Albany Conquest Game Notes

April 14, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Albany Conquest (2-0) at Mohegan Wolves (2-0)
Date: Friday, April 18, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: Mohegan Sun Arena (7,500)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Not Available at this time
Broadcast: Teamline Services (Internet broadcast via www.albanyconquest.com)...Jacob VanRyn (Pay-by-Play), Bill Callahan (color commentary)
Series Record: Albany leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: ALB 57, MOH 27 (July 13, 2002)
Streaks: ALB – WON 2 MOH – WON 2
Coaches: Pete Costanza (2-0, 6-12 overall, 1st season in Albany) Mark Stoute (2-0,1st season in af2)

THE STAKES: This week four match-up is the first critical game in the Northeast Division in the young 2003 season. Mohegan and Albany, both 2-0, are tied atop the division, with Rochester and Wilkes-Barre still looking for their first wins. Mohegan is the most improved team from a season ago, with the addition of a former AFL head coach, while also adding veteran players from the now-defunct New Haven Ninjas. The two teams scrimmaged prior to the start of the season, but now meet for the first time when it counts. The winner of the game will be in sole possession of first place in the Northeast Division at 3-0.

THE SERIES: The Mohegan Wolves have never beaten the Albany Conquest and this is the first of three meetings scheduled in 2003. Both were expansion teams in 2002 and played three games against each other, with Albany winning by a combined score of 127-76...April 5, 2002: Game MVP Corey Hill caught 14 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. DS Henry Baker also recorded two INT's and 4.5 tackles in the 29-14 victory...May 10, 2002...QB Ryan Vena throws four TD's and runs for the game-winner in 41-35 win...July 13, 2002...Hill sets the all-time pro football record with 161 receptions on the season, including 18 vs. the Wolves, five good for touchdowns.

THE IFs:

If Albany defeats Richmond, it would ...
• Give Albany a 4-0 series record with Mohegan
• Give Albany a 2-0 road record in 2003
• Give Pete Costanza his third straight victory as head coach of the Conquest.
• Extend Albany's five-game regular season win streak to six games.
• Give Albany it's fourth consecutive win at home dating back to the 2002 playoffs and regular season.
• Give Albany their second consecutive 3-0 start.

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.

Mark Stoute enters his first season of coaching in af2 with the Wolves. Stoute spent the past two seasons as the Head Coach and General Manager of the Toronto Phantoms (AFL). In 2001, he led the Phantoms to an 8-6 regular season record and the Eastern Division Championship. Prior to their move north, the Phantoms were known as the New England Se Wolves. Stoute served as the Sea Wolves Director of Football Operations/Player Personnel in the team's two-year tenure in Hartford (1999-2000). Stoute was a four-year letterman at Kentucky State as a kicker, before playing in the USFL with the New Jersey generals and Boston Breakers.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Albany 57, Mohegan 27 (7/13/02) – The Albany Conquest concluded their inaugural regular season in impressive fashion tonight defeating the Mohegan Wolves 57-27 in front of 6,953 at Pepsi Arena. With the victory the Conquest finished the regular season tied for an American Conference best 13-3 record. Conquest offensive specialist Corey Hill finished the night with a season high 18 receptions for 183 yards and five touchdowns. Hill's 18 receptions gives him a total of 161 for the season, breaking the all-time reception record of 160 held by Derrell Mitchell, who accomplished the feat for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL in 1998. The Conquest scored early and often as they took a 29-0 lead when back-up QB John Kruger fell on a fumbled kick-return with 7:38 left in the 2nd quarter. Starting Quarterback Ryan Vena hooked up with three different receivers during that span including a six-yard strike to Hill and a 21-yard score to Ironman of the Game Mike Guazzo. Mohegan put their first points on the scoreboard at the 4:31 mark of the 2nd quarter when quarterback Kevin Carty hit Greg Gildea on a 29-yard TD strike. Mohegan answered on their next possession when Carty rumbled in from 1-yard out, cutting the Conquest's lead to 29-13. Hill and Vena connected one more time in the 2nd quarter on a 32-yard strike with no time remaining in the half, giving the Conquest a 35-13 halftime lead. The 2nd half was much of the same as the Conquest scored 16 unanswered points to open the half taking a 50-13 lead, their largest lead of the night. Krueger and Hill hooked-up twice during that stretch for touchdowns, while Shcree Lewis recorded a safety, the Conquest's second of the night. Mohegan scored 14 unanswered, cutting the lead to 50-27 before Hill caught the record-setting pass for a 14-yard score with 13 seconds remaining in the game.

Both Conquest quarterbacks were effective with Vena completing 15-of-23 passes for 165 yards and four touchdowns while Krueger connected on 17-of-27 passes for 169 yards and three touchdowns. The Conquest's defense was also extraordinary, led by defensive specialist Branson Tinson and Lineman Alex Houston. Tinson had a team high 5 ½ tackles, two interceptions, three pass deflections and a forced fumble. Meanwhile, Houston recorded four tackles including one for a loss, a sack (his 11th of the season), three QB hurries and a forced fumble. Both players were honored with the ADT Defensive Player of the Game award.

Mohegan's Brandon Burnside finished the game with a team-high five receptions for 51 yards while his twin brother Brent had three catches for 18 yards and a score. Carty completed 18-of-31 for 184 yards and two touchdowns.

