af2 Saturday Night Matchups

July 11, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

The Macon Knights travel to Norfolk to take on the Nighthawks for the teams' first meeting this season. Both teams are hoping to carry their momentum from their huge victories last week, with the Knights winning by 33 points and the Nighthawks victorious by 35 points. The teams are evenly matched in defensive points and yards per game, but the Knights have come alive on offense as they rank among the top ten in average offensive points and yards per game. This game is very important to both teams as they fight to keep Wild Card hopes alive. Norfolk will have to put forth its best effort as it lies in second place in the American Atlantic Division. However, the Swamp Foxes and the Greensboro Prowlers are just a game behind the Nighthawks so a win or loss changes the playoff picture dramatically. Macon hopes to break a tie with the Florida Firecats for second place in the American South Division behind the undefeated Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Knights will have their hands full with Nighthawk quarterback AARON SPARROW who ranks among the top ten quarterbacks in the af2. This is the only time these teams meet this season.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (7-6) AT COLUMBUS WARDOGS (3-10)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -COLUMBUS CIVIC CENTER (7,600) 7:00 P.M. ET

It will be a battle between the dogs as Columbus hosts the Birmingham Steeldogs for the second meeting between these teams this season. The teams met back on June 6th in which the Steeldogs were able to overcome the Wardogs by the score of 56-40. Birmingham started the game by scoring three unanswered touchdowns and they were able to carry this momentum throughout the rest of the game. Game MVP ARYVIA HOLMES pulled in twelve receptions for 188 yards and three touchdowns. However, Wardogs' defensive specialist DES WASHINGTON did not go down without a fight as he recorded 10.0 solo tackles, one tackle for a loss of three yards, one interception, and two pass deflections. This game is very important for both teams, as it is a battle in the American South Division. A Birmingham win could mean a possible tie with the Firecats and the Knights, which just adds to the intensity of the playoff race as teams fight for a Wild Card spot. Columbus recognizes that four of Birmingham's losses have come on the road. This is the final meeting of the regular season between these teams.

CAPE FEAR WILDCATS (8-5) AT GREENSBORO PROWLERS (6-7)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -GREENSBORO COLISEUM (8,350) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Cape Fear Wildcats travel to Greensboro to take on the Prowlers for the second time this season. This game will have immense consequences on the American Atlantic Division. Cape Fear currently sits at the top of the division, but it has lost its last three games. The Wildcats are only a game ahead of the second place Nighthawks, and the Prowlers are only a game behind the Nighthawks. The playoff picture cannot get any more intense than in this competitive division. The Prowlers have won their last two games, including a 76-point outburst last week, but Cape Fear has also been very strong on offense lately especially with the play of WILMONT PERRY who ranks first in the af2 in rushing. The teams met back in Week 7 of the season in which Cape Fear barely edged the Prowlers by a score of 36-35. Greensboro came from behind in the fourth quarter. It scored with just 56 seconds left on the clock but kicker JOSH JONES missed a PAT, crushing the Prowlers. The Prowlers hope to bounce back from this and play a good game to shake up that American Atlantic Division. This is the last time that these teams will meet in the regular season.

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (2-11) AT LOUISVILLE FIRE (4-10)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -FREEDOM HALL (16,154) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Louisville Fire hopes to melt the Blizzard as it hosts the teams' second meeting this season. Louisville visited Green Bay's Resch Center on June 28 in which the Blizzard exploded with a 68-34 victory, earning their first win of the season after losing ten straight games. Green Bay scored 14 unanswered points in the first quarter and carried its momentum throughout the game. SIDNEY LEWIS was named both Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Game for his outstanding performance that included a kickoff return for a touchdown, three solo tackles, and a pass breakup. However, the Blizzard must be aware of defensive specialist ARKEE THOMPSON who leads the league in interceptions with nine. This game is a National Midwest Division battle, with the Fire looking to break a third place tie with the Peoria Pirates and the Blizzard looking to catch the Fire. Green Bay is coming off of a tough loss and Louisville recognizes that the Blizzard has yet to win a road game this season. This is the final meeting between these teams of the regular season.

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (7-6) AT MEMPHIS XPLORERS (5-8)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -DESOTO CIVIC CENTER (8,444) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Memphis Xplorers host the Arkansas Twisters in a National Central Division battle. The Xplorers are separated from the Twisters by just two games and both teams have their eyes set on a playoff bid. Arkansas hopes to bounce back from its heartbreaking one-point loss last week, and Memphis hopes it can recover from its loss to the Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Twisters have been quite strong defensively, ranking first in average defensive yards per game partly due to the play of defensive specialist KAHLIL CARTER who has recorded 47.5 tackles, nine interceptions, and 32 pass breakups. The teams met back in Week 7 of the season in which the Twisters handled the Xplorers 50-42. REGGIE COOLEY put on a great performance as he recorded a safety and rushed for 59 yards and three touchdowns. Memphis quarterback ROD ROBINSON played a good game as well as he threw for 182 yards and 4 touchdowns while rushing for two more. The Xplorers put up a good fight, recording four sacks and matching evenly with the Twisters on many levels. This is the final meeting between these teams in the regular season.

