Sports stats



af2 arenafootball2

af2 Quick Hitters

July 26, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GAMES ON - af2/B2 FEATURED GAMES IN WEEK 18: The arenafootball2 league (af2) has established a new, extensive online network to provide the league's passionate fan base an opportunity to view a vast number of games through the internet. Thanks to a new league partnership with industry leader B2 Networks, fans across the globe are now be able to bring all the action of af2 football right to their home computer or laptop. To tune into the action, fans can log on to www.af2.com and click on the special advertisement located at the top right-hand corner of the page. Viewers looking to enjoy the games via B2 will only need a high-speed internet connection and Windows Media Player 9 or higher. Games are available for the normal B2 rate of just $6. This week there are seven (7) af2 games available though B2. The Week 18 online broadcast schedule is detailed below. All times listed are Eastern.

Week 18

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Fort Wayne at Quad City 8:30 p.m.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Albany 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Florida at Manchester 7:05 p.m.

Boise at Tri-Cities 8:00 p.m.

Lubbock at Oklahoma City 8:05 p.m.

Corpus Christi at Stockton 10:30 p.m.

Spokane at Everett 10:30 p.m.

OFF THE NET/week 18: The arenafootball2 league (af2) online radio show, "Off the Net," the only internet radio show devoted solely to af2, will air its 18th show of the season today, Thursday, July 26, on www.af2.com. This week's show features special in-depth interviews with Florida Head Coach KEVIN BOUIS, San Jose SaberCats kicker A.J. HAGLUND (af2 alumni - Oklahoma City, 2006) and BRUCE COWDREY, AFL assistant coach and former af2 head coach. The program will also include news and notes from around the af2 as the league enters the 18th and final week of the 2007 season. Fans can easily access the program by clicking on a special "Off the Net" advertisement located at the lower right hand corner of af2.com. The show will be available online late this afternoon. "Off the Net," now in its second season, airs every Thursday throughout the regular season and continues all the way until an ArenaCup Champion is crowned in late August. The show is designed to bring af2 fans even closer to their favorite game with in-depth news, interesting interviews and fun feature stories. Veteran broadcaster Dean Jackson serves as host.

ARENABOWL XXI THIS SUNDAY, JULY 29: The Columbus Destroyers (7-9, 3-0) and San Jose SaberCats (13-3, 2-0) will meet in ArenaBowl XXI in New Orleans for the Arena Football League championship on Sunday, July 29. The game will be televised live on ESPN on ABC (HD) at 3 pm ET. Columbus will make its first-ever appearance in an ArenaBowl after defeating the Georgia Force, 66-56, in the National Conference Championship Game. The Destroyers are the first No. 6 seed since the new playoff format was established in 2005 to advance to the ArenaBowl. Columbus features five players with af2 experience: B.J. Barre (Tulsa 2004, Okla. City 2005), Howard Duncan (Okla. City 2005), Brad Greetis (San Diego 2002-2005), Peter Martinez (Richmond 2003, Okla. City 2004) and Will Rabatin (Louisville 2005). Columbus also has the benefit of having two former af2 head coaches turned team assistants on staff in SKIP FOSTER (HC Tulsa 2001-03) and KEN MATOUS (HC Tulsa 2004).

San Jose, the Mitsubishi Motors Western Division Champion, is on a 12-game winning streak and are making their third ArenaBowl appearance in six years after defeating the defending ArenaBowl Champion Chicago Rush, 61-49, in the American Conference Championship Game. The SaberCats roster features six players with af2 experience: Marquis Floyd (Tenn. Valley 2004, Rio Gra. Valley 2005), Julius Gant (Rio Grande Valley 2005), A.J. Haglund (Oklahoma City 2005-06), Matt Kinsinger (Augusta 2000), Steve Watson (Arkansas 2005-06) and Craig Whelihan (San Diego 2002). San Jose also has three members of its coaching staff with af2 backgrounds: Defensive Coordinator KEVIN GUY (Head Coach, Tenn. Valley 2002-04; Head Coach, Rio Grande Valley 2005), Special Teams/Defensive Line Coach JEFF JARNIGAN (Head Coach, Oklahoma City 2005-06) and Director of Player Personnel/Offensive Line Coach DAVE WITTHUN (Assistant, Pensacola 2000; Assistant, Macon 2001).

