af2 Saturday Night Matchups

Published on May 23, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

HAWAII AT CINCINNATI -- The first place Hawaiian Islanders stop in Cincinnati to battle the first-year Swarm. The Islanders win over Wichita last week extended its win streak to two games. The Swarm, tied for second in the Midwest Division, has dropped its last two since going on a three-game win streak. Hawaii is 1-2 on the road this season and they went 1-7 away from Honolulu last year. The Swarm is 2-1 at U.S. Bank Arena this season. The Swarm offense, led by OS JAMES SCOTT, has averaged 41.7 points per game in 2003. Scott ranks fifth in af2, averaging 101.7 receiving yards per game. His 52 receptions are sixth best in af2 and his 90 points puts him ninth among the league leaders. Hawaii's offense centers on the arm and legs of QB DARNELL ARECENAUX. Areceneaux has thrown for 1,280 yards and 21 touchdowns and he leads the team with 126 rushing yards. As a team the Islanders leads the league in rushing yards per game, averaging 59.4 yards a night. WR/LB NIAN TAYLOR caught four passes, three for touchdowns and tallied a game-high eight tackles last week and earned Ironman of the Week honors in the process for the Islanders. This is the first ever meeting between these clubs. The Swarm plays its next three against division foes, including two straight with Quad City. A win against the Islanders could keep the Swarm in position to challenge the Steamwheelers for the division lead.

QUAD CITY at LOUISVILLE -- The red-hot Quad City Steamwheelers head to Louisville for an intra-division battle with the Fire. Quad City had won five straight games, which is the second longest active winning streak in af2, and they've done it with the league's top-rated offense. QB TONY ZIMMERMAN leads the league in just about every possible passing statistic and OS IRA GOOCH has returned to the form he demonstrated in 2002, and earned back-to-back Offensive Player of the Week awards with consecutive games of over 325 all-purpose yards. Quad City's over-powering offense helps to cover-up for a defense that ranks 23rd in af2, allowing 49.4 points per game. The Fire's offense, led by QB JOSH ROGERS, ranks 24th in af2, averaging 35.6 points per game. Last week the Fire was held to 20 points, which tied a season low. The Fire have scored more than 50 points only twice this season, whereas the Steamwheelers have been held under 50 only one time this year. A bight spot on the Louisville defense has been DS ARKEE THOMPSON, who is second in the league with six interceptions. Zimmerman has only tosses two picks on the year, while Rogers has five. Quad City has a 2-1 road mark in 2003, and the Fire is 2-1 at Freedom Hall. This is the first of two meetings between these teams. They face off again on June 14 in Moline.

WICHITA at PEORIA -- After starting the season 1-4, the defending ArenaCup champion Peoria Pirates suddenly find themselves within a game of the .500 mark and within striking distance of a National Conference wildcard spot. Trying to make it three wins in a row, the Pirates welcome the Wichita Stealth to Peoria for a key inter-division tilt. The Stealth, who this week lost coach BOB CORTESE to health concerns, looks to snap a two-game slide that has seen them fall from first to second in the West Division. The importance of this game for both teams is immeasurable, as this is the only time they face each other in 2003, and a head-to-head tiebreaker may come into play down the road. Offensively, the Pirates have had few problems this season. They rank fifth in scoring (50.9 PPG) and have one the league's best under center in QB CHARLIE PETERSON. Peterson is closing in on 2,000 yards passed for the season and he is only two touchdowns behind league leader TONY ZIMMERMAN. WR/DB JACK WALKER is coming off a five-touchdown night against Greensboro and newly acquired OS KELLY JURRON debuted with 11 catches and two touchdowns last week. Defensively, the Pirates have improved steadily since Week 1. They held opponents under 40 points in each of the last two games and had three interceptions last week thanks to constant pressure on the QB from guys like BRYAN ARCHIBALD, who has 4.5 sacks this season. The Stealth relies on ANTHONY BUICH under center, and the explosive MICHAEL DRITLEIN at the OS spot. The steady veteran Buich has tossed 28 touchdowns this season and 19 of those have gone to Dritlein, who leads the league in scoring. FB/LB BRIAN GOOLSBY gives Wichita a solid pass rush with his four sacks. Peoria leads this series 2-0 and had held the Stealth to 18 and 21 in those games.

