Amarillo vs. Bossier-Shreveport Game Preview
August 7, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Amarillo Venom News Release
AMARILLO, Texas The Amarillo Dusters will travel to Bossier City Louisiana this weekend to face the Southwest Division Champion Bossier Battlewings in the conference semi-finals of the playoffs. This will be the second time the Dusters will have to play the Battlewings this season. The two teams played much early in the season in Bossier City with the Dusters pulling out a 53-45 victory.
"Bossier is a much improved team since the last time we played them," said head coach Chris MacKeown. "They had five players make the First-Team All-af2 team so that tells you how talented they are."
If the Dusters beat the Battlewings, they will move on to the National Conference Finals where they will face off against the winner of the game between the Central Valley Coyotes and the Spokane Shock. The Dusters first year head coach knows what it will take to defeat the Battlewings.
"We're going to have to contain their offense and get some defensive stops," MacKeown said. "They rank near the top of every offensive category but are last in the league in total defense so I feel that if we generate some defensive stops, everything else should take care of itself."
The Dusters will be starting with the same offensive line-up that has gotten them this far. Star QB Julian Reese, who was just named to the All-Ironman Team, will be under center. The Dusters trio of wide receivers that have given opposing defensive backs trouble all year long, Jim Lukowiak, Craig Fulton Jr., and Bobby Chase, will start along with Reese. The improving offensive line consisting of Rob Nelson, Josh Kline, and Randy Degg round out the offensive starters.
The Battlewings have won six of their last seven games and are 10-7 overall. Five of their seven losses however, are at home. They are led by starting QB Gary Cooper who ranks sixth in the entire league in total offense with an average of 265.5 yards per game.
The players to keep an eye on for the Battlewings include their playmaker and all-AF2 WR Chavis McCollister. He was named to the First Team All-af2 squad and ran back three straight kick-offs for touchdowns last week, an af2 record. The Battlewings also boast a solid pass rush led by defensive lineman Marvin Byrdsong that can put pressure on the quarterback.
Duster fans can watch this crucial playoff game at the Dusters official watch party at Beef O'Brady's on 34th and Coulter. Radio coverage of the game can be heard on KPUR 107.1 FM.
Dusters 2009 season tickets are on sale now. Call the Dusters Box Office at 350-7277 to reserve the best seats possible. This is Dusters Country!
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