The Pittsburgh Power led wire-to-wire and improved to 9-3 on the season after its 65-26 victory over the New Orleans VooDoo (2-9) in front of a crowd of 5,419 at CONSOL Energy Center this evening. With the win, the Power extended its franchise-best winning streak to six games. Pittsburgh wide receiver Tyrone Goard scored a game-high five receiving touchdowns, becoming just the fifth Power player to score five-or-more receiving touchdowns in a single game. Quarterback Tommy Grady was 20-for-36 for 230 yards and seven touchdowns. Receiver Hank Edwards found the end zone twice and Shaun Kauleinamoku added a touchdown catch. Rodney Wright pulled in six catches for 75 yards and threw for one score for the Power. On defense, Power defensive lineman Jake Killeen forced two safeties and recorded 1 ½ sacks, bringing his season total to 6 ½ "" a new Power single-season record. All three of his tackles went for a loss. Defensive back Andre Jones had a game-high seven tackles. Defensive back Sergio Gilliam, jack linebacker/back-up quarterback Arvell Nelson and defensive back Brandon Freeman all had one interception. On the game's opening possession, the Power defense forced a VooDoo turnover on downs. Four plays later, Kauleinamoku made a diving catch over the left wall in the end zone for a touchdown from Grady, putting Pittsburgh up 6-0. The extra point was blocked. New Orleans would tie the game at 6-6 when a 47 yard catch by Carlese Franklin set up a 1 yard QB sneak for a touchdown by quarterback Ryan Perrilloux. The point after was wide right. Grady threw his second touchdown pass of the game when he connected with Goard for a 31 yard score. The extra point was blocked and with 4:50 remaining in the 1st quarter, the score was Pittsburgh 12, New Orleans 6. The Power took advantage of Nelson's interception to close out the 1st quarter scoring on Goard's second score of the game from Grady "" a 15 yard touchdown catch. Kicker Julian Rasch added the extra point giving Pittsburgh a 19-6 lead. On the third play of the 2nd quarter, Freeman intercepted a Perrilloux pass at the Pittsburgh 23-yard line. However, on next play, New Orleans' Tyus Jackson forced a Grady fumble that he recovered at the Power 15-yard line. Five plays later, Perrilloux ran for his second touchdown of the game, this time from 2 yards out. Kicker Stefan Demos kicked the extra point as the VooDoo cut the deficit to 19-13. Goard scored his third touchdown of the game from Grady when he fought off two defenders in the left corner of the end zone for a 13 yard touchdown catch. Rauch's kick was good, giving Pittsburgh a 26-13 lead. With 38 seconds remaining in the half, Perrilloux scored his third rushing touchdown of the game on a 1 yard run. Demos' kick was blocked by the Power's Justin Lawrence. Heading into halftime, the Power led 26-19. Pittsburgh opened the 3rd quarter scoring when Grady connected with Edwards for a 2 yard touchdown pass. Rauch added the point after making the score 33-19. On the VooDoo's first possession of the quarter, Killeen forced an intentional grounding call on Perrilloux, resulting in a safety, giving Pittsburgh a 35-19 lead. The Power extended the lead when Goard made an over-the-boards touchdown catch from Grady, which earned him the Cutters Catch of the Game. Rauch made the extra point, making the score 42-19. On New Orleans' next possession, Killeen forced another intentional grounding call on Perrilloux in the end zone. This increased the Power lead to 44-19. Wright took the ensuing kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown, which was the AFL Highlight of the Game. The extra point by Rauch was good to make the score 51-19. The Power defense forced the fourth VooDoo turnover of the game when Gilliam intercepted Perrilloux, returning the ball to the Pittsburgh 20-yard line. This was his ninth interception of the season, tying the single-season franchise record. Four plays later, Edwards scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4 yard pass from Grady. Rauch added the extra point to give Pittsburgh a 58-19 advantage. New Orleans fumbled the kickoff and Nelson recovered the ball at the VooDoo 1-yard line. The Power converted the miscue into a score when Grady handed the ball off to Wright, who then threw it to Goard in the end zone for a touchdown. The point after by Rauch was good making the score 65-19. Franklin closed out the scoring with a 21 yard touchdown catch from Perrilloux in the game's final minute. Demos added the point after to make the score 65-26. Next up for the Power is a trip across the state to face the American Conference "" East Division rival Philadelphia Soul on Saturday, June 14. Kickoff is at 6:00 pm ET. The next Power home game will be Friday, June 20 when they host another American Conference - East Division foe Iowa Barnstormers. Kickoff at CONSOL Energy Center is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET. Both games will be broadcast on TribLIVE Radio and the Iowa game will also air on thisTV Pittsburgh. Press release from the Pittsburgh Power
