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af2 Saturday Night Matchups

May 23, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS (5-3) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (6-1)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - Germain Arena (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Wildcats travel south to Fort Myers, Fla. to take on the Florida Firecats in an important midseason South Division matchup. Florida currently leads the division but South Georgia trails closely. This is the second head-to-head matchup of the year between the two. The Firecats won the first game, 51-41, on the road in Albany, Ga. South Georgia only had the ball for 35 seconds in the fourth quarter and that was enough for their fifth victory in 2008. From the opening play South Georgia WR/KR P.J. Berry would make his presence felt, as he returned the opening kickoff 52 yard for a TD and a 7-0 Wildcats lead. Berry stuck again in the fourth quarter by taking another kick back for a touchdown, this one from 56 yards away. That turned a 40-40 tie into a 46-40 South Georgia advantage. LB ALVIN RAY JACKSON sealed the win for the Wildcats with a 36-yard INT return TD with just over a minute and a half to play. Berry now has an af2-high five kickoff return TDs. He also leads the squad with 678 receiving yards. WR ANTWONE SAVAGE has a team-high 18 receiving TDs. DB ROLAND COLA owns the league high for total tackles with 59. South Georgia enters this week ranked No. 9 overall in the latest league coaches poll. The Firecats approach Week 9 as the No. 4-ranked team in the af2 according to the latest league coaches poll. Florida endured its first loss of the 2008 season in Week 8, losing at Tennessee Valley, 50-34. QB Chris Wallace completed 21-of-36 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns for the Firecats in defeat. WR ETHENIC SANDS was his favorite target with 10 catches for 120 yards and two scores. DB JAMES MCCOY paced the defense with 10.5 tackles and two pass breakups. Florida's defense has been stellar all season, allowing just 35.4 points per game to the opposition (2nd best in af2). Wallace is the on-field leader of the Firecats offense and where he goes, they follow. He's been very consistent in the first half of the season with 35 TDs against just three INTs. This contest should be one of the most competitive of the weekend.

SPOKANE SHOCK (7-0) AT AUSTIN WRANGLERS (3-4)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - Frank Erwin Center (14,866) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Spokane Shock (No. 2 in Week 9 coaches poll) take on the Austin Wranglers (No. 14 in Week 9 coaches poll) on the road hoping to keep their undefeated season alive. The Shock took the victory last week, 59-56, against a determined Tri-Cities Fever team who almost pulled off an upset. The Shock's offense put up a total of 269 yards, their second highest of the season, and scored on every drive. QB Nick Davila, who was awarded the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Award, was nearly perfect as he didn't throw an incompletion until the third quarter. This is the rookie's second start in as many weeks. Spokane is the No.1-ranked team in rushing defense, giving up only 72 total rushing yards. But what proved to be the difference was WR/KR Raul Vijil, who collected 174 all-purpose yards and gave Davila excellent field position for every drive and allowed them to score on every position for the first time this season. This match has every chance of being just as close as the Austin Wranglers are also coming off a blowout win against the Texas Copperheads. The offense for the Wranglers was highlighted by QB Andy Hall who completed 23-of-33 passes for 238 yards and six touchdown passes, and even rushed once for a 2-yard score. With no surprise, Hall was recognized as the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game. The Wranglers dominated the first half by leading 41-3, as the offense took charge and the defense stepped up with four interceptions from four different players. The Wrangler defense holds the number three spot in the league for passing defense, only giving up an average of 193 yards per game. With two strong defenses going up against each other and two offenses that are on a roll, this is surely set to be a battle until the final seconds.

