af2 To Be Featured on NBC
April 3, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â At halftime of the AFL on NBC this Sunday, the upcoming af2 season will be featured. Some video clips will be shown along with interviews with af2 Executive Director Jay Marcus and Director of Football Operations Robert Banks. Be sure to tune in to NBC get an exclusive preview of the 2004 af2 season.
As far as the game this week, the Philadelphia Soul (3-5) look to avenge a week 2 loss to the Dallas Desperados (5-2) when they host their Eastern Division rival this Sunday on the AFL on NBC, seen locally on KWQC-TV6.
Both of these teams feature explosive offensive players. For the Desperados, offensive specialist Jason Shelley has 51 receptions and 13 touchdowns this season. His counterpart wide receiver / defensive back Will Pettis has 38 receptions for 10 touchdowns on the season.
Pettis was voted U.S. Army Ironman of the Game in the 51-47 win over the Soul in week 2. He snagged four receptions for 51 yards and a touchdown as well as having 1 rushing attempt for 28 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side of the ball he tallied two tackles and two pass deflections.
The Desperados receiving core does not end there. Wide receiver / defensive back Bobby Sippio is leading all AFL rookies in receiving yards with 544, receiving touchdowns with 15, and is second in receptions with 32.
The Desperado's offensive unit is closely matched by Soul offensive specialist Tyronne Jones and wide receiver / defensive back Ricky Ross. Jones has 44 receptions and 10 touchdowns on the season while Ross has 35 catches and nine touchdowns.
A win this week for Dallas could increase their road-win streak to six consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2003 season. A win for Dallas and a New York Dallas could increase the Desperados lead in the National Eastern Conference to two games.
The difference in this matchup could be decided on special team. The Soul have blocked a kick in all but two of their games this season. Fullback / linebacker Chris Ryan leads the team with three blocked field goal attempts this season.
Other games featured on NBC this weekend outside of the Quad City market are New York at Carolina and San Jose at Tampa Bay.
Be sure to tune into high scoring, heart stopping action of the Arena Football every Sunday on the AFL on NBC.
About Arena Football League
Often recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, the Arena Football League, the second-longest running football league in U.S. history, is in its 18th season. On the strength of its Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights, the AFL is America's fastest growing sport. The Austin Wranglers join the Philadelphia Soul and New Orleans VooDoo as the three expansion teams added for the 2004 season. At least two more teams will be added in each of the next two seasons. A network-TV sport, the AFL is currently celebrating its second season on NBC in 2004.
The arenafootball2 league is in its Fifth Anniversary season and serves as the AFL's developmental league. The arenafootball2 (af2) league consists of 25 teams in medium-sized markets with the purpose of training players, coaches and officials for higher levels of football. Several former af2 coaches have joined AFL teams and more than 175 players have advanced to the AFL over the past three years.
Several players have moved on to the NFL from the af2 including the âWheelers standout defensive rush end in 2003, Asa Francis, who last month signed with the Buffalo Bills to play in NFL Europe this spring.
The Steamwheelers are gearing up for their Fifth Anniversary season as one of the charter members of the league. Season tickets are currently on sale starting as low as $54. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets may contact Steamwheelers Director of Ticket Sales Brian Forth at 563-324-4888 or toll free at 1-866-STEAMTIX. For all the up to the minute Steamwheelers news, visit www.steamwheelers.com.
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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.
