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af2 week five game recaps

May 2, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


FRIDAY, APRIL 28

MEMPHIS XPLORERS 62, macon Knights 26 (Attendance: 2,319)

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - The Memphis Xplorers improved to 4-1 with a 62-26 win over the Macon Knights Saturday night at the DeSoto Civic Center. The Xplorers scored a defensive touchdown and two special teams touchdowns in winning their seventh straight home game. WR/DB Terrell Adams was named the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game with eight catches for 123 yards and one touchdown. Adams also led the team with 7.5 tackles. The Xplorers' defense set the tone early as DB Remuise Johnson intercepted a Chad Elliott pass and returned it 23 yards for a score 2:30 into the game. The Knights, though, would score the next two touchdowns to make it 13-7 at the end of the first quarter. That would be last time they would hold the lead. Memphis went on to outscore Macon 21-0 in the second quarter to open up a 28-13 advantage at the half. The second quarter included a Phillip Perry (ADT Defensive Player of the Game) blocked field goal that he recovered and ran into the end zone and an Xplorers goal line stand on the last play before halftime. The Xplorers scored on the opening drive of the second half and finished the final 30 minutes by outscoring the Knights 34-13. Memphis QB Brian Jones was 19-of-29 for 265 yards and four touchdowns. Jones also scored on a 2-yard rushing touchdown. Macon signal caller Chad Elliott was 22-of-41 for 244 yards and three scores with one interception. Knights WR/DB Matt Jackson earned U.S. Army Ironman of the Game honors with six catches for 82 yards on offense, and 5.0 tackles on defense. Macon fell to 1-3 with the loss.

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

LOUISVILLE FIRE 45, Green Bay Blizzard 39 (Attendance: 5,526)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Fire rode the hot hand of rookie QB Brett Dietz for the second straight week in the team's most recent win against East Division rival Green Bay, 45-39. Dietz threw six touchdowns on the night, including five to OS Rob Mager. Mager's merits earned him the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Award. The pair connected three times in the first quarter as Louisville was able to build a 24-9 halftime lead. The Fire defense was the real difference, however, as Louisville halted three Green Bay in the first half with interceptions. In the third quarter the Blizzard made a run, scoring twice to shorten the gap. Louisville had a familiar answer late in the third, courtesy of the combination of Dietz to Mager. Dennis Fryzel put the game out of reach officially with 20 seconds left on a 3-yard scoring strike from Dietz. Fryzel finished with seven catches for 49 yards. Blizzard starting QB Ronnie Gordon had a rough outing overall, throwing for just 179 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked twice. Louisville OL/DL Shelton Connor recorded 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble to earn ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors. Gordon did experience some success on the ground, rushing for two fourth quarter scores. Louisville improved to 2-2 with the win while Green Bay fell to 2-3.

ALBANY CONQUEST 72, Quad City Steamwheelers 63 (Attendance: 4,560)

ALBANY, N.Y. - Rookie R.J. Harvey caught two pivotal touchdowns in the fourth quarter to propel the Albany Conquest to a 73-62 victory over the Quad City Steamwheelers at Pepsi Arena's U.S. Army Field on Saturday night. Trailing early in the fourth quarter, 47-49, Harvey corralled his first-ever af2 touchdown on a 41-yard strike QB Ryan Vena. Albany then took advantage of a Quad City fumble deep in Conquest territory for the pivotal play of the night. Harvey made it a two-score game with a 28-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 61-49. Albany finished strong by scoring four of the game's last six touchdowns for the team's first home win of the 2006 season. The Conquest improved to 3-2 with the victory, while Quad City fell to 0-4. Vena was named the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game throwing for 353 yards with five touchdowns. Vena also had three of the Conquest's five rushing touchdowns. WR/LB Manwell Talbert caught six passes for a team-high 138 yards including two TD scores. Steamwheelers WR/LB Jack Walker Jr. led all receivers with 13 catches for 152 receiving yards and two TDs. QB Tim Hicks had his best offensive performance of the season, throwing for 365 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. Quad City DS Troy Graham earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with a game-high 8.0 tackles, including one tackle for loss. He also registered a pass breakup.

