af2 week 15 Monday night matchup

Published on July 8, 2007 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

AMARILLO DUSTERS (3-9) AT TRI-CITIES FEVER (7-5)

Monday, JULY 9, 2007 - Toyota Center (7,000) 10:00 P.M. ET

* Broadcast via B2 Networks

Tri-Cities looks to keep pace in the competitive West Division when the team plays host to the Amarillo Dusters for Monday night football, af2-style, at the Toyota Center. Last week in Amarillo, the Dusters earned one of the biggest surprise wins of the season with a 51-48 victory against the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. At the time, the Battle Wings had won their last four games and were just a game back of Rio Grande Valley for the Southwest Division lead. The Dusters, however, pulled off the upset with some solid offense and strong defense. Amarillo QB STEVE PANELLA threw three TDs and racked up over 100 yards for his favorite target WR STEVE BERGESKI. But even more impressive was Panella's 56 yards rushing and four rushing scores. The Dusters defensive effort was led by DAVID IHEDIGBO (3.5 tackles, 1 sack) and TERRELL MINGO (3.0 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PBUs). Panella leads the af2 in rushing TDs with 19. DB AARON WILLIAMS leads the af2 in interception return yards (147-7 INTs) and is tied for the league lead in interception return touchdowns (3). Tri-Cities (No. 10 in Coaches Poll) currently sits in third place in the West behind Spokane and Central Valley. The Fever are coming off another high-powered offensive outing in Week 14 as they proved too much for Boise on the road, winning 55-42. Tri-Cities QB BRIAN BAKER was overwhelming, throwing for 338 yards and seven TDs. The Fever were in driver's seat throughout the game offensively, and on defense, they forced more than enough turnovers to keep from getting burned by Boise. Four different defenders came away with interceptions including RAMSEY DAVIS, who leads the team with five. Baker entered Week 15 tied for the league lead in TD passes with 78 and also ranks among the league leaders in passing yards with 3,372. He triggers Tri-Cities' 5th-ranked passing offense. He has a lot of weapons to throw to as well, but none more dangerous than WR J.R. THOMAS (1,411 receiving yards, 31 TDs). Defensively, veterans JAMIE HATTLEY and ROBERT GARTH are two playmakers to watch for on the Fever. Hattley leads the squad in total tackles with 68.5 while Garth is the team leader in tackles for loss (6) and sacks (3.5). Last week was a huge win for the Dusters in terms of confidence. This week they'll look to play spoiler again against a talented Tri-Cities squad looking to keep pace in the playoff race.

AMARILLO TRI-CITIES SERIES LEADER First Meeting

LAST MEETING No Previous Meeting

LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 3-2

LAST GAME Won 51-48 vs. Bossier-Shrev. on 6/29 Won 55-42 at Boise on 6/30

2007 LEADERS AMARILLO TRI-CITIES PASSING Panella: 235-426-13; 2738; 47 TDs Baker: 263-440-15 3372; 78 TDs

RECEIVING Bergeski: 89-1106; 28 TDs Thomas: 102-1411; 31 TDs

RUSHING Panella: 57-239; 19 TD Rogers: 4-14; 0 TD

TACKLES Williams: 43.5 Hattley: 68.5

SACKS Saluni: 3.0 Garth: 3.5

INTERCEPTIONS Williams: 7 Davis: 5

KICKING Felton: 69-77 PAT; 7-12 FG; 90 PTs Cesca: 23-32 PAT; 1-1 FG; 26 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 47.7 PPG; 243.2 YPG 47.9 PPG; 273.8 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 50.8 PPG; 282.8 YPG 44.8 PPG; 248.1 YPG

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