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Birmingham Steeldogs game notes

July 18, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Memphis Xplorers (10-5)
at Birmingham Steeldogs (7-7)
Date: Saturday, July 22, 2006
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT
Site: BJCC Arena (16,000)
National Anthem: Haley Newberry
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: Referee: Fred Wiedower; Umpire: Chad Walker; Head Linesman: Karl Lane; Line Judge: Chris Jamison; Back Judge: Brad Freeman
Radio: WAPI-1070 AM (Matt Coulter, Roger Shultz)
TV: None
Series Record: BHM 4-2
Last Meeting: BHM, 43-42, June 17, 2006 @ MEM
Streaks: Birmingham L1, Memphis W1
Coaches: Ron Selesky (26-20; 1-1 playoffs, 3rd Season
Overall; 7-7, 1st Season in Birmingham)
Danton Barto (44-35, 4th Season)

THE STAKES: Birmingham's loss at Macon puts the onus on this weeks' game versus Memphis to decide postseason fate. The Steeldogs really need a 2-0 finish to the regular season, along with a little help from the East Division, in order to safely secure a playoff spot. Memphis has already punched a postseason pass with their win over Amarillo last week. Seeding is their only uncertainty. Birmingham is their final opponent in the regular season.
THE SERIES: The Steeldogs/Xplorers series dates back to the final regular season game of 2001, when the Steeldogs defeated Memphis 67-39 at the BJCC. The Xplorers only two wins in the series came last season.
THE IFs:
If Birmingham defeats Memphis, it would...
- Put the Steeldogs in sole control of third place in the South Division
- Keep the Steeldogs alive in the 2006 race for the postseason
- Give Birmingham a series sweep over the Xplorers

BIRMINGHAM (7-7, Lost 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 EVERETT 7:00 W 41-36
4/14 RIO GRANDE 7:00 L 43-44 (OT)
4/21 @ Louisville 6:30 L 40-62
4/29 @ South Georgia 6:30 W 40-34
5/5 LOUISVILLE 7:00 W 63-60
5/13 @ Florida 6:30 L 44-62
5/20 @ Tennessee Valley 7:30 L 17-21
5/27 MACON 7:00 W 71-30
6/3 @ Everett 9:30 L 34-40
6/10 SOUTH GEORGIA 7:00 W 42-35
6/17 @ Memphis 7:00 W 43-42
6/24 FLORIDA 7:00 L 27-60
7/8 @ Rio Grande 7:30 W 84-46
7/15 @ Macon 6:30 L 47-52
7/22 MEMPHIS 7:00 --- BHM 4-2
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
7/29 TENNESSEE VALLEY 7:00 TV 10-2

MEMPHIS (10-5, Won 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/1 @ Tennessee Valley 7:30 W 47-25
4/8 FLORIDA 7:00 W 78-46
4/15 TENN VALLEY 7:00 W 56-21
4/22 @ Florida 6:30 L 60-55
4/28 MACON 7:00 W 62-26
5/6 MANCHESTER 7:00 W 58-52 OT
5/13 @ South Georgia 6:30 L 48-41
5/20 BOS-SHREVEPORT 7:00 W 67-32
5/28 @ Amarillo 3:00 W 34-27
6/3 @ Stockton 9:00 W 73-54
6/17 BIRMINGHAM 7:00 L 42-43
6/24 SOUTH GEORGIA 7:00 W 81-53
6/30 @ Macon 6:30 L 33-38
7/8 @ Louisville 6:00 L 55-63
7/15 AMARILLO 7:00 W 75-15
7/22 @ Birmingham 7:00 --- BHM 4-2


HEAD COACHES:
RON SELESKY, BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS
Head Coach Ron Selesky is an Arena Football League and af2 coaching veteran. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Columbus Destroyers in 2005 under Head Coach Chris Spielman. Prior to that, Selesky spent the 2004 season on the sidelines for the Carolina Cobras, beginning the year as the team's defensive coordinator before finishing the season as the head coach.

Selesky earned af2 Coach of the Year honors in 2002, guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular-season mark of 13-3 and a Northeast Division title. He spent the 2001 season as the head coach of the Louisville Fire, leading the team to a 6-10 mark.

Selesky spent the 2003 season as head coach and director of football operations for the Buffalo Destroyers, prior to the team relocating to Columbus, Ohio. He also served as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. With the Storm, his teams compiled a 31-11 regular season record and earned a berth in the 1998 ArenaBowl.

