Game summary
In the first quarter, the Firebirds took flight first with QB Mike Pawlawski completing a 12-yard TD pass to OS Eddie Brown. The Predators responded with QB Connell Maynor completing a 22-yard TD pass to WR–DB Barry Wagner. Albany would reply with a 1-yard TD run by FB/LB Jon Krick. Orlando bounced back with Maynor completing a 37-yard TD pass to WR–LB Ty Law. The Firebirds answered again with Pawlawski completing a 2-yard TD pass to WR–DB Van Johnson.
In the second quarter, the Predators came back to tie with Maynor and Wagner hooking up with each other again on a 22-yard TD pass. Albany took over for the rest of the quarter with Pawlawski completing a 6-yard TD pass to WR/LB Greg Hopkins, along with hooking up with Brown again on a 29-yard TD pass. Kicker Don Silvertri helped the Firebirds wrap up the half with an 18-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Orlando began to come back as Maynor hooked up with OS Elliot Jackson on a 33-yard TD pass and a 34-yard TD pass.
In the fourth quarter, Albany replied with Pawlawski and Brown hooking up with each other on a 14-yard TD pass. The Predators kept pace with a 4-yard TD run by FB/LB Tommy Dorsey, with Maynor running into the endzone for the two-point conversion. The Firebirds responded with Pawlawski and Brown hooking up with each other once again on a 5-yard TD pass. Orlando immediately responded with Maynor and Jackson hooking up with each other on a 39-yard TD pass, yet the PAT failed. Albany wrapped up the game with Pawlawski completing a 6-yard TD pass to Krick.
With a 59-48 win, the Firebirds ended up with a red-hot Arena Bowl championship title. After the final whistle, the home town fans rush the field. Fans could be heard chanting “We’re #1 “ “Arena Bowl” and “Toe Tap” during the wild celebration.
The Indiana Firebirds were a team in the Arena Football League. The team was based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Home games were played at the Conseco Fieldhouse, also the home of the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association and Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association.
The Cleveland Gladiators were an arena football team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, and members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The Gladiators played their home games at Quicken Loans Arena, which they shared with the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. The franchise was originally based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and then later in Las Vegas, Nevada, before relocating to Cleveland for the 2008 AFL season. The Gladiators qualified for the playoffs eight times in their history, reaching the ArenaBowl in 2014.
The Orlando Predators were a professional arena football team based in Orlando, Florida and member of the Arena Football League (AFL). The team was most recently owned by Orlando Predators LLC, a company owned by David A. Siegel, and played its home games at Amway Center.
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