af2 week 12 Saturday night matchups

Published on June 18, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (6-4) AT LOUISVILLE FIRE (6-4)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - FREEDOM HALL (15,646) 7:30 P.M. ET

There is a lot on the line in Kentucky when the Louisville Fire host the Green Bay Blizzard. After starting the season 6-1 the Blizzard have lost three straight to fall into a tie for second in the East Division with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Louisville. The Blizzard have been without Mr. Everything MATT HUEBNER the last two weeks. Huebner leads the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns while causing havoc on defense registering sacks and forcing turnovers. The past week saw two receivers step up for the Blizzard. LANCE TAYLOR grabbed six passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns. GERALD HARRIS scored three touchdowns on seven receptions and 96 yards. The continued success of the passing game will depend on these two guys playing like they did last week. The Louisville passing game goes through ROB MAGER. The rookie has scored at least two touchdowns in the Fire's last eight games with three games of four touchdowns or more in this span. Last week he had his best game of the season, catching 13 passes for 160 yards and five touchdowns. Mager has quickly adapted to the af2 game, much with the help of veteran quarterback MATT SAUK. Sauk's leads the league in passing yards (2,752) and threw his 300th career touchdown last week. Sauk has received help the last three weeks from DEMETRIUS FORNEY. The FB/LB has rushed 19 times for 61 yards and six touchdowns in Louisville's last three games and has picked up the slack in the rushing game after TONY STALLINGS left the team for the CFL. This will be the final meeting between the two clubs this season and will be crucial in tie-breaking procedures. If Green Bay wins they would own the head-to-head tiebreaker with Louisville.
BLIZZARD FIRE SERIES LEADER Louisville leads series 3-2
LAST MEETING Green Bay won 65-49 vs. Louisville on 5/14/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 2-3
LAST GAME Lost vs. Manchester 62-48 Won at Birmingham 69-61
2005 STATISTICS BLIZZARD FIRE PASSING Turman: 351-194-12; 2296; 44 TDs Sauk: 380-260-12; 2752; 54 TDs
RECEIVING Mason: 41-591; 13 TDs Mager: 76-916; 25 TDs
RUSHING Huebner: 36-87; 8 TDs Forney: 22-63; 7 TDs
TACKLES Bowers: 63.0 Green: 44.0
SACKS Eggleston: 3.0 Forney: 2.5
INTERCEPTIONS Bowers: 8 Fryzel/Green/Stallings: 2
KICKING Juul-Nielsen: 50-61 PAT; 3-15 FG 59 Pts Kight: 55-68 PAT; 6-15 FG 73 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 43.3 PPG (17th); 244.4 YPG (16th) 51.1 PPG (7th); 289.4 YPG (2nd)
TEAM DEFENSE 44.6 PPG (6th); 273.3 YPG (13th) 50.5 PPG (11th); 276.1 YPG (16th)

MANCHESTER WOLVES (9-1) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (9-1)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - GERMAIN ARENA (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

