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Game Preview (week 18): Stockton Lightning Vs. Peoria Pirates

July 24, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Stockton Lightning (5-10)

vs. Peoria Pirates (5-10)

Date: July 24, 2009

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT

Site: Stockton Arena (9,919)

Internet: www.NiFTyTV.com/af2 (Mike Benton, J.J. Stokes)

Officials: Referee - Shawn Hoculi; Umpire - Scott Campbell; Head Linesman - Ed Walker; Line Judge - Jim Wharrie; Back Judge - Mike Cuttone

National Anthem: Rich Fields

Color Guard: Honor Guard, Travis Air Force Base

Coin Toss: D.J. Walker (KAT Country 103)

Public Address: Mike McKnight

Series Record: First meeting

Coaches: Chad Carlson (Stockton - 14-26 overall, 2nd season)

Mike Hohensee (Peoria - 4-4 overall, 1st season)

THE STAKES: Pride is on the line with the final regular season game on tap for the Stockton Lightning, who face the Peoria Pirates in the first lifetime meeting between both teams. The Lightning have their first round ArenaCup playoff date already set with the Spokane Shock, while Peoria needs a win to avoid elimination from postseason contention, standing one game out of the final seed in the American Conference. An opportunity to surpass last season's win total lies in the balance for the Lightning, who can close out the home record at 4-2 with a victory on Saturday.

If Stockton defeats Peoria it would ...

- Help the Lightning surpass last season's win total (5) and tie the franchise single-season record for wins (6)

- Give the Lightning a 4-4 record at home

- Give the Lightning a victory in the first lifetime meeting vs. Peoria and a 7-6 record vs. teams outside of the West Division

- Eliminate the Peoria Pirates from a wild card berth in the American Conference

ARENAFOOTBALL2 PLAYOFF RACE

For the third straight season the af2 playoffs will feature a format where 16 teams have the opportunity to claim the league's ultimate prize. The four-week race for the 2009 ArenaCup title begins with eight first round affairs on the weekend of July 31-August 2.

The eight qualifying teams in each conference consist of the three division champions and five Wild Cards, determined by best overall record. Seeding in each conference is based on overall record, with the top three seeds in each conference reserved for the division champions, regardless of record.

In the First Round (July 31-August 2), the first three seeds in each conference are the three division winners. The next five teams are seeded by next best five overall records. Teams ranked 1-4 earn home playoff games with 1 hosting 8, 2 hosting 7, 3 hosting 6 and 4 hosting 5.

In the Second Round (August 7-9), the winner of the 1-8 game plays the winner of the 4-5 game. The winner of the 2-7 game plays the winner of the 3-6 game. The home team is decided by the team with the higher seed.

The winners of the Second Round will meet for the Conference Championships on the weekend of August 14-16. The winners of the Conference Championships face off in the 2009 ArenaCup on the weekend of August 21-23 in Las Vegas at Orleans Arena.

2009 af2 PLAYOFF STANDINGS (as of 7-19-09)

American Conference Standings 1. W-B/Scranton (12-3) - xy - East Division Champion

2. Tennessee Valley (11-4) - y - Current South Division Leader

3. Iowa (11-4) - xy - Current Midwest Division Leader

4. Kentucky (10-5) - y - Owns point differential advantage in HTH meetings over SGW (28-6)

5. South Georgia (10-5) - y

6. Green Bay (9-6) - y

7. Manchester (7-8)

8. Florida (6-9) - Owns HTH advantage over ALB

--------------------------------------------

9. Albany (6-9)

10. Peoria (5-10)

11. Milwaukee (5-10)

12. Quad City (5-11)

13. Mahoning Valley (2-13)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE STANDINGS 1. Spokane (14-1) - xy - Current West Division Leader

2. Tulsa (12-3) - xy - Central Division Champion

3. Arkansas (11-4) - y - Current Southwest Division Leader

4. Boise (12-3) - y

5. Bossier-Shreveport (10-5) - y

6. Rio Grande Valley (8-7) - y

7. Oklahoma City (7-8) - y

8. Stockton (5-10) - y

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9. Central Valley (3-11)

10. Amarillo (3-12)

11. Tri-Cities (2-13)

12. Corpus Christi (2-13)

x - clinched division; y - clinched playoff spot

*Teams in bold currently lead their respective division; HTH = Head-to-head

HEAD COACH PROFILES:

Chad Carlson - Stockton: Chad Carlson is the third Head Coach in Lightning history, named to the team's top post on an interim basis on May 27, 2008, succeeding Doug Murray. Carlson was appointed to the position on a full-time basis on August 13, 2008.