W-B/Scranton Pioneers 62, MANCHESTER WOLVES 47 (Attendance: 6,333)

MANCHESTER, N.H. - QB Mike Granieri threw for 241 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for two more in his return to New Hampshire to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (4-0) to a 62-47 victory over the Manchester Wolves (2-2) on Brady Sullivan Field at Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester, N.H. Granieri, a former standout at the University of New Hampshire, completed 18-of-31 passes. His most productive target was OS J.R. Thomas, who scored on three of his four catches. Granieri also spread the wealth to OS Yardon Brantley (7 catches, 60 yards, TD) and WR/DB Yaacov Yisrael (5 catches, 76 yards, TD). For his efforts, Granieri was named Schutt Offensive Player of the Game. Yisrael earned U.S. Army Ironman honors. In what was billed as a battle between two very strong defenses, both teams were able to move the ball quite effectively. W-B/Scranton pulled away in the fourth quarter, outscoring Manchester 34-21. The Wolves had their most explosive game offensively in the loss, collecting a total of 321 yards. WR/DB Steve Gonzalez had a strong game for Manchester with 13 catches for 152 yards and four touchdowns. QB Kyle Rowley completed 17-of-31 passes for 206 yards and four touchdowns in three quarters of play for the Wolves. Backup QB D. Bryant was efficient in limited relief, completing 10-of-13 passes for 103 yards and three scores.

Birmingham Steeldogs 40, SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS 34 (Attendance: 4,991)

ALBANY, Ga. - The Birmingham Steeldogs withstood a fight from a game South Georgia squad to prevail on the road, 40-34. The game was closely contested throughout. The Steeldogs seized command midway through the fourth quarter. After a Ryan Hawk to Kerry Wright 16-yard touchdown connection put Birmingham ahead by eight, 34-26, the Steeldogs defense came up with a crucial turnover on South Georgia's next drive. That's when Birmingham OL/DL Eric Thomas recovered a fumble by Wildcats QB Dondrial Pinkins. The Steeldogs sealed the game on a 2-yard touchdown rush by Terrell Browden with just under two minutes to play. Birmingham's Mareno Philyaw earned the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Award with four catches for a game-high 112 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Brumbaugh won ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with 4.0 tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss and two sacks. South Georgia's two best players were WR/LB Chris McKinney (7 catches, 92 yards, 1 TD, 155 all-purpose yards, 4.0 tackles) and DS James McCoy (game-high 7.5 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, 1 INT). McKinney was also named U.S. Army Ironman of the Game. Birmingham improved to 2-2 with the win. South Georgia is still searching for its first win at 0-4.

Florida Firecats 47, BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLEWINGS 26 (Attendance: 3,006)