The defending champion Firecats can take a major step toward another ArenaCup with a win over the Manchester Wolves on Saturday. A victory and a Macon loss would give the Firecats the South Division championship. A win would also give Florida the tie-breaker over Manchester for best record in the conference. This game also features the return of former head coach BEN BENNETT to Florida. Bennett led the Firecats to their championship last season before leaving to become the head coach of the Wolves during the off-season. Now he returns to his old stomping grounds with the championship banner he helped win hanging in the rafters. Many of the Firecats he coached last season are still on the team, including OS MAGIC BENTON, FB/LB CHRIS MORANT, DS ROY STABLER among others. Adding to the drama, the first meeting between these two clubs went to overtime. In Week 2 at Manchester the Firecats and Wolves went back and forth with Manchester tying the game at 26 with under two minutes to play. In overtime ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN intercepted the Firecats on their possession inside the Florida 10. But on Manchester's first play STEVE GORRIE forced a fumble and gave the ball back to Florida. The Firecats moved down the field, and Gorrie ran the ball in from four yards out to give Florida the win. This week Manchester is looking for revenge. Since the Florida loss quarterback Jake Eaton has been almost as perfect as the Wolves 9-0 record. His 131.51 quarterback rating is best in the league and the only game in which he posted a sub 100 quarterback rating (92.86) was against the Firecats in Week 2. Eaton, combined with the league's leading receiver (J.J. MCKELVEY) and the league's leading tackler (WILLIAM HAITH), are one of the elite teams in the league. But, are they ArenaCup favorites? The Firecats will have something to say about that on Saturday.
WOLVES FIRECATS SERIES LEADER Florida leads series 1-0
LAST MEETING Florida won 32-26 vs. Manchester on 4/8/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 5-0 4-1
LAST GAME Won at Green Bay 62-48 Won at South Georgia 45-40
2005 STATISTICS WOLVES FIRECATS PASSING Eaton: 320-236-4; 2580; 54 TDs Wallace: 312-191-8; 2199; 57 TDs
RECEIVING McKelvey: 89-936; 31 TDs Benton: 69-905; 27 TDs
RUSHING Kimener: 56-147; 4 TDs Gorrie: 66-299; 6 TDs
TACKLES Haith: 81.5 Snell: 68.5
SACKS Fuller: 3.0 Fisher/James/Morant: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Sebastian: 6 Snell: 3
KICKING Ohlige: 38-63 PAT; 1-9 FG 41 Pts Kornblue: 52-63 PAT; 1-12 FG 55 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 51.9 PPG (6th); 279.0 YPG (6th) 47.9 PPG (13th); 261.2 YPG (12th)
TEAM DEFENSE 38.9 PPG (3rd); 274.6 YPG (14th) 38.9 PPG (3rd); 271.4 YPG (12th)

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (6-4) AT MACON KNIGHTS (4-6)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - MACON COLESIUM (7,182) 7:30 P.M. ET

After a win last week the Macon Knights host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers on Saturday night. The Knights played perhaps their best game of the season last week defeating the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings 57-36. MATT JACKSON made it happen in all three aspects of the game to earn U.S. Army Ironman of the Week honors. On offense Jackson caught three passes for 21 yards. Then on defense Jackson recorded 4.5 tackles (4 solo), broke up two passes and returned an interception eight yards. On special teams Jackson returned a kickoff 30 yards and returned a missed field goal 58 yards for a touchdown. The 58-yard field goal return is the longest return possible in Arena Football and Jackson is only the second player to accomplish the feat. His six interceptions ranks fifth in the league. Teammate HOSEA LANEY has 69.0 tackles (62UA-14AT) which ranks second in af2. Laney will have to keep an eye on ROCCO FORGIONE. Since J.R. THOMAS has been on the injured list Forgione has stepped up his game, even winning offensive player of the game last week. Last week BRYAN SNYDER relieved starting quarterback KYLE ROWLEY leading the Pioneers to a comeback win after being down 21-10 at halftime. Snyder completed 5-of-12 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. It remains to be seen who will get the start this week. This is the first ever meeting between the two franchises. They will meet once more this season, Week 18 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

PIONEERS KNIGHTS SERIES LEADER First meeting
LAST MEETING NA
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. Albany 43-34 Won vs. Bossier-Shreveport 57-36
2005 STATISTICS PIONEERS KNIGHTS PASSING Rowley: 294-187-11; 2163; 47 TDs Hayes: 334-204-12; 2460; 40 TDs
RECEIVING Forgione: 65-792; 18 TDs Johnson: 70-923; 15 TDs
RUSHING Apostolidis: 18-39; 3 TDs Lloyd: 21-56; 4 Tds
TACKLES Hattley: 67.0 Laney: 69.0
SACKS Ekwueme: 3.0 Wangler: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Kaymore: 3 Jackson: 6
KICKING Davis: 51-63 PAT; 7-16 FG 72 Pts Holmes: 20-31 PAT; 3-8 FG 29 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 49.4 PPG (9th); 241.4 YPG (17th) 45.0 PPG (16th); 253.4 YPG (14th)
TEAM DEFENSE 42.9 PPG (5th); 233.0 YPG (3rd) 47.8 PPG (8th); 270.0 YPG (10th)

BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (4-6) AT AMARILLO DUSTERS (6-4)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - AMARILLO CIVIC CENTER (4,870) 8:00 P.M. ET

Fresh off a 36-33 victory over Arkansas the Bakersfield Blitz head west to face the Amarillo Dusters. Amarillo lost last week to Oklahoma City 74-67 but you can't blame the offense. The Dusters scored on every offensive drive of the game, not being stopped once. The problem for Amarillo was they muffed a missed field goal and a kickoff in the endzone that the Yard Dawgz recovered for touchdowns which proved to be the difference in the game. Once again it hammered home that the game of football has three phases, not just two. Week after week Dusters' quarterback JULIAN REESE proves he is one of the most exciting players in the game. Last week he threw for 316 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions while rushing twice for 11 yards and a touchdown. He leads an offense averaging 60.3 points per game, almost five points better than the second highest scoring team, Tulsa. If the Dusters continue scoring 60.3 points per game they will put 964 points up this season, the third highest in league history and the highest for any team not named Quad City. Bakersfield used three JASON THOMAS touchdowns passes and a Thomas 45-yard touchdown run to complete the 16-point comeback last week. SHAWN KING has 2.5 sacks last week to bring his season total to 5.5, third best in the league. Teammate ALEX WALLACE grabbed an interception last week to bring his season total to nine, tied for first in the league. This will be the only meeting between Amarillo and Bakersfield this season.

BLITZ DUSTERS SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST MEETING NA
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. Arkansas 36-33 Lost at Oklahoma City 74-67
2005 STATISTICS BLITZ DUSTERS PASSING Thomas: 243-123-12; 1512; 27 TDs Reese: 305-197-6; 2607; 48 TDs
RECEIVING Reynolds: 52-777; 14 TDs McCollister: 70-1121; 24 TDs
RUSHING Thomas: 41-217; 9 TDs Reese: 56-130; 21 TDs
TACKLES Shorter: 44.5 Gaston: 46.5
SACKS King: 5.5 Hunnicutt/Massey: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Wallace: 9 Davis: 4
KICKING Burnett: 41-52 PAT; 5-23 FG 56 Pts Hershey: 60-81 PAT; 1-8 FG 63 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 39.4 PPG (20th); 224.1 YPG (20th) 60.3 PPG (1st); 296.6 YPG (20th)
TEAM DEFENSE 38.6 PPG (2nd); 224.3 YPG (2nd) 57.9 PPG (18th); 288.4 YPG (18th)

SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (4-6) AT TULSA TALONS (7-3)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - TULSA CONVENTION CENTER (7,111) 8:00 P.M. ET

With two straight wins the San Diego Riptide head to the Tulsa Convention Center to take on the West Division leading Talons. Last week RYAN SMITH earned ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors with two interceptions and a returned a fumble 12 yards for a touchdown. This was the second week in a row the Riptide have earned a league honor. In Week 10 rookie ASI FAOA earned U.S. Army Ironman of the Week honors with 3.0 sacks for a loss of 22 yards while forcing and recovering a fumble. Faoa rushed three times for 20 yards and one touchdown. Faoa's 10.0 sacks ranks second in the league. Another common candidate for Ironman of the Week is NIAN TAYLOR. He leads the team in receiving with 60 receptions for 666 yards and 16 touchdowns. On defense he is third on the team in tackles with 24.5 (18UA-13AT) and tied for second in interceptions with two. This trio of defenders will have their work cut out for them against af2s leading scorer, DONOVAN MORGAN. The rookie has scored 37 touchdowns, including five last week on 10 receptions for 145 yards. He leads the team in all-purpose yards with 1,696. Second on the team is ALERIC CLARK with 1,113. Clark's numbers break down with 34 rushing yards, 329 receiving yards, 32 field goal return yards and 718 kickoff return yards. The Riptide and Talons have two of the better defensive lines in the game. Both have registered 20 sacks, tied for second in the league and both teams have given up 13 sacks. Tulsa won the first meeting between the two clubs 55-37, but Tulsa led only by two points at halftime. In that game ANTHONY BUICH was the quarterback for the Riptide, now KANE CLAUNCH is under center. Claunch threw nine touchdown passes last week.

