CORPUS CHRISTI, TX – Daytona Beach WR Jeremy Grier had another outstanding game for the ThunderBirds catching nine passes for 157 yards and three touchdowns but that was not enough as the ThunderBirds dropped a heart breaker to Corpus Christi 47-38. The ThunderBirds took a 38-33 lead with 1:02 left in the third quarter after LB Tim Daniels returned a fumble 18 yards for a score. The lead was short lived as Corpus Christi scored fifty-two seconds into the fourth quarter to take a 40-38 lead and they scored an insurance touchdown with 7:25 remaining in the quarter. Matt Bohnet struggled a bit on the day completing 15 of 41 passes for 240 yards. Bohnet threw four touchdowns but also had three costly interceptions for the ThunderBirds (2-7). Corpus Christi QB Fran Johnson had a solid game completing 22 of 32 passes for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns with no interceptions on the day for the Sharks (4-4). The ThunderBirds defense was solid on the day. Even with injuries to starters Adrian Wilson and Jocques Richardson, the defense stepped up and put pressure on Fran Johnson all game. The defense was led by DB’s George Williams and Takashi Walker who each recorded six tackles on the day. Coach Compton was not happy with the team’s performance. “I am disappointed. We let one slip away that we had a great chance to win. We did not play solid for all four quarters and we gave the game away in the fourth quarter.” While it’s tough to get over a loss, Coach Compton knows the ThunderBirds will have to in order to get prepared for next week’s game with the Florida Firecats. “We need focus and preparation now to get ready for a trip to play the Firecats. We are playing a 7-1 team so we’ve got to go on the road and take care of our business.” The ThunderBirds next game will be against the Florida Firecats on Saturday, May 31. The game starts at 7:30 PM and will be broadcast on Nifty TV as well as WROD 1340-AM in Daytona Beach. 


Score by Quarters                             1        2        3        4        ScoreDaytona Beach Thunderbirds       14      3        21      0        38      Record: (2-7)Corpus Christi Sharks                    14      13      6        14      47      Record: (4-4) LEADERS:PASSING: BOHNET (DAB)15-41-3-240 (4 TD passes); JOHNSON (CCS) 22-32-0-288 (4 TD passes)RECEIVING: GRIER (DBT) 9-157-3; GRAHAM,(CCS) 8-134-2 Attendance: 4589