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Predators tame Pitbulls,

Out of the gate 2 - 0 after the road win

 Roosevelt, NY- The New York Predators defeated the Long Island PitBulls by a score of 24-12 on Saturday to go 2-0 on the young RAFL season. Lou Scala threw three touchdown passes and Tim Kelson had 160 total yards to lead the offense, and Keith Assante had ten tackles and a sack on the other side of the ball.

The Predators marched right down the field on the opening drive of the game to get on the board first. Scala (11 for 17, 246 yards, 3 touchdowns) found wide receiver Elliott Vasquez open for 32 yards to keep the drive alive on a third-and-long situation efore finding Bill Simo for a short gain and Harrison Tindall 35 yards away for the touchdown. Tindall had 110 total yards.

The Pit Bulls tied the game after their defense sacked Scala, forced a fumble and recovered the lose ball, giving their offense a golden opportunity, which they took advantage of with an 18-yard run for a score.

In the second quarter, the Predators kept Long Island off balance with a scoring drive consisting of 5 and 11 yard runs by Kelson (7 rushes for 36 yards, 2 catches for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 return for 62 yards and pass completions of 30 (Tindall), 17 and 24yards (Vasquez) to get the ball to the 1-yard line. Chi Chi Mansaray then punched it in for the 12-6 lead.

The Pitbulls were able to tie the game before halftime with a 60-yard kickoff return and a 25-yard touchdown pass.

The lead was taken once again by New York in their initial drive of the second half, grinding it out with 54 yards on the ground during the drive to set up a 23-yard screen pass from Scala to Kelson. A fumble recovery by Predators defensive tackle Anthony Polizzi set up the final score of the game. Linebacker Shariff Wiltshire knocked the ball loose and Polizzi was able to scoop it up and rumble 20 more yards. On the third play of the drive, Scala found Kelson again on a screen play for a 39-yard touchdown and a 12-point advantage. Matt Mack picked off a late Long Island pass attempt to seal the victory.

Next weekend, the 0-2 Empire State Wolfpack will visit Staten Island to face the Predators. In their last contest, the Pack dropped a road game in Brooklyn to the Jazz, 12-6.in overtime.