Albany Conquest Game Notes

Published on March 31, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Albany Conquest (0-0) at Richmond Speed (0-0)
Date: Saturday, April 5, 2003
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PST
Site: Richmond Coliseum (11,088)
National Anthem: N/A
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials:Todd Reese (Referee), David Foxwell (Umpire), Dave Holland (Head Linesman), Tracey Lynch (Line Judge), Mel Plummer, Jr. (Back Judge) Broadcast: Teamline Services (Internet broadcast via www.albanyconquest.com)
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
Last Meeting: RIC 66, ALB 59 (June 29, 2002)
Streaks: Both teams come off playoff loses
Coaches: Pete Costanza (0-0, 4-12 overall, 1st season in Albany) Richard Davis (0-0, 34-12 overall, 2-2 postseason, 4th season in Richmond)

THE STAKES: Two playoff teams form a year ago meet in the first week of the 2003 season. The Conquest (13-3) will need to start on the right track, as they play five out their first six games away from the Pepsi Arena. A road victory in Richmond (12-4) would definitely bode well for the overall confidence of the team. If the Conquest can start on track and come through the early brutal road schedule they will in good shape because seven out of their final ten contests are held in Albany. Richmond is playing in an improved Atlantic Division and cannot afford to fall back of defending division champs Cape Fear, so they will be hungry and ready for this home opener.

THE SERIES: Albany and Richmond split a pair of games last season as each team won away from home. Albany struck first, defeating the Speed 33-30 (6/1/02) in the Richmond Coliseum. Three weeks later (6/29/02), the Speed returned the favor when they got out of Albany winning a shoot-out, 66-59, in front of 6,592 fans at the Pepsi Arena. This will be third overall meeting between the two franchises.

THE IFs:

If Albany defeats Richmond, it would ...
· Give Albany a 2-1 series record with Richmond
· Give Albany a 1-0 home record in 2003
· Give Pete Costanza his first victory as head coach of the Conquest.
· Extend Albany's three-game regular season win streak to four games.
· Give Albany it's fourth consecutive win at home dating back to the 2002 playoffs and regular season.

HEAD COACHES: Pete Costanza enters his first season as head coach of the Conquest. In 2002, Pete turned around a 0-16 Colunbus (GA) Wardogs team and finished 4-12, including having the league's #5 ranked defense. Costanza, a New Jersey native, brings over seven years of arena football coaching experience to the Capital region, which includes stops with the New Jersey Red Dogs, Roanoke Steam, Norfolk Nighthawks, Iowa Barnstormers and the Wardogs. Costanza has coached every position in arena football and will be responsible for calling both the offense and defense for the Conquest in 2003.

In his first full season as head coach, Richard Davis led Richmond to the 2001 ArenaCup Championship against Quad City in Moline, IL. Davis has compiled a 34-13 record entering his fourth season with the club. The Speed's record at home under Davis is an astounding 19-4. Coach Davis has spearheaded a dramatic turn-around for a Speed franchise that began the 2000 season 0-7.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Richmond 66, ALBANY 59

(6/29/02) – Speed quarterback Bob Bees, capped off his impressive evening by scoring from one yard out with 9.7 seconds left to play on third down. Albany regained possession and with 4.7 seconds left, Conquest quarterback Ryan Vena hit receiver Jamie Ware across the middle; however the Speed defense was quick to hunt down the speedy end, as Ware's effort to reach the end zone fell ten yards short as time expired. Bees, named the game's Most Valuable Player, was simple spectacular throwing for five touchdown and 314 yards. Wide receiver Damon Thompson grabbed 11 balls for 139 yards and one touchdown while Jeff Townsley scored three touchdowns and totaled 80 yards. The first half was simply like a boxing match with both clubs taking pokes at one another. Richmond set the tone early by scoring on a Townsley touchdown but Albany was quick to respond as John Stuart hauled in a 33-yard pass from Vena. They went back and forth all throughout the half, with Albany grabbing a 26-24 lead at the break. The second half saw much of the same however; Richmond looked as if they might run away with it at times, especially after Bees scored from a yard out in the third to make it 45-32.

Albany showed great resolve and stormed back to tie the game at 52 apiece with 2:40 to go in the game. Yet the visitors continued to push forward and managed the clock extremely well, setting the stage for Bees' heroics. Vena finished with 278 yards and six touchdowns while Corey Hill, Ware, Mike Guazzo and Jason Mattes all played well from their receiver positions. More astonishing, both teams combined for 30 penalties with Richmond losing 174 yards in the process. Richmond's Kevin Harvey was named the games Ironman while Guazzo tallied Defensive Player of the Game honors for Albany.

SERIES NOTABLES: QB Ryan Vena (ALB) has 364 yards passing with six touchdowns, while amassing 34 yards and two scores on the ground in less than two games...OS Corey Hill (ALB) has 16 catches for 210 yards and three touchdowns...K Chris Drennan (ALB) has converted on four field goals in two games, including a game-winning 21-yarder in Richmond during the first meeting...WR/DB Kevin Harvey (RIC) earned Ironman of the Game honors once, has caught 15 passes for 140 yards, ran seven times for 29 yards and scored six touchdowns in two games... WR/DB Damon Thompson caught 11 passes for 139 yards and one score in the Richmond win at Albany.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

HEAD COACH PETE COSTANZA, on opening with Richmond back-to-back: "These two games are going to test our character right from the start. It's unfortunate that we don't have a division game out of the gate, but for a non-divisional match-up, this one ranks up there with the best of them in af2."