RIPTIDE TALONS SERIES LEADER Tulsa leads series 4-0
LAST MEETING Tulsa won 55-37 at San Diego on 4/23/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 4-1
LAST GAME Won at Central Valley 79-38 Lost at Rio Grande Valley 65-64
2005 STATISTICS RIPTIDE TALONS PASSING Claunch: 197-110-5; 1496; 35 TDs Blankenship: 302-180-7; 2280; 52 TDs
RECEIVING Taylor: 60-666; 16 TDs Morgan: 79-1105; 35 TDs
RUSHING Griffin: 16-60; 3 TDs Martin: 25-106; 6 TDs
TACKLES Waller: 35.5 Davis: 55.5
SACKS Faoa: 10.0 McIver: 4.5
INTERCEPTIONS Smith: 4 Davis: 4
KICKING Naehu: 46-58 PAT; 5-15 FG 61 Pts Browne: 33-43 PAT; 1-6 FG 36 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 50.0 PPG (8th); 252.9 YPG (15th) 55.7 PPG (2nd); 269.2 YPG (8th)
TEAM DEFENSE 51.3 PPG (12th); 254.0 YPG (6th) 47.9 PPG (9th); 274.9 YPG (15th)

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (6-4) AT BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (2-8)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - CENTURY TEL CENTER (12,500) 8:00 P.M. ET

In a rematch of a Week 8 contest, the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings host the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz. In Week 8 the Yard Dawgz were sitting at 2-4. Then a 52-17 win including three defensive touchdowns in the second half turned the Yard Dawgz season around. They have followed up this win with victories over Quad City, Rio Grande Valley and Amarillo. They defeated Amarillo by seven points, and didn't register a defensive stop instead recovering two muffed kick returns in the endzone. They defeated Quad City by seven points with a touchdown with 35-yard pass from CRAIG STRICKLAND to AL HUNT with 35 seconds left in the game. Their win over the Dorados was a blowout, a win by 24 points. The last two weeks JARRAIL JACKSON has been on fire. Against the Dorados he caught 11 passes for 178 yards and five touchdowns. Last week he recorded 15 catches for 198 yards and four touchdowns. The Yard Dawgz also have the best third down defense in the league, allowing a first down on 20-of-58 attempts (34.5%). For the Battle Wings, JOE WESLEY, their leader in tackles with 34.0 (24UA-20AT), ranks second on the team in sacks with 2.5 and is tied in pass breaks ups with six. Wesley also has 51 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. The Yard Dawgz secondary will be keeping an eye Bossier-Shreveport's main receiver, BO SMITH. After not playing the week before, Smith returned last week with six catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