INGOLD TIES ALL-TIME WIN MARK: W-B/Scranton Head Coach RICH INGOLD has led the Pioneers to a 14-1 record in 2007. In the process, the veteran leader has moved up the all-time coaching wins list. W-B/Scranton's Week 17 home win against Bossier-Shreveport pushed Ingold into a tie for first place with CHRIS SIEGFRIED with 57 all-time wins. Ingold can make the record his own if the Pioneers can pull off a win in their final regular season contest on Friday at Albany. The only other active coach with 50+ career wins is Manchester Head Coach BEN BENNETT, who is currently third on the all-time list with 55. Ingold became the fourth coach in league history to win 50 games in Week 8 at Tennessee Valley. Bennett joined the 50-win club with a Week 9 win at Mahoning Valley. Florida's KEVIN BOUIS became the newest member of the 40-career win club in Week 16 with the Firecats' 55-44 road win at Alabama. Bouis, in just his third year as an af2 head coach, is the 11th coach in league history to win 40 or more games. Louisville's TOMMY JOHNSON became the tenth coach to hit 40 wins earlier this season and currently ranks tied for seventh on the all-time list with 46 victories.

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES

NAME WINS

1. Chris Siegfried 57

2. Rich Ingold* 57

3. Ben Bennett* 55

4. Kevin Guy 52

5. Bobby Humphrey 51

* denotes active coaches

PIONEERS TOP FINAL COACHES POLL - RUN AT NO. 1 LASTS 14 WEEKS: The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers maintained the No. 1 ranking in the final Weekly Coaches Poll for 2007, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced on Wednesday. This marks the 14th consecutive week Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has claimed the pole position. The Pioneers collected 455 of a possible 464 points and 21-of-30 first place votes in securing the top spot. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton improved to 14-1 with a 50-28 home win Saturday night against the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. The Pioneers, who have clinched the No. 1 seed in the American Conference, finish out the regular season Friday night at Albany (5-10). Rio Grande Valley (14-1, 430 points, 9 first place votes) held firm at No. 2 this week after securing a 73-68 home win against Lubbock. The Dorados, who have already clinched the Southwest Division, can also secure the No. 1 seed in the National Conference with a road win Saturday night at Texas. The Tulsa Talons (13-2, 378 points) stayed at No. 3 overall after a, 52-12, road win at Texas. Finishing out the Top-5 for the final week of 2007 are the Florida Firecats (11-4, 367 points) at No. 4 and the Spokane Shock (11-4, 324 points) at No. 5.

WALKER, TANNEY, GIDDENS, SIMPSON, POWELL EARN WEEK 17 HONORS: Quad City wide receiver/linebacker JACK WALKER, JR., Alabama quarterback MITCH TANNEY and defensive backs DEON GIDDENS (Manchester) and JASON SIMPSON (Arkansas) have been named the U.S. Army Ironman, Schutt Offensive Player and ADT Co-Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 17 of the 2007 season. In addition to these three awards, the af2 is also highlighting the player who makes the best catch of the week. The Cutters Catch of the Week Award for Week 16 goes to Bakersfield wide receiver/linebacker JOSH POWELL.

