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af2 week one game recaps

March 31, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


FRIDAY, MARCH 28

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS 48, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 41 (Attendance: 3,288)

MOLINE, Ill. - The Quad City Steamwheelers (1-0) opened the 2008 season with a 48-41 home victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (0-1) at the iwireless Center. After trailing 20-7 early in the second quarter the Steamwheelers used a 21-6 second quarter run to pull ahead for good. After Pioneers QB Rod Rutherford threw a 26-yard pass to Larry Kendrick to open the season frame, Steamwheelers QB J.J. Raterink found three different receivers for three consecutive scores to give the 'Wheelers a 28-20 halftime advantage. Raterink, who finished the game with 225 yards and seven touchdown passes, hit Jesse Schmidt on a four-yard pass to pull the 'Wheelers to within one possession with 10 minutes remaining in the second frame. After the 'Wheelers defense forced a turnover on possessions Raterink connected with WR Kris Peters for a 20-yard pass on a two-play drive to give the 'Wheelers a one point lead, 21-20, with just over three minutes and 20 seconds remaining in the half. After a 54-yard field goal miss by Mark Kamphoefner for the Pioneers with 34 seconds remaining in the half, Raterink hit WR Deontrae Johnson for a score with four seconds remaining. Schmidt registered his third touchdown reception on the night to open the third quarter for the 'Wheelers and the two teams traded scores the rest of the way. Quad City DB Malik Jackson, the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, finished the game with 13 total tackles (10 solo, six assisted), along with two pass breakups. Schmidt finished with 10 catches for 101 yards, while Peters ended the game with two touchdowns on five catches for 95 yards. Johnson finished with five catches for 29 yards and two touchdowns for the 'Wheelers. For the Pioneers, Rutherford threw for four touchdowns and 267 yards on 22 completions. WR Coco Blaylock led the offense with two touchdowns on nine catches and 89 yards. Barry Drakeford had a team-high four total tackles for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defense.

Stockton Lightning 46, TRI-CITIES FEVER 32 (Attendance: 4,200)

KENNEWICK, Wash. - Stockton QB Chad Elliott and WR Thyron Lewis connected for two touchdowns early in the first quarter to give the Lightning a 13-0 lead. Tri-Cities would never get closer than one score after that point as the Stockton Lightning beat the Fever, 46-32, Friday night. Tri-Cities starting QB John Pierce was shaky his first two drives with only one completion, but settled down and on his third attempt drove the field ending with a touchdown pass to WR Phil Goodman. Pierce ended the half going 13-for-23 for 115 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. At halftime Coach Walker made a QB change to backup Jason Campbell, former Everett player under Walker. Campbell went 13-for-20 with 134 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Every time the Fever got within a touchdown of the Lightning, Stockton would drive the field and score on the ensuing possession. With a comeback in the balance Tri-Cities turned the ball over on downs with 4:10 left in the game and Stockton never relinquished possession. Elliott earned Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors with 168 yards passing and six touchdowns with just one interception. Lewis finished with three touchdown receptions and 84 yards receiving. FB Peter Tuialuuluu was also a spark for the Lightning on the ground with 10 carries for 25 yards and one touchdown. Fever receiver LaMonte' Jones led his team in the loss with a game-high 11 catches for 132 yards and two scores. The win gave the Lightning their first season-opening victory in team history.

