2004 ArenaCup Playoffs: First Round Matchups

Published on August 6, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

PEORIA PIRATES (9-7) AT OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (10-6)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2004 - COX CONVENTION CENTER (13,300) 3:30 P.M. ET

In their first ever meeting, the Peoria Pirates take to the road to face the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz for a Saturday matinee looking to advance to the next round of the ArenaCup playoffs. The Yard Dawgz usually call the Ford Center their home, but with the Ford Center booked this weekend the Dawgz will make the Cox Convention Center the new "Dawg Pound" for the afternoon. The Cox Convention Center, formally the Myriad Convention Center, is no stranger to Arena Football. It was the home field for the AFL Oklahoma Wranglers for the 2000 and 2001 seasons. In those two years the Wranglers played two playoff games in 2000, but they were both on the road meaning this will be the first ever postseason Arena Football game ever played in Oklahoma City. While the Yard Dawgz are an expansion team their roster is filled with playoff experience, including several former 2003 Tulsa Talons who took home the ArenaCup last season. OL/DL BILL CLAPPER, FB/LB JOHNNIE BALOUS, WR/LB AL HUNT and QB CRAIG STRICKLAND won the ArenaCup in Tulsa last season. For these guys the road back to the ArenaCup begins against Peoria.

For the Pirates, they hope this game is a return to the ArenaCup themselves. As 2002 ArenaCup Champions the Pirates failed to make the playoffs last season and never truly had a chance to defend their championship. Now the Pirates have that opportunity, though midway through the season it looked doubtful they would be playing anything outside of golf after the regular season was over. After seven games the Pirates were 2-5, with a 57-29 loss at Green Bay being the fifth loss. After that point Peoria won seven out of their final nine games, including six straight before losing to Green Bay 33-30 in the final game of the season. There is double good news for Pirates. First, they are in the playoffs, and second, Green Bay is not, so they don't have to worry about losing to them a third time.

While the Pirates were losing their final game of the regular season to Green Bay, the Yard Dawgz were resting, as they were the only team in the af2 to have a bye in the final week of the season. This week should have given them extra time to rest up. Hopefully it won't leave them rusty as quarterback Craig Strickland will need to be on his "A" game to beat the Pirates, which defense giving up only a league-best 37.5 points per game. Strickland, who leads the af2 in passing touchdowns with 84, will likely be up to the challenge considering he has three receivers who totaled 1,000 yards this season in KRIS PETERS (1,304), Al Hunt (1,112) and TIMON MARSHALL (1,073).

The Pirates secondary, anchored by veteran DS FRANK WEST and his eight interceptions, will need to hold the Dawgz back. With Oklahoma City averaging 56.8 points per game, second best in the af2, going against the best defense in the af2 it is easy to say that it the adage "defense wins championships" will be tested, but there is really more to this game. The Yard Dawgz defense is pretty good as well. While only ranking in the middle of pack defensively with 48.1 points given up per game, their defensive line is the best in the league, sacking opposing quarterbacks 43 times. This group is led by JAMES LANDERS, with 8.5 sacks, and DREW MITCHELL, who got to the opposing quarterback eight times. If they can get in the face of Peoria's two quarterbacks, ANDREW WEBB and TALMADGE HILL, then the Dawgz might have the edge in this game. But then again, if the Pirates defense can create a few turnovers early in the game it may give the momentum to Peoria and slow down both the Yard Dawgz offense and pass rush. One thing is for sure, it is certainly going to be an interesting and entertaining game.

KEY PLAYER

Peoria Offensive Line

Yes, it looks like the matchup is going to be the Yard Dawgz offense verses the Pirates top defense, but this won't decide the game. Even if Peoria holds Oklahoma City under their season average in points, the Pirates wont come out on top if they can't score points themselves. That is why the Pirates offensive line is going to be key to this game. If the Dawgz sack leaders don't get to Peoria's quarterbacks then they will have the time to get the ball to Lawrence Matthews, Jerald Burley and the rest of the Peoria receivers. If this starts to happen, Casey Urlacher might find a few run threw and he and the Pirates might find the semifinals.

EXTENDED SERIES HISTORY

With this being their first meeting, these two teams have no history against each other.

ARENACUP PLAYOFFS HISTORY

Peoria: Peoria won the 2002 ArenaCup in their only previous playoff appearance, going 4-0 in the process. This will be their first playoff appearance since the 2002 season. Oklahoma City: The Yard Dawgz are in their inaugural season and this will be their first playoff game in franchise history.

