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Albany Conquest Game Notes

June 30, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Albany Conquest (10-2) Vs Wilkes-Barre Pioneers (5-7)
Date: Saturday, July 5, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: Pepsi Arena (13,901)
National Anthem: Miranda Mazerella
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Ed Kierce (Head Referee)
Broadcast: Teamline Services (Internet broadcast via www.albanyconquest.com
Series Record: ALB 4-0
Streaks: ALB – WON 1 WBS – WON 2
Coaches: Pete Costanza (10-2, 14-14 overall, 1st season in Albany) Dean Cokinos (5-7, 1st af2 Season)

THE STAKES: The Albany Conquest has put themselves in a great position, having a two game lead in their division and control of their own destiny from this point forward. The Conquest (10-2) is two games ahead of Mohegan (8-4) in the Northeast Division and five games ahead of Wilkes-Barre (5-7). They also gained a game on Cape Fear (8-4), who lost to Charleston, in the American Conference playoff picture. Albany has a hold of the #2 seed in the conference and would earn a first round playoff BYE should they remain one of the top two. Tennessee Valley (12-0) is currently the #1 seed. The Conquest magic number is three. If the Conquest won three out of four remaining games, they would lock up their second straight Northeast Division championship and the #2 seed in the American Conference.

THE IFs:

If Albany defeats Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it would ...
· Give the Quest a 5-0 series record with the Wolves.
· Give the Quest a 6-0 home record in 2003 and 12-2 overall.
· Give Pete Costanza his eleventh victory as head coach of the Conquest and a career record over .500.
· Give the Quest their first ever 11-2 start.
· Give the Quest another two-game winning streak.
· Keep the Quest in first place, two games ahead of Mohegan and Cape Fear.

THE SERIES: The Pioneers come into this week's game having never defeated the Albany Conquest. In both team's inaugural season, 2002, the Conquest won all three meetings by a combined score of 129-99, a ten point average margin of victory. In the first meeting of 2003, the Conquest won 68-49, setting a then-team record for points scored...April 20, 2002: 8,355 fans celebrate the return of arena football to Albany and Game MVP Corey Hill scores three times, in 34-28 win...May 25, 2002...Conquest record a season-high four rushing TD's, two apiece from QB Ryan Vena and FB/LB Matt Vittengl, Albany wins 37-35 ...July 13, 2002...Vena goes 28-for39 for 277 yards and throws six touchdowns, three to Hill, who caught 12 passes for 118 yards...May 3, 2003...Vena completes 28-of-32 pass attempts for 285 yards and eight TD's, while also rushing for a score, as the Conquest win 68-49 in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

HEAD COACHES: Pete Costanza enters his first season as head coach of the Conquest. In 2002, Pete turned around a 0-16 Columbus (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.

Dean Cokinos was promoted from defensive coordinator to Head Coach in March 2003, following the departure of then-head coach Larry Kuharick to the Arena Football League (AFL). He spent several years as a head coach in the German Football League, prior to entering the AFL as an advanced scout for the Nashville Kats in 1998.

YOUR TEAM INJURY REPORT:

Pos. Name Injury Status
WR/DB JEFF HIGGINS Shoulder Long Term IR
OL/DL RICH BARLETTE Foot Long-Term IR
WR/LB ADRIEL LINYEAR Hand Long-Term IR
FB/LB LEROY THOMPSON Knee Long-Term IR
OL/DL LOU VEGA Back Short-Term IR

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES: WR/DB Phil Taylor, on Costanza taking a unsportsmanlike penalty to fire up his team, "It was clearly pass interference and Coach just said, Come on, we'll go right back at it. That was the momentum push, like you know what, let's go right back and get them." (Taylor scored on the next play)

Head Coach Pete Costanza, on scoring a touchdown as time expired against the Wolves, "They called a timeout. The game could have been over."

CONQUEST SERIES NOTABLES: QB Ryan Vena (ALB) has completed 86-of-121 pass attempts for 918 yards and nineteen touchdowns, while rushing for 86 yards and three scores, in four games vs. the Pioneers...OS Corey Hill (ALB) has caught 39 passes for 451 yards and nine touchdowns in four games...FB/LB Matt Vittengl (ALB) has recorded two rushing touchdowns... WR/DB Harry Brunson (WBS) scored three touchdowns, recorded 3.5 tackles and one interception against the Conquest on 5/3/03.

MILESTONES:

· The Corey Hill Watch
af2 Career Numbers
Receptions (359)
Receiving Yards (3,886)
All-Purpose Yards (6,586)
Scoring (392 points)

· QB Ryan Vena has 382 career rushing yards and 5,657 career passing yards.

DROPBACK: Albany QB, and Game MVP, Ryan Vena threw seven touchdowns, three to WR/DB Phil Taylor, as the Conquest defeated the Mohegan Wolves, 60-36, in front of 5,578 fans at the Pepsi Arena Saturday night.

