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af2 semifinals Friday night matchups

August 11, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


(3) LOUISVILLE FIRE (12-5) AT (2) MANCHESTER WOLVES (12-4)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2005 - VERIZON WIRELESS ARENA (9,650) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Louisville Fire and their six game winning streak head to New Hampshire to take on the Wolves on Friday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Manchester can still remember their 78-61 loss to the Fire in Week 17 in which record-breaking quarterback MATT SAUK threw for seven touchdowns against the Wolves secondary. A win would have given the Wolves the East Division championship, instead the Fire victory kept them alive for another week. While Manchester went on to clinch the division the following week they came ever so close to giving up the division to the late charging Fire who won their last five games of the regular season. The two teams also played in Week 6 with Louisville losing to Manchester 46-37. The loss started a downswing in which they lost five out of the next seven games before winning their final five.

When it comes to the Louisville Fire, success rides on the shoulders of quarterback Matt Sauk. This season Sauk established himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. His 408 completions for 4,489 and 99 touchdowns are not only the best in arenafootball2 this season, but league records. On the receiving end of Sauk's passes are his three big receivers ROB MAGER, DENNIS FRYZEL, and CESARE MANNING who combined for 296 receptions. Although Mager appeared in only 13 games he led the Fire with 125 receptions for 1,439 yards. He has caught five touchdowns against the Wolves already this season.

Much of the credit for the Fire offense needs to go upfront, with the offensive line. The Fire offensive line allowed a league low seven sacks during the regular season. Sauk's record numbers are proof of the excellent job the line did protecting him this season. The Fire line can turn around and play defense as well. ANDREW TIPPENS recorded 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception in the Fire's victory over Wolves in Week 17. This performance earned him ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors.

The Manchester Wolves started the season 10-1 before losing their footing towards the end of the season. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in JAKE EATON. He threw for 4,066 yards and 88 touchdowns during the regular season while leading the Wolves to a franchise best 12-4 record and the No. 2 seed. His main target has been J.J. MCKELVEY. He leads the team in receiving and scoring. In his two games against the Fire, McKelvey has caught 16 passes for 174 yards and five touchdowns.

After kicking in only one game for the Wolves CARTER WARLEY was signed by the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals this past week. With him unavailable the Wolves brought back former kicker RICH EHMKE. Ehmke made 2-of-5 field goals and 16-of-26 extra points for 22 total points during his time with the Wolves this season.

Manchester head coach BEN BENNETT is looking to return to the ArenaCup after winning it all with the Florida Firecats last season. Louisville's head coach, TOMMY JOHNSON, has his team in the playoffs for the second straight season. Last year they won on the road at Quad City in the First Round, before falling to Tulsa in the Semifinals. Now they hit the road for the Semifinals once again looking to advance to the American Conference Championship game for the first time in franchise history.

On defense the Wolves' WILLIAM HAITH broke the af2 single season tackle record, tallying up 121.5 tackles including 100 solo tackles this season. To top off his incredible season, Haith broke up 30 passes while hauling in three interceptions. Haith, ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN and the rest of the Wolves defense will look to put out Sauk's offensive fire. They will have their work cut out for them as in the two previous games the Wolves defense has failed to intercept a pass or sack Sauk once.

Louisville's secondary is led by ROB GREEN and NATE GREEN. Rob leads the team in tackles with 62.5 (51UA-23AT). Nate ranks second on the team with 47.5 (40UA-15AT) stops. Both of them have picked off three passes this season.

The winner will face off against the victor of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Florida game for the right to go to the 2005 ArenaCup.

FIRE WOLVES SERIES LEADER Manchester leads series 2-1

LAST MEETING Louisville won 78-61 vs. Manchester on 7/16/04

LAST FIVE GAMES 5-0 2-3

LAST GAME Won at Macon 53-52 Won vs. Albany 45-30

2005 STATISTICS FIRE WOLVES PASSING Sauk: 603-408-16; 4489; 99 TDs Eaton: 539-382-13; 4066; 88

RECEIVING Mager: 125-1439; 39 TDs McKelvey: 138-1454; 44

RUSHING Forney: 31-98; 9 TDs Kimener: 72-198; 5 TDs

TACKLES Green: 62.5 Haith: 121.5

SACKS Tippins: 4.5 Fuller: 3.0

INTERCEPTIONS Matthews: 4 Sebastien: 6

KICKING Kight: 92-113 PAT; 9-20 FG 119 Pts Ohlige: 38-63 PAT; 1-9 FG 41 Pts

TEAM OFFENSE 55.6 PPG (3rd); 292.6 YPG (2nd) 50.3 PPG (9th); 268.8 YPG (8th)

TEAM DEFENSE 51.6 PPG (12th); 279.7 YPG (16th) 42.9 PPG (4th); 258.2 YPG (10th)

(6) AMARILLO DUSTERS (9-8) AT (1) MEMPHIS XPLORERS (13-3)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2005 - DESOTO CIVIC CENTER (8,400) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Memphis Xplorers host the Amarillo Dusters in the National Conference Semifinals on Friday night at the DeSoto Civic Center. The Dusters were down 56-36 with just under 8:00 minutes remaining in last week's first round matchup in Oklahoma City until JULIAN REESE took over. After hooking up with CHAVIS MCCOLLISTER and JARROD ROUANZOIN with a touchdown pass each, Reese retook the lead for the last time with a touchdown run with under 29 seconds remaining.

