af2 arenafootball2

af2 Saturday Night Matchups

Published on May 30, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MOHEGAN WOLVES (4-3) AT NORFOLK NIGHTHAWKS (5-2)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - NORFOLK SCOPE ARENA (8,965) 7:00 P.M. ET

The Norfolk Nighthawks hope to extend their three-game winning streak and remain at the top of that competitive American Atlantic Division as they face the Mohegan Wolves for the second time this season. In their meeting just last week, the Nighthawks were able to contain the Wolves 39-30 in what was a very even, well-played game by both teams. Norfolk was able to come out on top due to the play of quarterback and offensive MVP of the game AARON SPARROW, who threw for three touchdowns and ran for one, and offensive specialist TRAVIS BURNS, who caught one touchdown pass and returned an opening kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown. Norfolk must be aware of Mohegan's defensive specialist CHARLIE COOK who is tied for the league lead in sacks with 5.0. The Wolves put on a strong defense last week, due to the play of defensive specialist ALL-SEBASTIEN who led all players with 5.5 tackles and four pass deflections. Norfolk leads the all time series between these teams 2-1, and Mohegan has struggled this year on the road while Norfolk is 2-1 at home.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (2-6) AT RICHMOND SPEED (4-3)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - RICHMOND COLISEUM (11,088) 7:00 P.M. LOCAL ET

The Pioneers travel to Richmond to take on the Speed for the first of two games this season. Both teams are coming off of wins and Richmond is caught up in the American Atlantic Division battle while Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is sitting at 2-6. The Pioneers need to look out for speed wide receiver DAMON THOMPSON who is leading the league in both receptions and receiving yards per game. Speed quarterback ROY JOHNSON is a top quarterback in the league, averaging 250.2 passing yards per game and has only thrown one interception all season. Johnson is also coming off of an impressive performance last week in which he threw for 293 yards and connected with receivers for five touchdowns. However, Johnson must be aware of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defensive specialist JOE KOWALSKI who has recorded 3.0 unassisted sacks this season. The Pioneers hope to carry their momentum from last week's game in which they defeated the Prowlers in a narrow 43-40 victory. Game MVP TERRELL JOHNSON caught three touchdown passes from CHRIS BODEN, two of which came at the end of the game. The teams meet again on June 27.

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (7-0) AT COLUMBUS WARDOGS (2-5)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - COLUMBUS CIVIC CENTER (7,600) 7:00 P.M. ET

The Tennessee Valley Vipers travel to Columbus to take on the Wardogs for the first time this season and in af2 history. The Vipers are the only undefeated team in the league right now, leading the af2 in both offensive and defensive categories. Quarterback MATT SAUK is second in the league in passing yards with 262.7 per game, while kicker MARK LEWIS is also second in the league in PAT kicking. The Wardogs also need to look out for defensive specialist JIMMY FREEMAN who is leading the league in fumble recoveries with four. Columbus is trying to turn the page offensively as they are last in the league in scoring offense, total offense, pass offense, and pass rating. The Wardogs have lost five straight games and have not yet won a road game this season, while only winning one road game last season and none in 2001. Columbus head coach JOHN FOURCADE has found sparks on defensive with DENNIS SKAINS and MESIAH PORTER. Skains has recorded 25.5 tackles, one interception, and a team-leading thirteen pass breakups while Porter has forced one fumble and pulled in an interception. The teams are on opposite ends of the American South division, and they meet again on June 14.