Walker (6-4, 195, Kent State), in his fifth af2 season, had another impressive all-around effort for Quad City in the team's 83-33 home win against Cincinnati in Week 17. The veteran from Kent State made his presence felt on offense with five catches for 56 yards and three touchdowns. Walker was also an impact player on defense with a 17-yard interception return for a touchdown, one fumble recovery and one tackle. This is Walker's fourth Ironman of the Week Award this season. He was also honored for his Week 14, Week 10 and Week 8 performances. Offensively, Walker leads the Steamwheelers with 116 catches (7th in af2) and ranks second on the squad in scoring (208 points), total touchdowns (33) and receiving yards (1,165). He is also tied for the league lead in fumble recoveries with six. Walker, in his third year with Quad City, earned American Conference All-af2 Second Team honors in 2006. Tanney (6-3, 215, Monmouth) directed Alabama to an important, 71-61, Week 17 road win at South Georgia. The Steeldogs' signal caller, in his first af2 season, had his best outing of the season to keep Alabama's playoff hopes alive heading into the final week. Tanney completed 28-of-40 passes for a season-high 324 yards and five touchdowns without an interception as the Steeldogs scored a season-high 71 points. The Monmouth alum also set a new Alabama team record with four rushing touchdowns in the contest. In 15 games played, Tanney has thrown for nearly 3,300 yards (3,272) and 63 touchdowns with just nine interceptions to go along with a team-high eight rushing scores. Giddens (5-11, 185, Tennessee State) had a stellar night defensively in Week 17 for Manchester in the team's, 69-56, playoff-clinching road win at Albany. The former Tennessee State standout, now in his third af2 season (first with Manchester) was a big reason why the Wolves defeated their long-time East Division rivals for the third time in 2007. Playing without two defensive starters in the secondary, Giddens played a starring role with four interceptions against the Conquest, tying an af2 single game record. He also contributed two pass breakups and one tackle. Giddens, in just six games played, is currently second on the team in interceptions (5) and fifth in total tackles with 35. Simpson (6-0, 210, Missouri) was an impact player on defense in Arkansas' 58-28 Week 17 road win against Central Division rival Oklahoma City. The Twisters rookie from Missouri made quite an impression with 11.5 tackles, three pass breakups and two interceptions, one of which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown. Simpson's recent effort was even more notable because he became the first player in af2 history to record 130 tackles in a single season. He currently has 132 total stops with one game left to play. He also ranks second on the Twisters with eight interceptions. Powell (6-3, 225, San Jose State), who is in his first af2 campaign, earned the Cutters Catch of the Week Award for his play in the first quarter of Bakersfield's 50-36 home win against Stockton. The 225-pound rookie from San Jose State's catch was quite impressive as he snared a 35-yard touchdown pass in stride down the right sideline with one hand. Powell was a difference maker for the Blitz in the victory, catching a game-high 13 passes for 126 and four touchdowns in just his second game start of 2007. He also contributed one tackle on defense.

SIMPSON TRIPS BROWN TO OVERTAKE SINGLE-SEASON TACKLE MARK: Arkansas DB JASON SIMPSON overtook Florida's LEVY BROWN for the overall lead and af2 record for tackles in a season last week in the Twisters' 58-28 victory at Oklahoma City. He entered the contest with 120.5 on the season, 5.5 behind Brown (126.0), but recorded 11.5 stops against the Yard Dawgz to set the new league standard at 132.0. Simpson and the Twisters host Amarillo in Week 18 while Brown and the Firecats have a road contest at Manchester.

Simpson's teammate PIERRE THOMAS is also among the af2 leaders in tackles, ranking fifth with 101.0 overall. Simpson and Thomas are just the second set of teammates to record over 100 tackles in a season. CORY BAILEY and QUINCY SORRELL became the first duo on the same squad (Florida) to each register 100 tackles in 2006. Bailey finished with 117.5 while Sorrell posted 102.5.