DANTON BARTO, MEMPHIS XPLORERS
Barto is entering his fifth season as the Head Coach of the Memphis Xplorers. His career regular season record stands at 42-32 and 3-1 in the postseason. He is the winningest active coach in af2 since the start of the 2003 season. In each of the four seasons under Barto, the Xplorers have improved on the previous season's win total. Last season, he was named the af2 Coach of the Year as he led the Xplorers to their best season in franchise history; a 13-3 regular season mark, a Midwest Division title and the 2005 ArenaCup Championship. In 2004, Memphis won ten games and earned their first trip to the playoffs, before falling to the eventual champion Florida Firecats on a last second field goal miss. Barto was promoted from defensive coordinater to the head coach position prior to the 2002 season and won his first three games in what turned out to be a 5-11 season.

LAST SERIES MEETING: June 17, 2006: Birmingham defeated then-No. 1 Memphis, 43-42, on a last-play field goal by Alex Walls at the Desoto Civic Center.

SERIES HISTORY:

STEELDOGS 67 Xplorers 39 July 21, 2001
Steeldogs 51 XPLORERS 36 June 14, 2003
STEELDOGS 44 Xplorers 27 April 10, 2004
Xplorers 60 STEELDOGS 24 April 23, 2005
XPLORERS 62 Steeldogs 32 June 18, 2005
Steeldogs 43 XPLORERS 42 June 17, 2006

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Steeldogs players who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
STEELDOGS
Player Rank Category Stat
Alex Walls t-3rd Field Goals 10-26
Alex Walls 6th Field Goals Attpt 26
Alex Walls 6th Field Goal Pct. 38.5%
Alex Walls t-2nd Field Goals Made 10
Theo Sanders 8th Rushing 42-157
Theo Sanders 10th Rush Attempts 42
Theo Sanders 8th Yards Per Rush 3.7
Theo Sanders 8th Rush Yards 157
Robert Kent t-5th Rushing TDs 12
Robert Kent 10th Yards Per Rush 3.6
Robert Kent 10th Rush Yards 144
Kerry Wright 7th Yards Per Catch 15.1
Kerry Wright 10th Receive Yds/Gm 100.1
Kerry Wright 8th MFG Returns 4-63
Bobby Keyes 5th Interceptions 8-38
Bobby Keyes 3rd INT Returns 8-38-0

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Steeldogs and Xplorers stack up:
Statistical BIRMINGHAM MEMPHIS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 15th 45.2 4th 57.0
Scoring Defense 5th 44.5 1st 40.2
Total Offense 11th 270.9 3rd 291.8
Total Defense 9th 254.7 14th 269.1
Pass Offense 14th 236.1 4th 264.9
Pass Defense 7th 231.6 6th 229.5
Rushing Offense 3rd 34.8 8th 26.9
Rushing Defense 14th 23.1 23rd 39.6
Pass Rating 16th 92.7 2nd 123.7
Pass Def. Rating 13th 101.6 3rd 89.2
Kickoff Returns 23rd 13.5 9th 18.3
MFG Returns 19th 11.7 5th 26.4
Turnover Margin 5th +10 8th +5
Field Goals 8th 10-26 (.385) t-19th 2-9 (.222)
PAT Kicking 13th 59-77 (.766) 6th 93-113 (.823)
Sacks By 10th 20-102 4th 28-157
Sacks Against t-11th 19-94 7th 15-80
First Downs t-13th 246 3rd 284
Opp. First Downs 5th 231 21st 287
Penalties 11th 98-700 6th 95-646
Opp. Penalties 12th 119-795 16th 108-796

STEELDOGS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
WR/DB Donald Amaker Torn ACL Out (Season)
OL/DL Myron Powe Knee Long-term IR (2 weeks rem.)