TRENDS AND NOTES

-Peoria head coach Bruce Cowdrey holds a 4-0 ArenaCup playoff record.
-This is the first time an af2 playoff game has been played in an arena which the home team didn't play their season games in.
-The fewest number of touchdown passes Oklahoma City completed this season in one game was four.
-Oklahoma City featured ten different players who registered at least 2.0 sacks during the season.
-Peoria and Oklahoma City are both on the plus side in turnover margin, with Peoria at +2 and Oklahoma City at +7.

OUT DUE TO INJURY

Peoria: FB/LB Harry Lattimore, OL/DL Lucas Brigman, QB Bill Whittemore, WR/LB Larry Henderson
Oklahoma City: OL/DL Ryan Bell

A LOOK AT THE HEAD COACHES

Bruce Cowdrey (30-34, 3rd Year, 4-0 Playoffs)

Bruce Cowdrey has not only led the Pirates to an af2 ArenaCup Championship, but also a championship in the IFL (Indoor Football League) when he led Peoria to a 17-0 record in 2000. After spending one season coaching the Pensacola Barracudas he returned to Peoria in 2002 to lead them to the ArenaCup Championship.

Gary Reasons (10-6, 1st Year, 0-0 Playoffs) This is Reasons first year as an af2 head coach. He is a former NFL linebacker, winning the Super Bowl with the New York Giants. He retired with the Bengals in 1992. During his playing days he was selected to the NFL All Rookie, All NFL and All Madden Teams. His NFL experience, especially his Super Bowl experience, adds something to the Yard Dawgz locker room that most af2 teams don't have.

EXTRA POINT

While they have not played this season Peoria and Oklahoma City have six common opponents: Arkansas, Central Valley, Columbus, Green Bay, Tulsa, and Wichita. Against these teams, Peoria is 3-5 and Oklahoma is 6-4.

MEMPHIS XPLORERS (10-6) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (10-6)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2004 - GERMAIN ARENA (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Memphis Xplorers travel south to take on Florida Firecats in their first ever playoff game in franchise history. In contrast Florida has a significant playoff history, playing in the 2002 ArenaCup. Memphis has taken some different curves in the road to reach this point. They began the season with BRIAN JONES at quarterback. Jones, an af2 rookie, played well leading the Xplorers to a 4-4 record as a starter. After Jones went out for an injury the Xplorers started JACOB KNOBB against Bossier-Shreveport, but Memphis lost 67-28 and Memphis knew they needed someone to fill in until Jones came back, so they traded for MICHAEL WALL from Tulsa. He stepped in and did more than fill in, he took the starting job away from Jones, starting the final seven games for Memphis, leading them to a 6-1 record and the playoffs. In the eight games Jones started the Xplorers averaged 46.9 points per game. In the seven games Wall started the Xplorers averaged 53.0 points per game. Wall didn't just improve their team at one position he transformed the Xplorers from an average team to a playoff team, and a dangerous playoff team at that. When Wall can connect with KEVIN PRENTISS there may not be a better quarterback-receiver duo in the league. Prentiss finished the season with 103 catches for 1,510 yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging 100.7 yards per game. He is also a dangerous kick returner, returning 44 kicks for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns. The eight touchdowns tie a single season record. His numbers could have been even better if teams didn't do their best to kick away from him as the season progressed.

Wall's second favorite target is RYAN KARR. This shouldn't be surprising since Karr is also a former Talon. While his 46 receptions and 12 touchdowns pale in comparison to Prentiss numbers, Karr is also pretty busy on the other side of the ball. He is second on the team in tackles with 52.0 (37UA 30) and leads the team in forced fumbles with five. Leading the Xplorers defense is DAHNEL SINGFIELD. His seven interceptions, 35 passes defended and 68.0 tackles (58UA 20A) all lead the team. He is also credited with one of the Xplorers seven kicks they blocked.

While Memphis' defense is pretty good, Florida's is fantastic. If you were looking to put together a recipe for a good defense a main ingredient might be the league leader in tackles, and the Firecats have that in QUINCY SORRELL. He is only the third player to record 100 tackles in a season as he finished this season with 100.5 stops (87UA 27A). He also has two interceptions and thirteen passes defended, as does ROY STABLER, who is second on the team in tackles with 47.5 (39UA 17A). DESMOND WASHINGTON leads the team in passes defended with eighteen. One key member that shouldn't be over looked is CHRIS MORANT. His 4.0 sacks leads the Firecats, as does his 10.5 tackles for a loss. He has even broken up six passes and blocked three kicks. But COMONE FISHER leads the team in blocked kicks with four. With all of this said, Florida's defense struggled last week against Tennessee Valley, giving up 76 points and 357 passing yards. The Firecats hope they got their bad game out of their system, and will turn it around against Memphis.