BOSSIER CITY, La. - The Florida Firecats, one week removed from a spectacular comeback win against Memphis, didn't lose focus against Bossier-Shreveport, besting the Battle Wings, 47-26. Florida (3-1), who lost to the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in Bossier City in 2005, would not allow history to repeat itself in 2006. Firecats OS Magic Benton became af2's all-time leading receiver in terms of receiving yards late in the first half when he caught a 28-yard pass from QB Chris Wallace. The catch moved Benton past James Scott, who finished his career with 4,829 yards. The Firecat veteran, who finished with five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown, is now the af2's all-time leader with 4,882 career receiving yards. Benton's effort was newsworthy, but the real difference maker on Saturday was Florida WR/DB Ethenic Sands, who caught three first-half touchdowns to stake the Firecats to a 21-12 lead that they wouldn't relinquish. Sands also had a third-quarter 7-yard scoring catch. His offensive output of five catches for 82 yards and four touchdowns earned him Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors. Despite dropping their fourth consecutive game to open the season, the Wings found a bright spot in the outstanding play of newcomer Phillip Geiggar. The former Texas Longhorns standout shared U.S. Army Ironman of the Game honors with Sands. Geiggar was also named the ADT defensive player of the game. Geiggar, who had been practicing with the team for three weeks, saw his first game action against the Firecats. He caught three passes for 61 yards, and had a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Amarillo Dusters 58, OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ 56 (Attendance: 5,984)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Amarillo Dusters won their first game of 2006 Saturday night in Oklahoma City, upsetting the Yard Dawgz, 58-56.The Dusters exacted a bit of revenge on the same Oklahoma City that defeated them in Week 3, 61-44. Amarillo's defense capitalized on Craig Strickland's first two interceptions of the season in a big way. Strickland's first pick came with the Yard Dawgz driving and just 6.3 seconds remaining in the first-half. Dusters DB Terrell Mingo stepped in front of the intended receiver and returned the pass 42-yards for the score. That touchdown broke a 28-28 tie to give Amarillo a 35-28 halftime edge. After a Dusters field goal opened up the third quarter, Strickland was struck by an interception again, this time by Jahmal Fenner. Fenner ran 16 yards untouched into the end zone for the score which put Amarillo in the driver's seat, 45-28, midway through the third period of play. The Dusters maintained their lead well into the fourth quarter before the Yard Dawgz pulled to within two with just 23 seconds to play. Oklahoma City's comeback fell short when the team was unable to control the ensuing onside kick. Al Hunt had a great night for the Yard Dawgz in defeat, finishing with seven receptions for 120 yards and five touchdowns. Anthony Dingle added two scores on five catches for 73 yards. Strickland finished 19-of-33 on the night for 290 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with the aforementioned two interceptions. Amarillo QB Steve Panella threw for 255 yards and four touchdowns, three of which went to Derek Jones. Jones led all receivers with nine receptions for 130 yards.

TULSA TALONS 57, Rio Grande Valley Dorados 38 (Attendance: 5,096)

TULSA, Okla. - Talons QB Mark Radlinski, passed for 213 yards and five touchdowns to lead his team to a 57-38 win over the Rio Grande Valley Dorados Saturday night. Radlinski, an af2 rookie, also had two fourth quarter touchdown runs to earn the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Award. The Talons got a bit of payback on Rio Grande Valley for the 75-40 lopsided loss the Dorados put on Tulsa in Week 2. The Talons got things started first when WR/DB Don McGee excited the crowd with a 49-yd missed field goal return for a touchdown. After a tight-first half that had Tulsa ahead by just two, 27-25, the Talons came out firing in the second half. Tulsa scored on all five of their second half possessions (4 TDs, 1 FG) while Rio Grande Valley could manage only two touchdowns in the final 30 minutes. Tulsa's front line was the big factor once again, pressuring Dorados QB Josh Kellett into four sacks. McGee (7 catches, 97 yards, 1 TD, 227 all-purpose yards, 1.0 tackle, 1 PBU) earned the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game for the Talons while DS James Sadler (5.0 tackles, 3 PBUs) was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Kellett led Rio Grande Valley with 291 yards passing on 25-of-51 attempts and six scores. WR/DB Mel Long (7 catches, 105 yards, 1 TD) and WR/LB Travis McAlpine (8 catches, 97 yards, 3 TDs) also played well for the Dorados. The Talons (3-1) have now won three consecutive games. Rio Grande Valley fell to 3-2 with the loss.

