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Albany Conquest Game Notes

July 7, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Albany Conquest (11-2) at Wilkes-Barre Pioneers (5-8)
Date: Friday, July 11, 2003
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. EST
Site: First Union Arena (7,955)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Ed Ardito (Head Referee)
Broadcast: Teamline Services (Internet broadcast via www.albanyconquest.com)
Series Record: ALB 5-0
Streaks: ALB – WON 2 WBS – LOST 1
Coaches: Pete Costanza (11-2, 15-14 overall, 1st season in Albany) Dean Cokinos (5-8, 1st af2 Season)

THE STAKES: The Albany Conquest controls their own destiny from this point forward. With three games to play and a two game lead over Mohegan in the Northeast Division, the Conquest can obtain a first-round playoff BYE and home-field for any opponent besides Tennessee Valley (13-0) by winning two out of the remaining three games, or winning one and having Mohegan lose one. The Wolves and Conquest meet July 26th, at the Pepsi Arena, in the final regular season game for either team. Albany clinched a playoff berth this past week against Wilkes-Barre and can assure at least one home playoff game with a win this week in PA. Wilkes-Barre can still make the playoffs, with three consecutive wins and some help from several other conference foes.

THE IFs:

If Albany defeats Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, it would ...
· Give the Quest a 6-0 series record with the Pioneers.
· Give the Quest a 6-2 road record in 2003 and 13-3 overall.
· Give Pete Costanza his twelfth victory as head coach of the Conquest.
· Give the Quest their first ever 12-2 start.
· Give the Quest another three-game winning streak.
· Keep the Quest in first place, two games ahead of Mohegan.
· Clinch at least one home playoff game for the Quest.

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...July 5, 2003...Vena accounts for eight total TD's, including game-winning 6-yd TD pass to Hill, (5 pass, 3 rush) and throws for 342 yards as Conquest win 59-58.

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
WR/LB ADRIEL LINYEAR Hand Long-Term IR
FB/LB LEROY THOMPSON Knee Long-Term IR

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES: OS Corey Hill, on his team's play against Wilkes-Barre Saturday night, "First of all, it was an ugly game. One, we clinched a playoff spot, so we achieved that goal, but two, this lets us know that we have to get back in the film room and re-evaluate some things." QB Ryan Vena, on his third 4th-quarter comeback of the season, "I tried to run around a make something happen. The line gave me great protection and Corey came underneath, got a step on the guy and made a heck of a catch. To have Corey as a second option, not too many people can beat that."

CONQUEST SERIES NOTABLES: QB Ryan Vena (ALB) has completed 106-of-151 pass attempts for 1,260 yards and 24 touchdowns, while rushing for 99 yards and six scores, in four games vs. the Pioneers...OS Corey Hill (ALB) has caught 46 passes for 420 yards and ten 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 (366)
Receiving Yards (3,955)
All-Purpose Yards (6,725)
Scoring (398 points)

· QB Ryan Vena has 395 career rushing yards and 5,999 career passing yards.

DROPBACK: Albany QB, and Game MVP, Ryan Vena found OS Corey Hill from six yards out with fifteen seconds to play to lift the Albany Conquest to a 59-58 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers Saturday night at the Pepsi Arena, in front of 5,005 fans. With the win, the Conquest clinched a berth in the 2003 af2 playoffs, holding a two game lead over the Mohegan Wolves (9-4), who defeated the Bossier City Battlewings, 38-26, Saturday night. Albany also held on to the #2 seed in the American Conference, hoping to obtain a first-round palyoff BYE. Vena was his usual miraculous self, completing 20-of-30 pass attempts for 342 yards and five touchdowns. He also scored three times on the ground, picking up thirteen rushing yards. This is the ninth time that Vena has been named Game MVP, a team record. Hill led all receivers with seven catches, good for 69 yards and one touchdown, while adding another 70 ayrds on kick returns. Game Ironman, WR/DB Phil Taylor, hauled in six receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns. ADT Defensive Player of the Game, DS John Stuart, recorded 10.0 tackles (eight solo), recovered a fumble and picked up five pass breakups. Albany (11-2) trailed most of the game, before taking the lead with 1:53 left in the game when Vena found WR/DB Jamie Ware for a 43 yards touchdown reception. Ware finished the game with two receptions for 85 yards. Wilkes-Barre got a Kevin Nagle three-yard rushing score to get the lead back before Hill caught the game-winner. The Pioneers (5-8) had one last chance, but Dennis Wuestkamp's 50-yard field goal attempt went wide left, ending the game and all hopes for Wilkes-Barre.

