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Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz game notes

April 27, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Tulsa Talons vs.
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
Date: Saturday, April 24, 2004
Kickoff: 7:35 p.m. CT
Site: Dodge Arena
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Tony Moranto (Referee),
Richard Brown (Umpire), Mark Bovos (Head Linesman), Lee Ross (Line Judge), Derrick Rhone-Dunn (Back Judge)
Radio: WWLS 104.9fm, 640am (Robert Allen and Jack Mildren)
Series Record: OKC up 1-0
Last Meeting: Dawgz defeated the Talons 70-63 OT
Streaks: Yard Dawgz L1, Talons W2
Coaches: Gary Reasons(2-1, First season)
Ken Matous (2-1, First season)

THE STAKES: This is the second game in the Turnpike Series between the Dawgz and Talons. The battle for best team the state of Oklahoma is on the line. In a spectacular game in Week 1, the Dawgz edged by the Talons 70-63 in Overtime with a Craig Strickland TD pass to Timon Marshall. Whoever comes out with a W will help the teams chances to catch up with red-hot Wichita Stealth.

THE SERIES: The Yard Dawgz defeated the Talons in OT in Tulsa 70-63 in Week 1. This is the second game in the three times the teams meet this season. They meet again in the final week of the season.

THE IFs:
If Oklahoma City defeats Tulsa, it would …
· Give OKC a 3-1 in the Southwest Division
· Give Oklahoma City a 2-0 record at home
· Give OKC a 2-0 record against Tulsa this season
· Give OKC 3-0 record in state of Oklahoma
· End Tulsa’s 5-game road winning streak



Oklahoma City (2-0)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/03 Tulsa 7:30 W 70-63
4/10 Rio Grande Valley 7:30 W 55-17
4/24 @Rio Grande Valley 7:30 L 41-44
5/01 Tulsa 7:30
5/08 Laredo 7:30
5/14 @Green Bay 7:30
5/22 Wichita 7:30
5/29 Arkansas 7:30
6/05 @Laredo 7:30
6/12 @Wichita 7:30
6/19 Laredo 7:30
6/26 @Columbus 6:30
7/03 Fresno 7:30
7/10 @Rio Grande Valley 7:30
7/17 @Wichita 7:00
7/24 Tulsa 7:30

Tulsa (2-1)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
4/3 Oklahoma City 7:30 L 63-70
4/10 At Macon 7:30 W 49-40
4/24 Peoria 7:30 W 66-47
5/1 @ OKC 7:30 - 0-0
5/8 Bossier City 7:30 - 0-0
5/15 at Laredo 7:30 - 0-0
5/22 @ Arkansas 7:30 - 0-0
5/28 Rio Grande 7:30 - 0-0
6/5 Wichita 7:30 - 0-0
6/12 @ Rio Grande 7:30 - 0-0
6/18 At Wichita 7:00 - 0-0
7/3 @ Laredo 7:30 - 0-0
7/10 Wichita 7:30 - 0-0
7/17 Rio Grande 7:30 - 0-0
7/24 @ OKC 7:30 - 0-0
7/31 Laredo 7:00 - 0-0


HEAD COACHES: In his first season as a head coach, Gary Reasons looks to take the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz to victory road in their inaugural season. The former Super Bowl champion linebacker is excited about the squad he is leading out on the field.
In 1984, Reasons was a fourth round draft pick by the New York Giants. Throughout his eight seasons
(1984-91) with the Giants, Reasons became known as a member of one of the greatest linebacker corps in NFL history. He earned personal recognition for his smart and hard-hitting style of play being selected to the NFL All Rookie Team, All NFL, and to the All Madden Team. His final NFL season was spent with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1992.

