Jordan's bomb helps Tornadoes edge Rockets

By By Marty Stamper / staff writer
September 11, 2004
PHILADELPHIA Sometimes, confusion can wind up being a good thing.
Facing fourth-and-14 from their 38 with less than two minutes remaining, the Philadelphia Tornadoes looked confused and bewildered about what play they were about to run.
Tornadoes' first-year head coach Brian Anderson called a timeout, talked to his offense, and most importantly, changed the play he had previously called.
When play resumed, Porter Jordan rolled left and threw the ball as far as he could near the right hashmark, where Cameron Gates caught the pass behind a leaping Rocket defender and motored to the end zone to complete the 62-yard scoring play with just 1:02 left.
The Tornadoes' third touchdown through the air allowed them to knock off the host Neshoba Central Rockets 20-19 in Friday's crosstown battle.
The Rockets staged one final threat, going from their 35 to the Tornado 31. Neshoba head coach Jim Ray called on Kenyon Boatman to pull off a miracle with a 48-yard field goal try, but Philadelphia's Anthony Gray blocked the kick and it sputtered out of bounds on the Tornado sideline as time expired.