Wolves Aiming for Big Win in Season Finale at Albany

Published on July 25, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Mohegan Wolves News Release


NEW LONDON, Conn. (July 25, 2003) – The Mohegan Wolves (arenafootball2) are preparing for battle this Saturday night (July 26) at Albany with a first round home playoff game on the line. If the Wolves defeat the Conquest this Saturday, they would finish the year at 11-5 and lock up the fourth seed in the American Conference. According to the af2 postseason format, the first seeded wildcard team (#4 seed overall) would host the second seeded wildcard team (#5 seed overall) in one of two first round matchups. If the Wolves do solidify the #4 seed, they would host their first round game on Monday, August 4 at Mohegan Sun Arena.

"Winning this game is crucial for us on a lot of levels," Mohegan Coach Mark Stoute said. "Not only would it be a great honor for us and the organization to host a playoff game, but it'd be great for our fans who have been super all season, giving the team a boost every time they've needed it. They deserve a home playoff game.

This week's game at a glance – Wolves (10-5 overall, Streak: Won 1) vs. Conquest (12-3 overall, Streak: Won 1)

Saturday's game is the sixth all-time meeting between the Wolves and Conquest. Albany currently leads the series 4-1 on the strength on three straight wins in 2002. This year the Wolves and Conquest have split wins in two meetings, with each team winning on their home turf. Mohegan won the first affair, 52-45, on April 18 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Albany took the second game, 60-36, on June 28 at Pepsi Arena. Albany is led on offense by QB Ryan Vena and OS Corey Hill. Vena is arguably the top passer in af2, leading the league in pass rating (123.5) and passing yards (4,205). He needs just 213 yards to eclipse the all-time mark for passing yards in a single season (4,417). Hill enters this week's game with 148 receptions, thirteen yards shy of the all-time pro football record for receptions in a single-season (161), a record Hill himself set last season. In contrast, the Wolves are led by their defense. Mohegan's stingy defense allows just 37.7 points per game, a league-low average. In addition, a year after recording just 18 sacks in 16 games, Mohegan currently ranks third among the af2's elite with 29 sacks registered in 2003. Offensively, the Wolves will look for a solid showing from QB Greg Smith. Smith is currently among the league' s sharpest passers, ranking third in pass rating at 113.1.

Wolves Game Fifteen Recap – 7/18/03 – The Mohegan Wolves made history Friday night against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - in more ways than one. Not only did the Wolves earn their first-ever playoff berth, but they did so in impressive fashion, scoring a team-high 63 points en route to a 63-53 victory before 4,432 fans at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Wolves improved to 10-5 overall with the win and solidified themselves a date in the 2003 playoffs. Game MVP ANTHONY COMER had a big performance in Mohegan's biggest game ever. His highlights on the night included four kickoff returns for 108 yards and 6.5 tackles on defense. His impressive overall play was a key factor in the Wolves' 23-point third-quarter charge. That surge helped Mohegan turn a 28-25 halftime deficit into a 48-34 lead to start the fourth quarter. Other award winners for the Wolves were FB/LB LAJHON JONES and DS DAMON RICHARDSON. Jones earned the Ironman Award after rushing for a career-high three touchdowns on eight carries. The second-year player from URI also gained a game-high 30 yards and recorded 1.5 tackles on defense. Richardson was a unanimous choice for ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors after posting a game-high 8.5 tackles and four pass breakups. Mohegan also got crucial offensive play from the likes of QB GREG SMITH and OS MEL LONG. Smith threw for 176 yards and four touchdowns while Long hauled in five passes for 76 yards and two scores.

Don't miss the Mohegan Wolves special 2004 season ticket offer, available now. When a Wolves fan purchases their 2004 season tickets and pay in full by the end of the 2003 regular season (July 26), they will receive a 20% discount on their 2004 season tickets AND their seats FREE for each 2003 playoff game at the Mohegan Sun Arena. For more information, please contact the Wolves office at (860) 443-1900.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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