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af2 week one game recaps

April 4, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


THURSDAY, MARCH 30

SPOKANE SHOCK 41, Stockton Lightning 40 (Attendance: 9,387)

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Spokane Shock came through with a narrow 41-40 victory over the Stockton Lightning in front of a near capacity home crowd of 9,387 fans at Spokane Arena in the af2 debut for both teams. A blocked extra point on the final scoring drive for the Lightning preserved the win for the Shock. Shock QB Alex Neist completed 15-of-28 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns with one interception for the victors. Neist's favorite target was WR/DB Antwone Savage, who led Spokane with 112 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Stockton QB Josh Blankenship powered the Stockton offense in defeat, completing 24-of-43 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Shock DS Rob Keefe stood out defensively, intercepting two Blankenship passes, including one for a touchdown.

Bakersfield Blitz 60, EVERETT HAWKS 54 (Attendance: 3,542)

EVERETT, Wash. - Bakersfield QB Michael Wall began his Blitz career on a positive note, throwing for 260 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Blitz past Everett, 60-54, spoiling the expansion Hawks' af2 debut. Wall earned Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors for his efforts. Rennard Reynolds caught four Wall TD tosses and finished with eight catches for 120 yards. A Wall-to-Reynolds 31-yard scoring connection late in the fourth quarter put a back-and-forth affair out of reach. Everett QB Julian Reese also had an impressive opener, albeit in a losing effort, having a hand in all eight touchdowns by the Hawks. Reese completed 26-of-38 passes for 296 yards and five touchdowns through the air, while also rushing for three scores. Everett WR/DB Kendrick Walker was named U.S. Army Ironman of the Game. His strong two-way play included six catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns on offense, and a team-leading 6.0 tackles on defense.

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

W-B/SCRANTON PIONEERS 45, Louisville Fire 37 (Attendance: 5,091)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Pioneers started their 5th-year anniversary season off right with a 45-37 win against the defending American Conference Champion Louisville Fire Friday night at Wachovia Arena. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's new Head Coach Rich Ingold stuck with rookie QB Mike Granieri through a tough start and Granieri rewarded him with a strong finish. The first-year signal caller threw for a game-high 227 yards and five touchdowns in his first-ever Arena Football game. Another Pioneer rookie, WR/DB Yaacov Yisrael, also had an impressive overall showing, totaling five catches for 97 yards on offense and 10 tackles and four pass breakups on defense. Yisrael earned U.S. Army Ironman of the Game for his performance. In the final quarter, Pioneers OS JR Thomas caught two key touchdown passes to keep Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the lead. The game was finally secured when Louisville OS Rob Mager caught a 4-yard pass and was stopped by Pioneers WR/DB William Ferguson one yard short of the end zone. Mager (10 catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs) earned Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors. ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors went to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton OL/DL Joe Hollister, who tallied 4.5 tackles and one sack.

Arkansas Twisters 68, QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS 58 (Attendance: 4,006)

MOLINE, Ill. - The Quad City Steamwheelers dropped their season opener for the second straight season, 68-58, to the Arkansas Twisters Friday night on Orthopaedic Specialists Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities. Arkansas scored 25 unanswered points mid-way through the second half to take a commanding 61-37 lead that put the game out of reach. The Twisters were led by new QB Walter Church, who blew through the Steamwheelers defense with 277 yards passing and eight touchdowns. OS Robert Kilow was the main recipient of Church's throws, catching six balls for 95 yards and four scores. Steve Watson (OL/DL) led a cast of Twister defenders who put the pressure on Quad City QB Tim Hicks all night. Watson earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors for recording 2.0 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery for a TD and one blocked field goal. Arkansas DS Byron Mitchell-Hughey tallied a game-high 10.5 tackles and two breakups. Hicks hung tough for the Steamwheelers, throwing for 349 yards and seven touchdowns passes in defeat. Quad City OS Bo Smith (11 catches, 139 yards, 4 TDs) and WR/LB Jack Walker (10 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TDs, one fumble recovery on defense) also played well.

Albany Conquest 48, GREEN BAY BLIZZARD 40 (Attendance: 7,256)

GREEN BAY, Wisc. - The Green Bay Blizzard opened their 2006 season in front of a record crowd of 7,256, but it was not enough to overcome their mistakes against an improved Albany Conquest team, 48-40. The game featured six fumbles (three by each team) and four interceptions (two by each team). Conquest QB Ryan Vena, who was with the AFL's Columbus Destroyers in 2004 and 2005, made a successful return to the af2, rushing for three touchdowns and throwing for two scores in the win. Vena was named Schutt Offensive Player of the Game. WR/DB Jim Jones led the Albany receiving corps with six catches for 84 yards. The Blizzard were led by OS Randall Lane, who was making his own return to af2 action. Lane, who also spent parts of the past two seasons in the AFL, scored on four of his six catches on the night. Green Bay starting QB James MacPherson threw four touchdowns and one interception in his first af2 game. DS David Crocker paced the Blizzard defense with a game-high 7.5 tackles and one interception.

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

Memphis Xplorers 47, TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS 25 (Attendance: 4,291)

HUNTSVILLE, Al. - The defending ArenaCup Champion Memphis Xplorers scored 21 points in the fourth quarter to put a damper on the Tennessee Valley Vipers return to the af2, 47-25, Saturday night at the Von Braun Center. Memphis QB Brian Jones looked in midseason form, completing 20-of-30 passes for 295 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for a game-high 25 yards and one touchdown. The Xplorers also got explosive performances from veterans Terrance Quattlebaum and Deon Giddens. Quattlebaum was active on both sides of the ball (5 catches, 69 yards, 2 TDs, 3.5 tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery). Giddens recorded a game-high 13 total tackles. Memphis rookie OS Kenny Higgins made a successful debut as well with a game-high eight receptions for 172 yards and three TDs. Tennessee Valley QB Roger Linn started strong before stalling in the final period and finished 25-for-38 for 212 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. FB/LB Eric Knott tallied two rushing TDs for the Vipers.

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES 65, Rio Grande Valley Dorados 34 (2,076)

FRESNO, Calif. - The Central Valley Coyotes scored an impressive 65-34 home victory Saturday night against the Rio Grande Valley Dorados, surprising a team that reached the National Conference Championship game last season. The win evened the all-time series between the two teams at 2-2. Rio Grande Valley won both head-to-head battles in 2005. Rookie Coyotes QB Scott Rislove came out firing in his af2 debut, connecting on 15-of-20 passes for seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Three different receivers caught at least two scores, led by LaMonte Jones (5 catches, 63 yards, 3 TDs). Central Valley defender Maurice Taylor led the team with two interceptions. Dorados QB Josh Kellett struggled a bit in his first start of 2006, throwing for 231 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in 28 pass attempts. He also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. WR/DB Dwight Counter led Rio Grande Valley's receivers with four catches for 69 yards and one touchdown.

*HOME TEAM LISTED IN CAPS

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