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af2 Saturday Game Previews

April 25, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


NORFOLK NIGHTHAWKS (2-0) AT RICHMOND SPEED (0-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - RICHMOND COLISEUM (11,088) 7:00 P.M. ET

The Norfolk Nighthawks try to go 3-0 for the first time in the team's three-year history on Saturday when they visit the Richmond Speed. Norfolk, coached by RICK FRAZIER, is ranked second in af2 in points (24.0 PPG) and total yardage (168.5 YPG) allowed per game. That defense is up against a Richmond offense that has averaged 27.5 points per game, including an all-time low 13 two weeks ago at Albany. Norfolk's offense hasn't fared much better, averaging 31.5 points per game thus far on the season. Coming off a bye week, RICHARD DAVIS' (fourth year as Speed coach) crew should be well rested and hungry for a win. The Nighthawks/Speed rivalry is one af2's most bitter and the all-time series is currently tied at 3-3, but the home team in this series is 5-1. These teams meet again in Norfolk on July 5.

ROCHESTER BRIGADE (0-3) AT WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (0-3)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - FIRST UNION ARENA (7,955) 7:00 P.M. ET

The Rochester Brigade renews its intra-division rivalry with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre. Both teams have yet to win a game in 2003. Coach DEAN COKINOS' Pioneers average 32.3 points per game (19th), while MARK SAUNDER'S Brigade have put up 26.3 (26th). Defensively, the Brigade allow 45.3 points per game to the Pioneers' 51.0 a game. The Pioneers feature CHRIS BODEN under center, who has thrown 10 touchdowns this season. For the Brigade JASON VISCONTI has tossed seven scoring strikes, five of which went to DEREK BAKER. This is the fourth meeting between these two teams, with the Brigade holding a one-game advantage in the series. These clubs play twice more in 2003, on June 20 and July 26.

MACON KNIGHTS (3-0) AT CAPE FEAR WILDCATS (1-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - CROWN COLISEUM (8,920) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Macon Knights can go to 4-0 for the first time in team history with a win over the Cape Fear Wildcats on Saturday in Fayetteville. The Knights, led by fourth-year coach KEVIN PORTER, have the league's top-ranked defense, allowing only 22.3 points per game and are on a pace to challenge the all-time record for points allowed in a season (453, Quad City, 2001). Fullback/Linebacker BYRON DOUZART has 3.5 sacks and DENARIO SMALLS has three interceptions for the Knights' defense. That defense faces a squad that has averaged 57.5 points this season (3rd best in af2). Wildcats quarterback BRYAN SNYDER has thrown nine touchdowns in two games and is three away from moving to third on the all-time af2 list. Coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED'S Wildcats are 7-2 all-time during the regular season at Crown Coliseum. This is the first road game of the season for the Knights, who went 7-1 on the road last year and have a five-game road-winning streak on the line. This is the only game between these teams this season.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (2-1) AT CHARLESTON SWAMP FOXES (0-3)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM (10,400) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Charleston Swamp Foxes, the only team yet to play a home game this season, opens the home portion of their schedule Saturday as they play host to the Birmingham Steeldogs. Charleston, led by coach RIK RICHARDS, is still searching for its first win of the season. Defensively, the Swamp Foxes have been tough, allowing only 31.3 (3rd best in af2) and 156.7 (1st in af2) yards per game. Defensive back DEMONT SMITH tallied three interceptions last week, and MICHAEL BROWN already has two on the season. They'll have quite the challenge against BOBBY HUMPHREY'S Steeldogs, who rank seventh in af2 with a 49.7 scoring average. Quarterback JEFF AARON has thrown for 617 yards and 15 touchdowns (4th best in af2) in three games. Offensive specialist ARYVIA HOLMES has caught eight of those strikes and leads the league with 27 receptions. This is the first-ever meeting between these two fourth-year teams and the only one scheduled for this season.

MOHEGAN WOLVES (3-0) AT GREENSBORO PROWLERS (2-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - GREENSBORO COLISEUM (8,350) 7:30 P.M. ET

The unbeaten Mohegan Wolves head to Greensboro for the first-ever meeting with the Prowlers. Both 3-13 last season, the Wolves and Prowlers have been able to turn things around in a hurry and climb to the top of their respective divisions this year. Defense has been a strong suit for both clubs thus far in 2003, as they are tied for seventh best in af2, allowing 34.3 points per game. Defensive specialist MICHAEL POSEY is second in af2 with 20.0 tackles and he has two interceptions. The Wolves are tied for first in the league with nine sacks on the season, including two each from LAJHON JONES and CHARLIE COOK. Offensively, the Wolves have been a little better than the Prowlers, averaging 50 points per game to the Prowlers' 34.7 a game. Quarterback RYAN TRACEY has earned the starting job for the Wolves, passing for 321 yards and five touchdowns, including four last week, in limited action. MEL LONG has caught six touchdowns for the Wolves, including three last week on just four receptions. This is the only head-to-head matchup between these teams this season.

