Kicker Keeps His Cool, Orlando Wins Title Game

The Orlando Predators didn’t hesitate to give David Cool a chance to redeem himself and make ArenaBowl history.

The kicker atoned for missing two extra points and three field goals Sunday by making a 19-yard field goal as time expired to give the Predators a 41-38 victory over the Nashville Kats in the Arena Football League championship game.

The title is Orlando’s second in three years.

“I didn’t feel like I was kicking the ball that badly,” Cool said after becoming the first player to decide an ArenaBowl on the final play. “I just had to put all the negatives out of my mind.”

Connell Maynor passed for 202 yards and four touchdowns, while Orlando’s defense did its part by forcing three turnovers and recording a safety. Nashville overcame a three-touchdown deficit, but couldn’t stop the Predators from controlling the ball over the final five minutes to set up Cool’s heroics.

Orlando, appearing in its third consecutive ArenaBowl under Coach Jay Gruden, built a 29-7 lead before the Kats scored 23 consecutive points to go ahead, 30-29, early in the third quarter.

The Predators regained the lead on Cool’s 38-yard field goal, but the kicker missed the extra point after Orlando (14-3) scored again to take a 38-30 lead with 12:23 remaining. Nashville (12-6) set up the dramatic finish with a touchdown and two-point conversion with just over five minutes to go.

Maynor, voted the game’s most valuable player, was 17 of 28 for 202 yards, including four of six for 34 yards on the game-winning 35-yard drive.

The Predators beat Tampa Bay in the ArenaBowl two years ago, but lost the 1999 game to Albany.