TEAM NEWS

Sting Lose Heart Breaker On Last Second FG

Week 4 kicked off with a game that came down to the last second, literally! This game pitted the 2-1 Patriots against the 0-3 Sting, all prognosticators thought the Patriots would run away with this one, but not so fast said the Globe-Miami team.

The Patriots scored on the first drive of the game with QB #9 Preciado throwing to QB/WR #8 Reveling for a 40 yard TD, when Mike Navarro kicked the PAT the Patriots had jumped out to a 7-0 lead with 10:38 to play in the 1st quarter. The Sting came into this one ready to play and marched 57 yards on their opening possession capped off by a 5 yard TD run by #3 Robert Gray. #6 Joe McDonald booted the PAT and the game was deadlocked at 7. On the ensuing kick-off Pat's DB #22 McGill took off for an 81 yard return setting the Patriots up 1st and 10 on the Sting 12 yard line. It took only 3 plays for the duo of Preciado and Reveling to hook up again for a 7 yard TD, putting the Patriots back on top 13-7 just seconds into the 2nd Qtr.

The defenses then went to work for the majority of the 2nd Qtr and stymied each other until Patriots LB #34 Robert Joyce stripped the ball from a Sting receiver and #11 MacIntosh picked up the fumble and rumbled 40 yards to the Sting 8 yard line. Setting the Patriots up deep in Sting territory for the 3rd time in the 1st half. The Sting D responded with a big stand and the PAT's had to settle for a 25 yard Navarro FG to make the score Patriots 16 - Sting 7 at the half.

The second half opened with more fireworks as Sting returner #32 Troy Lewis set them up in Patriot territory with a big return to the 42 yard line. Three plays later on 4th and 2 Lewis decided to do this himself, going 34 yards off tackle for the TD and tightening the score again. McDonald added the PAT and the score was Patriots 16 Sting 14 with only 1:45 gone in the 2nd Half. That is the way the score would stay until early in the 4th Qtr when the Patriots punt returner #32 Vaughn gave the Patriots a short field with a nifty 22 yard punt return. This time it took the Patriots 5 plays to cover the necessary 43 yards to score, capped by a Reveling (Now at QB) to #1 Ben Tanner pass for the last 27 yards and the score. Navarro booted the extra point and the Pats had stretched the lead back to 9. Patriots 23 Sting 14 with 11:56 to play. But the Sting were not done yet. Like I said, they came ready to play. The Sting took the ball right back down the field with big runs by #3 Robert Gray, a big catch by #10 TJ Gilbreath and punched it in with a 6 yard strike from #7 Terron Clay to #80 Derek Parham for the TD. Joe Kicker added the PAT and the Sting pulled back within 2. Patriots 23 Sting 21 8:05 to play.

The Sting allowed the Patriots to run off over 4 minutes of clock on the next drive, but held when needed to and received the ball back on their own 32; down by 2; with 3:52 on the clock and 2 time outs in their pocket. The 1st play of the drive was a 24 yard out from Clay to Gilbreath and quickly the Sting had moved into Patriot territory. After Robert Gray banged off a 9 yard run, Clay found Parham again on a deep corner route to put the Sting in FG range at the Patriot 16 yd line. 3 running plays later Joe Kicker McDonald booted a 30 yard FG with just 1:02 left in the game to give the Sting the lead, Sting 24 Pats 23.

The Sting decided to squib kick, to keep the ball away from McGill who already had a 80 yard return in the game, but that strategy may have back fired as the Pats were ready for it and they were set up on the own 45 with just 56 ticks on the clock. After a near interception and a couple of Reveling completions the Patriots were quickly on the march. Reveling went on a 10 yard scramble of his own moving inside the 20 and putting the Patriots in FG range with just :07 on the clock. Mike Navarro lined up and booted a 36 yard FG for the win. Patriots 26 Sting 24.