Amarillo Dusters game notes
June 9, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Amarillo Venom News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Amarillo Dusters (6-3) at OKC Yard Dawgz (5-4)
Date: Saturday, June 11th, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 pm CST
Site: Ford Center
Officials:
Referee: Tony Maranto
Umpire: Allen Roulette
Head Linesman:Marc Bovos
Line Judge: Lee Ross
Back Judge: Derrick Rhone-Dunn
Radio: KPUR 1440 AM & internet broadcast at
www.dustersfootball.com
Donny Hooper Play by Play
Warren McCarty Color Commentary
Ray Boring Sideline Reporter
Tyler Hooper Field Mic
Series Record: 1st Meeting
Streaks: Dusters W1, Yard Dawgz W3
Coaches: Jeff Jarnigan, OKC Yard Dawgz
Steve Perdue, Amarillo Dusters
THE STAKES: Playoff positioning is on the line Saturday night at the Ford Center for both teams. The Dusters hold a one-game lead over the Yard Dawgz in the Midwest Division. The top 6 teams from each conference make the playoffs. The two division winners will have first-round byes. Currently, the Dusters have the 3rd best record in the National Conference, followed by the Yard Dawgz. The Dusters are currently 2-2 on the road this season, and look to go above the .500 mark this season on the road. The Yard Dawgz are 4-1 at home, and are currently riding a 3-game winning streak.
COACH PERDUE'S THOUGHTS ON OKLAHOMA CITY:
"Coach Jarnigan is a veteran of the game. He has been in the AFL with Austin and has spent several years in the deuce, and he's been to the ArenaCup. He's seen it and done it all, and he's got his troops together and they are really rallying around him right now. We scrimmaged each other during training camp, so we have a feel for what they like to do and they have a feel for what we like to do. I feel like we have a much better running game than they do, but they are doing a much better job of taking advantage of other teams' mistakes. They forced seven turnovers last week against Rio Grande Valley. We must put some serious pressure on Craig Strickland, and we must do it for four quarters. He's been on fire lately, and when he's comfortable in the pocket he can dissect any defense. He's the all-time leading passer in this league for a reason. He won't be surprised by anything he sees. Both teams know that this game has playoff implications. I expect it to be a war. "
MASSEY BLOCKING ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL:
Dusters lineman Joe Massey is making a name for himself with his blocking technique, on both sides of the football. Although he's a defensive player by nature, Massey has been the Dusters most consistent pass blocker this season, and has put on a clinic defensively as well. Massey has blocked a kick in four consecutive games, and has 6 blocked kicks on the season. The af2 team record for blocked kicks in a season is 12 set by the Richmond Speed in 2002. In 2004, the Memphis Xplorers led af2 with 7 blocked kicks as a team.
DUSTERS INTERNET RADIO BROADCAST A HUGE SUCCESS
The Amarillo Dusters are developing a huge fan base nationwide, as the number of listeners for the game broadcast over the website has doubled since the season opener. "We have lots of players' families listening in across the country, and we've received dozens of e-mails from fans nationwide who are just interested in the Dusters and curious about us as an expansion team, " said Dusters play by play broadcaster Donny Hooper. "We have a unique broadcast for this level of football, in that we have a 15-year veteran football official as our sideline reporter (Ray Boring). He offers tremendous insight as to what is actually happening on the field. Tyler Hooper runs the parabolic field mic, so much like an NFL radio broadcast, our listeners can actually hear the quarterback bark the snap count, and try to draw the opponent offsides. Warren McCarty brings so much knowledge of the arena game to the broadcast, and helps the listener âsee' the routes and visualize the play itself. And mixed in with all of that, we have a great time and cut-up as much as we can. We have so much fun, and I think it makes our broadcast fun to listen to." The broadcast can be heard locally on 1440 AM The Score, Amarillo's ESPN Radio affiliate. Fans can also tune in via the Dusters website at www.dustersfootball.com.
KEY MATCHUP: QUARTERBACK PLAY
A likely key to the outcome of Saturday night's contest will be the play of both quarterbacks. Dusters QB Julian Reese is currently af2's 3rd ranked passer, with a 117.6 rating. Thus far, he has completed 64.5 % of his passes for 2,291 yards and 40 touchdowns to go along with 6 interceptions. He had a miserable performance in the air against South Georgia however, as he went 8 of 13 for only 79 yards and one interception. OKC QB Craig Strickland is af2's all-time leading passer with 16,730 yards over his career. He enters this weekend's game with a 103.4 passer rating. Thus far, he has completed 56.2 % of his passes for 2,315 yards and 47 touchdowns to go along with 9 interceptions. Against Rio Grande Valley on Saturday night, Strickland went 18 of 24 for 233 yards and 6 touchdowns, but he was sacked 3 times and also threw 2 interceptions.
DUSTERS INJURY REPORT
Dusters WR/LB Jarrod Rouanzoin broke his wrist and his arm in the game against South Georgia on Saturday, and will miss the remainder of the season.
WR/LB Jarrod Rouanzoin Arm Long-Term IR (out for season, broken arm & wrist)
WR/DB Lawrence Hardman foot Long-Term IR (out for min. 4 weeks)
OL/DL Sione Ohuafi Knee Long-Term IR (week to week)
FB/LB Gil Hernandez Knee Long-Term IR (out for season, ACL tear)
WR/LB Anton Paige Knee Long-Term IR (out for season, ACL tear)
FB/LB Ray Gates Knee Long-Term IR (out for season, PCL tear
FB/LB Jesse Hunnicutt Hand Long-Term IR (out for 4 weeks, broken hand)
RECENT DUSTERS ROSTER MOVES
Placed on Long-Term IR WR/LB Jarrod Rouanzoin 6'4 225 Nichols College
Recalled from Reassignment WR/DB Marcus Owens 6'1 185 Minnesota-Mankato
Placed on Long-Term IR WR/DB Lawrence Hardman 6'0 190 Abilene Christian
Placed on Recallable Reassignment WR/DB Marcus Owens 6'1 185 Minnesota-Mankato
Placed on Re-assignment OL/DL Dannie Snyder 6'2 290 Mississippi State
Placed on Re-assignment OL/DL Barrett Allen 6'4 275 Abilene Christian
Assigned FB/LB Devin Lemons 6'3 235 Texas Tech
Assigned FB/LB Dewayne Miles 6'0 260 West Texas A&M
Activated from Short-Term IR WR/LB Anthony Dingle 5'11 190 Stephen F. Austin
Activated from Practice Squad OL/DL Brett Jones 6'2 280 Missouri Western
Activated from Practice Squad FB/LB Tony Dancy 6'1 250 Ferrum
Activated from International Squad OL/DL Nala Saluni 6'2 290 West Texas A&M
Placed on Re-assignment OL/DL Mike Thomas 6'2 310 Utah
Remains on Long-Term IR OL/DL Sione Ohuafi 6'3 300 Indiana
Placed on Long-Term IR FB/LB Ray Gates 6'2 270 Tarleton State
Placed on Long-Term IR FB/LB Jesse Hunnicutt 6'3 250 Texas A&M
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