Looking at the other side of the ball, the Firecats can move the ball on the ground or through the air. STEVE GORRIE is af2's single season rushing leader, rushing for 500 yards this season. He has proven to be a threat this season, especially when combined with KEN MASTROLE's 3,390 passing yards and 76 touchdown passes for the Firecats. Mastrole does a good job mixing up his touchdown passes with CAINON LAMB catching 28, MAGIC BENTON getting 26 and ANTHONY SNEAD snagging seventeen. Combined with Gorrie's seventeen rushing touchdowns the opposing defense is never quite sure who will find the endzone for Florida. With so much talent on all sides of the ball for both teams, this has the makings of one of the best games of the playoffs, in any of the rounds.

KEY PLAYER

Memphis QB Michael Wall

He won the ArenaCup last season as a back up in Tulsa, but now he needs to step to the forefront and lead the Xplorers past the Firecats. If he can limit mistakes and not let the Firecats defense force him out of his game, the Xplorers should be in a position to win. For a team that started out 4-5 and has never won been to the playoffs, being in position to win a road playoff game would be a pretty good position to be in.

EXTENDED SERIES HISTORY

Florida leads the all time series between the Firecats and Xplorers 4-2, including splitting the season series with Memphis this season. The Xplorers won the first matchup in Week 3, taking control of the game in the second quarter on three straight scores, a Brian Jones one yard rush in the endzone, a James Roden safety and a Robert Kilow one yard rush for a touchdown. From there, they held on. In Week 9 Florida dominated, allowing only three touchdowns to the Xplorers, winning 43-20. The other Memphis win over Florida came in their second ever meeting in 2002. Memphis defeated Florida at Germain Arena 34-32. Florida lost only one more regular season game in 2002, before losing in the ArenaCup to Peoria.

ARENACUP PLAYOFFS HISTORY

Memphis: This is the first time in franchise history Memphis has qualified for the ArenaCup Playoffs. Florida: Florida defeated Tallahassee, Macon and Cape Fear all on the road in 2002 on their way to the ArenaCup. They qualified last season for the playoffs, losing at Macon 42-35 in the first round.

TRENDS AND NOTES

-Florida hasn't won a single game this season when giving up more than 40 points.
-Both teams have problems with penalties, Memphis ranks 20th committing 64.0 penalty yards per game. Florida ranks 24th committing 69.8 penalty yards per game.
-Memphis Dahnel Singfield's 42 passes defended is best in the league.
-The Firecats rank in the league's top five for each of the following categories: Scoring Defense, Total Defense, Pass Defense, Rushing Defense, and Red Zone Defense.
-The Florida offensive line has given up only five sacks this season, best in the league.

OUT DUE TO INJURY

Memphis: FB/LB Lavante Epson, OL/DL DeCorye Hampton, FB/LB Jon Tekac
Florida: OL/DL Keith Drayton, DS Chris Davis

A LOOK AT THE HEAD COACHES

Danton Barto (21-27, 3rd Year, 0-0 Playoffs)

Barto's professional playing experience includes the AFL and the CFL, giving him a vast knowledge of professional football. He played his college ball at Memphis, playing linebacker. Barto has led the Xplorers to their first ever playoff appearance this season.

Ben Bennett (20-12, 2nd Year, 0-1 Playoffs) Bennett, an AFL Hall of Famer, brings years of Arena Football playoff experience to the Firecats. He is the only player in AFL history to guide three different teams to five different ArenaBowls. He has turned the Firecats into a perennial ArenaCup contender but is still looking for his first playoff victory.

EXTRA POINT

Florida's defense may give up only 38.2 points per game, but Memphis averages 22.4 yards per kick return. If Kevin Prentiss, Memphis' main kick returner, returns a few deep, it would make it a lot easier for Michael Wall and the Memphis offense.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (10-6) AT CAPE FEAR WILDCATS (12-4)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2004 - CROWN COLISEUM (8,920) 7:30 P.M. ET

Two Wild Card teams take to the field in Fayetteville, North Carolina as the Birmingham Steeldogs face the Cape Fear Wildcats. Surprisingly, Birmingham and Cape Fear have yet to play each other, despite being two of the older teams in the af2. It certainly may be a meeting of the minds Saturday night with two of the most successful head coaches in the af2, Bobby Humphrey and Chris Siegfrield, go head-to-head. Humphrey is the only coach the Steeldogs have ever known and is the only one team for all five years of their existence. In this time he has racked up 47 career victories, tops in af2 history. Siegfried, is also the only head coach the Wildcats have ever had. He has taken the franchise from an expansion team and led them to three straight playoff appearances. He has yet to find luck in the playoffs, but this year could be different. Siegfried has a talented team top to bottom.

