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April 20, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS (0-2) AT W-B/SCRANTON PIONEERS (2-0)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006 - Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza (7,950) 7:00 P.M. ET
The South Georgia Wildcats enter this week's game at W-B/Scranton as a young team looking to grow up fast. They have struggled a bit thus far to get in sync, losing their first two games of 2006. Both losses have been on their home turf at Cooper Tire Field at the Albany Civic Center. South Georgia is coming off a 46-24 loss to Tulsa, a game in which the Wildcats managed to score just 10 points through three quarters. The Talons defensive line was a big factor in the win, totaling five sacks against a scrambling pair of South Georgia signal callers in BRIAN BAKER and DONDRIAL PINKINS. Baker started the game but struggled to get on track against a heavy Talons rush. After completing just seven passes for 45 yards through a quarter and a half, Baker was replaced by Pinkins. The rookie from South Carolina finished the night 7-of-17 for 108 yards and three touchdowns. CHRIS MCKINNEY, who played his first game at offensive specialist, led all receivers with nine catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns. All three of McKinney's touchdowns came in the second half from Pinkins. JAMES MCCOY led the Wildcats defense with nine tackles and BLAKE SAUNDERS added 8.5 tackles and one interception for 45 yards. It'll be interesting to see who starts under center for South Georgia on Friday. The Wildcats need to take better care of the football if they're going to change their fortunes. They currently rank last in turnover margin at minus-5 overall. As a team, they've had 10 turnovers in two games (7 INTs, 3 fumbles) and forced only five. McKinney leads the team in scoring with 34 points. The Pioneers (No. 3 in Coaches Poll) are coming off an impressive, 55-48, come-from-behind overtime win at Albany. Pioneers OS J.R. THOMAS caught the winning touchdown on a 26-yard strike 2:32 into the extra session. Albany led by as many as 20 points at one time in the contest, 27-7. W-B/Scranton fought back in the second half, however, and was able to seal the win in the extra session thanks to a MATT FORBES interception of Conquest QB Ryan Vena. Pioneers rookie QB MIKE GRANIERI played like a veteran in the victory, throwing for 298 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. WR/DB YARDON BRANTLEY led the receiving corps with eight catches for 102 yards and two scores. Rookie WR/DB YAACOV YISRAEL leads the team in receiving (12 receptions, 190 receiving yards) and in tackles (14.5) and pass breakups (4). W-B/Scranton is a well-balanced, well-coached team that may only get better as the season progresses.

WILDCATS PIONEERS
SERIES LEADER W-B/Scranton leads 4-1
LAST MEETING W-B/Scranton won 65-46 at South Georgia on 6/25/2005
LAST FIVE GAMES 0-5 4-1
LAST GAME Lost vs. TUL 24-46 on 4/15/2006 Won at ALB 55-48 on 4/14/2006
2006 LEADERS WILDCATS PIONEERS
PASSING Baker: 47-25-3; 228; 2 TDs Granieri: 70-41-3; 525; 11 TDs
RECEIVING McKinney: 14-168; 4 TDs Yisrael: 12-190; 1 TDs
RUSHING Pinkins: 3-14; 0 TDs Jefferson: 10-21; 2 TDs
TACKLES McCoy: 17.5 Yisrael: 14.5
SACKS Null: 2 Hollister: 1, Harding: 1
INTERCEPTIONS Saunders: 1 Forbes: 2
KICKING Burnett: 3-4 PAT; 1-2 FG 6 PTS Davis: 11-13 PAT; 1-2 FG 14 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 37.0 PPG; 168.0 50.0 PPG; 265.0
TEAM DEFENSE 52.0 PPG; 235.0 42.5 PPG; 313.0


BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (1-1) AT LOUISVILLE FIRE (0-2)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006 - Freedom Hall (15,646) 7:30 P.M. ET
After two home games to start their 2006 season, the improved Birmingham Steeldogs travel to Louisville to take on a dangerous Fire squad. Birmingham fell one point short of a 2-0 start after last week's loss to Rio Grande Valley, 44-43, in overtime. After a Dorados score and extra point began overtime, Steeldogs FB/LB ANTHONY MORRIS scored on a nine-yard touchdown run to put Birmingham within one point. New head coach RON SELESKY decided to forego the extra-point try and go for the win. QB RYAN HAWK'S two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, however, and the Birmingham comeback came up one-point short. The Steeldogs were down 24 points in the fourth quarter, but Hawk and OS KERRY WRIGHT rallied the team and erased the deficit while holding the Dorados scoreless for two posessions, forcing an extra period. Hawk rebounded after a difficult start to finish 14-of-34 for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Wright caught five passes for 101 yards and three touchdowns. U.S Army Ironman of the Game honors went to TERRELL BROWDEN, who had a solid overall outing for the Steeldogs. Browden had 15 rushing yards and a touchdown on offense, and two tackles, two pass breakups and a blocked field goal he recovered for a touchdown on defense. BOBBY KEYES was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game with two interceptions and six tackles. The Steeldogs defense has been solid thus far, allowing just 40.0 points per game. They've also taken care of the ball and currently rank tied for third in turnover margin (+2). Wright has been the team's best playmaker. He has scored 42 points in two games (6 receiving TDs, 1 kick return TD). The Louisville Fire enter this week's contest looking to halt their two-game losing streak. The Fire's offense struggled to ignite in their most recent 39-34 loss at home against Manchester. Rookie QB BRETT DIETZ threw just one touchdown pass in 32 attempts and also tossed two interceptions. Louisville's strength is in its skill players. OS ROB MAGER leads the group with 15 catches for 169 yards and three touchdowns. The Fire also have a solid tandem of defensive specialists in KABOTA SIYKALA (2 INTs, 8 PBUs) and JEREMY CHANDLER (2 INTs, 2 PBUs). Dietz's play will need to improve this week to get Louisville back on track. Through two games, the offense has averaged just 35.5 points per game.