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

LOUISVILLE FIRE 58, Iowa Barnstormers 28 (Attendance: 11,444)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Fire dominated the season opener against the newly resurrected Barnstormers, defeating Iowa, 58-28, Saturday night at Freedom Hall. On the initial drive of the 2008 season, the Fire battled down the field with a combination of completed passes including a 16-yard gain by rookie Ricardo Lenhart and a pass completion to Nick Giordano. Fire quarterback Matt Bassuener hammered a short pass to the back of the end zone where Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Lonnell Dewalt made the reception. The Barnstormers struggled to move the ball early on and Louisville capitalized. The Fire were hot and started the game with 37 straight points before Iowa's first score with just over 1:30 remaining in the first half. Turnovers did in Iowa in the first half as the Barnstormers gave the ball away on their first four possessions (2 INTs, 1 FR, safety) and missed a field goal on their fifth possession of the opening half. The Fire scored two times on defense during the stretch, a safety by Rookie WR/LB Zach Babington-Johnson. The Fire wasted no time increasing their lead as Bassuener connected with Dewalt for the second time on a 25-yard gain, setting up the QB rush, and advancing the score 16-0. Iowa regained possession but Louisville's Jerome Jones quickly recovered a fumble formed by teammate Demetrius Forney and raced eight yards for a touchdown. After a short Iowa possession, Fire veteran Matt Forbes pulled down a pass intended for Jason Simpson late in the second quarter. Bassuener made another trip into the end zone, pushing the score to 30-0. Marching down the field behind short passes and a quick carry led to a completed touchdown pass to rookie, Tymere Zimmerman. Finally, getting on the scoreboard Iowa's Bryan Pray sprinted untouched to the goal line for the first Iowa score. Louisville retired to the locker room for the first half leading Iowa, 37-7. Coming back in the second half Iowa quickly completed a pass to Robert Kilow moving the score to 37-14. Not to be outdone the Fire returned the favor as Bassuener connected with Dewalt for the third time, posting the 44-14 score. Each team would score two more touchdowns to push the final score to 58-28. Babington-Johnson (ADT Defensive Player of the Game) finished with 3.5 tackles, including two sacks and a safety. Iowa was paced in defeat by WR/KR Robert Kilow who accumulated 229 all-purpose yards, including 101 receiving yards and two scores.

MAHONING VALLEY THUNDER 59, Albany Conquest 33 (Attendance: 3,735)

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Mahoning Valley rookie QB Josh Swogger passed for 157 yards and four touchdowns in his first outing and the Thunder defense held the Albany offense to just 33 points en route to a 59-33 victory. A crowd of 3,735 fans packed Mahoning Valley's Chevrolet Centre. The win gives Mahoning Valley season opening wins on Cortland Banks Field in their first two seasons of play. WR DeMarcus Mathes caught five passes for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Thunder (1-0). Mahoning Valley wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as WR Henry Tolbert raced 50 yards to the end zone on the opening kickoff. Albany WR Jared Jones caught 11 passes for 139 yards and two touchdowns for the Conquest (0-1). Mahoning Valley has now defeated Albany three straight times dating back to last season. Conquest QB Dan Cole passed for 276 yards and four touchdowns in the losing effort. Thunder WR/LB John Tackmann moonlighted as a quarterback, rushing for two scores. Anthony Jackson came up with a momentum changing interception, when he picked off a third quarter Cole pass from the Thunder's own end zone. The game remained close throughout the first half with Albany clinging to a 26-23 halftime lead. The second half was a different story as the Thunder offense rang up 36 points and limited Albany to just a touchdowns. Mahoning Valley swept the game awards with Swogger (Schutt Offensive Player of the Game), Tackmann (U.S. Army Ironman of the Game), Jackson (ADT Defensive Player of the Game) and Mathes (Cutters Catch of the Game) earning recognition for their efforts.

LEXINGTON HORSEMEN 48, Daytona Beach ThunderBirds 12 (Attendance: 3,519)