At the core of the Wildcats is MATT BURSTEIN. Burstein is the Wildcats leading receiver and the af2 leader in scoring, with 45 touchdowns (43 receiving and two on kick returns). He came up just two receiving touchdowns short of tying the af2 record for receiving touchdowns in a single season. Perhaps most important Burstein has played in all 16 games for the Wildcats, proving he is durable over a long season. When it is third down or late in the game, look for the ball to go Burstein's way. While Burstein is simply explosive, the return of MIKE GLUSKI to the Wildcats has been the difference in the Wildcats success. When he joined the team Cape Fear was an average 3-3. Ten games later and the Wildcats are 12-4 with their only loss since he joined the team being to Northeast Division Champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. This kind of winning streak is nothing knew to Gluski. In Cape Fear's inaugural season of 2002 Gluski became the main man after the fourth game when Cape Fear was 2-2. He went on to lead the Wildcats to a division championship, winning eleven of the final twelve games. Cape Fear won their first two games in the 2002 ArenaCup playoffs with wins at home over Richmond and Albany. In the American Conference Championship Game, Gluski and the Wildcats were upended by Florida 43-29 to end their season. This season may be different though, because Gluski will not be starting this week. Backup JAKE EATON will get the start after playing well last week in Cape Fear's final game of the season. If Eaton does guide the Wildcats to victory they will have to go on the road to play a playoff game next week, something the franchise has never done.

Going on the road is the least of Birmingham's problems, because that is right were they are right now, but it probably isn't where they thought they would be earlier on in the season. After Week 9 Birmingham was riding high. They were 7-1 and just defeated the rival Tennessee Valley Vipers 36-30 in overtime for the first in regular season in team history. But they sputtered down the final half of the season, winning only three games and losing to every playoff team they played in the second half of the season. They looked after eight games they were on their way to a bye in the playoffs, now they hold the fifth spot in the American Conference. But now they enter the second season, and wins during the second season are the ones people really remember. They didn't win ten games on accident, the have talent on both sides of the ball. DONTAE WALKER is one of the best rushers in the league, running for 207 yards and sixteen touchdowns on the season.

The two headed quarterback of JEFF AARON and KENTON EVANS has proven to be effective. Their combined numbers of 215 of 401 passing for 3,514 yards and 63 touchdowns with 21 interceptions are about the same as most af2 starting quarterbacks. On defense ANTHONY JORDAN leads the team with nine interceptions while MARLON BUSH has 7.5 sacks and JERRY TURNER have 8.5 sacks. Look for them to possibly be the difference makers in the contest.

KEY PLAYER

Cape Fear QB Jake Eaton

In Rob Johnson for Doug Flutie like fashion, Eaton will get the start for Gluski on Saturday despite spending most of the season as a back up. His play will dictate if Cape Fear comes out on top, or takes an early exit. Look for Birmingham's Marlon Bush and Jerry Turner to have Eaton in their sights.

EXTENDED SERIES HISTORY

This is the first ever meeting between Birmingham and Cape Fear.

ARENACUP PLAYOFFS HISTORY

Birmingham: One of af2's original teams, the Steeldogs have qualified for the playoffs in two of their previous four seasons. In 2001 they fell to Richmond 67-60 on the road. They were one game away from the ArenaCup in 2002 before losing at home in the National Conference Semifinal Game to Peoria 79-33. Last season they failed to qualify for the playoffs. Cape Fear: Cape Fear has qualified for the ArenaCup Playoffs in each of their previous two seasons. In 2002 they were one game away from the ArenaCup, before losing to Florida 43-29 in the American Conference Semifinal Game. Last season they lost in the first round to the Wolves 50-47.

