After Final Cuts Xplorers Prep For Columbus

March 31, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss – With the roster now down to 21 players, the Memphis Xplorers turn their attention to their first game of the af2 season. The Xplorers travel to Columbus, Georgia, to take on the Wardogs this Saturday night, April 5th. The home opener is set for April 12th against the Bakersfield Blitz at the DeSoto Civic Center, located just 15 minutes south of downtown Memphis. Call (662) 280-3737 for tickets or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com ..

This will be the first ever meeting between the two teams. Columbus began play last year and posted a 4-12 record. The team hired a new coach in the off-season, John Fourcade. Fourcade was the head coach in Florida last season and led the Firecats to a 9-7 record.

"Fourcade is a winner who knows how to get it done in af2," Xplorers Head Coach Danton Barto said. "His teams are always well prepared and it will be a real test for us in the season opener. His teams in Florida last year gave us a real tough battle. We have to be ready to play right from the start."

The Xplorers will continue their preparation in the southeast parking lot of the DeSoto Civic Center. The Xplorers will practice at 8 p.m. nightly through Thursday.

Tulsa Talons (1-0) 42, Peoria Pirates (0-1) 39

Peoria, Ill. - QB CRAIG STRICKLAND'S five-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB MITCH ALLNER combined with K TONY DODSON extra point early in the fourth quarter put Tulsa ahead of Peoria for the first time all game (28-27). Strickland later ran in a four-yard touchdown and tossed another 23-yard pass to Allner to complete the fourth quarter comeback as the Talons edged the Pirates 42-39 Friday night in front of 6,114 fans at the Peoria Civic Center.

Strickland was named game MVP as he was 22-of-39 for 223 yards and four touchdowns. The Talons are now 1-0 and lead the all-time series 3-1. Pirates' WR/LB JACK WALKER collected four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns, earning Ironman honors.

Tulsa OL/DL GREG TAYLOR, current af2 career sack leader and ADT Defensive Player of the game, surpassed the giants of the Pirates' line and added a sack for 12 yards, increasing his total career sacks to 33.5.

Pirates' QB CHARLIE PETERSON had a solid start in his Pirates' debut, completing 17-of-25 passes for 252 yards and four touchdowns.

Louisville Fire (1-0) 36, Cincinnati Swarm (0-1) 25

Louisville, Ky. - NORMAN MASON tied a Louisville record for touchdowns in a game, scoring four including an interception return, to lead the Fire to a 36-25 victory over the Cincinnati Swarm Saturday night before 10,229 fans at Freedom Hall.

Cincinnati took a 25-23 lead with 3:12 remaining in the third quarter on a four-yard run by RYAN RUSSELL, but Mason countered on a nine-yard pass from POOKIE JONES. Jones capped the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run with 3:22 remaining in the game. For the night Jones went 7-of-11 for 115 yards and two touchdowns. Swarm QB DANNY SMITH completed 18-of-42 for 202 yards and two scores.

Mason led all receivers with four receptions for 100 yards and three scores and was named the MVP and Ironman of the game. JAMES SCOTT had seven catches for 101 yards and one TD for the Swarm. DS ARKEE THOMPSON had two interceptions and three tackles for the Fire, earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors. Mason was selected as the MVP and Ironman of the Game.

Wichita Stealth (1-0) 46, Arkansas Twisters (0-1) 28

Wichita, Kan. - Newly signed QB ANTHONY BUICH passed for four touchdowns and earned game MVP honors as the Wichita Stealth defeated the Arkansas Twisters 48-26 in front of 5,605 fans at the Kansas coliseum.

Buich was 19-of-32 for 205 yards with one interception. Three of Buich's four touchdowns went to Stealth offensive specialist MICHAEL DRITLEIN, who caught five passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns. Dritlein also returned three kickoffs for 31 yards and one missed field goal for 42 yards. Ironman of the Game, Stealth FB/LB BRIAN GOOLSBY, had two carries for six yards and one touchdown on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, he had three tackles, one for a loss of seven yards. He also blocked a MARK NORRIS 47-yard field goal attempt to end the third quarter.

Arkansas quarterback RICKY HERBERT was 17-of-45 for 203 yards with three interceptions and four touchdown passes. Hebert's 17-yard touchdown pass to Kahlil Carter with 6:31 left in the second brought the Twisters back to within four of Wichita, but they would get no closer. WR/LB KEVIN WILLIAMS caught five passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns to lead Arkansas.

Wichita DS BRIAN LIVINGSTON garnered ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors for his one interception and two pass break-ups performance.

San Diego Riptide (1-0) 54, Bakersfield Blitz (0-1) 36SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Riptide used two returns for touchdowns in a 32 second span to beat the Bakersfield Blitz 54-36 in front of 5,647 at the Sports Arena Saturday night.

Game Ironman MARTY GRAHAM, playing for the first time as a two-way player, scored three times, tallied 200 all-purpose yards and led the team in tackles (7). With a minute to go in the first half and the Riptide up 21-9, Graham returned a kickoff 57 yards for a score, his third of the half.

Just 32 seconds later, Game MVP JESUS REYES took a missed field goal and raced 49 yards to put the Riptide up 35-9 going into the half. Reyes, playing in his first af2 contest, also grabbed two other touchdowns and

ended with six catches for 121 yards, to lead all receivers. ADT Defensive

Player of the Game BRIAN BERG started the scoring with a two-yard plunge. He later added a sack and finished with a team-high 26 yards rushing and three tackles.

Riptide QB KANE CLAUNCH completed 16-of-23 passes for 253 yards with five scores, while Bakersfield QB CHAD ELLIOTT went 22-for-38 for 221 yards and four scores. ERIC MAHANKE paced the Blitz receivers with six catches for 73 yards and two scores.

Hawaiian Islanders (1-0) 48, Green Bay Blizzard (0-1) 37

HONOLULU - The Hawaiian Islanders shook off a sluggish start to beat the visiting Green Bay Blizzard 48-37 in the arenafootball2 league opener for both teams Sunday. An enthusiastic crowd of 2,847 at the Blaisdell Arena watched Hawaii's CAL LEE earn his first win.

The Islanders were led by QB DARNELL ARCENEAUX who finished 9-of-21 for 180 yards. He threw four touchdowns and ran for one. He was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the game. WR/DB NIAN TAYLOR caught three touchdowns from Arceneaux. He had four catches for 94 yards. Taylor also had four tackles on defense and was selected as the Ironman of the Game. MORRIE ROE earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game accolades, contributing two tackles and 1.5 sacks to the Islanders' effort.

Blizzard QB RYAN AULENBACHER took the majority of Green Bay's snaps, completing 21-of-33 for 267 yards and four scores. NICK JOHNSON led all Blizzard receivers with eight receptions for 103 yards and two scores.

XPLORERS SEASON TICKET PACKAGES

Season ticket packages are available right now starting as low as $84.95 for a pair of season tickets and two t-shirts. For ticket information and purchases call (662) 280-3737 or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com .



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