Empire hang on for win in OT
Jacksonville’s extra point attempt to tie game goes wide left
The Albany Empire held on against the Jacksonville Sharks for their first win of the season, a hard-fought 61-60 victory in overtime.
With the game tied at 54, Albany quarterback Sam Castronova started overtime with a shaky touchdown pass to wide receiver Antwane Grant, who was completely uncovered, and kicker Marc Orozco’s extra point was good.
Jacksonville quarterback Malik Henry found receiver Devin Wilson, a 2021 All-National Arena League selection, for a touchdown two downs later. Instead of going for a 2-point conversion, which would have won the game, the Sharks elected to kick the extra point to keep the game going.
Brandon Behr’s attempt was wide left, and the Empire walked away with the win.
“I think that’s a smart play (to kick the extra point),” Albany coach Tom Menas said. “They got a good kicker, and that’s a tough miss for anybody. I feel for the kid, but I’m glad he missed.”
The Empire (1-1) struggled with penalties, which particularly hurt them late in the game. Up 54-46 with less than a minute left, Albany was called for unnecessary roughness, giving Jacksonville (0-2) an extra 10 yards. A play later, Wilson caught his first touchdown pass of the game, and Henry ran it in for a 2-point conversion to tie it up.
On the Empire’s subsequent drive, a holding penalty backed up Darius Prince’s return to the eight-yard line, and an illegal formation penalty put Albany at its own three.
Castronova got Albany within field goal range with two passes to Dwayne Hollis, but Orozco’s kick was wide left, sending the contest to overtime.
Mike Fafaul, who quarterbacked the Empire’s season opening loss to Carolina, didn’t dress. In his first start, Castronova showed off his athleticism, twice scrambling to extend plays and finding an open receiver for a touchdown. He finished 23for-35, 319 yards, five passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and two interceptions.
“How could you not be pleased with how Sam played? I thought he played fantastic,” Menas said. “He gave us another dimension with mobility and his strong arm.”
Fullback/linebacker Tiberius Lampkin also made an impact,
rushing nine times for 41 yards and two touchdowns. He added a sack on defense, but had a fumble.
“Aside from the fumble, he would have been almost perfect,” Menas said.
Prince had seven receptions for 82 yards and three touchdowns, and Grant had eight receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown.
With Jacksonville leading 13-12 in the first quarter, Albany’s Dwayne Hollis picked off Henry and ran the ball back to the 9-yard line. An offensive holding penalty backed the Empire up 10 yards, but an illegal defense call on the Sharks the next play bailed Albany out, giving the team an automatic first down from the 14.
Lampkin ran it in to give Albany its first lead, 19-13.
After the Sharks tied it at 26 with touchdown passes to Kamrin Solomon and Rob Jones, who had four touchdown catches, Albany extended its lead to 14 points at halftime. Castronova found Grant on one drive and rushed it in himself on the next.
After throwing an interception on the first drive of the third quarter, Castronova extended a play and got a pass to Jimmie Goodloe, a lineman who had reported as the tight end, to keep Albany ahead 47-33.
Jacksonville responded with a touchdown pass to Nyquan Murray, and picked Castronova off to get within one point after a long touchdown pass to Wilson. Brandon Sesay blocked the extra point, preserving the Empire’s lead.
Henry was 13-for-30 with seven touchdowns and one interception.
Albany got back up 54-46 off a series of runs from Lampkin before Jacksonville tied it.