Wildcats Earn Fourth Straight Win
June 1, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
South Georgia Wildcats News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, NC (June 1, 2002) – The Cape Fear Wildcats picked up their fourth straight win and earned a sweep of the season series with Roanoke with a 44-26 whipping of the Steam Saturday night at the Crown Coliseum.
The Wildcats defense got two more sacks from af2 sack leader E.J. Burt and limited Roanoke to 132 yards of offense on 50 plays. Wildcats defensive specialist Kenton Rickerson had another outstanding game, finishing with 7.5 tackles and 3 passes defended.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Wildcats got things rolling on a 13-yard Mike Gluski-to-Matt Burstein touchdown pass early in the second stanza.
Roanoke (4-5) answered with a 34-yard Josh Jones field goal before Gluski threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Miller to give Cape Fear a 14-3 lead. Late in the second quarter, Gluski stepped to his right and tossed a short pass to FB/LB Charles Gunnings who ran it in from 17 yards out to give the Wildcats a 21-3 lead at the break.
Gluski and Miller hooked up again early in the third quarter on a 31-yard scoring strike that give the hosts a commanding 27-3 lead. GluskiÂ’s fourth touchdown pass of the night was the 100th of his af2 career.
Mike Volarvich hit Karlos Odum for a four-yard touchdown, but Norman MasonÂ’s 23-yard interception return for a touchdown gave Cape Fear a comfortable 34-9 lead with 3:20 left in the third quarter.
Miller was named game MVP with six receptions for 63 yards and two touchdowns. Mason earned Ironman honors with two grabs for 16 yards and his 11th touchdown of the season. Mason also had 2.5 tackles, three passes defended and an interception return for a touchdown.
Burt won the ADT Defensive Player of the Game award with two sacks, 3.5 tackles, one batted pass and one forced fumble. Burt now has 14.5 sacks – the third-highest single-season total in af2 history – at the season’s midway point. He now has two sacks in each of the last five games. He also leads the league with seven forced fumbles.
The Wildcats’ win coupled with Richmond’s loss to Albany moves Cape Fear within a game of the Speed for first place in the Atlantic Division standings. The ‘Cats now hold a two-and-a-half game lead over Roanoke for second place in the Atlantic.
The Wildcats (6-2) travel to Greensboro to take on the Prowlers on Saturday night. Roanoke goes to Greenville, S.C. for a tilt with the Carolina Rhinos on Friday night.
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