ARKANSAS TWISTERS 62, Tennessee Valley Vipers 56 (Attendance: 5,619)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Twisters had to come from behind twice against a Tennessee Valley team they have never beaten to win a wild and exciting contest, 62-56, at Alltel Arena. After spotting the Vipers an early lead, Arkansas surged ahead at the start of the 2nd quarter when Kevin Williams caught a touchdown pass from Church. Tennessee Valley, however, scored on three of the next four touchdowns to close the first half ahead, 34-21. Vipers' QB Ryan Schneider threw five first half touchdowns. Arkansas started the second half by shutting out Tennessee Valley in the third quarter, eventually knocking Schneider out of the game. The Twisters' defense scored touchdowns on three straight drives to go up 52-34 entering the 4th quarter. The Vipers wouldn't go quietly as backup QB Kenton Evans led Tennessee Valley back. After two Evans' TD passes and another safety, fullback Keith Turner capped off a long drive off with a short TD run to tie the game at 56 with just over one minute to play. With the game on the line and backed up near its own endzone, Arkansas drove downfield. The key moment in the drive was a pass interference call on third down that gave the Twisters a first down. On the next play, Church found Jon Schoonover on a 15-yard pass to put Arkansas up, 62-56. Evans threw an interception on the next drive and the Twisters ran the clock out. Church completed 22-of-40 for 274 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. WR/DB Ted Alford (3 catches, 43 yards, 1 TD, 58-yard MFG return TD) earned Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors. Arkansas also had a tremendous team effort on defense, led by ADT Defensive Player of the Game Shakorr Bryant. Bryant had three sacks and a blocked field goal. Delenell Reid had a game-high 15 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups. Steve Watson finished with five tackles, three for a loss, two sacks and a defensive touchdown. US Army Ironman of the Game went to Kevin Williams (4.5 tackles, 2 INTs, 1 FR, 2 DEF TDs). Tennessee Valley was led by Schneider (16-of-25, 155 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT) and Evans (7-of-12, 57 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT). WR/DB Torrey Day led all receivers with 12 catches for 116 yards and three scores. The Twisters improved to 4-1 on the season, the best start by any Twisters team ever. The Vipers fell to 1-4.

Bakersfield Blitz 55, STOCKTON LIGHTNING 26 (Attendance: 9,919)

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Stockton Lightning (1-3) fell to the Bakersfield Blitz (3-1) on Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd of 9,919 at Stockton Arena, 55-26, in the Lightning's inaugural home opener. Stockton kept it close early, with each team scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter of play. Stockton's leading scorer on the season, George Williams, scored the first two touchdowns for the Lightning in Stockton, the first on a 56-yard kickoff return and the second on a 30-yard run. The Blitz opened up a 34-13 lead at the half, however, with three touchdowns in the second quarter. Bakersfield OS Rennard Reynolds (8 catches, 95 yards) led the way with four touchdown receptions, all in the first half. The second half saw the Blitz extend their lead farther, as Bakersfield QB Mike Wall tossed his sixth touchdown of the game just 1:15 into the half. The Lightning stayed even with Bakersfield the rest of the way, as each team added two touchdowns in the final quarter of action. Stockton struggled to hold onto the ball, committing six turnovers in the game. Stockton starting QB Josh Blankenship didn't enjoy his debut in Stockton, completing just 11 passes for 60 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Wall, on the other hand, finished 20-of-28 for 210 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions to earn Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors. DS Alex Wallace stood out on defense for the Blitz, intercepting an af2 season-high three passes.

Central Valley Coyotes 60, EVERETT HAWKS 41 (Attendance: 4,061)

EVERETT, Wash. - Central Valley defeated the Everett Hawks Sunday night in Everett, 60-41, thanks to the efficient effort of rookie QB Scott Rislov. Rislov completed 15-of-22 passes for 217 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. His counterpart, Hawks QB Julian Reese, was 16-of-31 for 199 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Behind by just six points early in the fourth, 47-41, Everett's potential go-ahead drive stalled with over six minutes left in the game when WR/DB Wes Borba picked off a Reese pass on the Coyotes' 4-yard line. Rislov subsequently hit LaMonte Jones with a 9-yard scoring strike that sealed the Hawks fate. Rislov was voted the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game. Daniel Jones (3.5 tackles, 1 INT, 2 PBUs) earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors. Borba (4 catches, 25 yards, 2 TDs, 4.0 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT) was named US Army Ironman of the Game. Everett OS/KR Milton Myers caught five passes for 64 yards and one touchdown. Myers also returned a kickoff 57 yards for a score on his way to a game-high 176 all-purpose yards (64 receiving, 112 kick returns). The Coyotes improved to 3-1 with the win, while Everett is still searching for its first win at 0-4.

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