DAYTONA BEACH THUNDERBIRDS (2-6) AT CORPUS CHRISTI SHARKS (3-4)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - American Bank Center (7,498) 8:00 P.M. ET

This week the Corpus Christi Sharks (No. 15 in Week 9 coaches poll) welcome the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds in a cross conference matchup. This will be the first time these two teams have met. Daytona Beach has begun to find a groove as they have won two of their last three games. Last week the ThunderBirds fell short at home against the Boise Burn after knocking off Manchester and Albany in the previous two weeks. The team is 2-4 under head coach Gary Compton and 2-2 with rookie QB MATT BOHNET under center. Bohnet didn't have his best showing against the Burn, finishing 19-of-40 with four TDs and two INTs. Daytona Beach WR Jeremy Grier caught seven passes for 98 yards and one touchdown for the ThunderBirds, who seemed to struggle offensively with penalties and missed opportunities. The ThunderBirds went into the half down 28-14 and never seemed to get in sync in the second half. DB JOCQUES RICHARDSON leads the squad in tackles (25.5) and interceptions (4). Corpus Christi also came up short last week against the South Georgia Wildcats, 53-47. The South Georgia Wildcats only had the ball for 35 seconds in the fourth quarter and that was enough for their fifth victory in 2008. Corpus Christi QB Fran Johnson finished 27-of-41 for 243 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. One of Johnson's interceptions came late in the fourth quarter to seal the deal for the Wildcats. South Georgia's ALVIN RAY JACKSON picked off Johnson and returned it for a touchdown giving the Wildcats a 53-40 edge with little time left for the Sharks to overcome. WR BRANDON HUSSEY, who caught 11 passes for 113 yards and three scores against South Georgia, leads the Sharks with 53 catches for 566 yards and 11 TDs. WR/DB IVORY MCCANN is also an impact player for Corpus Christi. The second-year player is one of the best kick returners in the league (3 kickoff return TDs, 1 missed field goal return TD) and has also been the team's top defender with 35.5 tackles, three interceptions and 15 pass breakups. This has the makings to be one of Week 9's more intriguing matchups.

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (3-4) AT BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLEWINGS (3-4)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - CenturyTel Center (12,500) 8:05 P.M. ET

This match up is completely unpredictable, as both teams seem statistically identical in their record, quarterback comparison, kicking comparison, and team offense/defense comparison. As the first time these teams are meeting this season, Arkansas and Bossier-Shreveport are ranked number two and three on the total offensive standings in yards per game, seven and eight in total offensive yards, two and three for pass offense, and are next to each other in several other statistical categories. Lastly they both dropped close games in their last contests. The BattleWings, off in Week 8, lost to the Tri-Cities Fever two weeks ago, 48-44. After a fourth quarter field goal gave Bossier-Shreveport a 44-42 advantage, the BattleWings recovered a surprise onside kick and started driving the field for the potential game clinching score. Tri-Cities' defense, however, stood strong to force the Bossier-Shreveport to turn the ball over and score a final touchdown and take away the win. The Arkansas Twisters fell to the Lubbock Renegades (No. 3 in Week 9 Coach's Poll) last week in a heartbreaker after Twisters' K Joseph Blanco nailed a 38-yard field goal to take the lead with two seconds remaining in the game. However on the ensuing kickoff, Renegades LaRico Stevenson recovered Arkansas Larue Burley's fumble in the end zone for the final score of the game. Both teams traded scores early in the game, but the Twisters' 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Kyle Rowley to end the second quarter left the Renegades trailing by seven at halftime. The teams once again went back and forth in the third quarter, each scoring twice. The Renegades would put up a gutsy fourth-quarter performance, outscoring the Twisters 23-9. Arkansas wide receiver Chris Denney put up an impressive performance with 13 receptions for 229 yards and three scores, unfortunately it was just under what the Twisters needed to hold on to their lead.