NOTES:
JULY IS THE UNKINDEST MONTH: The Steeldogs have won just three games in the month of July since the 2003 season. Birmingham is 1-5 all-time in the second-to-last regular season game.
KENT CLOSING IN ON 1,000 YARD MARK: Steeldogs' QB Robert Kent is 15 yards shy of 1,000 pass yards this season. The Jackson State product has made just three starts this season. He is the team's full-time quarterback since the departure of Ryan Hawk.
Kent would be the eighth Steeldogs quarterback to pass for 1,000 yards in a single season.
TURNOVER TURN AROUND: The Steeldogs are on pace to set a interception record...a positive interception record. Birmingham is on pace to throw the fewest interceptions in a single season. Currently, Steeldogs' quarterbacks have thrown just 10 picks this season, an average 0.7 per game. The pace for the season: 11. The lowest prior total in a single season: 16 in 2003.
KEYES' STICKY FINGERS IN SECOND PLACE: Bobby Keyes's eight interceptions this season gives him the second-most all-time in a single season with two games to go. The all-time record belongs to Anthony Jordan (2000-04), who captured 10 picks in during the 2004 season. Keyes is also tied for third in career interceptions.
DROPBACK: BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Aided by their 26-0 run in the second and third quarters, the Macon Knights defeated the Birmingham Steeldogs, 52-47, at the Macon Coliseum on Saturday night.
The South Division rivals now share identicial 7-7 records and are both fighting to stay alive in the af2 playoff race.
The Steeldogs had possession of the ball at Macon's 19-yard line with less than a minute remaining. But quarterback Robert Kent misfired on three straight passes, including a fourth-down attempt with five seconds remaining, to seal Birmingham's fate. The Steeldogs had just stopped Macon on four downs after the Knights recovered Alex Walls' missed onsides kick attempt.
The loss ends Birmingham's two game road winning streak.
The Steeldogs jumped out to a quick 21-12 lead in the second quarter, before unraveling with three uncharacteristic turnovers which led to rapid-fire Knights touchdowns. The Steeldogs trailed at the halftime break, 31-21.
Kent, who was named the af2's Offensive Player of the Week following his tremendous performance last weekend at Rio Grande Valley, had another impressive outing in just his third start. The former signal-caller from Jackson State finshed with 274 yards on 26 of 45 passing with three touchdowns. He also rushed 10 times for 50 yards and three scores.
Birmingham's Bradly Chavez, a former UAB Blazer, led the receiving corps with 63 yards on four catches and two touchdowns.
The loss at least temporarily detours the Steeldogs playoff plans, as a win by the Manchester (N.H.) Wolves on Friday night gives them the final American Conference playoff slot if the season were to end today. Birmingham can still make the playoffs with a sweep of their final two regular season home games.
The Steeldogs return home on July 22 to face the Memphis Xplorers at the BJCC Arena. It's Children's Hospital Night, and the team will be wearing a jersey designed by a former Children's patient. The special jerseys will be auctioned off following the game, with proceeds benefiting pediatric cancer research at the Birmingham hospital.
FORWARD MOTION: Birmingham closes out the regular season with a rivalry rematch against the hated Tennessee Valley Vipers on July 29 at the BJCC Arena.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
JULY 16, 2005: The Steeldogs pulled off a last-second win, their second of the season, against the South Georgia Wildcats, 23-20, at the Albany Civic Center. Birmingham's George Williams sealed the win with an acrobatic interception in the end-zone.

SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Kerry Wright (BIR)
2 RGV Dwight Counter (RGV)
3 Louisville Brett Deitz (LOU)
4 SGA Mareno Philyaw (BIR)
5 Louisville Kerry Wright (BIR)
6 Florida Magic Benton (FLA)
7 Tn. Vally Chris Gunn (TVV)
8 Macon Bradly Chavez (BIR)
9 Everett Brian Baker (EVE)
10 SGA Steve Sills (BIR)
11 Memphis Alex Walls (BIR)
12 Florida Chris Wallace (FLA)
13 RGV Robert Kent (BIR)
14 Macon Charvis McCollister (MAC)

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Bradly Chavez (BIR)
2 RGV Terrell Browden (BIR)
3 Louisville Terrell Browden (BIR)
4 SGA Chris McKinney (SGA)
5 Louisville Lance Taylor (LOU)
6 Florida Brittney Tellis (FLA)
7 Tn. Vally Johnny Anderson (TVV)
8 Macon Mareno Philyaw (BIR)
9 Everett Milton Myers (EVE)
10 SGA Allyn Sheffield (BIR)
11 Memphis Bradly Chavez (BIR)
12 Florida Ethenic Sands (FLA)
13 RGV Bradly Chavez (BIR)
14 Macon Matt Jackson (MAC)

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Jordan Brumbaugh (BIR)
2 RGV Bobby Keyes (BIR)
3 Louisville Dwayne Lefall (LOU)
4 SGA Jordan Brumbaugh (BIR)
5 LOU Michael Gholar (BIR)
6 Florida Cory Bailey (FLA)
7 Tn. Vally Bobby Keyes (BIR)
8 Macon Deon Deboise (BIR)
9 Everett John Fields (EVE)
10 SGA Deon Deboise (BIR)
11 Memphis Bradly Chavez (BIR)
12 Florida Levy Brown (FLA)
13 RGV Keon Mainor
14 Macon Rashaad Pitts (MAC)

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