Even the enthusiastic support of over 7,000 excited fans was not enough to help the Albany Conquest defeat the Wolves of Manchester as the Conquest lost their home opener 47-34 Friday.
The atmosphere for the game was charged from the start after a pre-game performance by the Dallas Cowboys’ Cheerleaders had the Pepsi Arena bursting at the seams before the opening kick.
The Conquest, despite the loss, did not disappoint their hometown faithful. After falling behind early 7-0 as Manchester’s Chris Saunders connected with Reggie Robinson, Albany quickly answered back. Less than two minutes later, Conquest quarterback Gus Ornstein hit a streaking Jamie Ware for a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Albany failed on the extra-point try, making the score 7-6. The Wolves then extended the lead to 14-6 with another from Saunders to Robinson, this one coming from 14 yards out. The Conquest again answered in spectacular fashion as Ornstein hit Ware on a bomb from 48-yards out for their second hook-up of the game making the score 14-13 Manchester.
The Wolves would proceed to run off 21 unanswered points, silencing a previously ignited Albany crowd. Saunders, who went 25-37 passing for 298 yards, hit Robinson and George Williams three times apiece for the Wolves.
The Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders’ halftime performance again brought the crowd to their feet, and had the Pepsi Arena rocking despite the fact that the Conquest trailed by three touchdowns.
Facing a 35-13 deficit, things looked grim for the hometown Conquest, but the substitution of back-up quarterback D Bryant for Ornstein seemed to give Albany the lift it needed to get back into the game.
Bryant went 7-12 for 126 yards and threw three touchdowns to lead the Conquest in a magnificent, but ultimately futile comeback effort. Ornstein was 12-18 for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions in the first half.
The loss, which drops the Conquest to 0-2 overall and in their division, can be blamed mostly on Albany turnovers.
Albany failed to take care of the ball as Ornstein and Bryant combined to throw four interceptions and the Conquest fumbled the ball five times finishing the game with a turnover margin of minus six, giving the Wolves excellent field position and possessions time and again.
The Conquest also failed to get much accomplished on the ground, rushing for only 15 yards on eight attempts on the ground.
The defense, which had their backs against the wall all game, failed to stop Manchester. The Conquest did not sack Saunders once, made no interceptions, and recovered just two fumbles. Albany Head Coach Steve Matthews will have many issues to address, especially an emerging quarterback controversy, before the team’s next contest.
The Albany Conquest will look to get their first win of the season this Saturday as they host the Louisville Fire. The game will be at 7 pm, will include a tribute to NBC’s sitcom “Friends,” and will feature a postgame concert by The Rembrants.
