af2 Saturday Game Previews

Published on April 18, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (2-0) AT LOUISVILLE FIRE (1-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - FREEDOM HALL (16,154) 7:30 P.M. ET

KEVIN GUY'S undefeated Vipers head to Louisville for an inter-conference tilt with the TOMMY JOHNSON led Fire. This game features the league's fifth best scoring offense (Tennessee Valley - 51.5 PPG) against the 24th ranked unit (Louisville - 28.0 PPG). MATT SAUK commands the Vipers' offense and has thrown 10 touchdowns this season. Former baseball player POOKIE JONES gets his first-ever start under center for the Fire, as he has thrown for 213 yards and two touchdowns as a back-up. Both teams carry talented receivers, as Tennessee Valley's JERRIAN JAMES has caught nine passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns, while Louisville's NORMAN MASON (WK 2 Ironman of the Week) has hauled in six balls for 128 yards and three scores. Defensively, the Fire has had better luck, holding opponents to under 40 points a game. The Vipers' foes have averaged 45.5 per game. Tennessee Valley's REGGIE WORTHY can become the third player in af2 history to eclipse the 200-yard rushing/1,000 yard receiving plateau with three more rushing and eight more receiving yards. The Vipers' 48-34 win last year was the only other meeting between these teams. This is the only meeting this season.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (2-0) AT MACON KNIGHTS (2-0)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - MACON COLISEUM (7,182) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Birmingham Steeldogs, af2's top-rated scoring offense, head to Macon for a divisional showdown with the Knights, af2's top-rated defense. Both teams sit 2-0 and with a share of the American Conference South Division lead. Last week, Macon head coach KEVIN PORTER passed Speed head coach RICHARD DAVIS for the most regular season wins in af2 history (32). If Birmingham head coach BOBBY HUMPHREY wins on Saturday, he'll tie Porter. Rookie quarterback JEFF AARON leads the Steeldogs' offense and has thrown 11 touchdowns against only one interception this season. Offensive Specialist ARYVIA HOLMES has caught six of those strikes, as the talented receiver has accounted for 17 of the Steeldogs' 38 receptions and 259 of the team's 461 receiving yards. JACQUES RUMPH is the Knights leading receiver, as he has caught 16 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns. The Knights' defense has allowed only 38 points over two games, and is led by BYRON DOUZART who has 3.5 sacks already. This is the third meeting in the all-time series, but the first time they've played against each other as members of the same division. The winner of this game takes a one-game advantage in the series.

CHARLESTON SWAMP FOXES (0-2) AT CINCINNATI SWARM (0-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - U.S. BANK ARENA (14,000) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Cincinnati Swarm plays their first-ever home game on Saturday, as they host the Charleston Swamp Foxes. Both teams have yet to win a game this season, with RIK RICHARD'S bunch coming up a touchdown short last week in Florida. The Swamp Foxes will go with BILLIE LUCKIE, who tossed three touchdowns last week, under center. TERRANCE QUATTLEBAUM had a breakout game last week and has totaled 199 receiving yards for the season. The Swarm, led by coach CHRIS MACKEOWN counter with JAMES SCOTT, who has caught 18 passes for 222 yards and three scores in two games. This is the first and only meeting this season between the Swarm and Swamp Foxes.

GREENSBORO PROWLERS (1-1) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (1-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - TECO ARENA (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

STEVEN JERRY'S Prowlers head to TECO Arena to battle the defending American Conference Champion Firecats on Saturday. Both clubs are 1-1 on the season, with the Firecats coming off their first win, while the Prowlers regroup after their first loss. The Prowler's offense has shown signs potency with the duo of KENTON EVANS and CLIFTON SHAVERS. They have combined for 168 yards and three touchdowns thus far on the season. On the other side, Firecats' quarterback BRYAN SPARACINO may have to do without ANTHONY DIXON, who is going to be a gametime decision from coach BEN BENNETT. Should Dixon miss the game, his streak of catching at least one pass in every game in team history will end. Both teams feature strong secondaries, as Florida's KENNY STABLER and Greensboro's MICHAEL POSEY each have two interceptions. The Firecats lead the all-time series two games to none, but the teams have not met since 2001. They meet up in Greensboro on June 21.