BRYANT CLOSING IN ON PASSING MARKS: South Georgia QB D. BRYANT, who is enjoying his best season in the af2, stands just 246 passing yards away from the af2's current single-season record of 4,520, set by RYAN VENA (Albany) in 2006. Bryant's 4,274 passing yards and 94 touchdown passes are both career-high marks for the veteran signal caller. Bryant can also become just the third player in league history to hit the century mark for touchdown passes in a single season with six in the Wildcats regular season finale Saturday at Tulsa. Last year Central Valley's SCOTT RISLOV (106) and Florida's CHRIS WALLACE (100) became the first two af2 players to throw 100 touchdowns in one season.

WIN STREAKING: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Rio Grande Valley have enjoyed two of the longest win steaks in af2 history this year. The Dorados win streak is still active at 12 straight games while the Pioneers saw their 13-game streak broken at Manchester in Week 16. Below is a chart detailing the most impressive win streaks in league history.

Most Consecutive Games Won (Regular Season & Playoffs)

24 Quad City, 19 games in 2000; 5 games in 2001

17 Quad City, 13 games in 2001; 4 games in 2002

14 Quad City, 14 games in 2003

14 Tennessee Valley, 2003

13 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 2007

12 Rio Grande Valley, 2007*

10 Three teams tied (MR: Manchester, 10 games in 2005)

* Still active

Most Consecutive Games Won, Regular Season

16 Quad City, 2000

14 Quad City, 2003

14 Tennessee Valley, 2003

13 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 2007

12 Rio Grande Valley, 2007*

10 Four teams tied (MR: Manchester, 2005)

* Still active

DORADOS SHATTER SACK RECORD: The Dorados defense has been a big factor in what's been a record-breaking season so far for Rio Grande Valley. The team has an af2 single-season record 61 sacks through 15 games (4.1 per game). The Dorados surpassed the previous af2 standard of 52 sacks (Carolina, 2001) in a season in Week 15 with six in a shutout win at Laredo. DL QUINTON STATON leads the team individually with a team-record 16.5 sacks. Teammate KEENAN WASHINGTON is third overall with 13.5 sacks.

HAWKS RECEIVER CATCHES ON FAST-RICHEY SETS RECEIVING MARK: Everett standout receiver JOSH RICHEY's af2-record streak of 10 straight 100-yard receiving games was stopped Saturday in the team's home win against Tri-Cities. The second-year player from Northeastern State University (Okla.) caught 10 passes for 64 yards against the Fever to fall 36 yards shy of the 100-yard mark. The former league record of eight consecutive 100-yard receiving games was set originally by Jacksonville's Anthony Bright in 2001. Quad City's Kris Peters equaled the mark in 2006. Richey's 10-game streak began on May 6 with seven catches for 112 yards and a pair of scores in Everett's 2007 home debut, a 43-41 victory over Central Valley. He currently leads the af2 in receiving yards (1,776) and receiving touchdowns (42).

SEBASTIEN AND FORBES TIED IN CAREER INTERCEPTIONS: Veteran DB MATT FORBES of the Louisville Fire began the year tied for first on the all-time regular season interceptions list with 27. He moved into first place outright on the all-time list in Week 1 when he recorded his 28th career interception. Entering Week 10, Forbes held the all-time lead over another veteran DB ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN, 29-28. Sebastien then recorded two interceptions on June 1 against Tulsa to take over the top spot, 30-29. Forbes evened the score the very next night with an interception in a home win against Green Bay. Sebastien regained the overall lead after recording his 31st career pick in the Wolves' Week 14 win against South Georgia. He currently has 32. Forbes tied Sebastien with his 32nd career interception in Week 16. Florida WR/DB BRENT BURNSIDE is tied for fourth overall with 25 career interceptions.

ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON

INTERCEPTION LEADERS

NAME INTS

1. Allistair Sebastien* 32

2. Matt Forbes* 32

3. Arkee Thompson 27

4. Michael Brown 25

Brent Burnside* 25

* denotes active players

1,000 AND COUNTING; BENTON FIRST TO HIT MAGIC SCORING MARK: The af2's all-time leading scorer, Florida's MAGIC BENTON, became the first player in af2 history to record 1,000 career points in the team's Week 16 road win at Alabama. Benton began the night with 996 points and quickly set the milestone by scoring on Florida's opening drive. He finished the night with five receptions for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In 15 games this year, Benton has caught 111 passes for 1,552 yards and 27 TDs. His 1,552 receiving yards rank fourth in the af2. Benton also holds all-time league records for receptions (578), receiving yards (7,683) and touchdown receptions (163). He is the only player to have played with the Firecats since their inaugural season in 2001, starting in Florida's first game. Behind Benton is Arkansas veteran WR/LB KEVIN WILLIAMS with 940 career points.

Rio Grande Valley WR/DB GEORGE WILLIAMS broke past 900 career points in Week 16 thanks to a three-score performance at Bossier-Shreveport. With another five scores in Week 17, Williams is firmly in third place overall with 938 points, just two shy of catching Williams for second. Other active players who entered the 800-point club in 2007 are two teammates on Oklahoma City (JARRAIL JACKSON, 864; AL HUNT, 838) and Quad City's JACK WALKER, JR. (858). Below is a breakdown of the leading scorers in af2 history:

MOST POINTS SCORED, NON-KICKING, CAREER

PTS PLAYER YEARS PLAYED

1,008 Magic Benton* 2001-present

940 Kevin Williams* 2001-present

938 George Williams* 2001, 2003-present

864 Jarrail Jackson* 2000-01, 2005-present

858 Jack Walker, Jr.* 2002-03, 2005-present

838 Al Hunt* 2003-present

780 Mitch Allner 2000-04

756 Cainon Lamb 2002-05

738 Kevin Prentiss 2003-2006

* denotes active players

QUAD CITY TRIO SETS RECEIVING MARK: For the second time in as many seasons, a group of Quad City receivers have recorded 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. This year KRIS PETERS, JACK WALKER, JR. and TOM ANTHONY have set the standard. Walker leads the group with 116 catches, while Peters leads the cast in receiving yards (1,498) and receiving scores (36). Anthony has amassed 106 catches for 1,003 yards and 12 scores. Last season the Steamwheelers trio of Peters, Walker and TIM DODGE became the first threesome to set this mark.

CONQUEST GROUP SETS RECEIVING MARK OF THEIR OWN: Albany receivers BAKARI BROWN, ANTWUN WILLIAMS and CHRIS CURD became the first threesome of receivers on the same team to each record 1,000 receiving yards and 25 or more receiving scores in a season. Williams leads the cast with 32 receiving scores while Brown and Curd have 26 apiece.

1,000-YARD THREESOMES: This season the af2 has seen two sets of team threesomes record at least 1,000 yards receiving in the same season, a first for the league. To date, there have been only five groups in total that have posted such lofty numbers.

The following is a list of all five threesomes to record 1,000 yards receiving in a season.

Albany (2007) - Bakari Brown, Antwun Williams, Chris Curd

Quad City (2007) - Tom Anthony, Kris Peters, Jack Walker, Jr.

Quad City (2006) - Tim Dodge, Kris Peters, Jack Walker, Jr.

Oklahoma City (2004) - Kris Peters, Al Hunt, Timon Marshall

Quad City (2003) - Tim Dodge, Jeff Hewitt, Ira Gooch

ALBANY'S BAKARI BROWN LOOKS TO CLIMB OVER HILL IN RECORD BOOK: Conquest WR BAKARI BROWN needs 11 catches on Friday night against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to tie COREY HILL's former team and af2 record for most receptions in one season with 161. Hill set the mark in 2002 and equaled it again in 2003. Last week Brown became just the third player in league history to reach 150 receptions in one season with 10 catches (110 yards; 2 TDs) in the team's home loss to Manchester. The former Millersville standout also leads Albany with 1,492 receiving yards.

