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A look at Memphis' road to the ArenaCup

August 23, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


SHREVEPORT, La. - It is only fitting that the Memphis Xplorers have landed in Bossier City, La., this week for ArenaCup6. After all, Memphis spent most of the season as the top seed in the af2 coaches poll, and after finishing the regular season at 13-3, the Xplorers were the top seed in the National Conference.

It takes a team to win a championship, but individuals do stand out, as the league honored two players and head coach Danton Barto. Barto was named af2 Coach of the Year, while offensive lineman/defensive lineman Khreem Smith took home af2 Lineman of the Year honors and defensive specialist Dahnel Singfield was named ADT Defensive Player of the Year.

Just as their counterparts in this championship game did at the start of the season, the Xplorers started off the season with a bang. Winners of their first four games by an average score of 60-26, the Xplorers proved to be a team to contend with throughout the season.

The next week in a knock down, drag out thriller against Quad City, the Xplorers had a call on the final play of the game go against them. With the score tied at 42-42, the Steamwheelers got a second chance at a field goal and kicker Nick Gatto drilled the second attempt from 45 yards out to give the Wheelers a 45-42 victory. The loss only made the Xplorers stronger.

The following six weeks the Xplorers went on a tear through the af2 and won six straight. The six-game winning streak did not come as easy as the season opening four-game win streak, however. The Xplorers snuck by Oklahoma City and Amarillo in back-to-back home wins before blowing out Albany 73-53 on the road.

Another tight game followed on the road in Arkansas, but Memphis was able to run out the clock and walk out of ALLTEL Arena with a 35-33 win. A rematch with Quad City awaited the Xplorers the following week. Just as in the first meeting between the teams, the game went down to the wire, only this time the Xplorers were on the winning side of things.

Trailing 54-41 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, the Xplorers scored twice to tie the game up. Memphis had a chance to win the game in regulation, but kicker Nick Hayes just missed the extra point. The Steamwheelers had their shot in regulation, but the Xplorers' defense held.

Once into overtime, the Xplorers scored on their first possession and the defense sealed the win when wide receiver/defensive back Deon Giddens intercepted a pass in the end zone. The next week against Birmingham was not as close of a contest. The Xplorers pitched a shutout in the first half and led 49-0 at halftime en route to a 62-32 win.

The following two weeks would test the then top seeded Xplorers. A tough road trip to Oklahoma City resulted in a nail biting 50-47 loss. Another close contest against Tulsa two weeks later would go against the Xplorers, who fell 44-41.

The Xplorers would come out better after the two-game slide and finished the season with wins over Manchester, Central Valley and Bossier-Shreveport. The Xplorers pounded Manchester (the second seed in the American Conference playoffs) 83-26, took care of Central Valley 69-57 and snuck by Bossier-Shreveport 57-47 to close the season.

With the top seed and home field throughout the National Conference playoffs, the Xplorers marched their way to ArenaCup6. The Xplorers dusted the Amarillo Dusters in the conference semifinals. The Dusters trailed 20-14 with 7:02 to go in the first half, but Memphis took off from there and scored the games next 37 points. The final score went in favor of Memphis 71-30.

In the National Conference championship game, the Xplorers had to come from behind against the fourth-seeded Rio Grande Valley Dorados. The Xplorers trailed 36-23 at the half, but outscored the Dorados 14-0 in the third quarter to take a 37-36 lead. The Xplorers then took control of the game in the games final 3:24, scoring four times to earn a 64-49 victory and their first trip to the ArenaCup.

The only question that remains for the Xplorers is whether they can finish the postseason the same way they started the regular season...with a win in the CenturyTel Center.

-TWO TEAMS. ONE DREAM. NO EXCUSES.-

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