TRENDS AND NOTES

-Cape Fear gave up only six sacks this season, tied for second best in the league.
-Cape Fear WR/DB Mitch Galloway has scored touchdowns rushing, receiving, passing and on a fumble recovery.
-Birmingham is ranked 20th in turnover margin at -8, while Cape Fear is tied for sixth at +6.
-Birmingham's Anthony Jordan ranks fourth all-time in career interceptions with 21.
-With Birmingham's win last week, if they defeat the Wildcats it would be the first time the Steeldogs have won consecutive games since Weeks 8 and 9 of this season.

OUT DUE TO INJURY

Birmingham Steeldogs: WR/DB Larry Huntington, DS George Williams, OL/DL Troy Johnson
Cape Fear Wildcats: OL/DL Brian Huff, FB/LB Darvell Bivens, K Derek Avilez, QB Chad DeGrenier, OL/DL Brian Huff

A LOOK AT THE HEAD COACHES

Bobby Humphrey (47-33, 5th Year, 2-2 Playoffs)

Bobby Humphrey is the only head coach the Steeldogs have ever known. He is also the only coach in af2 to be with the same team for all five seasons meaning he has coached more af2 games than anyone else. In Week 9 Humphrey became the af2's all time winning coach with the Steeldogs' 36-30 overtime victory against Tennessee Valley. Humphrey brings a wealth of af2 knowledge to the Steeldogs sideline.

Chris Siegfried (35-13, 3rd Year, 2-2 Playoffs)

The only head coach the Wildcats have ever had, Siegfried begins the 2004 playoffs looking for his first ArenaCup title. He played in the AFL, CFL the Taipei Dragons of the UFL. He is one of the few af2 head coaches to have played in the af2, playing for the Augusta Stallions in 2000. He served as offensive coordinator in 2001 for the Macon Knights before being named Cape Fear's head coach.

EXTRA POINT

Although Birmingham and Cape Fear have not played each other this year, they have played against five common opponents (Columbus, Florida, Macon, Manchester and Memphis). In those games Cape Fear was 8-2 while Birmingham was 6-2.

LOUISVILLE FIRE (9-7) AT QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (10-6)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7, 2004 - THE MARK (9,437) 8:30 P.M. ET

The first playoff game in Louisville Fire team history will be on Saturday as they take on their division rival, the Quad City Steamwheelers. If this feels like déjà vu, it should. Louisville played at Quad City last week with the Midwest Division title on the line. The Steamwheelers came out on top 66-38 to take the division and earning the right to host this game. No team has had as had more success in the ArenaCup Playoffs than the Quad City Steamwheelers. They are the only team to win the ArenaCup multiple times, in 2000 and 2001, and holding a 6-1 record in the playoffs. They have yet to play a playoff game on the road. If they defeat the Fire, they will be on the road next week for their first road playoff game. To make this happen they will need quarterback RONNIE GORDON to earn his first playoff victory. Gordon has been consistent this season, throwing for 4,018 yards and 67 touchdowns with fourteen interceptions. He also brings another dimension to his game. His 23 rushing touchdowns is a Steamwheeler record. With this aspect of his game he isn't the same type of quarterback the Steamwheelers have had in the past. BILLY DICKEN, who led the Wheelers to their first championship, threw only four interceptions the entire season. JAY MCDONAGH and TONY ZIMMERMAN were gunslingers. Zimmerman threw 93 touchdown passes last season, an af2 record. All three of these quarterbacks moved on to the AFL. Gordon is different. When he stays within himself and doesn't make mistakes the Steamwheelers are successful. Making Gordon's job easy is JEFF HEWITT and TIM DODGE. Often a team has two main receivers, but rarely they are as important as Hewitt and Dodge are to the Steamwheelers. Of the 70 receiving touchdowns Quad City has, Hewitt and Dodge combine for 51 of them. Of the Steamwheelers 4,088 receiving yards, Hewitt and Dodge have 3,036 of them. All these numbers add up to two dangerous receivers. If experience is important, FLINT FLEMING has more than most people in the af2 or AFL. A 14-year veteran of the AFL, Fleming played in six ArenaBowls and won three. He has been both and AFL and af2 assistant coach, but now he is playing for the Steamwheelers. When things get sticky, having a coach on the field like Fleming may be a key to victory for the Steamwheelers. For Louisville, just getting to the playoffs for the first time is a successful season. For the team on the field, just getting to the dance is not enough, they want more. The Fire have several guys who can make plays in different ways on the field. The best way to break down the Fire is to look at the five players MATT SAUK throws the pigskin to most often. The list is highlighted by JAMES SCOTT. His 102 catches for 1,354 yards and 24 touchdowns leads the team. The other four receivers contribute in other ways also. ANTHONY PAYTON is second in receiving with 77 catches for 877 yards and seventeen touchdowns. He contributes on defense, registering two interceptions this season. Next in receiving is TAKUYA FURUTANI, who became the first international player to win a league weekly award earlier this season. He recorded 51 receptions this season for 724 yards and eleven touchdowns. Furutani has rushed for a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. DENNIS FRYZEL grabbed 47 passes while recovering five fumbles also, a team high. Sauk's fifth receiver is TONY STALLINGS. His 33 receptions for 387 yards and five touchdowns may not jump out at you, but his fourteen rushing touchdowns and 30 kickoff returns sure do. All of these stats in only nine games for Stallings, quite impressive. When Sauk is getting the ball to these guys and putting points on the board the Fire are awfully hard to stop. They scored 55 or more points in eight of their sixteen games this season. Despite the loss last week, if the Fire are looking for some confidence, they can just think back to Week 10 when the Fire defeated the Steamwheelers for the first time in team history, 62-61 at Freedom Hall. They sure would like win number two over the Steamwheelers this week.