IOWA BARNSTORMERS (3-4) AT PEORIA PIRATES (2-5)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - Peoria Civic Center (9,873) 8:05 P.M. ET

The Iowa Barnstormers are looking to get back in the win column this week when they travel to face the Peoria Pirates in a Midwest Division contest. Iowa came off strong last week versus the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz on both offense and defense as Iowa's wide receivers Robert Kilow and Errick McCown both hauled in touchdown catches, bringing the score to 35-21 by halftime. The Dawgz scored twice in the third quarter, once when DB Travis Seaton returned an interception for a touchdown and secondly when Gray ran one yard into the end zone. The Barnstormers' only score in the third quarter was a seven-yard pass from quarterback Neal Sharma to Kilow. The Barnstormers defense tried to boost back their attempt at the win as they held the Dawgz to only one score in the fourth quarter. But despite the defensive effort and four scores, including one safety, the Barnstormers were not able to overcome the deficit and were defeated 62-56. Peoria had their share of struggle last week as well up against the Quad City Steamwheelers. It was Quad City's 100th win in franchise history, and the Pirates did what they could to keep the Steamwheelers from becoming the second team in league history to do so. Pirates quarterback Justin Rascati tallied two touchdown tosses on 183 yards and 24 completions, while also rushing for a game high 55 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Robert Garth had two touchdown catches and 59 yards on four catches, while Darren Paige tallied a team-high 65 receiving yards on nine catches. On the Pirate defense, Kofi Amoah had 7.5 tackles, but it was not enough to stop Steamwheelers quarterback J.J. Raterink threw five touchdowns for 263 yards on 23 completions, while rushing for one touchdown. Both teams need to find a consistent offensive niche in order to keep up with each other.

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (2-5) AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS (3-4)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - Dodge Arena (5,500) 8:35 P.M. ET

The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz are looking to win their second game in a row Saturday night when they travel to Hidalgo, Texas to tackle the Rio Grande Valley Dorados. Last week CHARLES "SPARKY" MCEWEN won his head coaching debut for Oklahoma City in Week 8, guiding the Yard Dawgz to a 62-56 home victory over Iowa. The win was just the second of the season for Oklahoma City and the team's first since their season-opening victory against Arkansas. McEwen joined the team two weeks ago as an assistant head coach before taking over as head coach last week. The Yard Dawgz, how have struggled offensively over the last five games, recorded their highest point output of the year. The group got on track with QB Evan Gray's five touchdown passes and one touchdown run. Receivers KEATON GRAHAM (6-129-3) and AL HUNT (4-68-2) also stood out on offense. Hunt leads the team in receiving with 38 catches for 547 yards and 10 TDs. DB TRAVIS SEATON had a stellar defensive outing against the Barnstormers with 6.0 tackles and two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown. Overall, the Yard Dawgz defense has been sub par. The currently rank last in the league in scoring defense, allowing the opposition over 59 points per contest (59.1). The Dorados also enter Week 9 on the heels of a victory in Week 8. Last Saturday Rio Grande Valley scored a 57-39 road win at Central Valley. QB Travis Cole had a strong game, completing 17-of-34 passes for 232 yards and eight TDs. EDDIE JACKSON (5-64-3) and ANTHONY CHAMBERS (4-58-2) stood out among the Dorados receiving corps. DB PIERRE THOMAS led the defensive unit with 4.0 tackles and two interceptions. Thomas leads the squad with five picks in 2008. If Cole plays another strong game, this game should be an entertaining, high-scoring affair.

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (3-4) AT BOISE BURN (5-2)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - Qwest Arena (5,006) 9:10 P.M. ET