YARD DAWGZ BATTLE WINGS SERIES LEADER Oklahoma City leads series 1-0
LAST MEETING Oklahoma City won 52-17 vs. Bossier-Shreveport on 5/21/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 1-4
LAST GAME Won vs. Amarillo 74-67 Lost at Macon 57-36
2005 STATISTICS YARD DAWGZ BATTLE WINGS PASSING Strickland: 359-208-9; 2676; 56 Tds Hicks: 240-130-7; 1534; 26 TDs
RECEIVING Jackson: 81-1068; 21 TDs Smith: 48-706; 19 TDs
RUSHING Butler: 22-32; 3 TDs Hicks: 20-79; 10 TDs
TACKLES Davis: 36.0 Wesley: 34.0
SACKS Holloman/Landers: 2.5 Shello: 3.5
INTERCEPTIONS Barre: 3 Schexnayder: 2
KICKING Ball: 34-40 PAT; 5-12 FG 49 Pts Hazelwood: 46-55 PAT; 8-22 FG 77 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 52.2 PPG (5th); 283.5 YPG (4th) 42.1 PPG (18th); 232.6 YPG (18th)
TEAM DEFENSE 46.7 PPG (7th); 268.2 YPG (9th) 58.9 PPG (19th); 298.9 YPG (20th)

SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS (2-8) AT ARKANSAS TWISTERS (1-9)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - ALLTEL ARENA (16,508) 8:00 P.M. ET

Two teams who have undergone head coaching changes during the season meet in Little Rock as the Arkansas Twisters host the South Georgia Wildcats. Earlier in the season former AFL head coach JOHN GREGORY took his first af2 job, becoming head coach of the Twisters. Just this past week former AFL and Georgia Tech quarterback DONNIE DAVIS took over as head coach of the Wildcats. Davis finished the 2004 season as offensive coordinator of the AFL's Georgia Force. Davis takes over a team that is still alive for the playoffs. Last week against defending champion Florida, the Wildats got behind 27-0 only to storm back to take a 40-39 lead with under five minutes to go in the game. But Florida came back with a touchdown with only six seconds remaining. These two clubs met in Week 7 with South Georgia coming out on top 62-48 for South Georgia's first home win. In that game ROB KEEFE intercepted a pass and broke up three passes to win the ADT Defensive Player of the Game award. Against the Wildcats, DARNELL SMALL rushed for two of his three rushing touchdowns on the season. On defense Small leads the team in sacks (2.5) and tackles for a loss (5.0). He has also forced and recovered a fumble and broken up a pass. Arkansas' new starting quarterback is former Riptide quarterback KEVIN FETERIK. He has completed 31-of-44 passes for 298 yards and six touchdowns with one interception during his two games at quarterback. While both losses, Arkansas lost to Memphis by two points and Bakersfield by three.

WILDCATS TWISTERS SERIES LEADER South Georgia leads series 1-0
LAST MEETING South Georgia won 62-48 vs. Arkansas on 5/14/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 1-4
LAST GAME Lost vs. Florida 45-40 Lost at Bakersfield 36-33
2005 STATISTICS WILDCATS TWISTERS PASSING Pesavento: 329-196-15; 2055; 43 TDs Motley: 249-123-13; 1492; 28 TDs
RECEIVING Savage: 42-427; 9 TDs Kilow: 47-610; 8 TDs
RUSHING Iorio: 12-31; 1 TD Small: 16-40; 3 TDs
TACKLES McKinney: 27.0 Jackson: 28.0
SACKS Scott: 3.5 Small: 2.5
INTERCEPTIONS Fenceroy: 4 Jackson/Mitchell-Hughey: 2
KICKING Virgilio: 39-51 PAT; 1-8 FG 42 Pts Nance: 29-33 PAT; 3-9 FG 38 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 45.5 PPG (15th); 282.1 YPG (5th) 40.7 PPG (19th); 229.5 YPG (19th)
TEAM DEFENSE 48.6 PPG (10th); 210.5 YPG (1st) 57.2 PPG (17th); 240.5 YPG (5th)

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (1-9) AT MEMPHIS XPLORERS (9-1)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - DESOTO CENTER (8,444) 8:00 P.M. ET

