Sports stats

af2 arenafootball2

af2 Thursday night matchups

March 30, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


STOCKTON LIGHTNING (0-0) AT SPOKANE SHOCK (0-0)
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2006 - SPOKANE ARENA (9,909) 9:00 P.M. ET
Two brand new teams will square off in the af2 season opener tonight in Spokane, Wash. as Shock fans get their first taste of Arena Football. Two of the winningest coaches in af2 history will man the sidelines for their respective squads - Richard Davis for Stockton (39-21 career regular season record) and Chris Siegfried (37-21 career regular season record) with Spokane. Both were put in charge of bringing instant credibility and instant success to each program. Stockton looks to have a strong group on offense, led by stud second-year QB JOSH BLANKENSHIP. He'll be the triggerman for the Lightning offense, which features talented receivers like WR/DB GEORGE WILLIAMS (116 catches, 1,633 yards, 39 TDs in 2005 with Central Valley), WR/DB KENYATTE MORGAN (118 catches, 1,472 yards, 27 TDs in 2004 with Central Valley) and rookie WR/LB JAMES NEWSON. Siegfried has assembled an equally intriguing roster that Shock fans should enjoy. Like Stockton, Spokane comes into its first season with a lot of offensive weapons, most notably NIAN TAYLOR and ANTWONE SAVAGE. Taylor, a former Washington State standout, has played most recently in the af2 for the San Diego Riptide. In 2005, Taylor led the Riptide in receptions (91) and ranked second in receiving yards (994) and touchdowns (25). Taylor, a four-year veteran, is also a solid defensive performer who registered 41.0 total tackles and three interceptions last year. Savage, who played for Siegfried last year in South Georgia, led the Wildcats in receiving with 87 catches, 1,070 yards and 22 TDs. He also returned two kicks for scores as well. Two other former South Georgia players who came to Spokane to join Coach Siegfried are DS ROB KEEFE and OL/DL CHRIS DISANTO. Both are two-year veterans who will be asked to lead the Shock defensive unit.

LIGHTNING SHOCK
SERIES LEADER First meeting
LAST MEETING NA
LAST FIVE GAMES NA NA
LAST GAME NA NA
2005 LEADERS LIGHTNING SHOCK
PASSING NA NA
RECEIVING NA NA
RUSHING NA NA
TACKLES NA NA
SACKS NA NA
INTERCEPTIONS NA NA
KICKING NA NA
TEAM OFFENSE NA NA
TEAM DEFENSE NA NA


BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (0-0) AT EVERETT HAWKS (0-0)
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2006 - EVERETT EVENTS CENTER (8,300) 10:30 P.M. ET
The second game on the opening night schedule features another expansion team, the Everett Hawks, who play host to the Bakersfield Blitz. Bakersfield enters the season with a new coach and new quarterback. Both, however, know the game well and have played it well in the past. Blitz head coach Gary Compton enjoyed a successful 13-year playing career in the AFL, while new QB MICHAEL WALL has been a solid starter in the past with Memphis in 2004 and 2005. Wall is healthy this year, and this team is his to run. Compton has kept a good core group of players back from 2005, including leading receiver WR/DB RENNARD REYNOLDS (85 receptions, 1,302 yards, 23 TDs), WR/LB ERIC MAHANKE (50 catches, 509 yards, 12 TDs, 39 tackles), FB/LB NICK ONAINDIA (33 tackles, team-leading 8.5 tackles for loss) and DS ALEX WALLACE (team-leading 65 tackles, 11 INTs). Bakersfield also welcomes the two-way talents of WR/DB DERONN FINLEY, who has migrated from the Central Valley Coyotes. In 2005, Finley caught 75 passes for 938 yards and 17 TDs. He also recorded 2.0 tackles for loss and four interceptions on defense. The Hawks are ready to fly high thanks to their offseason that included the hiring of rookie Head Coach Rickey Foggie. Foggie, who played eight years as a quarterback in the AFL, spent the 2005 season as an assistant coach/offensive coordinator with the Amarillo Dusters, helping them earn a trip to the second round of the playoffs. Foggie's playcalling, coupled with the emergence of rookie QB JULIAN REESE, created a potent offensive attack that averaged a league-best 55.8 points per game. Well, the two are together again. This season fans in Everett are in for quite a show if Reese can equal or improve on his spectacular 2005 season. Besides Reese, another Amarillo standout that made the trip to the Pacific Northwest to follow Foggie is WR/DB KENDRICK WALKER. Walker is a great two-way player who amassed 20 total touchdowns last season in a variety of ways. His scores included one rushing TD, 11 TD receptions, two missed field goal return TDs, five kickoff return TDs, and one interception return TD. This should be a fun, end-to-end affair.

BLITZ HAWKS
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST MEETING NA
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 NA
LAST GAME Lost at Rio Grande on 7/30/05 in regular season finale NA
2005 LEADERS BLITZ HAWKS
PASSING Thomas: 365-199-19; 2513; 48 TDs NA
RECEIVING Reynolds: 85-1320; 23 TDs NA
RUSHING Thomas: 65-344; 14 TDs NA
TACKLES Wallace: 65 NA
SACKS King: 7.0 NA
INTERCEPTIONS Wallace: 11 NA
KICKING Burnett: 71-85 PAT; 6-31 FG 89 PTs NA
TEAM OFFENSE 40.4 PPG; 225.1 YPG NA
TEAM DEFENSE 41.6 PPG; 234.2 YPG NA


Week 1 Schedule
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Stockton at Spokane 9:00 p.m.
Bakersfield at Everett 10:30 p.m.
Friday, March 31, 2006
Louisville at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 7:00 p.m.
Arkansas at Quad City 8:15 p.m.
Albany at Green Bay 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 1, 2006
Memphis at Tennessee Valley 8:30 p.m.
Rio Grande Valley at Central Valley 10:30 p.m.
Bye: Amarillo, Birmingham, Bossier-Shreveport, Florida, Macon Manchester, Oklahoma City, South Georgia, and Tulsa



arenafootball2 Stories from March 30, 2006


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central