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: The Tulsa Talons officially clinched their eighth straight trip to the af2 playoffs in Week 14 despite a road loss at Central Division rival Arkansas. Tulsa's eight playoff appearances are the most in league history. Florida secured its sixth straight trip to the postseason with a Week 14 win at Oklahoma City. The Firecats are tied for second overall in playoff appearances with Quad City, who reserved their sixth playoff berth with a Week 17 home win. Tennessee Valley has the third most postseason appearances in league history with five.

MOST PLAYOFF APPEARANCES, ALL-TIME

TEAM APPEARANCES

TULSA 8

FLORIDA 6

QUAD CITY 6

TENNESSEE VALLEY 5

ARKANSAS 4

CENTRAL VALLEY 4

LOUISVILLE 4

MACON 4

MANCHESTER 4

SOUTH GEORGIA 4

W-B/SCRANTON 4

IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY - af2 PLAYOFF PICTURE: Sixteen teams qualify for the playoffs, eight from each conference (American and National). The eight qualifying teams in each conference consist of the three division champions and five Wild Cards, determined by best overall record. Seeding in each conference is based on overall record, with the top three seeds in each conference reserved for the division champions, regardless of record. In the First Round (August 3-5), the first three seeds in each conference are the three division winners. The next five teams are seeded by next best five overall records. Teams ranked 1-4 earn home playoff games with 1 hosting 8, 2 hosting 7, 3 hosting 6 and 4 hosting 5. In the Second Round (August 10-12), the winner of the 1-8 game plays the winner of the 4-5 game. The winner of the 2-7 game plays the winner of the 3-6 game. The home team is decided by the team with the higher seed. The winners of the Second Round will meet for the Conference Championships on the weekend of August 17-19. The team with the better overall record hosts the Conference Championship game. The winners of the Conference Championships face off in the 2007 ArenaCup on Saturday, August 25 at the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, La.

American Conference Standings

1. W-B/Scranton (14-1) - xy - Clinched East Division and No. 1 seed

2. Spokane (11-4) - xy - Clinched West Division

3. Green Bay (9-6) - y - Current Midwest Division Leader - owns point differential advantage in HTH meetings over QCS (30-28)

4. Manchester (9-6) - y - Owns SOS advantage over CVC and QCS

5. Quad City (9-6) - y - Owns better win % in common games over CVC (BOI, EVE, SPK)

6. Central Valley (9-6) - y

7. Louisville (8-7) - y - Owns better win % in common games over TRI (BOI, GBB, MVT)

8. Tri-Cities (8-7)

----------------------------------------------------

9. Boise (7-8)

----------------------------------------------------

10. Mahoning Valley (6-9)

11. Stockton (6-9)

12. Bakersfield (6-9)

13. Everett (6-9)

14. Albany (5-10)

15. Fort Wayne (5-10)

16. Cincinnati (1-14)

NATIONAL CONFERENCE STANDINGS

1. Rio Grande Valley (14-1) - xy - Clinched Southwest Division

2. Tulsa (13-2) - xy - Clinched Central Division

3. Florida (11-4) - y - Current South Division Leader

4. Arkansas (11-4) - y

5. South Georgia (10-5) - y - Owns HTH advantage over BSB

6. Bossier-Shreveport (10-5) - y

7. Oklahoma City (7-8) - Owns SOS advantage over TVV (tied with TVV in win % in common games: ALA, FLA, QCS)

8. Tennessee Valley (7-8)

----------------------------------------------------

9. Lubbock (6-9) - Owns better win % in common games over ALA (OKC, TEX, TUL)

10. Alabama (6-9)

----------------------------------------------------

11. Corpus Christi (5-10)

12. Amarillo (3-12)

13. Texas (2-13)

14. Laredo (1-14)

x - clinched division championship, y - clinched playoff spot

*HTH = Head-to-head; SOS = Strength of schedule

• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...

arenafootball2 Stories from July 26, 2007


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central