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Lexington QB Eddie Eviston threw five touchdown passes Saturday and ran for another as the Horsemen defeated Daytona Beach, 48-12, on Saturday at Rupp Arena. The game marked the first for both teams as a member of arenafootball2. Eviston completed 17-of-31 passes for 148 yards to lead Lexington. Former University of Kentucky standout Craig Yeast, playing in his first game in a Lexington uniform, finished with seven catches for 51 yards with a touchdown, while fellow receiver Chad Spencer caught three passes for 42 yards with two scores. The Horsemen benefited from a strong defensive effort which limited the ThunderBirds to just 12 points in the game. J.T. Haskins led Lexington with 6.5 tackles, while Connie Brown and Willie Smith each recorded five stops. Smith also had three pass breakups in the game. The Horsemen started the game with a bang, as special teams standout William Mulder returned the opening kickoff seemingly for a touchdown, but Lexington was called for a holding penalty and the score was waived off. Despite the penalty to begin the game, the Horsemen jumped out to a 14-0 lead after the opening quarter. Daytona Beach got on the board early in the second quarter when James Jackson ran the ball in from 1-yard out with 12:14 left until halftime. Lexington followed with a pair of scores to take a 27-6 advantage into the locker room at intermission. Yeast caught an 8-yard pass from Eviston before the signal-caller found Spencer with a scoring strike from midfield for a touchdown with 35 ticks left on the clock in the first half. Lexington extended its advantage to 34-6 when Michael Madrazo converted on a fourth-and-goal opportunity with a 1-yard run for a score at the 8:57 mark of the third quarter. On the ensuing possession, Horsemen kicker Doug Daniel sent the kick-off 41 yards to the ThunderBirds' 9-yard line, but Daytona Beach fumbled the return and Lexington's Connie Brown recovered the kick. That set up the Horsemen for a 5-yard pass from Eviston to Aaron Brown to put Lexington ahead 41-6. A 4-yard pass from quarterback Scott Jeffries to Chris Coach with 2:55 left in the third quarter brought the ThunderBirds within 29, 41-12. Eviston ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 56 seconds left to cap off the Lexington scoring. The Horsemen claimed all four game awards as well - Spencer (Ironman), Craig Yeast (Offensive), Haskins (Defensive) and Lewis (Catch).

Corpus Christi Sharks 61, AUSTIN WRANGLERS 48 (Attendance: 4,158)

Austin, Texas - The Corpus Christi Sharks defeated the Austin Wranglers, 61-48, in the season opener for both teams Saturday night at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Tx. The Sharks outscored Austin 34-0 in the third quarter to turn a 28-13 deficit into a 47-28 advantage going into the fourth quarter en route to the win. Corpus Christi (1-0) was led by WR Brandon Hussey and DB/KR Ivory McCann. Hussey caught 11 passes for 110 yards and three touchdowns while McCann registered 4.5 tackles and four pass breakups and 196 all-purpose yards. McCann scored two touchdowns as well, an 8-yard scoring run and a 57-yard kick return TD to open the third quarter. QB Fran Johnson finished 19-of-29 for 180 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Austin (0-1) was led in defeat by WR/LB Mel Long, who intercepted Johnson twice, returning both for touchdowns. Long, who caught three passes for 26 yards on offense, was named US Army Ironman of the Game. Hussey was awarded the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Award.

TULSA TALONS 69, Amarillo Dusters 13 (Attendance: 4,502)

Tulsa, Okla. - The defending ArenaCup Champion Tulsa Talons kicked off their ninth season in grand fashion at home Saturday night with a 69-13 over the Amarillo Dusters. The Talons defense dominated the first half, keeping the Dusters scoreless. Just over a minute into the game, Tulsa's QB Justin Allgood threw for a 33-yard pass to Jeff Hughley putting the first points on the board. After a defensive stop, Talons scored once again on a rare 9-yard TD run by Michael Shack. The Talons closed the quarter on another Allgood TD pass, this time to Kellen Allen. The Allgood-to-Allen combo struck twice to begin the second quarter putting the Talons up 35-0. Ironman Delenell Reid made a miraculous interception returning it for 48 yards to give the talons a 42-0 advantage before halftime. Amarillo finally got on the board in the third quarter with a TD pass from Joel Steele to Jim Lukowiak. The dynamic duo of Tulsa's Allgood to Allen closed the third quarter on a 6-yard TD pass. (49-6 Talons) After another Tulsa score, backup QB Derek Rasmussen entered the game throwing a TD pass on his second career af2 attempt to Jermaine Landrum. Amarillo scored their second and final TD on a 49-yard missed field goal return TD by Aaron Williams. The final score of the game came when Amarillo attempted an on-side kick in which Talons Jermaine Hope recovered and returned it 10 yards for a TD.