CAPE FEAR WILDCATS (5-2) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (3-4)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - TECO ARENA (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

Cape Fear travels to Florida to take on the Firecats in the hope that they remain at the top of the battling American Atlantic Division. The Wildcats are looking to bounce off of a tough defeat against the Tennessee Valley Vipers last week in which they came up just three points shy of a tie. Cape Fear head coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED hopes that offensive specialist JAMIE DEESE can repeat his three-touchdown performance from last week. The Wildcats are leading the league in first downs, while kickers MATT GROFF and JUSTIN SKINNER have helped Cape Fear lead the league in field goals. The Wildcats also have a star in offensive specialist MATT BURSTEIN who is second in the league in receptions, averaging 9.71 per game. The Firecats hope to carry their momentum they gained before their bye week in which they blew out the Columbus Wardogs by a 40-7 count. The Wildcats' third-ranked team offense in points needs to look out for Firecats' defensive specialists FRED HARLEY and ROY STABLER. Stabler is first in the league in fumbles recovered with four and second in the af2 with tackles with 46.5. Wildcat quarterback BYRAN SNYDER needs to look out for Harley who has forced two fumbles this season. Cape Fear's two losses this season have come on the road, and the teams face each other again on July 5.

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (6-2) AT CINCINNATI SWARM (3-5)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - US BANK ARENA (14,000) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Quad City Steamwheelers meet the Cincinnati Swarm for the first time this season and in af2 history. This game is crucial in that it is a battle in the National Midwest Division. Quad City looks to continue their six game winning streak and remain on top of the division, while the Swarm look to put an end to their three game losing streak and break the three way tie they have with the Louisville Fire and the Peoria Pirates for second place in the division. Quad City has the number one scoring offense in the league behind quarterback TONY ZIMMERMAN who leads the league in passing yards and total offense. IRA GOOCH has been outstanding for the Steamwheelers in recent games as well, notably for his four-touchdown performance against the Peoria Pirates which earned him the Offensive MVP of the Game award. Gooch is also valuable on kickoff returns, and he is third in the league in all-purpose yardage. Cincinnati Swarm head coach CHRIS MACKEOWN has found a star in wide receiver JAMES SCOTT, who is fourth in the league with his 60 receptions and is second in the league with his 99.2 receiving yards per game. The two teams face each other again in a week when they play on June 7.

ROCHESTER BRIGADE (1-7) AT ALBANY CONQUEST (6-1)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - PEPSI ARENA (13,901) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Rochester Brigade travels to Albany to face the Conquest for the second time this season. Albany leads the series between these teams three games to one, and they conquered the Brigade 52-38 when they met on May 17 this season. Albany quarterback RYAN VENA was a star in their first meeting, throwing six touchdowns to four different receivers and rushing for another one. Brigade quarterback JASON VISCONTI also put on a stellar performance as he passed for six touchdowns to four different receivers, but Conquest defensive specialists JAMIE WARE and PHIL YABEROUGH each pulled in an interception and Yaberough returned his for a sixteen yard touchdown. COREY HILL of the Conquest also put on a great performance as he caught a touchdown, returned a missed field goal, and had three kickoff returns for 59 yards. A win for Rochester could tie them for third place in the American Northeast, while Albany wishes to extend its four game winning streak to remain at the very top of the American Northeast. The Brigade is struggling at the bottom of the division, and it wants to end its three game losing streak.

MACON KNIGHTS (5-2) AT BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (3-4)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - BIRMINGHAM JEFFERSON CIVIC CENTER (15,000) 8:30 P.M. ET

The battle in the American South division escalates as the Macon Knights travel to Birmingham to face the Steeldogs for the second time this season. In their first meeting on April 19th, Macon pounded the Steeldogs 49-29 in a strong offensive performance by quarterback SEAN PETERSON. Peterson threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns. ADT Defensive Player of the Game DENARIO SMALLS recorded 7.0 tackles, pulled in two interceptions from Steeldog quarterback JEFF AARON, and deflected three of his passes. RENDELL JACKSON was named Ironman of the Game for his one rushing touchdown, four tackles, pass deflection, and tackle for a loss. Birmingham's DEMONTRAY CARTER recorded 5.5 tackles, one interception, and two pass deflections. Both teams have lost their previous games and Birmingham has lost its last two. Macon's two losses have come on the road, and the Steeldogs hope to break their tie with the Florida Firecats for third place in the division. This is the final meeting for these two teams in the regular season.

