PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Former Pittsburgh Power quarterback Bernard Morris came home once again with the Jacksonville Sharks and emerged victorious by a 61-35 score.
The Sharks started out with the football at their own 15 yard line but it was former Power quarterback Bernard Morris who found reigning AFL Ironman of the Year Jeff Hughley from 27 yards out to give his team a 7-0 lead.
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Slowly, the Power responded with a couple of key fourth down conversions. A big reception by Perry Baker also kept the drive going. Naturally, it was a fourth down conversion where Jordan Jefferson found P.J. Berry for an 11 yard touchdown. Josh Czajkowski missed the extra point though and the Sharks held on to a 7-6 lead.
The Power appeared to solve the Sharks on the next drive forcing two penalties including an unsportsmanlike conduct, however on the very next play, Morris found Markee White on a 37 yard pass. The extra point was blocked.
On the second play of the drive, the Power had another miscommunication at the line of scrimmage and Jefferson fumbled the ball. Jerry Turner of the Sharks recovered the ball at the Power one yard line.
Two plays into that drive Dusty Bear ran the ball in from a yard out to extend the Sharks lead to 20-6.
On the next Power possession, Baker had a 31 yard catch and run but the team could not get the ball in the end zone, turning the ball over on downs.
Morris dropped back to pass in his own end zone but the pass was thrown to no one in the vicinity resulting in a safety. The Power kept possession and Jefferson ended the drive with a two yard run.
Towards the end of the first half, Jefferson left the field with a rib injury and he was replaced by backup quarterback Shane Austin and the offense stalled after a long pass was broken up by Micheaux Robinson.
Morris would then take care of things himself running the ball into the end zone from 12 yards out.
The Power then struck before the end of the half when Austin found Berry for a 31 yard gain out to the Sharks one. Kirby Griffin did the rest making the score 34-21 Sharks.
The Power defense was able to make a final stand in the half and with three seconds left, Austin had a chance to draw Pittsburgh closer but ultimately was sacked to end the half.
The offense flowed much better under Austin leading to a Berry two yard run cutting the score to 34-28.
The Sharks moved the ball and had a fourth down on their own one yard line. The Sharks were said to score but Stingley threw maybe the fastest challenge flag ever seen and was proven correct.
The Power looked to be in business moving the football down the field but then Austin was intercepted by Robinson. The score would be 42-28 after Morris ran the ball in from a yard out.
Jefferson came back in during the fourth quarter and quickly was intercepted resulting in a second run from Bear, this one from two yards out.
The Power offense did strike again though when Jefferson found Berry for a 21 yard touchdown.
The Sharks then used clock to before Morris found Jeron Harvey for the nail in the coffin. As if that was not enough, Jefferson threw another interception to Robinson who returned it 52 yards for the score as time expired.