Central Valley Coyotes 55, BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLEWINGS 54 (Attendance: 4,135)

BOSSIER CITY, La. - Bossier-Shreveport K Chris Bennice missed a 28-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the game as the BattleWings fell short in their comeback attempt against the Central Valley Coyotes, 55-54. Coyotes' rookie WR/KR Jomo Wilson returned the initial kickoff to the 3-yard line of the BattleWings, then the Coyotes promptly scored as QB Joe Ayoob connected with Tonae Martin for his first of three touchdowns on the evening. The BattleWings kept up the pace and held a 13-point lead early in the third quarter behind the arm of QB Gary Cooper, who passed for 282 yards and seven touchdowns. However, four turnovers and a sputtering offense in the second half doomed the BattleWings. Bossier-Shreveport's loss disappointed the home opening crowd of 4,135 fans at Bossier-Shreveport's CenturyTel Center. WR Chavis McCollister caught ten passes for 124 yards and four touchdowns for the BattleWings, who dominated play through most of the first half. Central Valley WR Tonae Martin caught three passes for 47 yards, with all of his receptions resulting in touchdowns. Central Valley won their season opener for the fifth consecutive year. Ayoob passed for 175 yards and five touchdowns in his af2 debut for the Coyotes. Central Valley DB Maurice Holmes forced three fumbles and had two pass breakups as he led the Coyotes' fourth quarter shutout of the BattleWings. OL/DL Donyell Booker also sacked BattleWings QB Gary Cooper on the final drive. Phillip Geiggar led the defensive charge for the BattleWings with six tackles and the team's lone interception of the night. The win gave the Central Valley Coyotes a 2-0 series record against the BattleWings.

South Georgia Wildcats 59, TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS 55 (Attendance: 4,302)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Saturday night's season opener marked the debut for Tennessee Valley Vipers coach Dean Cokinos, quarterback Andy Hall and most of his teammates. South Georgia spoiled the party with a dramatic game-winning touchdown pass on the game's final play. The Wildcats beat the Vipers 59-55 in arenafootball2 action before an announced crowd of 4,302 at the Von Braun Center. On the final play, which started with five seconds left, South Georgia quarterback Cecil Lester completed a pass to Alvin Ray Jackson. Jackson then lateraled back to Lester to finish the 10-yard touchdown for the winning points. Lester completed 27-of-45 passes for seven touchdowns and 375 yards with one interception. Lester deservedly earned the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Award. Hall finished with 23-of-40 for four touchdowns and 315 yards with two interceptions. Tennessee Valley struck first when Travis Blanchard returned a South Georgia missed field goal 57 yards for a touchdown and a 6-0 lead. After taking over on downs at the South Georgia 14, the Vipers moved to the 7 on a pass interference call. Hall then hit Maurice Brown on a 7-yard touchdown pass. Nick Hayes kicked the extra point for a 13-0 lead. South Georgia closed within 13-7 at the end of the first quarter when Lester threw a 32-yard touchdown pass to P.J. Berry. Scott Hode added the extra point. Blanchard's 3-yard TD run and Hayes' kick put the Vipers up 20-7 at 9:34 in the second quarter. But the Wildcats made it 20-14 when Lester threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Antwone Savage. Two 1-yard touchdown runs by Matt Webber helped the Vipers to a 34-28 halftime lead. The Wildcats tied the score 34-all at 11:05 in the third quarter on Lester's 18-yard scoring pass to Berry. Tennessee Valley answered with Hall's 29-yard touchdown pass to Gary Elliott for a 41-34 lead. Hode's 22-yard field goal for South Georgia made it 41-37 at the end of the third. Lester's 26-yard touchdown pass to Berry gave South Georgia a 52-48 lead in the game's final minute. But the Vipers answered with Hall's 14-yard touchdown pass to Elliott for a 55-52 Tennessee Valley lead with 22 seconds left. South Georgia's P.J. Berry earned U.S. Army Strong Ironman of the Game honors with eight catches for 154 yards and three scores, 280 all-purpose yards (126 kick return yards) and 1.5 tackles. Tennessee Valley DB Demetrius Derico was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game with a game-high 10.5 tackles and one interception.

