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af2 Playoff Game Recaps

Published on August 12, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The Cape Fear Wildcats earned the right to host the American Conference Championship Game by defeating the Albany Conquest 46-30 Saturday before a crowd of 5,608 fans at the Crown Coliseum.

With Cape Fear leading 26-24 going into the fourth quarter, the Wildcats drove 34 yards in seven minutes and scored when BOBBY PESAVENTO connected with SETH GUTZ for a 10-yard touchdown pass to give the home team a 33-24 lead with 12:12 to go.

On the ensuing possession, Albany quarterback RYAN VENA threw an ill-advised pass and WILMONT PERRY picked off the ball and returned it 27 yards for a 39-24 advantage at the 9:38 mark. Vena made up for the interception with 7:52 to play on a one-yard keeper, cutting the deficit to 39-30. But Perry gave the Wildcats some breathing room with his third touchdown run of the game with one minute left.

A pair of touchdown runs in the first quarter from Perry and EDDIE MILLER gave Cape Fear an early 13-0 lead, but Albany fought back with a CHRIS DRENNAN field goal and a five-yard Vena run, making it 13-10 midway through the second quarter. Pesavento restored the Wildcats' advantage with a 30-yard TD pass to MATT BURNSTEIN with 2:57 left in the half, giving Cape Fear a 20-10 lead at the break.

Pesavento completed 23-of-30 passes for 202 yards and two scores and earned game MVP honors. Vena completed 18-of-34 passes for two touchdowns and added two on the ground. Perry was the Ironman of the Game with three rushing touchdowns, five tackles and his interception return for a score.

Albany's BRANDON TINSON was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game after recording a game-high 11 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups.

Cape Fear held Albany's COREY HILL to a season-low 58 yards on six catches. His five-yard touchdown reception with 4:13 remaining in the third quarter brought the Conquest within 26-24.

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Florida Firecats (11-7) 44, Macon Knights (14-4) 28

MACON, Ga. – The Florida Firecats pulled off their second upset in as many weeks, playing flawless defense in a 44-28 victory over Macon to advance to the American Conference Championship Game.

In front of 3,456 fans, the homestanding Knights took the early initiative by going ahead 14-0 in the first eight minutes of the game. But with a 14-3 lead at the beginning of the second quarter, Macon faced a 4th-and-goal from the Firecats' seven-yard line. Florida's QUINCY SORRELL came up big, blocking JOHN RAYBORN's pass and turning the momentum in the visitors' favor.

The Firecats scored 31 of the game's next 38 points, including 21 during the first half's final 4:36, and twice in the final 12 seconds. DERYL LANE scored Florida's first touchdown, rushing in from five yards out with 4:36 left in the half. Macon scored on the possession, with JACQUES RUMPH pulling in a 13-yard TD reception with 2:01 left. ANTHONY DIXON returned the favor with 12 seconds to play in the half and, on the ensuing kickoff, RICHARD JONES stripped Rumph of the ball and ran it back 13 yards for the go-ahead score just four seconds before halftime.

BRANDON KORNBLUE opened the second half with a 32-yard field goal and, after a defensive stop, Benton caught a 37-yard touchdown pass to all but seal the game. Macon countered as TREMAINE NEAL caught a 16-yard scoring pass with 5:23 left in the third quarter, but the Firecats scored the final 10 points on a Dixon four-yard reception and Kornblue's third field goal, this one from 21 yards away.

Dixon was named the game MVP after catching seven passes for 72 yards and two scores. TERRELL SUTTON was the Ironman of the Game with six tackles, a tackle for a loss and an interception on defense plus six receptions for 66 yards on offense. ROY STABLER picked up ADT Defensive Player of the Game recognition with four tackles and four pass breakups.

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Birmingham Steeldogs (13-5) 53, Tulsa Talons (15-3) 34

TULSA, Okla. – The Birmingham Steeldogs outscored Tulsa 27-0 over a 27-minute span Saturday to roll to a 53-34 upset win over the Talons in front of 3,535 fans in a National Conference semifinal game at the Tulsa Convention Center.

