Georgia Firebirds pick up first win of the season

ALBANY — The Georgia Firebirds’ defense converged on the Corpus Christi Rage offense for a safety with just over a minute left in regulation, a fitting end for a night in which the team’s defense scored 16 points on their own.

After a three-game losing streak, a two-game road stretch and an hour delay due to bus trouble, head coach Antwone Savage and the Georgia Firebirds came back home to get their first win of the season, drubbing the Corpus Christi Rage 76-26 Saturday night at the Albany Civic Center.

“The guys came out and gave a great effort tonight,” said Savage, surrounded by family in the Civic Center. “The guys were a little late, so we said we weren’t going to let them off the bus. We wanted to punch them in the mouth on the first play.”

Firebirds quarterback Percy Turner finished the evening completing 75 percent of his passes for 286 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

Terrence Ebagua finished with 10 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns.

It was a dominant all-around effort for the home team, but defensive back Roshawn Marshall left the biggest mark on this victory. Marshall finished the game with three interceptions — one of which was returned for a touchdown — and a blocked extra point returned for a defensive PAT.

Marshall was the biggest part of a defensive effort that saw Shaquille Prather tally two sacks and limited the Rage’s passing offense to 78 yards in the first half and 197 in the game.

“Like I said last week, once we get our first win I feel like there’s no turning back,” Savage said. “Guys will grow and bond together, we’re going to get on the bus to Lehigh Valley next week and stun them.”

The Firebirds jumped out to a 28-6 lead with nine minutes remaining in the first half, after an interception by Marshall led to a touchdown pass from Percy Turner to Terrence Ebagua.

On the ensuing Rage drive, Lavar Ledbetter dropped into zone coverage and snagged a Kyle Good pass, racing 30 yards for a Firebirds touchdown.

After the Rage got the ball back, Marshall stepped in front of yet another Good pass — his second interception of the game — this time racing for a 40-yard touchdown. The secondary’s production came on the heels of a three-game stretch in which they hadn’t grabbed any interceptions.

“That was big for him,” Savage said of Marshall. “I stressed before the game that defensively, we didn’t have any interceptions thus far. I guess they shut my mouth about that, they also scored some touchdowns, so I can’t complain about that anymore.”

At the half, John Harris led the Firebirds with two touchdown catches, while Ebagua led in yardage. The Firebirds gained twice as many first downs in the first half as Turner completed 67 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Good completed just 32 percent of his passes.

The Firebirds moved to 1-3 on the year and will look to keep the momentum going next weekend as they travel to Allentown, Pennsylvania to face the Lehigh Valley Steelhawks. The Rage fell to 0-4 and will face the Dayton Wolfpack in Dayton, Ohio next weekend.