Cincinnati Swarm Game Notes
July 10, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Cincinnati Swarm News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Cincinnati Swarm (5-8) Peoria Pirates (4-9)
Date: Saturday, July 12, 2003
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Site: Peoria Civic Center (9,772)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss:
Officials: John Sullivan(Referee), Rick Podraza (Umpire), Kelly Saalfeld (Head Linesman), Justin Larrew (Line Judge), Gus Golembiewski (Back Judge)
Radio: webcasting at www.cincinnatiswarm.com
TV: None
Series Record: The Swarm have never met the Pirates.
Last Meeting: None
Streaks: Swarm-1 win, Pirates-2 losses
Coaches: Swarm-Chris MacKeown (5-8, 1st year) Pirates-Bruce Cowdrey (4-9, 3rd year, 22-23, career)
THE STAKES: The Swarm begin a crucial home and home this week with the Peoria Pirates. The series starts at the Peoria Civic Center on Saturday at 8:00 ET. The Swarm enter Week 16 in a three-way tie for the seventh position in af2s National Conference. The Swarm are chasing the Bakersfield Blitz. The Blitz hold the last playoff spot at 6-7. The Swarm are tied with the Memphis Xplorers and San Diego Riptide at 5-8. The Swarm could virtually end Peorias playoff hopes with a win this weekend. The Pirates are two games behind the Blitz. Bakersfield also holds a tiebreaker over the Pirates. If Bakersfield wins this weekend or Peoria loses, its curtains for the Pirates repeat hopes.
THE SERIES: The Swarm have never faced the Pirates.
THE IFs:
If Cincinnati defeats the Pirates, it would
· Give the Swarm a 6-8 record for the season.
· Give the Swarm a 4-3 record vs. the Midwest Division.
HEAD COACHES: Chris MacKeown was introduced as the first head coach of the Cincinnati Swarm on November 14, 2002. MacKeown served as an assistant coach with the Arena Football Leagues Indiana Firebrids for the past two seasons. Peorias Bruce Cowdrey is in his third season in af2. He guided the Pensacola Barracudas to a 5-11 record during the 2001 season. In 2002, Cowdreys first season in Peoria, the Pirates won the Arena Cup as af2 champion. After an 11-5 regular season, the Pirates defeated Wichita, San Diego, Birmingham and Florida in the post-season to capture the cup. Cowdrey became the first coach in af2 history to lead his team to four post-season victories on their way to an Arena Cup.
LAST SERIES MEETING: The Swarm have never met the Pirates. The Pirates are one of only two teams to win the Arena Cup. The Quad City Steamwheelers won the cup in 2000 & 2001 before Peoria won last year. The Pirates enter this week on the brink of being eliminated from the af2 playoffs. The Pirates are two games out of the final spot with three games to play. Bakersfield also holds a tiebreaker over the Pirates meaning that for the Pirates to qualify for the post-season they would have to win out while Bakersfield loses all of their games.
SERIES NOTABLES: The Swarm are meeting the Pirates for the first time in franchise history. The teams wont wait long for a rematch. The Swarm and Pirates will meet again in Week 17 (July 19) at U.S. Bank Arena. The match-up will mark the Swarms final home game of the season. The Swarm hold a one game advantage over the Pirates heading into this weekends game. If the Pirates do not qualify for the playoffs, they would become the second consecutive Arena Cup champ to fail to qualify for the post-season. In 2002, the Steamwheelers didnt reach the post-season because of a league-imposed playoff suspension.
MILESTONES:
-James Scott became the first Swarm receiver to catch 100 passes in a season in Week 16 vs. Rochester. Scotts eight catches vs. the Brigade gave him an even 100 for the season.
-James Scott became the first 1,000-yard receiver in Swarm history when he recorded 144 receiving yards at Quad City in Week 11. In the same game, Scott caught a franchise record 15 passes.
-Scott hooked up with Christian Batcheller for a 49-yard touchdown in Week 13 at Mohegan. The touchdown marked the longest offensive play in Swarm history. Scott caught a 47-yard touchdown from Batcheller in Week 12 vs. Green Bay to establish the previous team best.