After a thrilling overtime win last week the Memphis Xplorers host the Birmingham Steeldogs on Saturday night. Last week the Xplorers used a late takeaway and then a KEVIN PRENTISS touchdown to force the game into overtime. Then in the extra session a DEON GIDDENS interception in the endzone won the game for the Xplorers. The Xplorers win because they have playmakers on both sides of the ball. Prentiss is one of the league's most exciting players, turning four-yard quick slants into 40-yard touchdowns. On defense KHREEM SMITH leads the league in sacks with 12.5, for a loss of 76 yards. As a team, Memphis leads the league in interceptions with 21. They also league the lead in turnover margin, at +21. The Xplorers also excel on special teams, they are one of two teams who haven't given up kickoff return for a touchdown this season. Birmingham's most exciting player is DETRONN HARRIS. He leads the team in receiving with 71 catches for 898 yards and 15 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 22 yards and two touchdowns. Birmingham looks to the rushing game on short yardage situations as they are third in the league in rushing first downs with 35. Memphis earned their first win over Birmingham in franchise history in Week 4 of this season. The Xplorers defeated the Steeldogs 60-24 behind four Prentiss receiving touchdowns.

STEELDOGS XPLORERS SERIES LEADER Birmingham leads series 3-1
LAST MEETING Memphis won 60-24 at Birmingham on 4/23/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 5-0
LAST GAME Lost vs. Louisville 69-61 Won vs. Quad City 67-54
2005 STATISTICS STEELDOGS XPLORERS PASSING Linn: 169-96-8; 1244; 20 TDs Jones: 275-173-6; 2405; 47 TDs
RECEIVING Harris: 71-898; 15 TDs Prentiss: 75-1150; 28 TDs
RUSHING Nelson: 15-71; 3 TDs Jones: 50-185; 16 TDs
TACKLES Hill: 29.5 Singfield: 41.5
SACKS Jackson: 2.0 Smith: 12.5
INTERCEPTIONS Four players tied: 2 Singfield: 7
KICKING Walls: 24-33 PAT; 2-4 FG 30 Pts Azar: 29-38 PAT; 8-11 FG 53 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 48.6 PPG (10th); 266.2 YPG (9th) 54.9 PPG (3rd); 265.0 YPG (10th)
TEAM DEFENSE 59.1 PPG (20th); 258.2 YPG (7th) 36.5 PPG (1st); 234.9 YPG (4th)

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (5-5) AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS (6-4)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - DODGE ARENA (5,500) 8:30 P.M. ET

The outcome of the contest between the Central Valley Coyotes and Rio Grande Valley Dorados on Saturday will go a long way in determining the way the rest of each team's season will go. A win for Central Valley will get their year back on track and start looking toward possibly hosting a playoff game. The Dorados have come on strong since a slow start and a win would keep the pressure on first place Tulsa, who the Dorados beat last week for the first time in franchise history. One of last week's main contributors was current Offensive Player of the Week DWIGHT COUNTER. Last week counter hauled in 18 passes for 217 yards and four touchdowns. His 18 receptions was one short of the af2 record for receptions in a game. Much of the credit for the Dorados late surge should go to quarterback JOSH KELLETT. Kellett threw for five touchdowns and rushed for two in the Dorados' 61-51 victory over the Coyotes in Week 7. He has brought stability to the quarterback position, something the Dorados searched for last season. Newcomer NORMAN MASON has come on and given stability to the secondary after just five games. He won the ADT Defensive Player of the Week Award in his first two games. He has five interceptions on the season. One of the Coyotes' best two-way players is DERONN FINLEY. The former member of the Green Bay Blizzard has recorded 49 catches for 574 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. On defense Finley has 15.5 tackles (13UA-5AT), an interception and a recovered fumble. The Coyotes have 14 team sacks with AHMAD BHATTI leading the team with 4.5. This is the last meeting of the season between the two clubs.

