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Albany Looking For Third Straight Win In Louisville

May 18, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


Albany, N.Y. - The Albany Conquest posted a 63-61 victory over the Manchester Wolves at Pepsi Arena's U.S. Army Field last Saturday night for their second consecutive victory. Albany (4-2) ranks second in the East Division, one game behind the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, and will be looking for their third straight win. The Louisville Fire dropped a 68-62 overtime decision to the Quad City Steamwheelers on Saturday. Louisville (2-4) is tied for fourth in the East Division and will be looking to snap a two-game losing skid. Saturday is the fifth all-time meeting between Albany and Louisville. The Fire swept the 2005 series by winning a pair of games and the teams will meet for the second and final time on June 17, 2006 at Pepsi Arena's U.S. Army Field.

VENA = VICTORY: QB Ryan Vena completed 22-of-36 passes for 273 yards and five TDs to earn his fourth nomination as the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game in the season's first six weeks. He leads the league with 12 rushing TDs and stands second on the circuit with 1,860 yards of total offense through six match-ups. The 2003 all-af2 quarterback is averaging just over 300 passing yards per game for the af2's highest-scoring offense.

MANNY KEEPS MAKING PLAYS: OS Manwell Talbert led the Conquest with a season-high 10 catches for 126 yards and five TDs against Manchester. He ranks fourth in the af2 with 607 receiving yards and fifth with 46 receptions during his third af2 campaign. Talbert has made a host of one-handed grabs this season, including 26-yard TD on the fingertips of his right hand late in the first half against the Wolves.

VINNY C'S A DIFFERENCE: K Vinny Cirrincione's legs proved to be the difference in the victory over Manchester on Saturday night. He connected on a 33-yard attempt on the Conquests' first drive of the game during the first quarter and booted the eventual 25-yard, game-winner with 56 seconds remaining. The Albany resident is tied for fourth in the af2 with 36 PATs and is converting extra points at 81.8% during his third professional season.

MURRAY MAKING IT HAPPEN: DS Shawn Murray got back into the interception column, picking off his fifth pass of the season in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win. He added five tackles and a team-high three pass breakups against the Wolves. Murray now leads the Conquest with 21.5 (16UA, 11A) tackles in six games during the 2006 season.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Louisville Offense: QB Brett Dietz completed 26-of-37 passes for 346 yards with seven TDs at Quad City last week. He ranks second in completion percentage (69.8) and stands third with 139 completions. OS Rob Mager ranks second in the af2 in reception yards (684) and receptions (56), while placing third with 15 receiving TDs. WR/LB Dennis Fryzel led the team with 11 catches and 129 yards against the Wheelers and WR/DB Lance Taylor added three receiving TDs in the loss.

Conquest Defense: WR/DB Kenny Williams led the team for the second straight week with six tackles, including five solo stops. DS Brandon Tinson played a physical contest and added 5.5 tackles, while OL/DL Karleton Thomas added 2 QBHs against the Wolves and former teammate D. Bryant. FB/LB Kendrick Bournes was a force at the line, breaking up one pass late in the game, to go with 0.5 tackles. The Albany defense leads the league with nine forced fumbles and is tied for second with 18 total takeaways.

Conquest Offense: QB Ryan Vena completed 22-of-36 passes for 273 yards, spreading the ball to six different receivers. OS Manwell Talbert was the go-to receiver in the game, while WR/LB Antwun Williams had a strong night with five catches for 60 yards including a touchdown. WR/DB R.J. Harvey is averaging an af2-best 28.0 yards per catch for the league's most prolific offense (331 total points & 55.2/game).

Fire Defense: DS Jeremy Chandler turned in a team-high 8.0 tackles against the Wheelers and is tied for 10th in the af2 with 36.0 tackles in six games. He is followed by DS Kabote Siykala, who is tied for fifth in the league with three INTs and ranks second on Louisville with 24.5 tackles. DLS Shelton Connor has 3.5 sacks and six QBHs to lead the Fire line so far this season.

FORWARD MOTION: The Albany Conquest return to Pepsi Arena's U.S. Army Field to take on the Green Bay Blizzard on Saturday, May 27, 2006 at 7:00pm. There will be a Memorial Day Battle of the Bones BBQ Block Party at 5:30pm featuring a Best Ribs in Albany Contest and an appearance by Playboy Special Editions model Susan Henson.

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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