Arena Football: Alabama Vipers at Orlando Predators
Posted On Friday, July 9th, 2010 By admin
The Orlando Predators host the Alabama Vipers in a crucial battle for playoff positioning between two South Division rivals.
When these teams faced each other in Week 7, the Predators defense held the Vipers to a season-low 31 points winning by a final score of 48-31. The Orlando attack was led by Nick Hill who threw for 273 yards, but only managed four touchdowns.
The Orlando Predators (5-7) sit one-game back from the Vipers who currently hold the last wildcard spot with three games left in the schedule. They haven’t done themselves any favors of late losing two straight coming in, but a win tonight would tie the two teams with the Predators holding the tie-breaker.
Hill had 291 yards and threw for 7 touchdowns last week, but is wasn’t enough as they fell to the Cleveland Gladiators in overtime 77-70.
The Alabama Vipers (6-6) have been struggling down the stretch with three losses in their last five games.
Not only did they lose their game last week 62-47 to the Jacksonville Sharks, they also lost starting quarterback Kevin Eakin.
Tom Hicks drew in with the injury and managed a very solid 288 yards and five touchdowns. Despite not getting starter reps for two years, Hicks looked pretty good. His football IQ will get a bit of a test in this one as the Predators are ball-hawks and if Hicks doesn’t look after the ball, they will make him pay.