Reasons attended Northwestern State from (1980-84) where he recorded 394 career tackles, was a three-time First Team All-Conference performer (1981-83) and was named "Most Valuable Collegiate Defensive Player" for the state of Louisiana in his senior season. He was the first player in Division I-AA history to earn First Team All-America honors in three consecutive seasons (1981-83). Northwestern State retired Reasons' No. 34 jersey following his senior season. Reasons graduated with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from Northwestern State in 1984.
In 1996, Reasons was among the inaugural class of small college players to be inducted into the National College Football Hall of Fame. In 1998, Reasons was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Tulsa Coach Ken Matous
Matous comes to Tulsa after spending the 2002 season as offensive coordinator at Western Carolina University, and 2001 as an assistant coach with the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League. Matous, who brings 23 years of educating, coaching and recruiting experience to Tulsa, replaces Skip Foster, who moved up to coach the AFL's Austin Wranglers

SERIES NOTABLES: Yard Dawgz QB Craig Strickland returns after a stellar performance in his first appearance in a Dawgz uniform. Last season, he was awarded the ArenaCup Most Valuable Player for his spectacular performance completing 19-of-28 passes for 254 yards and five touchdowns and ran for two more scores in the championship game. Strickland posted remarkable overall numbers in 2003, passing for 3,717 yards with 83 touchdowns…There are seven former Tulsa Talons on the Yard Dawgz, so look for some familiarity in T-town.

FAMILIAR FACES:
Craig Strickland, Timon Marshall, Al Hunt, Bill Clapper, Johnnie Balous, Sean Love, Chuck Little and Joe Phears have all graced the blue and silver of the Tulsa Talons. All but newly activated QB Phears were on the 2003 ArenaCup championship team with the Talons. Now , they are
suiting up with the Dawgz.

Talon QB Ben Bowling was once a Cowboy for Oklahoma State University. This is Bowling’s first season with the Talons. K Jonathan Knott, who was on the Dawgz training camp roster, is a graduate of Tulsa Union and went on to kick for Louisiana Lafayette.

THIS WEEK’S QUOTES:

OL/DL James Landers on upcoming game vs. Tulsa:
“I don’t like Tulsa. I don’t think that’s a secret. I am pumped for this game. I would love for the fans to help make a difference in this game. Fan support will be key.”

OL/DL Johnell Jones on last weeks loss:
“I don’t think we were all on the same page. We got caught up in the moment but we will be okay. It won’t happen again.”


PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Strick-ly Business:
Dawgz QB Craig Strickland
After a heartbreaking loss in Hidalgo, Strickland looks to lead his team back to victory against the Talons, as he did in Week 1. Strickland went 19-37 for 246 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs, his first interceptions of the year.

Tulsa OS Mitch Allner
Being the af2 All-time leading scorer, you know the Dawgz
have to lookout for this guy. Coming into this season, Allner
had 642 points and 103 touchdowns. This season, Allner has
brought in 26 receptions for 345 yards and 9 TDs. Clifton Fields
and Daron Franklin have their hands full to say the least.


Ironman
WR/DB Al Hunt was awarded the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game for the second week in a row. Hunt brought it 8 catches for 116 yards and 2 TDs. On the defensive side of the ball, he had 2.5 tackles. Hunt has become the go-to guy for the Dawgz. He makes plays on both sides of the ball which makes him a true ironman.

Turnpike Series
The crown for the most outstanding arena football team
In the state of Oklahoma is on the line as the 2-1 Dawgz
Face the 2-1 Talons. This is the second matchup out of
three the Oklahoma teams will face each other. Many
former Talons will be on the other side of the ball suiting
up with the Dawgz. Look to see some static between
the teams that will turn this series into a heated rivalry.



Grambling State Marching Band
The Oklahoman and the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
proudly present the world-renowned Grambling State
University "Mighty Tiger Marching Band," who will be
performing at the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz home
game on Saturday, May 1, 2004 at the Ford Center.
Here is your chance to see fast-paced, high-scoring
arenafootball2 action and "The Best Band in the Land"
all in one astounding night that you will never forget.

Weekly Game Awards

Game 1 (@Tulsa)
Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game-
Talons QB Michael Wall
US Army Ironman of the Game-
Talons WR/DB Mitch Allner
ADT Defensive Player of the Game-
Dawgz DS Daron Franklin

Game 2 (vs. Rio Grande Valley)
Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game-
Dawgz QB Craig Strickland
US Army Ironman of the Game-
Dawgz WR/DB Al Hunt
ADT Defensive Player of the Game-
Dawgz OL/DL Drew Mitchell


Game 3 (vs. Rio Grande Valley)

Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game-
Dorados QB Will Burch
US Army Ironman of the Game-
Dawgz WR/DB Al Hunt
ADT Defensive Player of the Game-
Dorados WR/LB Preston Hartfield

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