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Daytona Beach Thunder

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Daytona Beach Thunder went up to Georgia Sunday looking for an opening night road victory to steal. They put themselves in a bind, falling 21 points behind and nearly dealt their way out of it before the Chattahoochee Valley Vipers narrowly escaped with a 48-46 American Indoor Football League victory before 1,076 in the Columbus Civic Center.

Down 15-0 and 35-14 in the first half, Daytona Beach closed to 48-46 on Travis Wilson’ 13-yard touchdown to Robert Bailey with 50 seconds play. The Thunder got the ball back with 11 seconds remaining, but Wilson’s deep strike to Lucas Greene fell incomplete and Bailey was brought down near midfield as time expired.

After giving up 250 total yards and five first-half touchdowns, the Thunder defense settled down in the second half, even pitching a fourth-quarter shutout to give the offense an opportunity to win it.

“Time just ran out on us,” said Daytona Beach coach Ervin Bryson.

Wilson finished the night with 219 yards and three touchdowns in the air while rushing for another touchdown and a pair of two-point conversions. He distributed the ball fairly evenly to Bailey (five receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns), Tarion Hubbard (four for 79) and Greene (four for 57 yards and one touchdown).

Bailey also added 53-yard third quarter kickoff return while Brad Lee rushed for two touchdowns.

Daytona Beach closed to 15-14 on Lee’s 2-yard run early in the second quarter, but the Vipers ran off three unanswered touchdowns to make it 35-14. A 25-yard Wilson to Greene touchdowns nine seconds before half and 3-yard Brad Lee run that capped off a five-minute drive to open the second half put the Thunder back into contention.

Javon Camon led the Thunder defense with seven tackles.

The Vipers got a 279-yard, 5-touchdown night from Andrico Hines, with Garvin Graves hauling in seven passes for 167 yards and two scores.

The Thunder make their Ocean Center debut Thursday, March 2 at the Ocean Center with opening night festivities including a post-game concert by Molly Hatchet. Tickets are available at the Ocean Box Office or through Ticketmaster.