward Cecil Lester, who replaced former Albany State star A.J. McKenna early and led a comeback that didn’t end until the Panthers had put this one away early in the fourth and Lester had thrown six touchdowns.
McKenna started the opener last week, but had to be replaced by Lester, who rallied the Panthers to a 30-27 comeback win against Louisiana. McKenna didn’t last long Friday.
He went 0-for-2 on his first two passes and left after playing just one series.
“The reason I made the change so early is that A,J. missed his first two reads,’’ Davis said. “That’s why I played him just one series. I think he just needs to settle down and relax. I think he was a little too excited going into this game.’’
Lester, a seven-year veteran of arena football who was the SIFL’s MVP a year ago, was down 6-0 when he took over, but led the Panthers to a 24-21 halftime lead and then put the game away in the second half after a 37-21 lead after three.
Antwone Savage and Antwon Cutts both caught two touchdown passes each and John Harris had a TD catch. C.J. Washington ran a kickoff back for a TD and Derrick Wimbush ran for a touchdown to help the Panthers get off to a 2-0 start.
They will next meet Columbus, which won the SIFL title a year ago, at 7:30 p.m. next Saturday night at home in the Albany Civic Center.
“It feels good to be 2-0,’’ Davis said. “But in our two games we haven’t played that well. We’re not going to beat Columbus playing the way we’ve been playing. We’re making too many mistakes and too many penalties.
“But it does feel good to win on the road. We just have to play better. ‘’