COLUMBUS at BOSSIER CITY -- The Columbus Wardogs look to get its offense back on track as they visit the Bossier City Battle Wings. Columbus, 27th in scoring offense, faces the league's eighth best scoring offense in the Battle Wings. The Wings, however, have lost the services of QB SHERARD POTEETE, who placed on re-assignment and receiver SHADRICK MCAFFEE who was signed by the CFL. The Battle Wings also lost head coach CHAD CARLSON, who was relieved of his duties following his 2-5 start to the season. Taking over for Carlson (on an interim basis) is RICKY JEMISON and he has wasted no time in shaking up the roster. While the Wardogs have the 27th ranked scoring offense, Bossier City has the 27th ranked defense and has allowed 54.4 points per game this season. This is the first of two meetings between these teams as they play again on June 14.

BAKERSFIELD at GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Blizzard looks for win No.1 of the season when they host the Bakersfield Blitz. The Blizzard, who took Peoria and Quad City to the wire over the last two weeks, is primed for its first win, while the Blitz is trying to re-capture the magic from a season ago. QB CHAD ELLIOTT has been great for Bakersfield, but has had to leave the last two games due to an unknown stomach ailment. QB RAMON ROBINSON continues to power the Blizzard offense in lieu of RYAN ALLENBACHER, which put up 55 points last week. Robinson has tosses 12 touchdowns and only one interception in the four games he's played, and he is a threat to run with 66 rushing yards to his credit. Bakersfield's leading wide receiver GERRICK BIVINS has grabbed 43 receptions for 480 yards, averaging 11.2 yards per reception. Green Bay's leading receiver, NICK JOHNSON, has accumulated 34 receptions for 436 yards, averaging 12.8 yards per reception. DS J'SHARLON JONES patrols the Blitz secondary and is seventh in af2 with 34 tackles and tenth in the league with 15 passes defended. HERON O'NEAL leads the Blizzard with 21 stops. This is the only meeting of the season between these teams. The Blitz went 2-3 against the Midwest Division in 2002. This season they are 0-1.

CAPE FEAR at TENNESSEE VALLEY -- In a highly anticipated matchup of league powerhouses, the Cape Fear Wildcats head to Huntsville looking to keep the Vipers from going 7-0 for the first time in team history. Cape Fear is riding a four-game win streak that has catapulted them into first in the Atlantic Division. QB BRYAN SNYDER'S 26 touchdowns and 1,319 passing yards has helped the Wildcats offense to a 52.8 points per game average, which is third best in af2. Snyder, who has thrown seven scoring strikes to OS MATT BURSTEIN, has only been picked twice this season. Tennessee Valley's offense is fourth best in af2, averaging only sixth-tenths of a point less than Cape Fear. QB MATT SAUK has thrown for 1,515 yards and 30 touchdowns but also has 10 interceptions, which has tested some Tennessee Valley leads late in games. Five Vipers have caught four or more touchdowns this season, but RONNEY DANIELS has emerged as the leader with his 343 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. Defensively, the Vipers are one of eight af2 teams that hold opponents under 40 points per game and WES STEPHENS is tied for third in af2 with four sacks. The Wildcats allow 43 point per game and ELTON DAVIS leads the squad with 21.5 tackles. Cape Fear and Tennessee Valley have never met and this is the only time the square off this season. With both teams leading their respective divisions, this game could have tiebreaker implications for postseason positioning.

TULSA at SAN DIEGO -- The Tulsa Talons can surpass its longest winning streak of the season (3 games) with a win over the San Diego Riptide. Meeting for the second time in 14 days, the Riptide play host this time and look to avenge a 65-38 loss suffered in Tulsa. The Talons sit in first place in the Central division, while the Riptide hold third spot out West. The Riptide has won two of its last three, including last week's 62-42 stomping of Cincinnati. The 62 points put up last week is a season high for San Diego, who average 47 per game. The Talons, coming off a 49-28 win over Bossier City has never lost to San Diego. QB CRAIG STRICKLAND could reach the 2,000-yard passing plateau this week and he has 34 touchdowns this season. Strickland has tossed 15 of his touchdowns to OS TACOMA FONTAINE. The Riptide's leading receiver, JESUS REYES, has 27 catches for 330 yards and six touchdowns this season. Fellow ball-catcher MARTY GRAHAM can become the first Riptide player to reach 1,000 career receiving yard if he gets 71 more yards. Defensively, the Talons' LARRY HOLLINQUEST has tallied 29.5 tackles and all-time af2 sack leader GREG TAYLOR has four this season. San Diego's KENNY HASLIP is fourth in af2 with his 37 stops, while seven different players have recorded an interception. This is the final meeting of the regular season between these teams.

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