FORWARD MOTION: Following this week's game in Wilkes-Barre the Conquest finish with two consecutive home games, against Rochester (7/19) and Mohegan (7/26). If the Conquest can win two out of three games, they will win their second straight Northeast Division title and ride into the playoffs as the #2 seed in the American Conference, behind 13-0 Tennessee Valley. The Conquest will look to have their first-ever undefeated season at the Pepsi Arena.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

Ware for Ironman: Albany WR/DB Jamie Ware has become a big-time contributor on both sides of the ball for the Conquest in 2003. The 2nd year player from Shippensburg is the team's third leading receiver (34 rec-606 yds, 13 TD), but is also leading the defense in interceptions (5). He has recorded 18.0 total tackles, three pass breakups and one forced fumble to go along with his five INT's.

If Not Ware, how about Taylor: WR/DB Phil Taylor, who currently leads the Conquest in scoring (24 TD), may not have the defensive stats to be an Ironman of the Year candidate, but that doesn't mean that he shouldn't warrant some consideration. Taylor has been credited with 18.0 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. While the opposing teams have not thrown in his direction, limiting his chances to record more stats, Taylor just keeps proving he is the best two-way player on the field week in and week out, gaining respect from opposing coaches with his play on offense and defense. The "TRIFECTA": Quarterback Ryan Vena completed the QB "Trifecta" this past week against Wilkes-Barre. With his performance (20-30, 342, 5 TD), he became the league leader in the top three offensive categories; Passer Rating (122.8), Passing Yards (3,558) and Total Offense (3,705). Vena is unofficially running neck-and-neck with Quad City's Tony Zimmerman for af2 Offensive Player of the Year honors. Both signal callers should break the current record for TD passes (86) and whichever one plays the better football for the next three weeks may become the third QB, in four years, to be honored as the league's top player.

Stamenich Turning it on Now: OL/DL Lube Stamenich began the season on fire, recording sacks in three out of the first four games, and becoming a top pass rushing threat for the Conquest. After not recording a sack in six games, he has come back to form, grabbing one against Wilkes-Barre, to give him 5.0 for the season. He also scored his 2nd TD of the season two weeks ago, in a crucial game against Mohegan.

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.

Date Opponent Receptions Total
6/21 @ Norfolk 11 112
6/28 Mohegan 8 120
7/5 Wilkes-Barre 7 127
7/11 @ Wilkes-Barre
7/19 Rochester
7/26 Mohegan
Season

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

DS John Stuart vs Pioneers WR's: Stuart, a former af2 Defensive Player of the week (week 7), was named Defensive Player of the Game against Wilkes-Barre, despite being picked on the entire game by the Pioneers offense. It seemed like every pass was thrown at Stuart, including a few touchdowns from QB Chris Boden. Stuart ranks 5th in af2 in pass breakups (29) and should bounce back for a huge effort this week against the same Wilkes-Barre receiving corps.

Conquest WR/DB Jamie Ware: Ware, who has recorded an interception in two consecutive games, caught two passes for 85 yards against the Pioneers. He currently leads the team with a 17.8 yard per reception average. Ware has caught seven passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns, in two games this season versus Wilkes-Barre. The 2nd-year af2 veteran has scored five touchdowns of 40 + yards this season.

Wilkes-Barre FB/LB Kevin Nagle: Nagle, who was named Ironman of the Game the first time these two teams met (5/3/03), picked up two rushing touchdowns, two tackles and a sack this past week against the Conquest. In two games this season, Nagle has four rushing touchdowns, five tackles and one 37-yard reception. Last season he picked off a pass, rushed for 30 yards and scored one touchdown in three games versus Albany.



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