The Central Valley Coyotes travel to Boise for the first of two West Division head-to-head meetings with the Burn. Central Valley and Boise played twice in 2007 with each team winning one time. The Coyotes' most recent result was a 57-39 loss last Saturday at home against Rio Grande Valley. Central Valley held a 10-point lead (39-29) midway through the third quarter before going scoreless the rest of the way. The Dorados, on the other hand, scored four touchdowns, including three in the fourth quarter, to pull away from the Coyotes. Central Valley had three costly turnovers in the final period that led to Rio's comeback. QB PATRICK JOSTEN struggled in his second start for the Coyotes with 191 yard passing on 17-of-34 attempts with three touchdowns and three interceptions. This week the team upgraded its quarterback position by bringing 2007 starter CLAY GROEFSEMA back. Groefsema was one of the league's most consistent signal callers a year ago. He had 90 total touchdowns (75 passing, 15 rushing) and 3,509 yards passing in 13 games before an injury cut short his rookie season. Another big addition this week for Central Valley is DL BEN MCCOMBS. McCombs is an af2 veteran who earned All-af2 First Team accolades in 2007 after recording 12.5 sacks for Bakersfield in 2007. Before coming to Central Valley, McCombs saw action for the AFL's Chicago Rush early in the 2008 season. Two other players to watch for the Coyotes include LB WES BORBA (team-high 27.5 tackles, 3 INTs) and WR NICHIREN FLOWERS (40-480, 12 TDs). Boise enters Week 9 ranked No. 6 in the latest league coaches poll. After a Week 7 road loss to West leader Spokane, the Burn got back on the winning track last week with a 61-34 road win at Daytona Beach. QB Royal Gill completed 15-of-24 passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns. The Boise defense was led by LB/K Levi Madarieta who recorded a sack and put pressure on the ThunderBirds all night. The Burn offense will be missing WR GEORGE WILLIAMS for at least two weeks after the team placed the league's all-time leading scorer on team suspension on Thursday. CASEY ALLEN (36-572-6) and AHMAD HARRIS (26-280-7) will likely see more passes thrown their way in Williams' absence. Boise's defensive unit is paced by DB TERRANCE SANDERS (team-high 5 INTs) and DL TRAVIS TOFI (4 sacks). The Burn rank third overall in points per game allowed (37.1). Boise is 3-0 at home in 2008 and have dominated its opponents in the process, winning by an average of 45.3 points per game. It's very important that the Coyotes get off to a strong start if they want to put heat on Boise.

TRI-CITIES FEVER (2-5) AT STOCKTON LIGHTNING (2-6)

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - Stockton Arena (9,737) 10:00 P.M. ET

Tri-Cities travels to Stockton, Calif. this week for a West Division battle between the Fever and the Lightning. This will be the second of three head-to-head meetings in 2008 between the two squads. Stockton won the first affair in Week 1 in Kennewick, Wash., 46-32. The Fever's most recent result was a tough, 59-56, loss at Spokane in Week 8. The Shock's defense had their hands full with the rejuvenated Fever offense, scoring on eight of their nine drives. The Fever, however, were forced to play with WR/LB TALI ENA under center after Spokane DL Harrison Nikoloa knocked starting QB Josh Kellett out of the game with a late hit. Kellett, an af2 veteran in his sixth season, should be back in the lineup this week. Ena completed 16-of-24 passes for 235 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran for two scores. Despite the team's strong play on offense, Tri-Cities' defense could not stop Spokane. Before last week's loss, the Fever won two straight games. WR J.R. THOMAS led the squad with nine catches for 140 yards and three touchdowns to become just the seventh player in league history to score 800 career points. Stockton enters Week 9 after scoring its second win of the season against Amarillo (40-31) and first of the year at home. The victory snapped a five-game losing streak for the Lightning. New receiver Justin Taplin posted a game-high 145 receiving yards in his af2 debut on seven catches (1 TD). Lightning QB Chad Elliott threw for 254 yards and three touchdowns on 19-for-35 passing to help lead a 21-point rally for Stockton in the fourth quarter. Defensively it was JAJUAN HUDDLESTON (game-high 9 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and JASON HUNT (5 tackles, 1 sack) who led the way. This week the Lightning should receive an extra jolt to their offense with the addition of WR ETU MOLDEN, a four-year AFL veteran (2004-07 Chicago, 2007 Las Vegas). Molden earned All-Rookie honors in 2004, All-Ironman honors in 2005 and an ArenaBowl title in 2006 with the Chicago Rush. Stockton's offense could use a spark as the team has averaged just 31.4 points per game (28th out of 29 teams) through the first half of the season. If Stockton can put points on the board early, expect this contest to be close throughout.



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