Norfolk Nighthawks Game Notes
July 8, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Macon Knights (8-5) at Norfolk Nighthawks (7-6)
Date: Saturday, July 12, 2003
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. EST
Site: Scope Arena (8,965)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: Terry Haney (Referee), William Fealey (Umpire), John McDaid (Head Linesman), George Eason (Line Judge), Keith Washington (Back Judge)
Series Record: This will be the first-ever meeting of the two franchises
Streaks: NOR WIN 1, MAC WIN 1
Last Meeting: This will be the first-ever meeting of the two franchises
Streaks: The Nighthawks and Knights have both won one game
Coaches: Norfolk Nighthawks Rick Fraizer (7-6, 7-6 overall) Macon, Kevin Porter (32-16, Third season with Knights; 40-25 overall)
THE STAKES: The Norfolk Nighthawks won a huge chunk of confidence back, after struggling through the middle portion of the season last week, after throttling the Richmond Speed, 63-28. Now the Nighthawks recognize the chance that they have before them win and they would likely cruise right into the af2 playoffs. Lose and they only have themselves to blame for their fate. THE SERIES: This will be the Nighthawks first-ever meeting with the Macon Knights.
THE IFs:
If NORFOLK defeats the KNIGHTS, it would
- Get NORFOLK on a 2-game winning streak
- Get the NIGHTHAWKS back into a competitive stance as they head into the playoffs
the NIGHTHAWKS slipped to behind the American Atlantic leading CAPE FEAR WILDCATS
- Put some more air and confidence intothe players sails as their attempt to sweep the final games
HEAD COACHES: Rick Fraizer brings more than a quarter century worth of coaching experience to the Norfolk Nighthawks in his new capacity as the teams 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.
MAC: In his fourth season of coaching in af2, Kevin Porter has an impressive record of 32 wins and 16 losses with the Knights. Porter has an overall record of 40-25 in af2. Last season Porter led the Knights to a 14-4 record. The Knights were also named the 2002 American Conference Eastern Division Champions. In 2001 Porter led the Knights to a regular season record of 10-6. The Knights were the only expansion team to make the playoffs in 2001.
LAST SERIES MEETING: This will be the first-ever meeting of these two franchises.
FORWARD MOTION: Next week, the Nighthawks will be on the road to face the Cape Fear Wildcats. PLAYERS TO WATCH:
NIGHTHAWKS: FB/LB Kelvin Fuller. Each season, every arenafootball2 team gains and loses players. Somtimes this happens rapidly at the beginning of the year and sometimes players are signed through the end of the season as players in key positions start getting hurt. Either way, the Nighthawks are lucky to have this recent aquisition fullback and linebacker Kelvin Fuller. He played his college football at the Division III powerhouse Ferrum and has shown sparks of brilliance that might make him someone to watch for years. In last weeks game alone, Fuller had five total tackles (two of those tackles were for a loss of eight yards), a sack and a forced fumble. Wow. Look for Fuller to again make his presence felt on the defensive side of the ball against the Macon Knights.
MACON: OL/DL Andre Slappey enters his third season with the Knights. During the 2001 season, Slappey played in 16 games with Macon. Slappey recorded 27 tackles, one tackle for a loss, seven sacks and four pass breakups. In 2002, Slappey recorded 11.5 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, two pass breakups and one forced fumble. He caught three passes for 53 yards. Slappey was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game once. Slappeys presence on the offensive line and on the defensive line has been instrurmental for the Knights success throughout the 2003 season and their 8-5 record thus far. Slappey will surely pressure the Nighthawks quarterbacks Aaron Sparrow and Chris Wallace throughout the game.
QUOTABLES:
Nighthawks DS Quesuan Wigfall cut his teeth in the af2 last season with the Macon Knights. And you can bet that he is looking foreward to getting back on the field with his old teammates. I had a good time in Macon, said Wigfall. There was no fallout with the coaches or anything. I learned a lot while I was in Macon. But its my old team from last year and that is another big one. I am very much so (looking foreward to facing the Knights). And they all know. They know what kind of player that I am.
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