CINCINNATI SWARM (5-8) AT PEORIA PIRATES (4-9)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -PEORIA CIVIC CENTER (9,772) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Peoria Pirates host the Cincinnati Swarm for the teams' first meeting this season and in af2 history. This game proves to be a very important National Midwest Division battle as the Pirates sit just one game back of the Swarm. Quad City holds the top spot in the division, but the Swarm, Pirates, and Fire are competing very closely as the Swarm are only ahead of them by one game. The results of this game could easily change the standings in this division. Cincinnati hopes to carry its momentum that it earned in last week's 53-17 victory over the Rochester Brigade. However, Peoria has been very strong on offense lately, ranking among the top ten in average offensive points per game. Peoria's offense is so strong due to the play of offensive specialist JACK WALKER, who ranks first in the league in scoring, and quarterback CHARLIE PETERSON, who ranks among the top ten quarterbacks in the league. The Pirates recognize that Cincinnati has struggled on the road this year, but the Swarm has won two out of its last three games. The teams will meet again next week for the final time this regular season.

SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (5-8) AT QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (11-2)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -THE MARK OF THE QUAD CITIES (9,200) 8:30 P.M. ET

The San Diego Riptide travels to Quad City to take on the streaking Steamwheelers for the first time this season. Both teams are coming off impressive victories, with the Riptide washing away Wichita 60-53 and the Steamwheelers melting the Blizzard 75-29. San Diego defensive specialist KENNY HASLIP, who ranks first in the league in tackles with 76.0, must recognize the strength of Quad City's offense which ranks second in both average points and yards per game. No one has been able to stop the Steamwheelers lately as they have won eleven straight games, but San Diego quarterback KANE CLAUNCH has been very strong as he ranks among the top ten quarterbacks in the league. This game is important to both teams as the Steamwheelers look to stay at the top of the National Conference while the Riptide knows that it is separated by just games in the National West Division. This is the final meeting between these teams of the regular season.

FLORIDA FIRECATS (8-5) AT TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (13-0)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -VON BRAUN CENTER (6,624) 8:30 P.M. ET

The test for the Tennessee Valley Vipers get getting more difficult as this week they take on the Florida Firecats for the second time this season. The teams met back in Week 2 of the season in which Tennessee Valley handled the Firecats 41-32. Viper quarterback MATT SAUK put on a wonderful performance as he went 21-for-35 for 236 yards and five touchdowns. Sauk ranks high among quarterbacks in the league, ranking in the top ten in many categories but ranking in the top five in total offense and total offensive touchdowns. The Vipers are truly explosive on offense, ranking first in average offensive points per game with 56.0. However, the Firecats rank second in the league in average defensive points per game with 39.0. Florida has won its past five games and offensive specialist CAINON LAMB has been very strong, ranking among the top ten in the league in receptions. The Firecats, who have won five straight, need this one to stay in the Wild Card picture and take over second place in the American South Division. This is the final time that these teams will meet in the regular season.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (9-4) AT TULSA TALONS (10-3)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -TULSA CONVENTION CENTER (7,096) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Tulsa Talons host the Hawaiian Islanders for the teams' first meeting this season. Both teams are coming off tough losses followed by bye weeks and are evenly matched at 3-2 in their last five games. Tulsa ranks fourth in average offensive points per game and fifth in average offensive yards per game partly due to the play of quarterback CRAIG STRICKLAND who ranks first in the league in total offensive plays and second in the league in total offensive touchdowns. Hawaii also has its stars on offense, especially JOSH WHITE who ranks first in the league in yards per rush. This game is extremely important in the battle for conference supremacy. Tulsa, who is three games ahead of the Arkansas Twisters in the National Central Division, can clinch a division title and a first round bye with a win, while Hawaii does not have as nice a lead in the National West as the Wichita Stealth is creeping behind them at 8-5. This is the final meeting between these teams in the regular season.

WICHITA STEALTH (8-5) AT BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (6-7)
SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2003 -CENTENNIAL GARDEN (8,700) 10:00 P.M. ET

The Wichita Stealth travels to Bakersfield to take on the Blitz for the first time this season with another matchup scheduled in Wichita next weekend. Wichita sits in second place in the tight West Division, just one game behind Hawaii. A win by Wichita could result in a first-place tie depending on what Hawaii does. Bakersfield, not completely out of the division race yet either, currently holds the National Conference's final Wild Card spot and is trying to stave off the likes of Memphis, San Diego and Cincinnati. Since starting the season 1-6, the Blitz has roared back with a 5-1 mark as they push for the playoffs. Coming off bye weeks, the Stealth hopes it can bounce back from its loss two weeks ago, while the Blitz hopes it can carry its momentum from its victory over Peoria. Wichita has been strong on offense all season, especially due to the play of quarterback ANTHONY BUICH who ranks among the top ten quarterbacks in the league and ranks third in total offensive plays. Bakersfield has found a star on defense in RICK LEUNG'WAI who is second in the af2 in sacks with 9.5. The Blitz is averaging 42.6 points per game, making them ninth in the league, while the Stealth give up 45.9 points per game.

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