-The Swarm have returned seven kickoffs for touchdowns this season. The Swarm are four short of the af2 record (11 by Peoria in 2002). -Christian Batcheller became the first Swarm QB to throw for 300 yards (313 to be exact) in a Week 12 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard.
DROPBACK: Rochester Brigade 17 at Cincinnati 53 The Swarm defense shut down the Brigade on Thursday for the Swarms fifth win of the season. DS Justin Coleman received Defensive Player of the Game honors with 6.5 tackles, a tackle for a loss and two pass break-ups. On offense, the Swarm were led by QB Brian Partlow. Partlow threw for 212 yards and five touchdowns while completing 18 of 29 attempts. James Scott caught three touchdowns on the night. Anthony Payton recorded a pair of touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing). Jon Cain scored a pair of TDs, and Ryan Bowers also scored for the Swarm in the blowout victory. FORWARD MOTION: The Swarm play their final home game of 2003 next week vs. the Peoria Pirates. The Swarms home and home with the Pirates will go a long way in determining their playoff fate. After the Peoria series, the Swarm travel to Wichita to wrap up their inaugural season.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
Scott, James Scott: James Scott continues to rack up franchise milestones. In Week 15, Scott became the first receiver in Swarm history to catch 100 passes. Scotts eight catches vs. Rochester left him at the century mark with three games left to play. Scott is also the first Swarm receiver to record 1,000 receiving yards. He holds the franchise records for catches in a game (15), receiving yards in a game (178) and longest pass reception (49 yards).
Playoff Picture: Week 15s results greatly improved the Swarms playoff fortunes. The Swarms victory coupled with losses by Memphis and Peoria, left the Swarm just one game back of the playoffs. The Swarm are now tied with San Diego and Memphis at 5-8. The Bakersfield Blitz hold the final spot at 6-7, but the Blitz still have two games left against Wichita and one game at Hawaii. The Blitz remaining opponents have a 25-14 record heading into this weekend. San Diego holds a tiebreaker over the Swarm, but the Riptide have an imposing schedule to finish the season. The Tide are at Quad City this weekend before returning home to face Hawaii and Green Bay to end the season. The Riptides remaining opponents are 22-17 entering Week 16. Memphis closes their home schedule this week against Arkansas. After that, the Xplorers will travel to Green Bay and Cape Fear. The Xplorers remaining opponents are 17-22 on the season. Statistically, the Swarm have the easiest schedule of the four teams fighting for the final spot. The Swarms remaining opponents are 16-23 .
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Monsters of the Midwest: The Swarm defense has distinguished itself in recent weeks. The Swarm are now in the top ten in both scoring defense (7th in af2 allowing just 42.3 points per game) and yardage allowed (5th in af2 allowing 224.8 yards per game). Only six teams in af2 have forced more than the Swarms 29 turnovers. The Swarm are especially tough in the red zone. The Swarm have forced 11 red zone turnovers (tied for fifth in af2) and have the best red zone defense in af2. Opponents have only scored on 60 % of their trips inside the Swarm red zone.
Peoria DL Bryan Archibald and Eric Johnson: Both defensive linemen are in the top ten in sacks among af2 linemen. Archibald is fifth with 8.5 sacks on the season. Johnson is tied for tenth with 5.5 sacks.
Peoria QB Charlie Peterson and WR Jack Walker: Peterson is fifth in af2 in passer rating (112.9) and ranks 10th in total offense with 2,854 total yards on the season. Petersons favorite target is Walker. Walker is first in af2 in scoring (202 points) and touchdowns (33). Walker also ranks seventh in receiving yards (1,182). The Swarm defense will be facing the stiff challenge of shutting down one of the af2s toughest combos.
Swarm QB Brian Partlow: Partlow made his debut as an af2 starter last week vs. Rochester. Partlow rose to the occasion by throwing for five touchdowns and 212 yards.
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