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (4-3) AT TULSA TALONS (7-1)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - TULSA CONVENTION CENTER (7,096) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Arkansas Twisters travel to Tulsa to take on the Talons for the teams' first meeting this season. Tulsa leads the series between these teams four games to two, but in their previous meeting in June 2002 the Twisters blew the Talons away in a 102-63 victory. This game is an important battle in the National Central division. The Talons look to stay on top and extend their four game winning streak while the Twisters are right behind them and do not want to end their winning streak at two games. Arkansas is coming off of a bye but hopes to keep their momentum from Week 8 from their exciting victory against the Bakersfield Blitz in which they came from behind in the fourth quarter to tie and eventually win the game on a KAHLIL CARTER five yard interception return for a touchdown. Tulsa quarterback CRAIG STRICKLAND hopes he can repeat his 235 yard, eight touchdown performance against the San Diego Riptide in which he also rushed for a touchdown. The two teams face off again on June 28.

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (0-7) AT WICHITA STEALTH (5-3)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - KANSAS COLISEUM (9,686) 8:30 P.M. ET

Green Bay hopes to find its first win of the season and in af2 history as the Blizzard travels to Wichita to take on the Stealth for the second time this season. Green Bay sits at the bottom of the National Midwest division while the Stealth seeks to catch up to the Hawaiian Islanders for first place in the National West. Wichita is coming off of a narrow 52-49 victory against the Peoria Pirates in which BRIAN GOOLSBY and DAREN WILLIAMS each rushed for two touchdowns while quarterback ANTHONY BUICH threw for two. In the teams' first meeting, the Stealth defeated the Blizzard 41-26 and Buich connected with wide receiver MICHAEL DRITLEIN for four touchdowns and 143 yards. Dritlein was named Offensive MVP of the Game while LEE VAUGHN pulled in 2 interceptions to be named ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Vaughn also recorded nine tackles and five pass deflections off of Green Bay quarterback RYAN AULENBACHER. This is the final meeting of the regular season between these two teams.

SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (4-4) AT BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (2-6)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - CENTENNIAL GARDEN (8,700) 10:00 P.M. ET

The Riptide heads to Bakersfield for the teams' third and final meeting this season. San Diego won the first two meetings of this season, winning 54-36 in Week one and 49-35 in Week six. This game is a battle in the National West division, with the Blitz on the bottom and the Riptide just above them and having lost their previous game. In their first win against the Blitz, San Diego's KANE CLAUNCH threw for five touchdowns. MARTY GRAHAM also put on a strong offensive performance as he returned a kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown and caught two passes for touchdowns from Claunch. In their second meeting, four different receivers caught touchdown passes for the Riptide. However, Blitz defensive specialists DELVIN MYLES and J'SHARLON JONES each recorded 5.5 tackles. Riptide defensive specialist KENNY HASLIP is third in the league with his 44.5 total tackles, and Bakersfield's RICK LEUNG'WAI has recorded 4.0 sacks this season. This is the last time that the teams meet in the regular season.

LOUISVILLE FIRE (3-5) AT HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (6-2)
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2003 - NEAL BLAISDELL ARENA (6,443) 1:30 A.M. (7:30 P.M. LOCAL) ET

The Louisville Fire takes on the Hawaiian Islanders for the teams' first meeting in af2 history. The Fire hopes to snap its two game losing streak and gain some ground on the Steamwheelers in the National Midwest Division while the Islanders are looking to stay ahead of the Stealth in the National West and continue their hot three game winning streak. The Islanders are undefeated at home so far this season, while the Fire has lost three games on the road. The Islanders are coming off of a victory against the Swarm in which quarterback DARNEL AUCENEAUX connected with NIAN TAYLOR for four touchdowns. EDDIE KLANESKI also put on a strong performance for the Islanders for which he was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Klaneski is ranked ninth in the league with his 36.5 tackles. The Islanders must recognize the defensive threat of ARKEE THOMPSON who leads the league in passes defended with his sixteen pass breakups and six interceptions. This is the only time that these teams meet this season.

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