PITTSBURGH—Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game Aaron Garcia led the Jacksonville Sharks (4-1) to a 65-40 win over the Pittsburgh Power (2-3) on April 16 in front of 9,773 at the CONSOL Energy Center.
Garcia and Jacksonville gained 328 yards of offensive for the Sharks, who scored on each of their drives; failing to score a touchdown on just one possession. Jaron Harvey, Sale’ Key, Isaac Morales, and Jomo Wilson caught touchdowns from Garcia.
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| LOCAL TALENT ON DISPLAY—Pittsburgh Power wide receiver Mike Washington runs for extra yards after a catch against the Jacksonville Sharks at the CONSOL Energy Center on April 16. Washington, who attended Aliquippa High School, played for the University of Hawaii from 2005-08. (Courier Photo/Chris Lopez)
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“We’re going to get rid of this game real quick,” Power Head Coach Chris Siegfried said.
Garcia started 13-of-20, passing for two touchdowns, including the third score of the game to Sale’ Key on a nine-yard pass with just above a minute remaining in the first quarter. The score was tied 14-14 at the end of the first.
Former Penn Hill’s star and Penn State grad Anthony Morelli then hit Lonnell Dewalt for his team-leading fifth touchdown reception of the season on a 45-yard pass. Jacksonville’s Jamarko Simmons Simmons and Ex-Duquesne University fullback Josh Rue both ran for touchdowns in the second quarter.
Morelli finished with 290 yards and five touchdowns on 20 completions.
Jacksonville and Pittsburgh combined for 49 points on the first seven possessions of the game.
“We’ve got to match [Jacksonville’s offense]. It’s high-flying, high scoring. We’ve got to take over,” Morelli said.
Head Coach Chris Siegried’s team responded immediately after halftime, cutting the Sharks’ lead to 10 on Jason Willis’ 42-yard touchdown reception. It wasn’t long before Jacksonville built their lead back up to 17 with a Wilson touchdown reception.
Aliquippa’s Mike Washington added a touchdown catch before Jacksonville converted their third fourth down of the game with a 12-yard touchdown to Wilson for his second of the game, pushing the lead to 51-34 Jacksonville—the way it would stay after three quarters of play. The Sharks were 3-of-3 on fourth downs.
Griffin, Dewalt, and Harvey would trade touchdown receptions, and the score would finish at 65-40.
Pittsburgh travels to New Orleans to face the VooDoo on April 22.
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