COYOTES DORADOS SERIES LEADER Series tied 1-1
LAST MEETING Rio Grande Valley won 61-51 at Central Valley on 5/14/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 4-1
LAST GAME Lost vs. San Diego 79-38 Won vs. Tulsa 65-64
2005 STATISTICS COYOTES DORADOS PASSING Wood: 371-219-9; 2684; 53 TDs Kellett: 358-194-10; 2346; 43 TDs
RECEIVING Williams: 64-958; 21 TDs Floyd: 62-825; 14 TDs
RUSHING Wood: 23-135; 8 TDs Robinson: 41-155; 7 TDs
TACKLES Robinson: 46.5 Brown: 49.5
SACKS Bhatti: 4.5 Robinson: 4.0
INTERCEPTIONS Robinson: 3 Floyd: 6
KICKING Gockman: 50-60 PAT; 9-14 FG 77 Pts Houle: 39-48 PAT; 13-26 FG 78 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 53.5 PPG (4th); 289.4 YPG (2nd) 48.4 PPG (11th); 257.7 YPG (13th)
TEAM DEFENSE 52.5 PPG (15th); 270.3 YPG (11th) 53.3 PPG (16th); 282.4 YPG (17th)

ALBANY CONQUEST (3-7) AT QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (4-6)

SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 2005 - THE MARK OF THE QUAD CITIES (9,437) 8:30 P.M. ET

Two teams on the bubble for a playoff spot meet in Moline, Illinois on Saturday night as the Quad City Steamwheelers host the Albany Conquest. Both losers last week, the Conquest and Steamwheelers are hoping for a late season surge to move up the conference standings and improve on their 1-4 marks over the past five games. The Conquest look to the arm of D BRYANT to ignite a potentially potent offense. Two weeks ago against Bossier, Bryant passed for over 300 yards and eight touchdowns. He also leads the team on the gorund with 11 rushing tallies on the season. While MANWELL TALBERT leads the team in receiving with 899 yards and 19 TDs, JEREMIAH POPE serves as another offensive weapon for Bryant. In the last three games Pope has amassed 279 receiving yards with five scores. Quad City offers a comparable offense, averaging 47.2 points per game to Albany's 48.4, but the biggest star for the Steamwheelers does his work on defense. MATT FORBES is tied for the league lead with nine interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) and he has 12 pass breakups, making life difficult for opposing QBs. The Steamwheelers risk making some unwanted regular season history in this contest should they lose. The Steamwheelers have never lost seven games in season and never dropped more than two games at home in any single season. Look for the pride factor to produce a pumped up Steamwheeler squad. This is the first meeting between these clubs ever, and the only one of this season.

CONQUEST STEAMWHEELERS SERIES LEADER First meeting
LAST MEETING NA
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 1-4
LAST GAME Lost at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Lost at Memphis 67-54
2005 STATISTICS CONQUEST STEAMWHEELERS PASSING Bryant: 351-214-13; 2440; 46 TDs Clemons: 368-243-7; 2592; 48 TDs
RECEIVING Talbert: 64-899; 19 TDs Burns: 67-7226; 12 TDs
RUSHING Bryant: 47-104; 11 TDs Novak: 24-71; 2 TD
TACKLES Coleman: 44.5 Forbes: 60.0
SACKS Arah: 4.0 Barr: 3.0
INTERCEPTIONS Butler/Coleman: 3 Forbes: 9
KICKING Samuel: 35-46 PAT; 2-12 FG 41 Pts Gatto: 52-64 PAT; 4-21 FG 64 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 48.4 PPG (11th); 264.7 YPG (11th) 47.2 PPG (14th); 277.4 YPG (7th)
TEAM DEFENSE 51.5 PPG (13th); 265.8 YPG (8th) 51.9 PPG (14th); 290.0 YPG (19th)

arenafootball2 Stories from June 18, 2005

• Xplorers Strong First Half Too Much for Steeldogs - Memphis Xplorers
• Dusters Sweep Away Blitz, 66-55 - Bakersfield Blitz
• Conquest look to cook Steamers - Albany Firebirds
• af2 week 12 Saturday night matchups - af2
• af2 Nation - OSC Original by Walter L. Johnson II

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