High Country Grizzlies rout Georgia Firebirds in season opener

ALBANY — Terrence Ebagua hauled in an eight-yard touchdown from quarterback Jeffrey Legree late in the first quarter to give the Georgia Firebirds a four-point lead.

Things weren’t certainly heading in the right direction.

But the High Country Grizzlies scored 20 unanswered points en route to a 62-29 rout of the Georgia Firebirds in the season opener Saturday night at the Albany Civic Center.

John Harris caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Legree with 27 seconds left in the first half to cut the deficit to 26-17, but it would be the Firebirds’ last score until the final play of the game.

“We came out fast but in the second half, the wheels pretty much came off the bus,” Firebirds coach Antwone Savage said. “The offensive line, (High Country) found a little leak in us. They started beating us up front and they took off on us.”

The Grizzlies had their way in the second half, scoring 36 points to run away with the contest.

Kurtis Green’s 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Percy Turner on the final play made the score respectable.

“The outcome wasn’t what we wanted as a team,” offensive lineman Travis Doucher said. “We were ready to go at the beginning. Even at halftime, we were in the game. As an offense, we didn’t move the ball coming out of the half and it just fell apart there. When you leave the defense on the field a lot, the outcome is not what you want it to be.”

The loss spoiled the team’s debut in the National Arena League (NAL) after the AIF folded last season. The Firebirds will play a pair of road games before returning home to the Civic Center on April 8 to face the Corpus Christi Rage.

They will play at the Jacksonville Sharks, who defeated the Firebirds 39-24 in an exhibition game last week, on March 25.

Savage said his team has a lot of work to do.

‘There’s only one way to go and that’s up,” he said. “Like I said, we’re going to get back on the field next week, clean up the things, watch the film, get some more linemen in here so they can compete and we’re going to start from there.”

One positive Savage said was the play of Legree, who finished 15-of-27 passing for 141 yards and two touchdowns.

“I liked what I saw out of my quarterback at the beginning of the game,” Savage said. “The line was giving him a chance to throw the ball a little bit, but as the game progressed, they got on our O-line. He wasn’t comfortable, so he ended up scrambling trying to make plays and that kind of hurt us in the end.”

Ebagua and Harris finished with seven catches each. Harris finished with two touchdowns.

Doucher believes there are better days ahead.

“The talent is there,” he said. “We just have to gel more as a team and we will. We’re led by a bunch of veteran guys that will bring this team together.

“Obviously, the first game in front of the home crowd is not what we expected, but we believe that the fans will still be there for us, the team will back it up and we’ll come out in Week 2 much better than Week 1.”