af2 Week Nine Game Recaps

May 26, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON 43, Greensboro 40 (Attendance: 4,563): Game MVP TERRELL JOHNSON hauled in five passes, three for touchdowns, for 48 yards to lead the Pioneers (2-6) past the Prowlers (3-5). Despite the loss, the Prowlers held the Pioneers to 149 yards of total offense. SHANNON GAINEY caught three touchdowns for the Prowlers, who have lost four straight games.

ALBANY 56, Birmingham 47 (Attendance: 5,296): QB RYAN VENA (Game MVP) passed for 318 yards with five touchdowns and he rushed for another score, helping the Conquest (6-1) beat Birmingham (3-4). OS COREY HILL grabbed 12 receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown for Albany to lead all receivers. The Steeldogs' ANTHONY JORDAN caught six passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns.

Norfolk 39 at MOHEGAN 30 (Attendance: 3,005): Nighthawks' (5-2) QB AARON SPARROW'S 15-yard touchdown pass to MELVIN HILL with 42 seconds left in the game thwarted any hopes of a late Wolves' (4-3) comeback. Sparrow earned Game MVP honors for his 19-of-30 passing for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Nighthawks' OS TRAVIS BURNS returned the game's opening kickoff 57 yards for a score and he later caught a 27-yard touchdown strike as Norfolk built a 19-7 first quarter lead.

Richmond 40, ROCHESTER 20 (Attendance: 2,417): KEVIN HARVEY'S 32-yard touchdown reception early in the fourth quarter put the Speed (4-3) up 40-12 over Rochester (1-7). Speed QB ROY JOHNSON completed 22-of-27 passes for 293 yards and five touchdowns. OS DAMON THOMPSON caught eight balls for 113 yards and three touchdowns for Richmond. DEREK BAKER bright in eight passes for 60 yards and two touchdowns to pace Rochester.

SATURDAY'S GAMES

Hawaii 35, CINCINNATI 28 (Attendance: 3,857): Game MVP and Ironman NIAN TAYLOR caught a career best four touchdowns to carry the Islanders (6-2) past the Swarm (3-5). Taylor totaled seven receptions for 98 yards and recorded four tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up on defense. ANTHONY ARCENEAUX caught four passes for 50 yards from his brother DARNELL, who totaled 211 passing yards for the night. OS JAMES SCOTT led the Swarm with eight catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Quad City 42, LOUISVILLE 31 (Attendance: 8,655): QB TONY ZIMMERMAN threw for 246 yards and five touchdowns and OS IRA GOOCH caught seven passes for 120 yards and scored three touchdowns to lead the Steamwheelers (6-2) past the Fire (3-5). WR/DB TIM DODGE, Ironman of the Game, caught four passes for 61 yards with one score, and he forced one fumble, tallied 5.5 tackles and had an interception. The Steamwheelers have won six straight games.

Wichita 52, PEORIA 49 (Attendance: 5,490): The Stealth (5-3) used five rushing touchdowns, including two from BRIAN GOOLSBY, to run past the Pirates (3-5). Peoria QB CHARLIE PETERSON tossed five touchdowns, including four to JACK WALKER who had seven total receptions for 114 yards. League-leading scorer MICHAEL DRITLEIN caught six passes for 77 yards and the only two Stealth touchdown receptions. He also amasses 123 yards in kick returns.

BOSSIER CITY 34, Columbus 31 (Attendance: 3,406): The Battle Wings (3-5) used a 15-0 run late in the second half to rally past the Wardogs (2-5). QB FRED LEONARD completed 14-of-33 passes for 170 yards with four touchdowns and he rushed for another score in his Bossier City debut. JAMES DICKERSON caught nine passes for 100 yards and two touchdowns for Columbus. The Battle Wings snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 3-1 at home. Columbus dropped its fifth straight game.

Bakersfield 38, GREEN BAY31 (Attendance: 3,212): ERIC MAHANKE'S 13-yard touchdown reception with eight seconds left in the game carried the Blitz (2-6) past the Blizzard (0-7). QB CHAD ELLIOTT, who entered the game in relief of JEFF DOVER late in the third quarter, completed 12-of-13 for 125 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner to Mahanke. Green Bay kicker GREG KRAUSS converted 4-of-4 field goals, including kicks from 49 and 54 yards. The Blizzard has lost its last three in a row in the final seconds of the game.

TENNESSEE VALLEY 57, Cape Fear 54 (Attendance: 5,158): The Vipers (7-0) withstood a furious fourth quarter comeback bid from the Wildcats (5-2), which included a botched game-tying field goal attempt at the buzzer, to remain perfect on the season. QB MATT SAUK completed 19-of-33 passes for 312 yards and six touchdowns. The Vipers' JERRIAN JAMES rushed for one touchdown, caught three passes for 56 yards and a score, threw a 17-yard touchdown on trick play, tallied a game-high nine tackles, forced a fumble and recorded a pass break-up, earning Game MVP, Ironman and ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors. The Vipers are 7-0 for the first time in team history.

Tulsa 65, SAN DIEGO 48 (Attendance: 5,135): Game MVP CRAIG STRICKLAND completed 19-of-34 passes for 235 yards and eight touchdowns to lead the Talons (7-1) over the Riptide (4-4). Strickland also ran for another score and threw touchdowns to four different receivers, including three to AL HUNT. Talons' OS TACOMA FONTAINE, who had five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns, totaled 232 all-purpose yards with 150 coming via the kick return. QB KANE CLAUNCH threw for 343 yards and six touchdowns for the Riptide.

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