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

Spokane Shock 64, GREEN BAY BLIZZARD 48 (Attendance: 5,117)

GREEN BAY, Wisc. - For the third consecutive season, the Spokane Shock opened up with a win, defeating the Green Bay Blizzard, 64-48, Sunday afternoon in front of 5,117 fans at the Resch Center. The home loss for Green Bay snapped an 11-game winning streak for the Blizzard at the Resch Center, dating back to 2006. Green Bay's last home defeat was on July 7, 2006 when the Manchester Wolves got the better of the Blizzard with a 62-58 win. The first touchdown of the season for the Shock was a 2-yard touchdown run by veteran WR Raul Vijil that was set up by a 28-yard completion by rookie QB Jason Murietta to fellow rookie (and roommate) WR Andy Olsen. That tied the contest early on at 7-7. The Shock continued to battle and took the lead for the first time on a two-yard touchdown reception by Kelvin Dickens with 3:51 left in the first quarter. On the ensuing drive, the Shock defense came up with a big stop and limited the Blizzard offense to a quick three and out and a field goal attempt. Blizzard K Bob Forstrom missed the kick wide right allowing Raul Vijil to return the missed attempt 36-yards for a touchdown. Vijil, who led the Shock receivers with eight receptions, added two more touchdowns - one rushing and one receiving. Defensively, the Shock came up with six turnovers - four interceptions and two fumble recoveries - that proved to be the difference in the game. DB Sergio Gilliam - who was selected as the Defensive Player of the Game - tied the Shock record for most interceptions in a single game with three. Fellow rookie LB Kevin McCullough helped seal the victory for the Shock in the fourth quarter came with a 34-yard return for a touchdown. DL Devon Parks also had an outstanding game with a forced fumble and a sack. Rookie Anthony Crissinger-Hill stood out for Green Bay in defeat with two touchdown catches on offense and 7.0 tackles on defense to take home U.S. Army Ironman of the Game honors.

Rio Grande Valley Dorados 66, TEXAS COPPERHEADS 40 (Attendance: 3,337)

HOUSTON, Texas - Rio Grande Valley QB Travis Cole (Schutt Offensive Player of the Game) passed for 278 yards and eight touchdowns to help guide the Dorados to a 66-40 Southwest Division victory over the Texas Copperheads on Sunday afternoon. Though the Copperheads would fall to 0-1 to begin the season, 3,337 fans at the Richard E. Berry Center in Northwest Houston were treated to an exciting display of offense by both teams. Jermaine Carpenter lead the Dorados in receiving with eight grabs for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Fellow wide receivers Eddie Jackson and Anthony Chambers combined to catch 10 passes for 120 yards and four touchdowns (two each). Copperheads QB Rudy Carlton made his af2 debut completing 25-of-46 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns. Carlton was intercepted three times; one was returned for a Rio Grande Valley touchdown. Shaun Rochon emerged as Carlton's early season go-to receiver with 13 catches for 139 yards and three scores. The Dorados opened the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Travis Cole to Eddie Jackson at the 12:20 mark of the first quarter. The Copperheads answered with 5:51 to play in the first quarter as Rudy Carlton found Shaun Rochon for a 25 yard scoring toss. Nick Gatto's extra point tied the game at 7. The Dorados quickly responded as Anthony Chambers grabbed a 15-yard touchdown strike from Cole. Dustin Bell missed the extra point but the Dorados led 13-7. On the last play of the first quarter, Carlton found Rochon again, this time on an underneath route where Rochon made a juggling grab and then broke through the Dorados secondary for a 20-yard score. Gatto's successful conversion gave the Copperheads their only lead of the game at 14-13. The Dorados would strike quickly to open the second quarter. Starting at their 5-yard line after a Gatto touchback, Cole went up top hitting Carpenter in stride for a 45-yard rainbow TD pass. Bell would again miss the extra point, but the one play drive would give the Dorados a 19-14 advantage, a lead they would not surrender. Carpenter earned the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game Award for his all-around efforts in the win while teammate Pierre Thomas was awarded ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors with 13 tackles (12 solo) and two interceptions, including a fourth quarter 27-yard INT return for a TD.

*HOME TEAM LISTED IN CAPS



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