FB/LB RON PERRY, on preparing for his first af2 game after playing six season in the AFL: "I'm just excited to go to battle with these guys. We have all worked real hard for the past two weeks, now we get to see if we can accomplish the things we have set in our sights. Football is football, no matter what league you are playing in, af2, AFL, NFL, CFL or whatever, you still have to beat the man across from you in order to be successful."

OL/DL RICH BARLETTE, on teammate Dave Mahoney making the team despite suffering through a sore ankle almost all training camp: "Heart, that's the only word that can describe what Mahoney is like. He is a local guy with a banged up ankle, but didn't miss a day of camp because he wanted to make sure he had a spot on the roster for Richmond. He kind of epitomizes what we think we are all about in Albany."

MILESTONES:

· OS Corey Hill holds the professional football record for receptions in a single-season (161)...He currently has 240 career receptions, 2,713 yards and 49 touchdowns (includes two return TD's).

· QB Ryan Vena needs two yards for 250 career rushing yards...He also has accounted for 70 total touchdowns (56 passing, 14 rushing).

· FB/LB Matt Vittengl is the Conquest's active team leader in tackles (45.0) and sacks (4.5).

· DS John Stuart is the team's active leader in fumble recoveries (3) and pass breakups (8) and is second in tackles (38.5).

· OL/DL Mike Levy is the active leader in tackles for loss (4.5) and is second in sacks (3.0).

DROPBACK: The Conquest had one pre-season scrimmage, which was a controlled, non-scoring scrimmage at the practice facility of the Mohegan Wolves in North Branford, CT.

FORWARD MOTION: Following this week's game in Richmond, the two teams will meet again in Albany less than a week later. Next Friday, April 11th, the Conquest will play host to the Speed in their 2003 home opener. Then Albany takes to the road for their next four games, not returning to the confines of the Pepsi Arena until May 23rd against Birmingham. If the Conquest can come through a brutal early season road schedule healthy and with a winning record, they should be able to make a move in the Northeast Division, having seven out of their final ten games in Albany. The key to defending their division crown is going to how well they can travel early.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

161...and counting: OS Corey Hill, a 2002 2nd Team All-af2 representative, broke the professional football record with 161 receptions in the 2002 season. Hill led the af2 in receptions (161) and receiving yards (1,824), finished 3rd in all-purpose yards (2,927) and 4th in scoring (218 points). His 18 receptions in week 18 against Mohegan was an af2 record for most catches in a single game.

Houston Cleared for Take-Off: One of the biggest chores for the Conquest this past off-season was to replace the 11.5 sacks and ten tackles for loss that were contributed by OL/DL Alex Houston in 2002. Houston, a 1st Team All-af2 lineman is currently playing for the Buffalo Destroyers (AFL) and 2002 af2 Coach of the Year, Ron Selesky.

Improved Return Game Will Help: The 2002 Albany Conquest were one of only two teams that did not return a single kick (MFG or kickoff) for a touchdown during the 2002 season. They averaged 15.9 yards per return, a number that ranked them last in the entire league. In contrast, the 2002 af2 champion Peoria Pirates ran back 11 kickoffs and 1 missed field goal.

Home or Road Doesn't Matter: the 2002 Albany Conquest finished the season with equal records at home (7-2) and away (7-2). The only regular season games lost at the Pepsi Arena were to Richmond and Rochester. The road losses were both to Cape Fear, one regular season and one playoff game.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Speed WR/DB Kevin Harvey: Harvey returns to the Speed as the back-to-back defending af2 Ironman of the Year. He is Richmond's all-time leader in almost every statistical category and can play a variety of positions on the field. He was named Ironman of the Game against Albany in week 14 when he accounted for three touchdowns (1 receiving, 1 rushing and 1 fumble recovery).

Conquest OS Corey Hill: Hill led the af2 in receptions (161) and receiving yards (1,824) in 2002. He was named to the All-af2 2nd Team and also finished 3rd in all-purpose yards (2,927) and 4th in scoring (218 points). After setting the all-time pro football record for catches in a season in 2002, Hill returned to the Conquest with only one goal in mind, an ArenaCup championship.

Conquest FB/LB Ron Perry: Perry may be the most experienced rookie in the af2 this season. This two-time All-AFL FB/LB will bring a 6'3 280-pound frame to a position which already features one of the top playmakers in af2, Matt Vittengl. Perry has played six years in the AFL, amassing over 240 rushing yards and sixty tackles. He was named AFL Rookie of the Year when he played for the Florida Bobcats in 1997 and has scored 14 career touchdowns. Look for Perry to make it very uncomfortable for whoever tries to replace All-af2 signal caller Bob Bees.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

April 5, 2002 – The Albany Conquest win their first ever game, 29-14, over the Mohegan Wolves at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT.

April 7, 2001 – Lincoln DS Heath Staples sets the af2 record for tackles in a single game with 14.5.

April 8, 2000 – Arkansas attracts 16,068 people, the largest crowd ever to see an af2 game...Richmond Speed QB Cody Whipple scores a 32-yard TD pass from himself after a deflection off of a defender.

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