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April 6, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CHAMPS TO UNVEIL BANNER SATURDAY NIGHT: The Xplorers will be holding a special pre-game ceremony at their home opener Saturday night to commemorate the team's 2005 league title. Included in the festivities will be the unveiling of the team's ArenaCup championship banner, which will be raised to the rafters of the DeSoto Civic Center.

GIDDENS SETS MEMPHIS TACKLE MARK: Memphis Xplorers defensive back DEON GIDDENS put himself on top in the team's defensive record book in Saturday's opening season victory at Tennessee Valley. His 13 tackles in the game, 11 solo and four assisted, shattered the previous record of 11.5 set by Kenzaki Jones in 2004. Giddens' tackle effort also tied the fifth best single-game mark in league history. The two-year veteran from Tennessee State led an Xplorers defense that held the Vipers to just six points in the second half of the team's 47-25 road victory.

NO HANGOVER AFTER SIPPIN' FROM THE CUP: The Memphis Xplorers made a successful debut in the defense of their ArenaCup championship with a 47-25 road win over Tennessee Valley on March 31st. BRIAN JONES threw for 295 yards and six touchdowns and KENNY HIGGINS made his debut as offensive specialist with eight catches for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Despite those offensive numbers, it was the defensive stops that won the game for Memphis. Two consecutive stops in the first half and a goal line stand late in the third quarter turned the tide in the Xplorers favor. After the first half ended with a 26-19 Memphis advantage, the Xplorers outscored the hosts 21-7 in the second half, 21-0 in the fourth quarter.

EXPANSION SHOCK SUCCESSFUL IN af2 DEBUT: In a battle of expansion franchises playing in their first af2 game, the Spokane Shock defeated the Stockton Lightning, 41-40, in front of 9,387 fans at the Spokane Arena last Thursday, March 30. A blocked extra point midway through the fourth quarter provided the winning margin for the Shock. WR/DB ROB KEEFE, who earlier this week was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week, paced Spokane with six total tackles and two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown.

STOUTE FACES FORMER SQUAD: This Friday night, Green Bay assistant head coach Mark Stoute will be returning to Manchester to face a team that just over a year ago he was hired to coach - for the second time - the Manchester Wolves. Stoute coached the Wolves when the team was based in Connecticut in 2003 and led them to a 10-6 record and a trip to the second round of the playoffs. After a year with Indiana in the AFL, Stoute was rehired to coach the Wolves for their second season in Manchester. Just a few months into the job, Stoute moved on for another AFL opportunity, this time with the Tampa Bay Storm. Things turned out ok for Manchester, however, in spite of Stoute's untimely departure. The team eventually hired AFL legend Ben Bennett, who had just led the Florida Firecats to the 2004 ArenaCup title. He turned the Wolves from a 5-11 team in 2004 into a 12-win team and East Division champion in 2005. Last year Manchester became just the second team in league history to go from worst to first in consecutive seasons. The Tallahassee Thunder won the Southeast Division in 2001 at 11-5 a year after finishing last in the National Conference with a 5-11 mark in 2000.

TURNIN' 40 ISN'T SO BAD: A number of veteran af2 head coaches have a chance to reach the 40-career win plateau (includes playoffs) this season. Danton Barto (38) of Memphis, Ben Bennett (36) of Manchester and Rich Ingold (35) of W-B/Scranton all have a great chance to join the exclusive club. Only six other coaches in league history have reached the mark in their careers. The only active members are Stockton's Richard Davis ((41) and Spokane's Chris Siegfried (41). Former Rio Grande Valley and Tennessee Valley head coach Kevin Guy is the af2 career leader in overall coaching victories with 52 (52-19). Louisville's Tommy Johnson (29) will reach the 30-win plateau with the Fire's next win.

FOR THE RECORD: Florida OS MAGIC BENTON is currently in fourth place in af2 history in career receiving yards with 4,428. He enters the 2006 season just 401 yards shy of the all-time mark held by James Scott, who ranks number one overall with 4,829 yards receiving.

STRICKLY-BUSINESS: In his sixth af2 season, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz QB CRAIG STRICKLAND continues to leave his mark in the records books. His name is currently listed at the top in a number of passing categories, including career passing yards (18,659) and career touchdown passes (383). This year he is poised to claim his spot atop another league passing category - passes completed. With 1,421 completions in his career, he is currently just 11 shy of Matt Sauk's best mark of 1,432.

af2 IN THE AFL: The af2 has had hundreds of former players move up to the AFL over the years. A number of those players, such as Orlando OL/DL E.J. BURT or Tampa Bay QB SHANE STAFFORD, have become bona fide AFL stars. In 2006, a new group of AFL players with af2 roots are starting to shine. This week we highlight former Memphis lineman KHREEM SMITH and former Rochester QB MATT D'ORAZIO. Smith, the 2005 af2 Lineman of the Year with the Xplorers, is making an impact as a rookie for the Chicago Rush in 2006. The former Oklahoma State Cowboy currently leads the AFL in tackles for loss with 6.5 and ranks second in sacks with 5.5. D'Orazio, also with the Chicago Rush, is playing well for the team as their starting signal caller. In 10 games played (all starts), the Otterbein alum leads the AFL in rushing yards (142), rushing TDs (9) and is tied for third in completion percentage (69.0).



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