The 36-yead old enters his third af2 head coaching venture after serving as General Manager/Head Coach for the Hawaiian Islanders (2002) and Head Coach of the Bossier City Battle Wings (2003), compiling an overall record of 6-12 before moving on to serve as a Volunteer Coach for the Arena Football League's Colorado Crush for the remainder of the 2003 season.

Carlson, who guided Hawaii to a 4-1 finish in the 2002 season after inheriting the team in the middle of the season, helped the Islanders finish second in the league for red zone offense (83.1 percent), tied for 10th in total offense (4,126 yards) and rank as the af2's leader in rushing offense (852 yards).

After Carlson inherited the Islanders offense that averaged 38 points per game through five contests, his offense went on to score an average of 50.4 points per game and finish 13th in af2 scoring offense.

Following two separate stints in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos (1994) and Ottawa Rough Riders (1996), the Portland, Oregon native spent the 1997 season with the AFL's Portland Forest Dragons as a wide receiver/defensive back and quarterback and was slated to sign with the Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL in 2000, but had his career cut short with a career-ending knee injury that he sustained during an indoor football campaign in 1999.

Converted from the quarterback position, Carlson finished his college career as a standout receiver at Lewis & Clark College (NCAA) and was named an NAIA All-American as a 1993 senior, leading the nation in yards per catch while creating accolades that still shine in Pioneer lore. Carlson's 209 receiving yards amassed in a game against Central Washington was the second-best single game output in program history at the time of his exit and he ranked 13th on Lewis and Clark's all-time list for receptions at the time of his exit.

A key member of an athletic family, Chad's wife, Monica, was a contestant winner in 2008 on the television show "American Gladiators" and plays the role of "Jet" on the current season. Chad and Monica reside in Portland, Oregon during the offseason with two twin daughters, Ellee Jo (8) and Emma Ray (8).

Mike Hohensee - Peoria: Mike Hohensee is the 4th head coach in Peoria Pirates franchise history. Coach Hohensee spent the last 8 seasons as head coach of the AFL's Chicago Rush, leading them to victory in the ArenaBowl XX Championship in 2006.

Was head coach for AFLs Washington Commandos (1990), Albany Firebirds (1994, 1995, 1996), Anaheim Piranhas (1997), New England Sea Wolves (1999, 2000). Coach Hohensee is number 3 in all-time Arena Football league coaching victories with 130.

One of only 5 coaches ever to reach 100 wins in AFL. Played as QB in AFL's inaugural season, threw first TD pass in league history. Coach Hohensee was the starting QB for the University of Minnesota in 1981 and 1982.

Played for the Washington Federals in the now defunct United States Football League (1983), and the Ottawa Rough Riders and Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League in 1985.

Additionally, Coach Hohensee was a replacement player for the Chicago Bears during the 1987 NFL strike.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (courtesy of The Record)

"I didn't set out to get into the playoffs. I was just trying to win a game against a very good football team," Carlson said. "Our defense up front got some good pressure on their quarterbacks and the back half played well. The defense had several opportunities to step up and take control of the game, and they did."

- Head Coach Chad Carlson after the Lightning beat Central Valley, 57-31 to clinch a wild card berth

"The coaches stressed technique all week and that's what I tried to do, plus stay focused on my angles," Brookins said. "On the (first) touchdown, he threw a nice pass over the shoulder, but unfortunately it was my shoulder, and I just pulled it in. A DB's first instinct is to take (an interception) back to the house, and I just used my blockers to cut back and make the play."

- DB Mervin Brookins Jr. on tying an af2 record with five interceptions in a game

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD:

MERVIN BROOKINS JR. (DB): Mervin Brookins Jr. entered the af2 record books by tying a league mark with 5 interceptions on 7/11 against the Central Valley Coyotes, two of which were run back for touchdowns. The five picks were part of a Lightning record nine turnovers forced against Central Valley.

CHAD CAVENDER (QB): Chad Cavender threw for 10 touchdown passes against the Rio Grande Valley Dorados in Week 8, shattering the Lightning single-game record which finished two off the af2's all-time mark (Brett Dietz of Louisville in 2006).

ANDY COLLINS (QB): Collins set a Lightning record in a Week 4 loss to Central Valley, rushing for four touchdowns against the Coyotes. Through 3 games, Collins led the af2 in rushing touchdowns (9) before succumbing to a season-ending knee injury and actually broke his own franchise record he originally set, with 3 rushing touchdowns in a Week 1 victory at Central Valley.

