Raiders get revenge against Albany, claim share of title

In a showdown between the PIFL's top two teams, turnovers and special teams made the difference as T.C. Stevens made a 27 yard field goal as time expired to give the Raiders a 67-66 victory over the Albany Panthers and, in moving to 10-2 for the year, a share of the regular season league title.  A thrilling game from start to finish, the contest featured 15 lead changes and was immediately considered by many to be the best arena or indoor football game in Richmond Coliseum history.

The game started inconspicuously, with the teams trading touchdowns.  Antwon Young scored for the Raiders on a dazzling open field run on which he got huge blocks from Herb Jones and Jason Lovett, but Stevens missed the extra point to leave Albany ahead 7-6.  As Panther quarterback Darnell Kennedy, starting in place of the injured Cecil Lester, tried to run for a touchdown from the two yard line, he lost the ball near the goal line and Preston Hines recovered.  Backed up to their own one yard line, the Raiders were bailed out on offside and personal foul penalties against Tito Hannah, then went ahead on a Jason Lovett catch and run through the Albany secondary.  Stevens made the PAT and an uno, and on the first play of the ensuing drive Kennedy threw into triple coverage and was picked off by Pierre Lee.  Given a very short field, Jordan Pavlisin did all the work getting into the end zone after two runs.  The Panther offense recovered, getting a long touchdown to pull within 20-14 late in the first quarter.

Momentum continued to swing Albany's way as their defense took the field, got pressure on Antwon Young including a sack, and stopped the Raiders on a four and out.  The Panthers recaptured the lead on Clenton Rafe's second of five touchdown receptions.  The teams traded touchdowns into the final minute of the first half, but another Stevens missed PAT -- he would make only five of nine such kicks -- and a Ryan Gates uno put the Panthers up by three with 24 seconds left.  The Raiders moved into scoring position, registering a first and goal from the Panther eight yard line with time enough for three plays, but two straight incompletions forced them into calling for a field goal on the final play of the first half.  Stevens split the uprights from 23 yards to even things up, 36-36, at the break.

Though playoff seeding was locked for both teams entering the game, each squad started the second half with equal intensity.  The offenses dominated the third quarter, notching two touchdowns each.  The Raiders converted a fourth and short with a Young scramble in the midst of a nine play, 45 yard drive, then nearly had a goal line stand from the defense.  Several penalties were called, including on four consecutive would-be plays, but in between the Raiders stood tall inside their five yard line, not allowing Derrick Wimbush to get any forward progress.  But when an illegal defense gave the Panthers an automatic first down, the extra chances paid off as they eventually scored on a Kennedy sneak.

Trailing by two -- another Stevens miss and Gates uno accounted for the margin -- the Raiders got backed up by the Panther defense and were looking at fourth and long after Lovett dropped a pass.  Lovett made up for the drop by hauling in a 33 yard touchdown, but it was negated by a holding penalty, and the Panthers brought pressure again on fourth down, forcing Young to scramble and be stopped well short of the sticks.  The defense was called on to put out the fire, and that's exactly what they did on the first play.  James Carter tipped Kennedy's pass to himself and ran it back 22 yards for a touchdown.  Stevens tacked on the PAT and another uno, but the Panthers were not done yet.  Kennedy threw a 45 yard bomb to Antwontis Cutts, and Gates gave Albany a two point lead with the PAT and an uno.

The Raiders, starting from their own five midway through the fourth quarter, used a couple of completions to Lovett to flip field position, then Young notched his second rushing touchdown of the evening to put the Raiders back up by five.  Albany quickly moved into Richmond territory, then bled some clock with a couple of runs before getting Kennedy's seventh touchdown pass at the one minute warning to go up by one, 65-64.  The Panthers went for two, but the pass was intercepted by Brent Trice and nearly returned for two points for the Raiders.  Gates booted his fourth uno to extend the lead and more importantly force the Raiders to start from their own five.  Facing a third and 13 after another Lovett drop, Lovett once again redeemed himself by making the catch to move the chains.  After two plays and no yards, the Raiders faced third and long in their own territory with only 12 seconds remaining -- needing a big play to avoid a 47 yard field goal attempt.  Herb Jones was the one to rise to the occasion, getting a first down with a 13 yard catch, then making a seven yard reception to set up a 27 yard attempt.  With pressure coming from his left, Stevens made the kick heard around Richmond, sending the crowd into a frenzy and preserving the Raiders' perfect home record.

Player of the Game: T.C. Stevens, who may have gotten into his own head after his first missed PAT, but had two unos and field goals to end each half.

Offensive Stars: Antwon Young threw for four TDs and ran for two; Jason Lovett caught nine passes for 121 yards and three scores; Herb Jones had one touchdown among his eight receptions for 90 yards.

Defensive Stars: Pierre Lee had one interception and dropped another; James Carter had the momentum-swinging pick 6

Other Links: 

• Times-Dispatch article
• Albany Herald story
• Raiders website recap
• Panthers website writeup

Next: First round of PIFL playoffs, vs. Louisiana, Monday 6/25 7pm.