Thursday, March 11th, 2010
Thunder roar to comeback win

By Jason Compton
FWL.org.uk

ORLANDO (AP) – The Orlando Thunder don't really expect us to believe that they're for real, do they? Heading into the non-conference portion of their schedule, the Thunder (3-1) have turned the AFC East upside down and lead the other three divisional teams by two games. After a stirring last-minute comeback against the San Antonio Riders (2-2), the Alamodome scoreboard read 31-30, in favor of the visiting Thunder.

Sports bars in Orlando erupted in astonished cheers.

The Thunder had to play their most complete game of the season to pip the Riders. Having frustrated the Riders' running game, San Antonio pivot Clint Stoerner was content to pick apart the secondary all day long, completing 20 of 27 passes for 298 yards, 1 TD, and one interception. In the back-and-forth contest, the score was within seven points all game.

Despite surrendering 30 points, the Orlando defense was tough in pressure situations. After going three-and-out to open the second half, the Riders blocked a Sam Paulescu punt, taking over on the Orlando 11. But the Thunder defense forced a chip-shot field goal, missed by the unnerved Jim Tarle. That kept the score knotted at 17. Given new life, the Thunder offense decided to capitalize, and Dee Brown broke through the line on 3^rd -and-1 for a 57 yard touchdown run. The rest of the half was a steady assault by the Riders on the Thunder defense, first an answering touchdown and then two drives which resulted in field goals.

In a season already full of late-game heroics, Kliff Kingsbury decided that the best was yet to come. Down by six, the Thunder offense took over at their own 38 with 1:55 left in regulation. Facing a crucial 3rd -and-4 on the Riders' 42, Kingsbury was looking for tight end Chris Patrick across the middle, but decided to pull the ball down and run, hurdling tacklers to pick up 13 yards and the first down. From there, a methodical, calm blend of pass routes put the ball in the end zone on a five-yard hookup between Kingsbury and star wideout Terrance Metcalf.

James Wilhoit, who had missed a crucial 40-yard field goal attempt earlier in the game, calmly converted the extra point to give the Thunder a one-point lead with 14 seconds remaining. Clint Stoerner's desperation heave to Rich Musinksi was complete at the Thunder 45, where he was immediately dropped by safety Joe Maese coming up out of the deep zone.

The Thunder played an extremely physical game against the Riders, sending several players to the sidelines, including Stoerner. First-year QB Kevin O'Connell played well in relief. The Riders will likely be without the services of starting fullback Oren O'Neal, who left the game early with a broken leg, while two defensive players picked up less-severe injuries. The Thunder cleared up some nagging injuries, but starting offensive tackle Brandon Newton is listed as probable for next week.

Long Road To Respectability

Now in his seventh year as a professional, Thunder quarterback Kliff Kingsbury is still a rookie when it comes to victory celebrations. The win over the Riders was only his 11^th as a professional, and quite possibly the most complete clutch victory of his long but largely unheralded career: 24 of 34 passes complete for three touchdowns and no interceptions, and a crucial third down conversion with his legs in the game-winning two minute drill.

Drafted #2 overall in Season 15, Kingsbury learned behind Tony Romo for three years, seeing on-field action only in late-season spot starts. In Season 18, his fourth as a pro, he was the designated Opening Day starter, but injuries and inconsistency saw him shelved late in favor of Cody Pickett, himself drafted in the third round just two years after Kingsbury. Seasons 19 and 20 saw him in complete control—of a team which won only seven games over that span.

Up next for Kingsbury and the Thunder is the team Orlando GM Jason Compton is most closely associated with—the London Monarchs. The Monarchs have lost some close games this year and come to Orlando hungrily nursing a 2-2 record. When told that his best career numbers have come against the Monarchs, Kingsbury betrayed no surprise. "It's harder to gameplan against a team from another conference. You can learn a lot from film, but I really do believe that there is a unique style of play in each division," he said.