KEY PLAYER

Louisville QB Matt Sauk

Matt Sauk is one of the best quarterbacks ever to put a uniform on in af2, throwing for 4,000 yards in a season three separate times, but he has struggled to find success in the playoffs. He came up short of the ArenaCup in both 2001 and 2003 playing for Tennessee Valley. Last week against the Steamwheelers he threw five interceptions. All of these things can be forgotten if Sauk can have a solid game for the Fire and lead them to a victory over the Steamwheelers.

EXTENDED SERIES HISTORY

Quad City has dominated the series with Louisville, holding a 5-1 all time advantage. But that one victory for the Fire came this season, Week 10 at Freedom Hall. It was one of the best games of the season with the largest lead either team had being eight points. With the score tied at 55, Anthony Payton scored a touchdown to give the Fire a seven point lead with 52 seconds left. Tim Dodge came right back and scored on a nineteen-yard pass with 34 seconds left. But kicker Ryan Geisler missed the extra point. An onside kick recovered by Louisville and a missed Fire field goal later Geisler had a chance at a 51-yard field goal to win the game, but it came up short.

ARENACUP PLAYOFFS HISTORY

Louisville: As a team the Fire have no ArenaCup Playoff history, as this season will be the first time in team history they have made the playoffs.

Quad City: The Steamwheelers are the only team to have won multiple ArenaCups, winning in 2000 and 2001. Last season Quad City entered the playoffs as the number one seed and favorites to win the ArenaCup again, but lost at home to Arkansas 63-61.

TRENDS AND NOTES

-Quad City's five all-time wins over Louisville have come by an average of 23.2 points.
-Quad City WR/DB Tiim Dodge has won the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game award six straight weeks.
-Quad City came back last week to win after trailing at halftime, only the second time this season they have done so.
-This is the fifth consecutive season the Steamwheelers have won at least ten games.
-The Fire have given up six sacks this season, second best in the league.

OUT DUE TO INJURY

Louisville: WR/DB Tremain Mack, WR/DB Ryan Russell, WR/DB Demont Smith
Quad City: OL/DL James Rennick, OL/DL Antonio Brown, WR/DB Danny Thomas, OL/DL Brandon WIlliams

A LOOK AT THE HEAD COACHES

Tommy Johnson (13-17, 2nd Year, 0-0 Playoffs)

Tommy Johnson has been with the Louisville Fire since their inception in 2001. He became head coach of the Fire during the 2002 season. In college he was a defensive back on the 1992 Alabama team that won the NCAA title. He played three seasons in the AFL, two with the Albany Firebirds and one with the Carolina Cobras.

Rich Ingold (34-15, 3rd Year, 0-1 Playoffs) Rich Ingold has led the Steamwheelers to a winning record every year he has been at the helm. He brings AFL playing and coaching experience to the Steamwheelers. He won the 1988 ArenaBowl as the starting quarterback for the Detroit Drive. He also held the position of offensive coordinator for the AFL Pittsburgh Gladiators in 1990 and defensive coordinator for the 2001 New Jersey Gladiators of the AFL.

EXTRA POINT

Marc Samuel kicked thirteen games for Louisville this season before being released. The Steamwheelers picked Samuel up earlier this week and will kick against the Fire this week. If the game comes down to the final seconds, a game winning kick by Samuel would be the ultimate revenge.

arenafootball2 Stories from August 6, 2004

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• 2004 ArenaCup Playoffs: First Round Matchups - af2

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