STEELDOGS FIRE
SERIES LEADER Series tied 3-3
LAST MEETING Louisville won at Birmingham 69-61 on 6/11/2005
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 2-3
LAST GAME Lost vs. RGV 43-44 in OT on 4/15/2006 Lost vs. MAN 37-45 on 4/14/2006
2006 LEADERS STEELDOGS FIRE
PASSING Hawk: 71-35-2; 421; 8 TDs Dietz: 73-45-2; 431; 6 TDs
RECEIVING Wright: 14-219; 6 TDs Mager: 15-169; 3 TDs
RUSHING Browden: 8-40; 1 TDs Power: 7-9; 2 TDs
TACKLES Harris: 12.5, Keyes: 12.5 Chandler: 12.5
SACKS 3 tied with 1 Brockington: 1
INTERCEPTIONS Keyes: 2 Chandler: 2, Siykala: 2
KICKING Walls: 5-8 PAT; 1-4 FG 8 PTS Hendrix: 8-9 PAT; 3-4 FG 17 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 42.0 PPG; 248.0 35.5 PPG; 211.5
TEAM DEFENSE 40.0 PPG; 266.5 42.0 PPG; 217.0


OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (2-0) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (2-1)
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2006 - The Resch Center (7,995) 8:30 P.M. ET
In Friday's featured matchup, two of the league's top teams face off in an out-of-conference affair. The No.4-ranked Yard Dawgz make their second trip to Green Bay in the team's history to take on the No. 6-ranked Blizzard. Oklahoma City has started off its 2006 season in good form with two wins in as many weeks. The Yard Dawgz have a potent offense that is led by veteran QB CRAIG STRICKLAND and an impressive set of skill players. Together the group has averaged a league-best 60.5 points through their first two games. Last week Oklahoma City scored a 61-44 road victory against the Amarillo Dusters, enjoying a bit of revenge for their last meeting in which Amarillo knocked Oklahoma City out of the first round of the 2005 playoffs. This time out, however, the Yard Dawgz looked a little different, thanks to two former Duster standouts, WR/DB CHAVIS MCCOLLISTER and JIMMY GASTON. McCollister felt right at home, scoring the first Yard Dawgz touchdown. Yard Dawgz WR/DB JARRAIL JACKSON was the team's top playmaker, finishing the night with four touchdowns and 106 yards receiving. The game was closely contested throughout the first three quarters. The fourth quarter, however, was all Oklahoma City. Strickland (Schutt Offfensve Player of the Game) found Jackson in the endzone three times during a crucial 21-6 run. JON HOLLAND led the defense with eight tackles and one interception. Strickland leads the league in pass completion percentage (73.7) and pass efficiency (145.2 rating). He's also thrown 15 touchdowns with no interceptions through two games. After a season-opening loss to Albany, Green Bay has looked like a much-improved team over the last two weeks. As a result, they've rebounded with key divisional wins over Manchester and Quad City. Last week the Blizzard snowed in the homestanding Steamwheelers, 57-34, thanks to an inspired effort from QB RONNIE GORDON, who threw five touchdowns and also ran for two scores. Green Bay went on top early, 13-0, to start the first quarter and never looked back. Gordon, a former Steamwheelers signal caller, earned Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors. Four different Green Bay pass catchers caught touchdowns on the night, led by LUKE LEVERSON'S two receiving scores. Green Bay applied constant defensive pressure to Quad City QB Tim Hicks, forcing the veteran into a sub-par showing of 244 passing yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He was also sacked four times. Green Bay ranks second in the league in turnover margin at +5. The Blizzard's rushing attack leads the league in yards with 139 and is tied for third in touchdowns with seven.

YARD DAWGZ BLIZZARD
SERIES LEADER Green Bay leads 1-0
LAST MEETING Green Bay won 71-53 on 5/14/2004
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 3-2
LAST GAME Won at AMA 61-44 on 4/15/2006 Won at QCS 57-34 on 4/15/2006
2006 LEADERS YARD DAWGZ BLIZZARD
PASSING Strickland: 57-42-0; 577 15 TDs MacPherson: 49-30-2; 350; 6 TDs
RECEIVING Hunt: 13-256; 5 TDs Lane: 18-210; 6 TDs
RUSHING Dingle: 3-7; 1 TD Pagel: 5-45; 1 TDs
TACKLES Fletcher: 15, Holland: 15 Crocker: 19.5
SACKS NA Boss: 1.5, Huyser: 1.5
INTERCEPTIONS Fletcher: 1, Holland: 1 Kwaku: 2
KICKING Haglund: 14-17 PAT; 1-2 FG 17 PTS Tydlacka: 12-15 PAT; 1-3 FG 15 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 60.5 PPG; 292.5 48.3; 239.0
TEAM DEFENSE 47.0 PPG; 330.0 38.7; 245.3

WEEK 4 SATURDAY SCHEDULE:
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Albany at Manchester 7:30 p.m.
Memphis at Florida 7:30 p.m.
Spokane at Amarillo 8:00 p.m.
Bossier-Shreveport at Tulsa 8:00 p.m.
Stockton at Quad City 8:15 p.m.
Macon at Tennessee Valley 8:30 p.m.
Arkansas at Rio Grande Valley 8:30 p.m.
Bye: Bakersfield, Central Valley, and Everett



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