STEPHEN IRVINE (K): In just his second game this season and his first returning from non-active status, Australian-bred Stephen Irvine connected on 11-of-12 point-after kicks against Rio Grande Valley on 5/16, setting a new Lightning single-game record. Irvine's feat finished two successful kicks shy of the af2 all-time record, held by Rich Ehmke (San Diego, 2004).

JUSTIN TAPLIN (WR): Taplin's assault on the Lightning record books continued with a 7-touchdown catch effort against Rio Grande Valley in Week 8, one off the af2 single-game record, following a Lightning single-game record with 216 receiving yards in Week 5 against the Spokane Shock, additionally hauling in three touchdown receptions and 14 catches, which was one off the Lightning record (Phil Goodman, 2006).

RARE COMPANY: The Lightning lost 57-54 to the Boise Burn on June 20 at Qwest Arena but took the loss with a moral victory. Against what was the 4th best defense in the af2 (Boise allowed 39.2 points per game), the Lightning put up 54 points at Qwest Arena, including a 19-0 run in the fourth quarter. The Lightning became the second team, joining the Spokane Shock (twice), to score 50 points or more against the Burn this year.

TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT: QB Chad Cavender threw a 107.32 pass rating five weeks ago against the Tri-Cities Fever, marking the fifth straight game the rookie signal-caller has breached the triple-digit, pass efficiency mark since the first start of his af2 career. Cavender threw no interceptions, completed 19-of-35 passes for five touchdowns and threw for 204 yards in a convincing 53-37 win against Tri-Cities.

HANGING (AROUND) CHAD:

Once a backup to begin the af2 season, Chad Cavender has been thrust into the af2 spotlight with the injury of Andy Collins and has taken the reigns at full grip. Cavender, a product of the University of Sioux Falls, threw five touchdowns in his Lightning debut against the Spokane Shock on April 25 - tied for the third best output in a Lightning QB debut:

MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES - LIGHTNING DEBUT

Evan Gray (vs. Spokane, 4/28) 7

Chad Elliott (at Tri-Cities, 3/28) 6

Chad Cavender (vs. Spokane, 4/25) 5

Derrick Crudup (at Spokane 5/31) 5

Andy Collins (at Spokane, 5/31) 4

COLLINS HAULS IN THE WEEK 1 HONORS:

Lightning QB Andy Collins was named Russell Athletic af2 Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1. Collins (6-2, 215, Occidental College) led the Lightning to a 68-54 Week 1 road victory at West Division rival Central Valley. The 25-year old signal caller completed 24-of-28 passes (85.7 percent) in the contest for 287 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. He also scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns to lead the Lightning to their biggest offensive output to open a season in team history. This is the first af2 weekly award of Collins' career.

DYNAMIC DUO TAKE WEEK 8 HONORS:

The offensive pair of QB Chad Cavender and WR Justin Taplin were named Russell Athletic af2 Co-Offensive Players of the Week for Week 8, becoming the first duo to share the award in seven years (Russell Copeland and Tim Lester, Memphis - Week 3 of 2002). Cavender, in his first af2 campaign and Taplin, in his third af2 season, both had career nights in Stockton's 83-56 upset win at home in Week 8 against Rio Grande Valley. The 6-foot, 190-pound Cavender, in his third career start, set a team record with 10 touchdown passes and Taplin set a Lightning single-game record with seven touchdown catches. He finished the night with nine receptions for a game-high 172 yards.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from the Lightning and Pirates who rank among the af2's statistical leaders:

Lightning

Player Rank Category Stat

Cavendar, Chad 4 Total Offense Plays 243.9

Taplin, Justin 6 Scoring 17.4

Cavendar, Chad 5 Pass Attempts 234.3

Cavendar, Chad 2 Pass Interceptions 234.3

Taplin, Justin 6 Receptions/GM 9.00

Taplin, Justin 4 Rec. Yds/GM 120.3

McBroom, Troy T-10 Receptions 87.2

Brookins, Mervin 1 Interceptions 1.20

Brookins, Mervin T-3 INT TD Returns 2

Brookins, Mervin T-1 Fumbles Received 0.40

Brookins, Mervin 2 Passes Defended 2.60

Pirates

Player Rank Category Stat

Albrooks, Brian 8 Scoring 16.0

Longest, Shane 10 Scoring (Kick) 7.4

Smith, Kent 5 Yards per Rush 15.3

Drone, Luke T-9 Pass Interceptions 179.5

Longest, Shane 6 Field Goal Percentage 42.9

Albrooks, Brian 8 Kick Return Average 24.1

Hampton, Brandon T-7 Interceptions 0.67

Hampton, Brandon T-3 INT TD Returns 2

Ferguson, Josh 6 Tackles 0.0

Lewis, Michael 1 Fumbles Forced 0.70

Hampton, Brandon T-8 Fumbles Received 0.33

FORWARD MOTION: The Lightning have their playoff date already set and will face the defending National Conference champion Spokane Shock in the conference quarterfinal as holder of the final wild card berth. The game's date is to be determined and the Lightning will be making their first playoff appearance in franchise history. Spokane won all three meetings between both teams and beat the Lightning, 59-42 in Week 2, which was Stockton's only trip to Spokane in the regular season.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

(A look at the Lightning vs. Pirates in 2009)

Statistical LIGHTNING PIRATES

Category Rank Stat Rank Stat

Scoring Offense 16 48.6 13 51.3

Scoring Defense 16 55.2 18 55.8

Total Offense 13 281.8 21 248.9

Total Defense 17 282.5 22 302.3

Pass Offense 12 256.3 20 226.3

Pass Defense 20 271.5 22 279.2

Rushing Offense 11 25.5 14 22.6

Rushing Defense 1 11.0 12 23.1

Pass Rating 20 93.3 15 100.4

Pass Def. Rating 12 104.6 16 106.9

Kickoff Returns 17 17.8 14 19.2

Turnover Margin 16 -0.13 14 0.07

Field Goals T-20 0.250 T-13 0.375

PAT Kicking 17 0.765 23 0.728

Sacks By T-18 18 14 21

Sacks Against 21 164 T-19 32

First Downs 8 296 17 274

Opp. First Downs 13 287 12 282

Penalties 16 66.4 2 41.2

Opp. Penalties 22 46.1 8 62.5

Onside kick success 5 40.0 T-17 16.7

DROPBACK: Stockton Lightning (5-10) kicker Stephen Irvine missed a game-winning 19-yard field goal attempt as time expired, helping the Amarillo Dusters escape with a dramatic 42-41 victory over the Lightning before 2,585 fans at the Amarillo Civic Center on Saturday in Week 17 of arenafootball2 play.

Irvine, who made his first six point-after attempts through the tiny uprights, succumbed to a place kicking duel with counterpart Sinisha Vrvilio, who made all seven attempts despite leading a Dusters team that ranked 23rd in the af2 with a 71.2 point-after kick attempt percentage.

The Lightning also were flagged for nine penalties for 54 yards and lost three separate fumbles. Amarillo, who have been knocked out of postseason contention, were led by quarterback Julian Reese who completed 17 of 25 passes for five touchdowns and 195 yards. Lightning counterpart Chad Cavender threw six touchdown passes and 201 yards on an 18-for-40 completion rate.

The loss guaranteed Stockton possession of the eighth seed in the National Conference standings for the ArenaCup Playoffs.

Cavender found WR Brandon Horace on a 12-yard strike at the right corner of the end zone to put Stockton ahead 7-0 with 11:58 left in the opening quarter. The Dusters then capitalized on two consecutive turnovers on Julian Reese's 23-yard lob to Alex Watson with 4:49 left, and Reese's one-yard keeper on a fourth-and-goal play at the one-yard line to put the Dusters ahead 14-7 as time expired in the opening quarter.

With Stockton tightening the defensive screws in the second quarter, the offense took control with a 14-0 run beginning with Cavender's two-yard lob to Peter Tuialuulu with 8:48 left to knot the score at 14-14.

Following a Maurice Holmes interception, the Lightning converted on Cavender's 10-yard bullet to Etu Molden at the left corner of the end zone, giving the Lightning the lead back at 21-14 with 1:29 left in the half. Amarillo shot back with Carl Johnson's acrobatic five-yard touchdown grab while being knocked over the left corner wall of the end zone, leveling the score at 21-21 with 22.1 left in the second.

Amarillo converted off two Lightning turnovers in the third quarter to assume a 35-28 lead on a 21-0 run, beginning with Reese's 33-yard bomb to Watson with 12:25 left in the frame to put Amarillo ahead 28-21.