SERIES NOTABLES: QB Ryan Vena (ALB) has completed 29-of-53 pass attempts for 332 yards and seven touchdowns, while rushing for a game-winning score in two games vs. the Wolves...OS Corey Hill (ALB) has caught 42 passes for 391yards and ten touchdowns in three games...FB/LB Matt Vittengl (ALB) has recorded two rushing touchdowns in two games...FB/LB Jeff Cogell (MOH) was the 2002 Built Ford Tough Player of the Year in af2...Many players on this year's Wolves team played 2002 with New Haven, including DS Cy Butler, WR/DB Anthony Comer, OL/DL Charlie Cook, FB/LB Lajhon Jones, WR/LB Kazmell Monitt, DS Damon Richardson, DS Allistair Sebastien and OL/DL Brian Watson...Comer has scored eight touchdowns in three games versus the Conquest...Minott saw action in just one game, but scored twice for New Haven against Albany.

YOUR TEAM INJURY REPORT:

Pos. Name Injury Status
WR/DB JEFF HIGGINS Shoulder Long Term IR
OL/DL DOMINIQUE SMITH Knee Long Term IR

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

WR/LB ADRIEL LINYEAR, on playing their second game together as a team: "It was our first game last week. We had to shake the rust off. We have 11 or 12 new players and we're getting used to each other. We're going to play 60 minutes, right to the end, and if it turns out for us, it turns out."

WR/DB PHIL TAYLOR, on playing in Albany with Corey Hill: "Last year, I was up against Corey for Offensive Player of the Year, and I came up here to make this team stronger. There's no way they can stick with Corey and I at the same time. That's not going to happen."

HEAD COACH PETE COSTANZA, on playing the Wolves: "There are a much better team than they were last year, no doubt. But we are the division champs and so far we haven't done anything to suggest we are ready to give up that title yet. It's going to be a war, I can promise you that. Their coach is intense, my staff is intense, and we both want to be 3-0 on Friday night."

MILESTONES:
• The Corey Hill Watch
af2 Career Numbers
Receptions (253)
Receiving Yards (2,791)
All-Purpose Yards (4,747)
Scoring (308 points)
• QB Ryan Vena needs just two yards for 300 career rushing yards.

DROPBACK: The Conquest defeated Richmond, 45-13, at the Pepsi Arena in Albany Friday night. The Albany defense led a stifling attack, forcing five fumbles, including WR/LB Adriel Linyear's 20-yard fumble return for a touchdown. DS John Stuart had five pass breakups and held one of af2's top scoring threats, Richmond OS Jeff Townsley, to one reception. Game MVP Ryan Vena threw four touchdowns, three of which went to WR/DB Phil Taylor.

FORWARD MOTION: The Conquest begin a four-game road trip this week at Mohegan. Following this week's game, the team will travel to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Cincinnati and Rochester, before returning home May 23rd to face Birmingham. If Albany can come through their treacherous road swing early, they will be in good shape with seven out of ten at home to finish the season.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

Phil-ing In the Blanks: With defenses constantly trying to shut down OS Corey Hill, the door has opened for WR/DB Phil Taylor to become a major offensive threat for the Conquest. Last week against Richmond, Taylor caught five passes for 90 yards and scored three touchdowns. Taylor recorded a 30-yard scoring strike on the first play of the game to start things off in Albany.

Wolves Might Get a "Lube" Job: OL/DL "Lube" Stamenich has burst onto the af2 scene two weeks into the season. In two games, the UVA-grad has notched 7.5 tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and recovered a fumble for a touchdown (Game one vs. Richmond).

Right From the Start: During the 2002 season, the Conquest averaged 15.9 yards per return, a number that ranked them last in the entire af2. Last week vs. Richmond, they averaged 17.9 yards per return and had an average starting field position of their own 18-yard line.

Improved Returns: During the 2002 season, the Conquest averaged 15.9 yards per return, a number that ranked them last in the entire af2. So far through two games, they rank 10th in the league (21.4) and Corey Hill is currently 4th in af2 with 25.0 yards per return.

Running to 2-0: While arena football is referred to as a "pass-happy" league, the Conquest have managed to get to a 2-0 mark without even throwing for more than 175 yards in a single game. They have been successful in part to their tremendous running game (41.5 yards per game), which currently ranks 4th in af2. QB Ryan Vena is 2nd in the league in rushing (50 yds). Albany has rushed for five touchdowns in 2003, the same amount Vena has thrown for.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Conquest Secondary vs. Mohegan WR's: The Conquest has one of the best DS combinations in the entire af2. John Stuart and Elijah Beamon have each stepped up in the first two games. Beamon was named af2 ADT Defensive Player of the Week after returning the game-winning interception against Richmond in week two, while Stuart shut down Richmond's Jeff Townsley, one of the most prolific scorers in league history, to help Albany defeat Richmond for the second straight time last Friday.

Conquest FB/LB Matt Vittengl: "Vitt" returned to action Friday against Richmond after sitting out the first game with the flu. The af2 Ironman of the Year nominee in 2002 picked up right where he left off, being named Ironman of the Game in his first game back. Vitt rushed three times for 31 yards and a score, caught one pass, recorded one solo tackle for a loss, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Mohegan WR/LB Kazmell Minott: Minott, who played last season with the New Haven Ninjas, has caught two touchdown passes, scored on two fumble recoveries, recorded six tackles (one for loss), one sack and one forced fumble for the Wolves through two games.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

April 18, 2002 –Conquest start 3-0 with 34-28 win over Wilkes-Barre in front of 8,355 fans at the Pepsi Arena.

April 20, 2002 – The Columbus Wardogs, led by Pete Costanza, snap an 0-17 slide by recording the first win in franchise history, a 19-14 decision over Jacksonville.

April 19, 2000 – Tulsa OL/DL David Camacho signs with the Baltimore Ravens, making him the first ever af2 player to make the jump to the NFL.



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