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Predators Defeat New Orleans VooDoo, 47-42
- Updated: April 12, 2015
There are three phases to every level of football. On Saturday night, the New Orleans VooDoo were equal to the task offensively and defensively against Orlando. The Predators had a decisive edge in the third phase, winning the kicking game.
Brandon Thompkins returned a pair of kicks for touchdowns and Orlando held off the VooDoo 47-42 at Smoothie King Center. Thompkins clinched the win with big 31-yard reception on fourth-and-six from the Orlando nine-yard line with just 31 seconds remaining.
New Orleans missed a pair of extra points and a field goal, resulting in a return for a score.
The VooDoo took the opening kickoff and went 26 yards in four plays with Chris Duvalt catching a 16-yard touchdown pass from Adam Kennedy. Garrett Lindholm’s extra point made it 7-0 with 12:06 to play in the first quarter.
Orlando responded, going 47 yards in seven plays with Randy Hippeard hitting Kendal Thompkins with a 19-yard touchdown pass. Mark Lewis tacked on the extra point to tie the game 7-7 with 7:17 to play in the opening quarter.
The VooDoo came back with a six play drive which stalled and Lindholm booted a 29-yard field goal to make it 10-7 to end the first quarter.
The Predators took their first lead early in the second quarter as Hippeard hit Greg Carr on a nine-yard touchdown pass and it was 13-10 with 13:39 left in the half after Lewis missed the extra point.
New Orleans jumped back on top with a three play, 27 yard drive with Kennedy hitting Duvalt on a 12 yard touchdown pass but the extra point was blocked and it was 16-13 New Orleans with 10:51 to play in the half.
Then, the Orlando special teams stepped up huge. On the ensuing kickoff, Brandon Thompkins returned it 51 yards for a score to make it 20-16. After getting a stop, New Orleans attempted a 41-yard field goal but it was well wide right and Thompkins returned it 52 yards for a score to make it 27-16.
The VooDoo came back with a 46 yard drive in six plays with Kennedy again hitting Duvalt for a touchdown, this time from seven yards, but the extra point failed and it was 27-22 with 54 seconds left in the half.
The Predators scored on the final possession of the half as Lewis kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 30-22 at halftime.
Orlando took the second half kickoff and drove 36 yards in eight plays and Lewis kicked a 19-yard field goal to make it 33-22 with 9:13 to play in the third quarter.
The VooDoo pulled closer, going 45 yards in eight plays with Carlese Franklin snaring a 13 yard touchdown pass from Kennedy to cut the deficit to 33-29 with 3:18 to play in the third quarter.
The Predators increased the lead early in the fourth quarter, driving 48 yards in six plays with Kendal Thompkins hauling in a nine-yard touchdown pass from Hippeard to make it 40-29 with 14:12 to play in the game.
New Orleans bounced back with a beautiful 35-yard bomb from Kennedy to Franklin to make it 40-36 with 12:19 left and the VooDoo defense got a big stop but Kennedy was sacked by Austin Brown, fumbled and Aaron Robbins recovered at the five-yard line. Two plays later, Hippeard hit LaMark Brown on a four-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 47-36 with 7:28 to play in the game.
The VooDoo pulled close when Kennedy connected with Franklin on a seven-yard touchdown pass but the try for two points failed and New Orleans led 47-42 with 46 seconds left in the game.
After a failed onside kick, New Orleans forced a fourth-and-six but Orlando converted as Hippeard hit Brandon Thompkins with the 31 yard completion to clinch the win.
Kennedy played well, finishing 23-of-39 for 251 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. In his first start, Franklin caught nine passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns. VooDoo head coach Dean Cokinos was pleased with the duo.
“Adam and Carlese grinded it out,” Cokinos said. “They dug us out of a lot of fourth downs. They made some big plays. They worked hard. It was good to see that.”
Duvalt had nine catches for 94 yards and three scores. Hippeard was 19-of-28 for 236 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Kendal Thompkins had eight receptions for 64 yards and two scores.
“The effort was there, these are all good learning experiences for us,” Cokinos said. “The game ebbs and flows and changes and we have to stay diligent. We had the opportunity, we got the stop and we just didn’t capitalize on it. We’re getting there. They are learning. We’re still building.”
Orlando moved to 2-1 with the victory while New Orleans fell to 1-2 with the loss. The VooDoo hit the road for the first time next Friday night to take on the Tampa Bay Storm at 6:30 p.m. at Amalie Arena while the Predators host Los Angeles next Saturday night.
“We’re playing 60 minutes, which is good,” Cokinos said. “We’ve got to capitalize on mistakes now. We’ve just got to be more opportunistic. We will work hard and continue improving.”