Following Watson's third touchdown catch of the game, a 14-yarder with 6:21 left in the quarter, the Lightning responded with Cavender's four-yard strike to Troy McBroom with 3:10 left to cut the gap to 35-28. Molden then caught an eight-yard lob from Cavender in the end zone with 14:55 left in the game to knot the score at 35-35.

Reese's six-yard lob to Carl Johnson restored the Amarillo lead to 42-35 with 8:27 left in the game, but the Lightning followed on the ensuing series with Cavender's fifth touchdown pass of the game, finding Molden on a 15-yarder with 6:16 left.

Irvine, who had been a perfect 6-for-6 for the game, missed the point-after attempt off the rebound net's left goal post.

Following a Lightning stop, the offense took over with 2:01 to go and milked the clock while approaching the red zone with a minute left. After Cavender got rid of the football on a third down play with five seconds left, Irvine missed his 19-yard, game-winning attempt off the rebound net's left goal post again, sending the jubilant Dusters onto the field to celebrate.

Stockton fell to 1-2 lifetime against Amarillo and have lost both games at Amarillo Civic Center. Watson totaled a game-high 112 receiving yards on six catches, three for touchdowns to led the Dusters offense.

THE LIGHTNING CROSSOVER: This week's matchup against Peoria is the first lifetime meeting between both teams and marks the final of three games the Lightning will play against opponents outside of the West Division (6-6 lifetime record). The Lightning previously were defeated by Amarillo, 42-41 last week at Amarillo Civic Center. The Pirates are a member of the

The Lightning are 3-1 in the last three interdivisional games, including a 47-41 overtime victory at Tennessee Valley last season, who eventually won the 2008 ArenaCup championship. The Lightning have won the last two interdivisional games at Stockton Arena and the last time out, defeated Rio Grande Valley 83-56 on May 14.

Below is a look at past Lightning games in an interdivisional format:

All-time Interdivision Stockton games (6-6)

Score Date Site

Oklahoma City 60, Lightning 50 4/22/06 Oklahoma City

Lightning 60, Quad City 4/22/06 Quad City

Memphis 73, Lightning 54 6/3/06 Stockton Arena

Lightning 68, Green Bay 62 (OT) 6/10/06 Stockton Arena

Lightning 51, Bossier-Shreveport 41 6/24/06 Stockton Arena

Amarillo 66, Lightning 53 6/15/07 Amarillo

Corpus Christi 57, Lightning 50 7/28/07 Stockton Arena

Iowa 47, Lightning 24 4/26/08 Iowa

Lightning 40, Amarillo 31 5/17/08 Stockton Arena

Lightning 47, Tennessee Valley 41 (OT) 6/27/08 Tennessee Valley

Lightning 83, Rio Grande Valley 56 5/14/09 Stockton Arena

Amarillo 42, Lightning 41 7/18/09 Amarillo

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

CHAD CAVENDER (QB) - Stepping in for injured QB Andy Collins in Week 5 for his first taste of af2 action, Chad Cavender has winged 62 touchdown passes in nine games, connecting for 10, a Lightning record, against Rio Grande Valley on May 16 en route to earning Russell Athletic af2 Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors. Even though he did not play the full game, Cavender's pass rating of 144.52 in his debut vs. Spokane shattered the Lightning single-game best, previously held by Evan Gray in 2007 (129.69 vs. Everett). Cavender's last outing against Boise produced five touchdown passes, a 20-for-37 effort and 273 passing yards on May 23.

Cavender was named the Offensive Player of the Game against Tri-Cities in a Week 7 loss, throwing for a 27-for-40 rate along with a career-best 318 passing yards and five touchdown tosses.

TROY McBROOM (WR) - Back for his second season in a Lightning uniform, the Manteca, Calif. native McBroom ranks second among Lightning receivers in touchdown receptions (22) and first in receiving yards (1,308) and receptions (107). McBroom erupted for a career-high 159 yards on eight catches against Rio Grande Valley on May 16, helping the Lightning upset the Dorados 83-56. Stepping in place of Justin Taplin in Week 13, McBroom tallied a career-high 12 catches in a 57-54 loss vs. Boise.

MERVIN BROOKINS JR. (DB) - In just one month after facing uncertainty for the direction of his football career, Mervin Brookins Jr. erupted after joining the Lightning with an af2 record-tying five interceptions (vs. Central Valley on 7/11) and the JLS af2 Ironman of the Week award for Week 16. Through five games, the rookie defensive back has accumulated 22 tackles,six pass breakups and a team high seven interceptions.



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