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NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans VooDoo (1-0) defeated the Jacksonville Sharks (0-1), 51-50, in front of 3,833 at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday night.
New Orleans took advantage of a slow start by the Sharks, scoring 20 unanswered points to begin the game. Jacksonville quarterback Tommy Grady's lone interception of the game proved costly, as Cortez Stubbs secured a deflection and raced the length of the field for New Orleans' third touchdown of the game. After that, the Sharks recovered, as Grady connected with Joe Hills for touchdowns on three straight drives, cutting the deficit to 34-21. The two teams then traded field goals in the final minute of the first half, as Jacksonville trailed by a 37-24 count at the half.
In the third quarter, the Sharks received the opening kickoff and marched down the field, as Ross capped the ensuing drive with a one-yard touchdown run, his first score as a Shark. On New Orleans' next drive, Smith recovered a fumble to give the Sharks the football back, and Grady then connected with Hills to knot the game at 37. The teams then traded scores as the clock moved into the fourth quarter, setting the stage for the contest's finish.
The game knotted at 44 early in the fourth quarter, the New Orleans offense moved the ball into Jacksonville territory. With his team in desperate need of a defensive stop, Shark defensive back Terrance Smith made a spectacular diving interception, returning the ball all the way to the New Orleans 14. Taking advantage of a short field, the Jacksonville offense cashed in, as fullback Derrick Ross took a pitch and powered for a five-yard score to give the Sharks their first lead of the game, 50-44, but a missed extra point left the door open for New Orleans to respond.
With just under seven minutes to work with, the VooDoo marched down the field, entering a goal-to-go situation. The Shark defense stood tall at first, as Joe Sykes chased down ballcarrier Chris Duvalt on first down, and the interior of the Jacksonville defensive line stuffed Kennedy on back-to-back quarterback sneaks. But on fourth and goal, VooDoo head coach Dean Cokinos dialed up some misdirection, as Carlese Franklin took an end around and beat the Shark defense to the corner, crossing the goal line with just under three minutes to play. Garrett Lindholm's ensuing extra point allowed New Orleans to retake the lead, 51-50, with 2:22 to play.
With plenty of time to work with, the Sharks managed the clock, running it down to the one-minute timeout following a completion from Tommy Grady to Anthony Jones. But a sack and a holding penalty backed Jacksonville into third-and-15, and Grady's next two passes fell incomplete as New Orleans took over on downs with 12 seconds remaining. As the Sharks had just one timeout remaining, the VooDoo offense was able to burn down the remaining time and close the game.
For New Orleans, Adam Kennedy went 19-of-25 for 222 yards and four touchdowns against one interception. Kennedy was also the VooDoo's leading rusher, while Duvalt led the way with seven receptions for 99 yards and two scores. Stubbs led all players with 7.5 total tackles to go along with his interception.
In the loss, Grady completed 28 of his 43 passes for 296 yards and five touchdowns against one interception. Hills was on the receiving end of all five of Grady's touchdown tosses, totaling 11 receptions for 90 yards. Jones led Jacksonville with 124 receiving yards on his 10 grabs, while Jeron Harvey added seven catches for 72 yards. Ross was a factor on the ground, racking up 40 yards and two touchdowns on his seven carries. Smith notched a fumble recovery and an interception to go along with 160 kickoff return yards, while Alvin Ray Jackson led the team with 6.5 total tackles and James McClinton recorded the Sharks' lone sack.
MEDIA AWARDS
Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: New Orleans QB Adam Kennedy
Riddell Defensive Player of the Game: New Orleans DB Cortez Stubbs
J. Lewis Small Playmaker of the Game: New Orleans WR Larry Beavers
Cutters Catch of the Game: New Orleans WR Chris Duvalt's 24-yard TD (2nd)
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