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af2 week six Friday night matchups

May 3, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MANCHESTER WOLVES (2-2) AT WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (4-0)

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007 - Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza (7,950) 7:00 P.M. ET

* Broadcast via B2 Networks

The Wolves travel to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. for an old fashioned East Division battle against the No. 1-ranked Pioneers. Manchester and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton have met 16 times all-time and the series is currently tied at eight wins each. The most recent meeting was in Week 1. The Pioneers raced out to a 23-6 halftime lead and held firm in the fourth quarter to win 50-36. QB RYAN VENA threw six touchdowns without an interception in the win. The Wolves have picked up their play of late with two straight wins at home after suffering two road losses to begin 2007. Manchester had a question at quarterback early on but look to have found an answer in RYAN PORTER. Since Porter's first start for the team two weeks ago, the Wolves are 2-0. In that span, he's thrown for 14 TDs without an interception, completing over 70 percent of his passes in the process. Manchester's most recent victory was a 67-49 win against the previously unbeaten Mahoning Valley Thunder. WR JARRAIL JACKSON led the team with five catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, rookie DL MAURICE FOUNTAIN had 2.5 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble while veteran DB ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN recorded 8.5 tackles and one interception. The Wolves enter Week 6 ranked No. 13 in the latest Coaches Poll. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is home again this week after dismissing the Cincinnati Jungle Kats in impressive fashion, 94-25, last Saturday. The Pioneers' 94-point total set a new team record, eclipsing the old mark of 75 points recorded in 2004 in a win at Green Bay (4/16/04). The total also tied the fourth-highest single game scoring mark in af2 history. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is led by offensively by veteran QB RYAN VENA. Vena, who tossed eight touchdowns a week ago, has thrown 25 on the season without an interception. He currently leads the league in passer rating at 133.60. Vena has two potent weapons to throw to in WRs TYREAK SAVIOUR (30 catches, 396 yards, 11 TDs) and JIM JONES (30 catches, 320 yards, 6 TDs). Defensively, the Pioneers have a gem in rookie DB CHRIS ROYAL. Royal, who earned the af2 Defensive Player of the Week Award for his performance against Cincinnati, leads the squad in tackles (33.5), interceptions (3), and pass breakups (8). DL DOUG HARDING is a factor up front with two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Both teams have looked strong in recent weeks. Expect nothing less than another hard-fought, entertaining affair between two old foes.

MANCHESTER W-B/SCRANTON SERIES LEADER Series tied 8-8

LAST MEETING W-B/Scranton won 50-36 on 3/31/07

LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 4-1

LAST GAME Won 67-49 vs. Mah. Valley on 4/28 Won 94-25 vs. Cincinnati on 4/28

2007 LEADERS MANCHESTER W-B/SCRANTON PASSING Porter: 59-42-0; 449; 14 TDs Vena: 123-87-0; 974; 25 TDs

RECEIVING Jackson: 27-258; 6 TDs Saviour: 30-396; 11 TDs

RUSHING Fichter: 18-43; 1 TD Glover: 9-30; 1 TD

TACKLES Sebastien: 23.5 Royal: 33.5

SACKS Fountain: 1.5 Harding: 2.0

INTERCEPTIONS Bailey: 2 Royal: 3

KICKING Pohlman: 17-25 PAT; 0-7 FG; 17 PTs Davis: 31-34 PAT; 3-5 FG; 40 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 47.2 PPG; 260.8 YPG 63.5 PPG; 247.8 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 43.8 PPG; 256.0 YPG 35.0 PPG; 273.8 YPG

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (2-2) AT TENNESEE VALLEY VIPERS (2-2)

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007 - Von Braun Center (6,642) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Blizzard blow into Huntsville, Ala. this week for their first-ever meeting with Tennessee Valley. Green Bay has been a tough team to figure out in the first four weeks of the season. Despite their up-and-down efforts, the team is 2-2 and in good spirits after their recent 44-14 home win in Week 5 against a solid Quad City club. QB ZEKE DIXON threw for 306 yards and five touchdowns in the victory. The Blizzard defense, however, was the big story, as the unit shut down a talented Quad City offense in the second half. The group held the Steamwheelers scoreless over the final 30 minutes (5 drives, 3 stops on downs, 2 INTs). DB STEPHEN CASON had a game-high 12.0 tackles while OL/DL JASON HARDEE recorded a game-high 3.0 sacks. This effort was well needed after Green Bay suffered a humbling 75-27 loss to Albany on the road just a week earlier. The Blizzard will need another strong defensive effort to keep themselves in the game. So far Green Bay has had trouble manufacturing points, averaging just over 33 per game. The offense will also be without leading rusher ANTONIO FICKLIN, who signed a free agent contract with the Detroit Lions this week. WR DANNY DONALDSON is the Blizzard's main weapon on offense with 21 catches for 271 yards and five TDs through four games. The Vipers enter this week's contest on a high as well thanks to the team's dramatic, 39-38, upset victory over South Division foe Florida. QB TONY COLSTON's TD pass to WR/DB TRAVIS BLANCHARD with six seconds to play proved to be the game winner. Blanchard led the team with 11 catches for 126 yards and two scores. He is also a dangerous return man who has two kick return TDs already this season and averages 26.1 yards per return. As a group, the offensive unit averages just 39.8 points per game. On the defensive side, linemen ANTHONY ANDRIANO (3.0 sacks) has been a presence so far. DL FAROUK ADELEKAN is another force to be reckoned with up front. Adelekan recently returned to the team after beginning the year in the AFL with San Jose and Columbus. The second-year player was an All-af2 performer in 2006. This game is a hard one to read. Both teams rely on their defense to make up for a slow-starting offense. Expect a relatively low-scoring contest that likely won't be decided until the final minutes.

GREEN BAY TENNESSEE VALLEY SERIES LEADER First Meeting

LAST MEETING No previous meeting

LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 3-2

LAST GAME Won 44-14 vs. Quad City on 4/28 Won 39-38 at Florida on 4/28

2007 LEADERS GREEN BAY TENNESSEE VALLEY PASSING Dixon: 84-51-1; 653; 10 TDs Colston: 129-76-7; 692; 13 TDs

RECEIVING Donaldson: 21-271; 5 TDs Blanchard: 29-355; 3 TDs

RUSHING Ficklin: 19-55; 2 TDs Isaiah: 6-21; 0 TD

TACKLES Cason: 26.5 Graham: 20.5

SACKS Hardee: 4.0 Andriano: 3.0

INTERCEPTIONS Amadi, R.: 2 Six players tied: 1

KICKING Forstrom: 8-12 PAT; 2-6 FG; 14 PTs Lee: 11-17 PAT; 0-9 FG; 11 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 33.5 PPG; 238.5 YPG 39.8 PPG; 181.5 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 39.2 PPG; 204.2 YPG 47.5 PPG; 243.8 YPG



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