The Dusters are looking to recapture that magic this Friday night. This will be the third time this season that these two teams will hook up with the Xplorers won the first two meetings. The meeting that must stick out in the minds of the Dusters is the first loss, a 41-66 defeat at home in Week 2. Memphis' KEVIN PRENTISS came into the Dusters' arena and tied an af2 record by scoring eight touchdowns. Prentiss grabbed nine passes for 186 yards and six touchdowns and then returned three kickoffs for 131 yards and two touchdowns. In their next meeting the Dusters limited Prentiss to three touchdowns. Memphis won the second meeting 46-40.

This contest features the two highest scoring teams in the league with both teams scoring an average of 55.8 points per game during the regular season. For most of the season, the expansion Dusters have relied on the play of quarterback and playmaker Julian Reese. Despite being replaced with back up STEVE PANELLA during Amarillo's four game losing streak to end the season, Reese has been Amarillo's main offensive threat. Reese threw for 65 touchdowns and ran for 28 touchdowns (tying an af2 record). The number one target of Reese this season has been offensive specialist Chavis McCollister. In just 14 games this season McCollister pulled down 124 passes for 36 touchdowns while racking up a league leading 1,866 yards. This total is good enough for third in af2 history for receiving yards in a season. He averaged 133.3 yards per game. Had he played in all 16 games with this average he would have totaled 2,131 yards. This total would have been a new af2 record.

On defense, it will be the job of DAHNEL SINGFIELD to keep control McCollister and Reese. Singfield led the league in interceptions with 12 and passes defended with 62. When Reese passes look for Singfield to make a play on the ball. If Reese runs look for Singfield to step up and make a tackle on Reese.

Looking to make life difficult for Reese will be Memphis lineman KHREEM SMITH. He led the league in sacks with 17.0 and registered 2.0 in Memphis' first win over the Dusters.

The Xplorers and their top ranked scoring offense have been using a variety of weapons all season on their way to a 13-3 regular season record. Memphis quarterback BRIAN JONES had a nearly error free season throwing just seven interceptions while racking up 69 touchdowns and 3,384 yards. Jones also collected a net gain of 229 yards on the ground and 23 touchdowns. His 23 rushing touchdowns were second only to Reese meaning this contest will feature two of the best running quarterbacks in the league. When these teams are in the redzone, look for their quarterbacks to try to take it in the endzone themselves.

Kevin Prentiss has had an unbelievable season with 103 receptions for 1,627 yards and 40 touchdowns and looks to continue dominating opponents' secondary. He finished second in the league in all-purpose yards with 3,104, just 61 shy of first place. He also returned four kickoffs for touchdowns to bring his season point total to 264.

In charge of shutting down Kevin Prentiss and the Xplorers offense is CHARLES DAVIS, who led the Dusters with five interceptions, and JOE MASSEY who led the team in sacks with 6.5. Massey also forced three fumbles and broke the af2 record for blocked kicks in a season with eight.

Both teams have a two-way dangerous threat. Amarillo's KENDRICK WALKER has a knack for being around the ball. He was second on the team in tackles with 45.0 (38UA-14AT). He was also second on the team in receiving with 47 catches for 529 yards and 11 touchdowns. He returned two missed field goals for touchdowns and an interception for a touchdown to go with his 1,010 yards and five touchdowns on 40 kickoff returns. Memphis' TERRELL ADAMS was second on his team in receiving as well with 57 catches for 779 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The winner of the Rio Grande Valley at Tulsa Talons game next week for the right to advance to the 2005 ArenaCup.

DUSTERS XPLORERS SERIES LEADER Memphis leads series 2-0

LAST MEETING Memphis won 46-40 at Amarillo on 5/14/05

LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 3-2

LAST GAME Won at Oklahoma City 59-56 Won vs. Bossier-Shreveport 47-27

2005 STATISTICS DUSTERS XPLORERS PASSING Reese: 445-279-11; 3525; 65 TDs Jones: 388-245-7; 3384; 69 TDs

RECEIVING McCollister: 124-1866; 36 TDs Prentiss: 103-1627; 40 TDs

RUSHING Reese: 86-223; 28 TDs Jones: 75-229; 23 TDs

TACKLES Gaston: 67.5 Singfield: 73.0

SACKS Massey: 6.5 Smith: 17.0

INTERCEPTIONS Davis: 5 Singfield: 12

KICKING Hershey: 64-90 PAT; 1-8 FG 67 Pts Azar: 57-72 PAT; 6-16 FG 81 Pts

TEAM OFFENSE 55.8 PPG (1st-T); 291.1 YPG (3rd) 55.8 PPG (1st-T); 248.1 YPG (15th)

TEAM DEFENSE 55.3 PPG (16th); 276.8 YPG (15th) 37.6 PPG (1st); 243.1 YPG (4th)



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