The win kept the Conquest (10-2) in sole possession of first place in the Northeast Division and dropped the Wolves (8-4) two games back with four games remaining. Albany currently holds the #2 seed in the American Conference behind 11-0 Tennessee Valley and would obtain a first-round playoff BYE if they can finish in the top two.

Taylor, who was named the Ironman of the Game, caught six passes for 141 yards and grabbed one tackle and two pass breakups on defense. Taylor has scored three touchdowns in seven different games this season and leads the team with 21 total touchdowns.

Mohegan OS Mel Long led all receivers with 10 catches for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, DS Allistair Sebatien recorded 6.0 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups.

Albany's John Stuart led all defenders with 6.5 tackles and four pass breakups, bringing his season total to 26 and keeping him in the af2 top ten. Ljubomir Stamenich was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game, recording 3.0 tackles and recovering a fourth quarter fumble for his second touchdown of the season. WR/Db Jamie Ware picked up his team-leading fourth interception, while also amassing 3.5 tackles and three breakups.

Vena, who has now been name Game MVP eight times in 2003, completed 19-of-29 pass attempts for 292 yards and seven touchdowns. OS Corey Hill hauled in a team-high seven passes for 81 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Albany will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers next Saturday, July 5th, at the Pepsi Arena. The first 1,500 fans will receive Albany Conquest bobble head dolls. Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM with the Tailgate on Pearl Street beginning at 5:00 PM.

FORWARD MOTION: Following this week's game, Albany will travel to Wilkes-Barre for the second game of a home-and-home series with the Pioneers. Friday, April 11th in WB/S, the Conquest play the Pioneers in their third and final meeting of the 2003 season. Albany then returns home for their final two games, against Rochester and Mohegan. The magic number for the Conquest right now is three games. If the Conquest can win three out of their four remaining games, they will win the Northeast Division and claim the #2 seed in the American Conference.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

Phil Taylor...For Three: Albany WR/DB Phil Taylor, the team's leading scorer with 22 total touchdowns, has found his magic number in three. In seven separate games this season, including the last five in a row, Taylor has scored three touchdowns. He has caught 21 and ran for one in twelve games of action.

Both Sides of the Ball: The Conquest is the only team in af2 currently ranked in the league's top five in both Total Offense (#1, 288.2) and Total Defense (#5, 219.2). In contrast, the undefeated Tennessee Valley Vipers (12-0) rank 3rd in Total Offense, but 24th in Total Defense. Head Coach Pete Costanza has been calling both the offense and defense this season and should be a candidate for af2 Coach of the Year. Not in Our House: The only two losses by the Conquest in 2003 (Mohegan and Norfolk) were on the road and were both avenged at home. This past week, Albany defeated the Mohegan Wolves, 60-36, getting them back for the 52-45 defeat that they handed the Quest in April. Albany beat Norfolk at home, before losing at the Norfolk Scope a week later.

Vena Looking like a Player of the Year: Albany QB Ryan Vena has been the engine that has kept the Conquest moving in 2003. The 2nd-year player out of Colgate University is the top rated QB in af2 (121.0 QB rating), ranks first in total offense (3,342 yards), 2nd in passing yards (3,208), 4th in touchdown passes (63), 8th in rushing yards (134 yds) and tied for 2nd in rushing touchdowns (11)

On Record Pace...Again: Here we go again. OS Corey Hill leads the af2 with 120 receptions through 12 games. Last season Hill set the all-time pro football record with 161. Hill is currently on pace for 167 catches in 2003. Follow Hill's progress below as he approaches history for the second straight year.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Conquest WR's vs. Pioneers DS Kyle Grove: Grove, who recently returned to the Pioneers lineup after playing a few weeks in NFL Europe, did not suit up against the Conquest the last time the two teams faced off. Coincidence or not, the Albany offense enjoyed it's most efficient performance to date and set a then team record for points scored. Grove will look to help contain the #2 scoring offense and #2 pass offense in af2 this week at the Pepsi Arena.

Conquest FB/LB Rashon Burns: Burns, a rookie out of East Carolina, has seen his playing time and his performance increase over the past few weeks. Last game against Mohegan, Burns ran for his 2nd touchdown of the season and picked up 15 rushing yards. He also caught his first career pass, a 10-yd TD, while playing in his fifth game during the 2003 season.

Wilkes-Barre WR/DB Harry Brunson: Brunson, who scored three touchdowns in his first game against the Conquest, has been doing it all for the Pioneers in 2003. He has caught 22 passes, five for touchdowns, recorded two interceptions and four breakups, returned a FG for a touchdown, ran back kicks at 20.6 yards per attempt and ranks 2nd on the team with 28.0 tackles. Brunson is a 2nd-year af2 player out of Bowie State.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

July 6, 2002 – Quad City's Brent Browner matches the af2 single game record for interceptions, nabbing four against Bakersfield.

July 7, 2002 – Cape Fear's EJ Burt records 4.5 sacks against Albany to match the af2 single-game record and break Ernest Certain's all-time af2 single-season record. Burt finishes the season with 27.5.

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