FLORIDA FIRECATS (1-2) AT MEMPHIS XPLORERS (1-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - DESOTO CIVIC CENTER (8,444) 8:00 P.M. ET

The defending American Conference champion Florida Firecats, coached by BEN BENNETT, travel west to Memphis for a tilt with the Xplorers, led by DANTON BARTO, on Saturday at the DeSoto Civic Center. Both teams come in with 1-2 records and on the rebound from heart-breaking losses. Firecats quarterback BRYAN SPARACINO has thrown 12 touchdowns against only one interception thus far on the season. CAINON LAMB, injured last week, has five touchdown receptions for the Firecats. Xplorers' offensive specialist KEVIN PRENTISS has amassed 332 receiving yards and six touchdowns and is among the league leaders in receptions, receiving yards and scoring. Defensively, ROY STABLER ranks third in the league with 19.0 tackles and he has two interceptions. The Xplorers' defense only allows 33.3 points per game, which is fifth best in af2. KEVIN COBB'S (Memphis) three interceptions is the third best total in the league. The winner of this game takes a one-game lead in the all-time series. The teams face-off again on June 7.

CINCINNATI SWARM (1-2) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (0-3)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - RESCH CENTER (8,327) 8:30 P.M. ET

The battle of expansion teams kicks-off in Green Bay on Saturday when the Cincinnati Swarm visits the Blizzard. The Swarm earned its first win of the season last week, while the Blizzard sits 0-3. The Swarm, led by coach CHRIS MACKEOWN, held the Swamp Foxes to 13 points last week, while coach JOSE JEFFERSON'S Blizzard gave up 41 to the Wichita Stealth. Both teams average around 29 points per game and feature potentially explosive offensive specialists. The Swarm's JAMES SCOTT and Blizzard's NICK JOHNSON are among the league leaders with 23 and 24 receptions, respectively. Under center for the Swarm is DANNY SMITH, and handling the quarterbacking for the Blizzard is RYAN ALENBACHER. This is the first of two head-to-head matchups this season.

TULSA TALONS (3-0) AT WICHITA STEALTH (2-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - KANSAS COLISEUM (9,686) 8:30 P.M. ET

CRAIG STRICKLAND and ANTHONY BUICH square off for the second time in three weeks when the undefeated Talons head to Wichita to face the Stealth. Tulsa narrowly got past Memphis last week to extend its regular season home win streak to an all-time af2 best 20 games, while the Stealth avoided a letdown in Green Bay with a 41-26 road win. SKIP FOSTER'S Talons took the first game of the season series with BOB CORTESE'S Stealth by 43-25 count, as special teams provided the difference for the Talons. TACOMA FONTAINE returned a missed field goal 53 yard for a touchdown and kicker TONY DODSON nailed a 55-yard field goal for the Talons. Under center, the two teams look nearly identical. In the first matchup, Tulsa's Strickland went 19-of-33 for 211 yards and four touchdowns, while Buich completed 14-of-31 for 224 yards and four touchdowns. Each QB threw one interception and Buich was sacked twice while Strickland went down three times. For the season each QB has tossed 12 touchdowns. Tulsa's MITCH ALLNER needs four points to become the second player in af2 history to total 500 for his career. Wichita's MICHAEL DRITLEIN is second in af2 with 54 points this season, as he has caught nine of Buich's 12 touchdown passes. Wichita's LEE VAUGHN earned ADT Defensive Player of the Week accolades for Week 4 and he has two interceptions this season. This game concludes the season series between the teams.

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (1-2) AT BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (1-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - CENTENNIAL ARENA (8,700) 10:00 P.M. ET

The Quad City Steamwheelers take their high-flying offense on the road to Bakersfield for a showdown with the Blitz. Both teams earned their first win of the season last week, as the Steamwheelers were too much for the Pioneers and the Blitz rallied past the Islanders. Steamwheelers quarterback TONY ZIMMERMAN already has 19 touchdowns this season and is on pace to challenge the all-time total of 86 set by MATT SAUK in the 2001 season. CHAD ELLITOTT has thrown 13 touchdowns for the Blitz, including three to COREY MCCOY last week. The Blitz defense has yet to record an interception, and Zimmerman has only thrown one thus far on the season. Steamwheeler offensive specialist JEFF HEWITT (10 receiving touchdowns) leads the league in scoring. Quad City won the only other contest between these teams, 27-19 last July. This is the only meeting this season.

SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (2-1) AT HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (2-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2003 - NEAL BLAISDELL CENTER (6,443) 7:30 P.M. local/1:30 A.M. ET

The San Diego Riptide and Hawaiian Islanders meet up for the first of three regular season tilts Saturday in Honolulu. Both teams started the 2003 season 2-0 and hold a share the West Division lead. San Diego's KANE CLAUNCH matches up well against Hawaii's DARNELL ARCENEAUX from a throwing standpoint, as both quarterbacks have throw for over 500 yards and completed 11 touchdowns. Arceneaux, however, also uses his legs as a weapon and already has 51 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Islanders are 6-3 all-time when they rush for 50 or more yards, but one of those losses came against the Riptide. These teams feature the league's best kickers, as San Diego's RYAN GEISLER (21 points) trails only Hawaii's KIMO NAEHU (22 points) for the league lead and they both are better than 60% with their field goal attempts. The Riptide lead the all-time series 2-1, but the Islanders won the last meeting 53-34 last June.



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