The Steeldogs went on their game-breaking run with the game tied at 13-13 early in the second quarter. Birmingham QB MONTRESSA KIRBY hooked up with ANTHONY JORDAN on a 38-yard touchdown pass, then with HERMAN BELL on a seven-yarder to give the visitors a 26-13 halftime lead.

LARRY HUNTINGTON's 16-yard touchdown reception extended the advantage to 33-13 before Kirby opened the fourth quarter with a one-yard plunge to boost the Steeldogs' bulge to 27 points. Tulsa tried to rally with back-to-back TD runs by JOHNNY BALOUS and ANTHONY BUICH, but Kirby answered with late touchdown passes to Bell (15 yards) and Huntington (45 yards) to assure the Steeldogs a spot in the National Conference Championship Game.

Kirby, the reigning af2 Offensive Player of the Week, made a strong bid to retain the honor by completing 21-of-31 passes for 296 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. He also ran for the TD that gave Birmingham its biggest lead of the game at 40-13. Bell (53 receiving yards, three TD catches, one TD rush), Huntington (98 receiving yards, two TDs) and Jordan (91 receiving yards, one TD) gave the Steeldogs a diverse attack.

For Tulsa, Buich completed just 17-of-40 passes for 201 yards with one interception and just one TD, coming with 10 seconds left on a four-yard pass to RICHARD McCLESKEY. MITCH ALLNER led the Talons with 94 yards on five catches. Tulsa DS LARRY HOLLINQUEST paced all players with 10 tackles while Birmingham DS MICHAEL FEAGIN nabbed his third interception of the postseason, leading to the Steeldogs' final touchdown.

Except for one fourth-quarter fumble, Birmingham scored on every drive besides the possessions at the end of each half.

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Peoria Pirates (13-5) 22, San Diego Riptide (8-10) 12

PEORIA, Ill. – Trailing 12-0 heading into the fourth quarter, the Peoria Pirates scored the game's final 22 points Saturday to defeat the San Diego Riptide 22-12 in front of 4,402 fans. The Pirates will play at Birmingham in next Saturday's National Conference Championship Game.

The Pirates and Riptide set new af2 records for fewest points in a game (12) and fewest points by both teams (34), eclipsing the old records established in Quad City's 35-16 win over Carolina in the 2001 league semifinals.

The Riptide entered the fourth quarter up 12-0 thanks to a 37-yard KANE CLAUNCH-to-MARTY GRAHAM score in the first period, a 25-yard RYAN GEISLER field goal in the second, and a third-quarter safety by RYAN CUTHBERT. Dating back to San Diego's 28-21 victory over Peoria June 29, the Riptide defense shut out the Pirates for 76 minutes and 29 seconds.

But the tide turned on the first play of the final stanza when Peoria backup QB MATT PIKE nailed CORNELL CRAIG for a 29-yard score. In relief of starter WALTER CHURCH, Pike lit up the Riptide for 95 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, completing 6-of-8 passes.

The Pirates took the lead at the 6:57 mark on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Pike to WR/DB BRANDON CAMPBELL. Craig's rush for the two-point conversion made it 15-12, then Peoria capped its fourth-quarter explosion with Pike's 13-yard TD pass to CHARLES SHEFFIELD with 1:21 remaining.

Claunch completed 11-of-33 passes for 122 yards and one touchdown pass, spreading the ball among eight different receivers. Graham finished the game with two catches for 43 yards. Peoria's QB tandem of Church (14-of-22, 118 yards, one interception) and Pike (11-of-18, 135 yards) completed passes to six different receivers.

Ironman of the Game Campbell had a season-high eight catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. In addition to his sack of Church for San Diego's safety, ADT Defensive Player of the Game Cuthbert had another sack and blocked a field goal attempt.

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