Force beat Sharks

By staff reports

Posted 9:30PM on Saturday, June 9, 2012

DULUTH -- The Georgia Force took a bite out of the Jacksonville Sharks with a final game score of 56-39 in the Arena Football League's Week 14 contest held at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

The Sharks made a statement early in the game, with a 13 yard touchdown pass from QB Bernard Morris to WR Jamarcko Simmons. Roughly two minutes later, the Force responded with a 12 yard touchdown pass from QB RJ Archer to WR Larry Shipp.

With 7:38 left in the first quarter, Morris found WR Bobby Sewall for a 17 yard touchdown pass. To close out the first quarter, Morris once again found Simmons for an 8 yard touchdown pass, giving them a 20-9 lead.

As the Force was looking to close the gap, Sharks DB LaRoche Jackson intercepted Archer's pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Archer managed to find Shipp for a 12 yard touchdown pass with 4:55 left in the first quarter, narrowing the Sharks lead to 11 points.

Within minutes of the start of the second half, Archer completed a 5 yard touchdown pass to Shipp. A few minutes later, Morris found WR Jeron Harvey for a 5 yard touchdown pass, keeping them in the lead at 33-26. The Force once again narrowed the Sharks lead to only a point with a 7 yard run by FB Mykel Benson.

The Force came up with a big safety when NG Kris Cooke sacked Bernard in the endzone at the end of the third quarter, giving Georgia the first lead of the night. After the Sharks forced the fumble, Morris hooked up with Simmons for a 1 yard touchdown. With approximately two minutes left in the game, Shipp rushed in a one yard touchdown.

The Force kept the momentum going with a interception by LB Jeremy Grier, which was then returned for a 5 yard touchdown. On 4th & goal and 17 seconds left in the game, Shipp threw a 3 yard touchdown pass to WR Shay Hodge, giving the Force the final winning score of 56-39.

The Force will be on the road next weekend, facing the Chicago Rush on Saturday, June 16th at 8 p.m. EST at the Allstate Arena Center in Rosemont, Illinois. The game will be streamed live on Ustream.