Firecats stumble vs. Spokane, drop 49-38 decision
Things just aren’t going the Florida Firecats way this year.
They opened the season with back-to-back losses to the South Georgia Wildcats and have dropped back-to-back games, again, including a 49-38 loss to the Spokane Shock last Saturday night at Germain Arena.
Nothing seems to coming together for the Firecats (3-5).
The start of Saturday’s contest served as a prime example when the Firecats fumbled the opening kickoff and the Shock cashed in with a touchdown two plays later.
“We can’t do those kinds of things against good football teams,” coach Kevin Bouis said. “The story all year has been one side of the ball playing well and other not playing well. Tonight our defense made a lot of big plays, but 38 points isn’t going to cut it in this sport.”
Defensively, the Firecats defense looked like the championship teams of years past – knocking down passes, intercepting footballs, and forcing fumbles which they recovered – but the offense struggled throughout.
Bouis pulled starting quarterback Chris Wallace for Justin Midgett late in the fourth quarter. Midgett promptly marched the offense downfield for a touchdown, but by then the game was out of reach.
“Midgett looked good,” said Bouis of his quarterback change. “He hit every throw. The thing I like about (Midgett) is that he gets rid of the ball quickly. With Chris he sometimes has a tendency to hold the ball too long. Chris needs to be more efficient as a quarterback in general. (Replacing him) isn’t just calling him out individually, but he has to make the throws and make the plays.”
The loss puts the Firecats in unfamiliar territory in last place of the arenafootball2’s south division.
“Fortunately we have to play South Georgia two more times this year and they all still have to play each other at least once,” said Bouis. “We are going to need those teams to beat each other up a little bit, but this one is behind us. We will get back to work this week and prepare for Lexington.”
Following a road game this weekend at Lexington, the Firecats will return to Germain Arena on Saturday, May 30 hosting Manchester. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. For tickets or more information, call 239-390-2287, e-mail info@floridafirecats.com or visit www.floridafirecats.com.