Orlando, Florida

January 10, 2009

     The "Battle of the Champions" of a sort was played at Raymond Screws Field on Saturday, January 10, 2009. Dubbed the "Battle of the Champions" the event pitted the SSFL's Orlando Rage against the FSFL's Tampa Bay Hurricanes in a Charity Event for the Dorcely Family Fund.

     Jeff Dorcely, a long time Rage fan and Ball Boy tragically lost his mother around Thanksgiving leaving Jeff, the eldest of the household, to fend for himself and four younger family members. The Rage donated $1,500 to the Fund from monies collected at the game.

     The game proved to be a classic match up of two "Champions" as both teams slugged it out for four quarters. When the smoke cleared, the Rage turned out on top by the score of 17 to 16.

     The scoring started when Rage kicker Michael Kidd hit a 34 yard field goal in the first quarter. Later in the first half the 'Canes upped the Rage when QB Micah Brown hooked up with WR Jason Rodriguez for a touchdown. The PAT failed. Rage 3, Hurricanes 6.

     The Rage came back with a touchdown pass from QB PeeJay Jack to WR Preston McGann making the score Rage 9, 'Canes 6 at the half.

     The second half proved to be even closer than the first as the 'Canes defense caused a Rage fumble in their own end zone making the score 14 to 9. Late in the fourth quarter the Rage took the fifth and final lead change of the game when QB Jack caught TE Jose Gonzalez  over the middle for a touchdown. Rage 17, 'Canes 14.

     But the game was far from over. The 'Canes again pinned the Rage offense inside its one yard line and again capitalized on the Rage's dilemma when an all out blitz caught QB Jack in the end zone for the safety. Rage 17, Hurricanes 16.

     The remaining seven minutes had the hungry Rage defense trying to keep the Hurricanes offense out of field goal position. The game ended as the Hurricanes offense, without time outs, tried to manage a final drive.

     "As far as I'm concerned this was a tie-game" commented Rage owner Chris Morrison after the game. "Both teams played hard and well right up to the final whistle. It's not too often that you see this level of talent and sportsmanship demonstrated as we saw today" Morrison went on.

     But neither team; winner or loser, lost sight of the real purpose of the game as the proceeds went to a great cause.