The General
Another Day, Another Dollar
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA -- Head Coach Doug Plank and the Georgia Force (1-0) opened the 2007 campaign with a, 69-65, victory over the Arizona Rattlers (0-1). Plank returned to the ?Snake Pit? for the first time as a head coach after spending three seasons (2002-04) with the Rattlers as their defensive coordinator. The Force offense was led by QB Chris Greisen?s 337 passing yards in addition to nine touchdowns on 25 of 30 passing. His nine touchdowns passes tied a franchise-high, which was set in 2005 by QB Matt Nagy vs. Dallas (5/14). WR Troy Bergeron played in his first AFL game in over a year and posted six touchdowns on nine receptions for 138 yards. The win also marked the fifth season opening victory for the Force in six seasons.
After 15 minutes of play in the season opener, the Force led the Rattlers 20-7. Georgia opened the 2007 season with its new QB Chris Greisen and the talented trio of WR Troy Bergeron, WR Derek Lee and WR Chris Jackson on the field. Greisen completed his first pass as the Force quarterback to Jackson for an eight-yard gain. His second pass was completed to Lee for a first down at the Arizona 16-yard line. On Greisen?s third pass he connected with Bergeron for a touchdown from 16 yards out for a 6-0 lead. Arizona QB Sherdrick Bonner found WR Jeremiah Pope in the endzone on third and goal to give the Rattlers a 7-6 lead. Greisen answered with a seven-yard touchdown to Bergeron, giving the Force a 13-7 lead midway through the first quarter. Georgia?s defense created the first stop of the game when rookie DB James Whitley intercepted Bonner after DL Ernest Allen provided pressure to the Rattlers quarterback. The Force rounded out the first quarter scoring with a one-yard touchdown run by FB Bruce McClure.
The Force offense added 21 points in the second quarter, giving them a, 41-24, advantage heading into the half. Arizona K Gary Kral started the second quarter with a 39-yard field goal cutting Georgia?s advantage to 10 points. The Force answered with a 29-yard strike from Greisen to Bergeron. Bonner led the Rattlers down the field for their second touchdown of the game when he found WR Randy Gatewood from 21 yards out, and making the score 27-17. Bergeron caught his fourth touchdown pass of the first half when Greisen hit him on a quick-out pattern on second and goal. Arizona responded when Bonner threw a strike to rookie WR Cosmo DeMatteo from the nine-yard line. Greisen threw his fifth touchdown pass of the first half with a 40-yard bomb to Lee.
Greisen finished the first half with 210 passing yards on 15 of 17 passing with five touchdowns.
Arizona outscored Georgia, 21-14, in the third quarter to cut the Force lead to 10 points heading into the fourth quarter 55-45. Greisen added two more touchdowns in the quarter with a 33-yard laser to Bergeron and a seven-yard rocket to Lee.
The final quarter started a little rough after Greisen pass was tipped and intercepted by DB Erin Damond. Arizona capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown pass from Bonner to DeMatteo. Greisen led the Force down the field on the ensuing drive and connected with Bergeron for the sixth time of the night, this one from 22 yards out. Greisen added another touchdown pass with 1:55 left in the game to Jackson. The touchdown was Greisen?s ninth and final of the night as Georgia held onto win 69-65.
Force hold off Rattlers, 69-65 - Welcome to the AFL!
After 15 minutes of play in the season opener, the Force led the Rattlers 20-7. Georgia opened the 2007 season with its new QB Chris Greisen and the talented trio of WR Troy Bergeron, WR Derek Lee and WR Chris Jackson on the field. Greisen completed his first pass as the Force quarterback to Jackson for an eight-yard gain. His second pass was completed to Lee for a first down at the Arizona 16-yard line. On Greisen?s third pass he connected with Bergeron for a touchdown from 16 yards out for a 6-0 lead. Arizona QB Sherdrick Bonner found WR Jeremiah Pope in the endzone on third and goal to give the Rattlers a 7-6 lead. Greisen answered with a seven-yard touchdown to Bergeron, giving the Force a 13-7 lead midway through the first quarter. Georgia?s defense created the first stop of the game when rookie DB James Whitley intercepted Bonner after DL Ernest Allen provided pressure to the Rattlers quarterback. The Force rounded out the first quarter scoring with a one-yard touchdown run by FB Bruce McClure.
The Force offense added 21 points in the second quarter, giving them a, 41-24, advantage heading into the half. Arizona K Gary Kral started the second quarter with a 39-yard field goal cutting Georgia?s advantage to 10 points. The Force answered with a 29-yard strike from Greisen to Bergeron. Bonner led the Rattlers down the field for their second touchdown of the game when he found WR Randy Gatewood from 21 yards out, and making the score 27-17. Bergeron caught his fourth touchdown pass of the first half when Greisen hit him on a quick-out pattern on second and goal. Arizona responded when Bonner threw a strike to rookie WR Cosmo DeMatteo from the nine-yard line. Greisen threw his fifth touchdown pass of the first half with a 40-yard bomb to Lee.
Greisen finished the first half with 210 passing yards on 15 of 17 passing with five touchdowns.
Arizona outscored Georgia, 21-14, in the third quarter to cut the Force lead to 10 points heading into the fourth quarter 55-45. Greisen added two more touchdowns in the quarter with a 33-yard laser to Bergeron and a seven-yard rocket to Lee.
The final quarter started a little rough after Greisen pass was tipped and intercepted by DB Erin Damond. Arizona capitalized on the turnover with a touchdown pass from Bonner to DeMatteo. Greisen led the Force down the field on the ensuing drive and connected with Bergeron for the sixth time of the night, this one from 22 yards out. Greisen added another touchdown pass with 1:55 left in the game to Jackson. The touchdown was Greisen?s ninth and final of the night as Georgia held onto win 69-65.
Force hold off Rattlers, 69-65 - Welcome to the AFL!
