af2 Conference Finals recaps

August 21, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

SATURDAY, AUGUST 19

Green Bay Blizzard 60, FLORIDA FIRECATS 47 (5,410)

ESTERO, Fla. - The Green Bay Blizzard advanced to their first ArenaCup in franchise history with a 60-47 road victory over the Florida Firecats at Germain Arena. The defeat for the Firecats marked the second straight season they lost the American Conference Championship game at home. Green Bay took control early, jumping out to a 27-6 lead. The Blizzard scored on their first four possessions and held Florida to only one touchdown on their first three drives of the game. Green Bay's early success was the result of key conversions on third down as the Blizzard converted on all four third downs they faced in the first half. Green Bay's James MacPherson completed 23-of-28 passes for 282 yards and seven touchdowns. The Schutt Offensive Player of the Game kept Florida's veteran secondary guessing, spreading the ball around to his talented trio of receivers. Brent Holmes led the team in receiving with eight catches for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Gerald Harris also grabbed two scores while veteran Robert Garth recorded three touchdowns on four receptions. MacPherson was also part of Green Bay's rushing attack, rushing for seven of Green Bay's 41 rushing yards. Playing behind the entire game, Florida's Chris Wallace threw for 332 yards and seven touchdowns on 27-of-45 passing with two interceptions. Wallace's main target was Ethenic Sands. The af2 veteran grabbed nine passes for 115 yards and four touchdowns. Sands registered Florida's final two scores, including a touchdown, which brought Florida within six points at 53-47 with 19 seconds left. The Firecats' subsequent onside kick was unsuccessful as Robert Garth scored his fourth touchdown of the game with a ten-yard kickoff return. Green Bay's defense was the key of the game. Both Luke Leverson (U.S. Army Ironman of the Game) and Randee Drew (ADT Defensive Player of the Game) grabbed an interception for the Blizzard. Florida finished its season at 14-4 overall.

SPOKANE SHOCK 48, Arkansas Twisters 30 (10,550)

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Shock defeated the Arkansas Twisters, 48-30, Saturday night at Spokane Arena to earn a berth in the 2006 ArenaCup. Excluding af2's inaugural 2000 season, the Shock became the first franchise in league history to advance to the ArenaCup in their expansion season. The Shock took control of the contest in the third quarter. Down by only four points at halftime, 27-23, the Twisters had possession of the ball to start the second half. A touchdown would have given Arkansas the lead and set up a thirty-minute battle for a berth in the ArenaCup. Instead the Shock were the ones who came out and took control, forcing Arkansas into a long 48-yard field goal attempt. The kick was missed and eight plays later Spokane's Raul Vigil found the endzone on a six-yard run to give Spokane a two-possession lead. The first play on the ensuing drive looked promising for the Twisters when Pierre Thomas caught a 29-yard pass. Unfortunately for Arkansas, however, Isaiah Trufant (ADT Defensive Player of the Game) stripped the ball from Thomas and gave the Shock the ball back. Four straight passes to Jesse Hendrix (U.S. Army Ironman of the Game) later and the Shock had an 18-point lead and would cruise the rest of the way. For the Shock, Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Kyle Rowley completed 21-of-30 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns. Charles Frederick caught eight passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. For Arkansas, Walter Church threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 17-of-38 passing with one interception. Kevin Williams caught seven passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Delenell Reid recorded a game-high nine tackles. Arkansas finished the season at 12-7 overall.

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