Norfolk Nighthawks Game Notes
April 14, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Norfolk Nighthawks (1-0) at Rochester Brigade (0-2)
Date: Saturday, April 14, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30pm
Site: Blue Cross Arena
National Anthem: N/A
Coin Toss: N/A
Officials: N/A
Radio: None
Series Record: Norfolk leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: June 23, 2002, Norfolk 42-41
Streaks: Norfolk (1 win), Rochester (2 losses)
Coaches: NOR: Rick Frazier (1st Year, 1-0) RIC: Mark Saunders (3rd Year, 11-23)
THE STAKES: The Norfolk Nighthawks (1-0) are back on the winning track, as Head Coach Rick Frazier's plan for aggressive defense and explosive offense worked nearly to perfection against the Charleston Swamp Foxes in Norfolk April 4. Another win would carry the Nighthawks into an important area. The Nighthawks have not won a road game since their victory over Roanoke (68-33) on July 13, 2002. The Rochester Brigade might be at a crossroads, as their Head Coach Mark Saunders faces an uphill climb from a 0-2 start. Another loss might make a winning season extremely difficult. THE SERIES: The Nighthawks lead the series (1-0), as they defeated the expansion Rochester Brigade on June 8, 2001, 35-21.
THE IFs:
If NORFOLK defeats ROCHESTER, it would ...
· Give NORFOLK their first win on the road since 7/13/02 vs. Roanoke Steam
· Give NORFOLK's new head coach (Rick Frazier) his second victory and first road win as a part of the NORFOLK franchise
· Give NORFOLK a double-victory start to the season, which has never happened before.
· Get the overall record against the Brigade up to (2-0)
HEAD COACHES: Rick Fraizer brings more than a quarter century worth of coaching experience to the Norfolk Nighthawks in his new capacity as the team's Head Coach. Frazier comes to Norfolk after spending the 2002 season with the Toronto Phantoms of the AFL. Frazier served the Phantoms as their Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator.
Mark Saunders is the only head coach that the Rochester Bridage has ever had. He has an 11-23 all-time regular season record as head coach with the Bridage.
LAST SERIES MEETING: The Nighthawks hosted the Brigade on their inagural season (June 8, 2001). The Nighthawks had just been jolted by their I-64 rivals, the Richmond Speed for a 71-47 loss. The Brigade came into the contest struggling as well (at that point in the season, they had a 2-8 record). QB Scott Gasper struck Kenyatt Morgan for a 28-yard strike to open the first quarter strong for the brigade. But after that, it was all Nighthawks, as the team from Norfolk poured on 18 straight in the 2nd Quarter. A one-yard plunge by FB/LB Jo Jo Oliphant was followed by a Marvin Davis safety. Then Nighthawks' QB Mickey Finn fired the ball 18 yards to WR/DB Jason Waters, making the score 18-7, Nighthawks by halftime. The second half held a bit more equality, as Norfolk scored 17 â and Rochester responded with 17. The 4th Quarter was quiet, as neither team was able to score. The Nighthawks won the night, 35-21, mainly on the arm of QB Mickey Fein, who passed for 211 yards, one touchdown and completed a whopping 25-of-47 and the Nighthawks stingy defense.
FORWARD MOTION: Next week, the Nighthawks face the Richmond Speed in Richmond (April 26).
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
NIGHTHAWKS: QB Aaron Sparrow, willed his team to victory Game 1 against the Charleston Swamp Foxes. His 16 for 29 and 3 touchdown performance was just enough to give the Nighthawks the victory. Sparrow was also voted the MVP of the game.
BRIGADE: In two games thus far, Rochester's has caught 13 passes for 210 yards. That breaks down to an impressive 16.2 average per catch. When you throw in his 4 touchdown catches, you'd think that this guy would be on a winning franchise. Baker also caught a 41-yard bomb this season. Not too shabby. He also averages nearly 20 yards per kickoff return, and he leads his team in total offense.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
While the Nighthawks team statistics may not look so hot (note the stats above), look for them to improve, as they have only played one game this season. That fact might also make their defensive totals look a bit better as well.
Jay Clarke keeps tackling! He ended 2002 holding the all-time record for Nighthawks tackling (at 142) and now he keeps adding to his total. By adding 7 more tackles to his total, Clarke's number rises to 149.
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