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Albany Ready for Division Conquest

June 20, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester Brigade (5-6) has had its ups and downs this season, but there is one thing it has no other team in af2 has: a victory over the Albany Conquest (9-1). Tonight, the Brigade tries to do it again as the Conquest invades Blue Cross Arena for the third and final regular-season meeting between these in-state foes. The winner lays claim the NYS Lottery af2 Cup, which has been in Rochester for the past eight weeks.

The NYS Lottery af2 Cup is an intrastate championship between Rochester and Albany, with the winner of each regular-season meeting earning the right to take the trophy back to its hometown. To date, the teams have split the season series, with each winning on the other team's turf. The Conquest took the first game in this series 42-36 in Week 3 while Rochester earned a 32-24 win on April 27.

For Albany, this game also carries the bounty of a division title. Already committed to the postseason, the Conquest can lock up the Northeast Division crown and homefield advantage for the first round of the playoffs with a win over the Brigade. To do it, Albany will need its third-ranked scoring defense (33.0 ppg) to stop a Brigade squad that ranks eighth in total offense, averaging 262.8 ypg. The Conquest's offense, while not potent, is efficient, scoring 39.0 points a game while managing the clock wisely.

This contest features the league's top two receivers in MARTINO THEUS (Rochester) and COREY HILL (Albany). Theus leads af2 with 118 catches for 1,296 yards and is on pace to bust the all-time reception mark (148 by Wichita's PASCAL VOLZ, 2001). Hill is second with 94 receptions and 1,038 yards.

MATT D'ORAZIO leads the Brigade's offensive attack, and has amassed 2,747 yards of total offense, putting him second in the league. Overall, he has tossed 39 touchdowns on 240-of-391 passing. Albany's RYAN VENA may not have earth-shattering numbers, but he has led the Conquest to a 5-0 record on the road, making Albany the only undefeated road team in af2. Vena (6-0 as a starter) has passed for 1,624 yards and 29 touchdowns on the season.

Defensively, OL/DL ALEX HOUSTON will test a Rochester offensive line that has yielded just nine sacks (tied for third in af2) this season. Houston has 8.5 of his team's 20 sacks. VONKEITH SPENCER has six interceptions to lead the Brigade secondary while Albany's HENRY BAKER has five for the Conquest.

Rochester is 0-1 all-time when playing on Thursday night, while Albany has never played on Thursday. Home teams are 1-1 on Thursdays this season, with a 2-2 mark all-time.

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Augusta sits atop the Eastern Division and plays host to Columbus this weekend hoping to maintain its position ahead of Macon. The Wardogs face their interstate rival for the fourth time and seek their first victory against the Stallions. Augusta's offense is ranked fourth in the league with 53.8 points per game and GLEN GAUNTT has the Stallions racking up 263.8 yards of total offense a game. Columbus is holding opponents to 220.8 yards of offense, while its offense is averaging 33.7 points a game. CLIFTON ROBINSON has been a nice pickup for the Wardogs; in five games with Columbus, he has 439 yards and six touchdowns. BILLY LUCKIE has passed for 1,310 yards and 26 scores in seven games to lead Columbus. Defensively, CHUCK LITTLE has four sacks and SHEDRICK HARRIS is the Wardogs' leading tackler with 42.0. Gauntt has 54 passing touchdowns this season to lead af2 in that category. The Stallions' signal-caller is also the league's fifth-ranked passer with a 110.0 rating. TIM DUMAS is Gauntt's leading target with 72 receptions for 849 yards. On defense, CLARENCE WILLIAMS has 4.5 sacks and LAVAR RAINEY has eight interceptions this year.

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Greensboro travels to Cape Fear Friday looking to put together a win streak. The Prowlers snapped a six-game losing streak on Saturday with a comfortable 81-62 win over Rochester. Cape Fear looks to build on its seven-game win streak and maintain its first-place position in the Atlantic Division. The Wildcats' defense has been stellar this season, holding opponents to just 30.6 points and 169.8 yards per game. Under MIKE GLUSKI, Cape Fear's offense has not been too shabby either, scoring 47.0 points per game in his six games at QB. Greensboro's offense exploded last weekend for 81 points, earning CHRIS WEIBEL af2 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Weibel threw for a season-high nine touchdowns in the romp. Defensively, the Prowlers have allowed 55.0 points a game. ANTOINE CALLOWAY has caught 84 passes for 1,066 yards this season to lead Prowlers receivers. SETH GUTZ is Cape Fears leading wideout with 32 receptions for 441 yards and eight scores. On defense, E.J. BURT has amassed a league-high 18.5 sacks this season and will look to exploit Greensboro's offensive line, which is ranked 23rd with 23 sacks against. JERMAINE TONEY has a team-high 71.5 tackles for Greensboro and has recovered three fumbles.

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Jacksonville welcomes Pensacola for an intrastate battle Friday night at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Jacksonville leads the all-time series 2-0, including a 41-38 win last season. Pensacola has won three of its last four games with its lone loss being a one-point decision to 9-1 Tennessee Valley. The Tomcats are looking to end a two-game losing streak and take advantage of a hometown crowd. Pensacola has the league's eighth-ranked offense and is scoring 49.5 points per game. Defensively, the two teams are evenly matched, with the Barracudas holding opponents to 44.1 points a game compared to Jacksonville's 45.3. The Tomcats' offense has sputtered since losing MARCUS OUTZEN for the season, but RASHARD CASEY had Jacksonville in position to win against a 9-2 Macon team last weekend. ROBERT POLLARD picked off a pass and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown against Macon, to lead the Tomcats' defensive effort. JAMES ADDERLY was Casey's favorite target against the Knights, hauling in seven passes for 135 yards and four touchdowns. CHARLIE PETERSON leads the Barracudas' offense and has 1,560 passing yards and 33 scores in just six games. JERRIAN JAMES has caught a team-high 32 passes for 487 yards and nine touchdowns. WILL PETTIS, one of the best defensive backs in the league, leads Pensacola's defense with eight interceptions and 34 passes defended. Pettis also added an offensive spark in last weekend's victory over Mobile, catching six balls for 90 yards and two scores.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 13

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Northeast Division championship with win at Rochester.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth.

CAPE FEAR: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Greensboro AND loss by Norfolk vs. Charleston AND loss by Roanoke vs. Carolina.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

RICHMOND: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Mohegan AND loss by Norfolk vs. Charleston AND loss by Roanoke vs. Carolina.

TULSA: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Arkansas. Can clinch Central Division championship with win at Arkansas AND loss by Bossier City vs. Wichita.

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