COLUMBUS WARDOGS (2-0) AT PEORIA PIRATES (0-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - PEORIA CIVIC CENTER (9,772) 8:00 P.M. ET

A head coaching rematch of last year's ArenaCup takes place in Peoria on Saturday, as JOHN FOURCADE returns with a new club to face BRUCE COWDREY and the Pirates. Fourcade has his crew off to the best start in team history, having won both games thus far on the season, while Cowdrey's Pirates have struggled off to a 0-2 start. This difference between these two teams has been defense. The Wardogs are holding opponents to 28.5 points per game (5th in af2), while the Pirates have given up 57.0 per contest (25th). On the other side of the ball the Pirates' offense, led by quarterback CHARLIE PETERSON, has put up 48.5 (8th in af2) per game compared to the Wardogs 36.5 per game (14th in af2). MIKE GLUSKI left the game last week with knee sprain, but is expected to play against the Pirates. He has thrown five touchdowns this season and three of those have gone to JAMES DIECKERSON, af2's Ironman of the Week. Despite being 0-2 as the Pirates' starter, Peterson has tossed 11 touchdowns with only one interception this season. BRYAN ARCHIBALD (Peoria) and ROGER TERRY (Columbus) each have two sacks on the early season. This the first game between the two teams since 2001, when the Pirates beat the Wardogs 62-36. They do not see each other again this season.

WICHITA STEALTH (1-1) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (0-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - RESCH CENTER (8,327) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Blizzard brings Arena Football to Green Bay for the first time on Saturday when they host the Wichita Stealth at the beautiful RESCH Center. The Blizzard have had a strange twist of fate thus far on the year, as JOSE JEFFERSON'S bunch ranks fourth in total yards per game (266.0), but 19th in scoring (31.0 PPG). They have held opponents to 182.5 yards per game (6th best in af2), but have allowed them to score 51.5 per game (22nd in af2). They'll try to change that against a much-improved Wichita club, who is already off to better start than last season. Quaterback RYAN AULENBACHER has thrown six touchdowns for the Blizzard, while ANTHONY BUCIH has tossed eight for the Stealth. Both teams also possess explosive offensive specialists, as Green Bay's NICK JOHNSON has accumulated 178 receiving yards to MICHAEL DRITLEIN'S 181. This is the first of two meetings between the teams, as they play in Wichita on May 31.

MEMPHIS XPLORERS (1-1) AT TULSA TALONS (2-0)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - TULSA CONVENTION CENTER (7,096) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Memphis Xplorers will try to make it two in a row against defending division champion clubs when they tangle with the Talons on Saturday. Last week, DANTON BARTO'S bunch knocked off the 2002 West Division champion Bakersfield Blitz, getting three receiving touchdowns from KEVIN PRENTISS. The Xplorers have also seemed to have found a good quarterback in ROD ROBINSON, who was 13-of-21 for 184 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in his af2 debut. SKIP FOSTER'S Talons, behind the arm of CRAIG STRICKLAND, have been perfect thus far in 2003. Last week they handled a strong Wichita team, getting four first half touchdowns from TACOMA FONTAINE. These teams matchup close on both sides of the ball, as the Talons have averaged 42.5 points per game (12th best in af2) to the Xplorers' 38.0 per game (13th best in af2). Defensively, the Talons allow 32.0 per game (T-9th in af2) to the Xplorers' 30.5 per game (T-7th in af2). This is the first of two scheduled meetings between the teams. Tulsa won the only other two games they have played against each other.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (2-0) AT BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (0-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - CENTENNIAL GARDEN (8,700) 10:00 P.M. ET

The Hawaiian Islanders, led by head coach CAL LEE, look to continue their hot start as they travel to Bakersfield, led by JAMES FULLER for a divisional matchup with the Blitz. The Islanders are 6-2 all-time when the team totals 50 or more rushing yards, and they've done that in both wins this season. Along with the successful ground attack, the combination of quarterback DARNELL ARCENEAUX to offensive specialist NIAN TAYLOR has netted nine catches for 166 yards and five touchdowns on the season. The Blitz counter with quarterback CHAD ELLIOTT, who has already thrown eight touchdowns on the season. The Blitz, who were seventh in af2 last season in scoring defense (allowing 39.1 points per game) have given up an average of 52.5 (24th in af2) thus far in 2003. Hawaii's offense has averaged 50.5 this season (6th best in af2). This is the first of three meetings this season. Hawaii can even up the all-time series with a win this weekend.

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (0-2) AT SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (2-0)
SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2003 - SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA (12,000) 10:00 P.M. ET

The Riptide and Twisters finish their back-to-back series Saturday in San Diego. Last week in Little Rock, the Riptide's KANE CLAUNCH delivered a 40-yard scoring strike to JERRY GARRETT in the fourth quarter to push the 'Tide past the Twisters. Claunch has thrown nine touchdowns on the season, three to the explosive JESUS REYES. Arkansas quarterback RICKY HERBERT is overdue for a big game, as he has thrown only seven touchdowns against five interceptions this season. Herbert who was the only quarterback to toss nine touchdowns in a game last season, totaled 85 strikes last year (1st in af2). A San Diego win gives the club its longest regular season win streak ever (3 games) and evens the all-time series with the Twisters at two games apiece.

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