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Albany Looking For Third Straight Home Win On Saturday

May 25, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


Albany, N.Y. - The Albany Conquest dropped a 51-38 decision to the Louisville Fire at Freedom Hall on Saturday night. Albany (4-3) ranks second in the East Division, two games behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers and will be looking for their third straight home win. The Green Bay Blizzard turned in a 40-35 home victory over the Quad City Steamwheelers on Friday. Green Bay (4-4) stands third in the East Division and will be looking to extend a two-game winning streak. Saturday will be the sixth all-time meeting between the East Division rivals, with the Conquest recording a 48-40 road win at the Resch Center back on March 31st.

SERIES NOTABLES:

The Albany Conquest set a franchise record with 88 points and 13 TDs in last season's overtime victory over the Blizzard at Pepsi Arena on July 15th. The 170-point total from that game remains the highest total in arena football's 20-year history. Conquest WR/LB Manwell Talbert tied a franchise record with five TD receptions in a 49-41 road loss on April 8, 2005.

VENA KEEPS ROLLING: QB Ryan Vena threw for 225 yards and four TDs with his league-leading 13th rushing TD in Louisville last weekend. He is one of only two players in the af2 with more than 2,000 (2,107) yards of total offense, good for an average of 301 yards per game. The Colgate grad has been more efficient with no interceptions in the last three games.

IT'S WARD'S WAY: OL/DL Jamarr Ward has become a multi-dimensional threat in recent weeks. He caught three passes for 36 yards, including a six-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. The 2001 af2 lineman of the year now has four TDs (3 rush, 1 pass) on the season to go with 5.5 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick on defense.

TINSON TAKES CHARGE: DS Brandon Tinson set a Conquest season-high with 10.5 tackles last weekend. He had nine solo tackles to go with a pass breakup against the Fire. The 28-year-old is in his first af2 action since the 2002 campaign when he led Albany with 75.5 tackles. The former 2nd Team All-American leads the Conquest with 28 (24UA, 8A) tackles in five games this season.

KT IS A ONE MAN BAND: OL/DL Karleton Thomas continued his strong play with 1.5 tackles, including a sack with a QBH against the Fire. He has recorded six of the Conquests' eight QBHs this season along with 5.5 (4UA, 3A) tackles in seven games played. The versatile lineman also has three receptions for 19 yards with one receiving TD.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Green Bay Offense:

QB Ronnie Gordon threw for 175 yards with one TD versus Quad City on Friday. He ran for two TD scores and now ranks fourth in the af2 with nine rushing TDs on the season. OS Brent Holmes caught five passes for 97 yards and is averaging 18.9 yards a reception in a pair of games. WR/LB Peter Lazare ranks second on the circuit with 126 rushing yards, while OS Randall Lane leads Blizzard receivers with 44 receptions, 499 receiving yards and 10 TDs.

Conquest Defense:

DS Brandon Tinson set the team/season-high with 10.5 tackles and seems to be rounding into all-af2 form. OL/DL Karleton Thomas contributed his first sack of the season and added another QBH against the Fire. WR/DB DeOnte Taylor recorded 2 (4A) tackles in his return to the secondary, where he will see more action this week. The Conquest defense ranks ninth in rushing defense, which has been a big part of Green Bay's game so far this season.

Conquest Offense:

QB Ryan Vena completed 23-of-40 passes for 225 yards, giving the ball to seven different receivers with no INTs for the third straight week. He ran for 22 yards and FB/LB Kendrick Bournes set a team-high with 28 rushing yards in Louisville. OS Manwell Talbert led the receivers with 93 yards on nine catches and ranks among the top ten with 680 receiving yards this year. WR/LB Antwun Williams placed second with 50 receiving yards and a TD for an offense that will need to get back on track against the Blizzard.

Blizzard Defense:

DS David Crocker posted a game-high 8.5 tackles against the Wheelers and is tied tops in the af2 with 52.5 tackles in eight games. DS Ronnie Kaymore leads Green Bay with three interceptions, stands second with 29.5 tackles and has forced two fumbles. The Blizzard win with D as they rank second in allowing 37.2 points per game and stand first overall in red zone defense (66.7%).

DROPBACK: Albany had a two-game winning streak snapped in a 51-38 road loss to the Louisville Fire at Freedom Hall last Saturday night.

FORWARD MOTION: The Albany Conquest will make their only visit of the season to the Quad Cities when they take on the Steamwheelers on Saturday, June 3, 2006 in an 8:15 pm kick-off at The MARK of Quad Cities.

The Albany Conquest are in their fifth anniversary arenafootball2 season with partial season ticket packages currently on sale. Individual game tickets for the 2006 campaign are also on sale now by calling the Albany Conquest offices at (518) 487-2244 or by visiting www.albanyconquest.com for more information.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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