Arkansas Twisters game notes
May 17, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Arkansas Diamonds News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Birmingham Steeldogs (0-6)
Vs. Arkansas Twisters (0-6)
Date: Saturday, May 21, 2005
Kickoff: 7:05 p.m.
Site: Alltel Arena (16,058)
National Anthem: Isom Kelly
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials:
Radio: WB 101.1FM & Creative Sports Network (www.csn.com) (Jake Hatley, Ray Tucker)
TV: www.af2.com Cost: $7
Series Record: Birmingham leads 4-3
Last Meeting: 4-17-04, Birmingham won 56-40
Streaks: AR L6 BIR L6
Coaches: Twisters â John Gregory (0-2, 1st Year)
Coach Gregory will be absent from this week's game. Assistant Coach Art Haege will coach this week's game vs. Birmingham.
Birmingham â Bobby Humphrey
(49-42, 6th Year)
THE STAKES: Arkansas is looking for its first win of the 2005 season. Birmingham is also looking for its first of the 2005 season.
THE IFs:
If Arkansas defeats Birmingham, it would ...
· Be fourth win over the franchise
· Be the Twisters' first win of 2005
ARKANSAS (0-5, LOST 5)
Date Opponent Result Score Record
4/1 BYE --- --- ---
4/9 Oklahoma City L 48-74 0-1
4/15 @ Memphis L 13-54 0-2
4/23 @ Central Valley L 42-71 0-3
4/30 Florida L 50-68 0-4
5/7 Green Bay L 35-48 0-5
5/14 @ South Georgia L 48-62 0-6
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/21 Birmingham 7:05 L1 3-4
5/28 @ Macon 6:30 L2 0-2
6/4 Memphis 7:05 L3 6-3
6/10 @ Bakersfield 9:00 L2 0-1
6/18 South Georgia 7:05 --- ---
6/25 @ Tulsa 7:00 L2 3-8
7/9 @ Florida 6:30 --- ---
7/16 Macon 7:05 --- 0-2
7/23 @ Birmingham 7:00 --- 3-4
7/30 Amarillo 7:05 --- 1st Meeting
HEAD COACHES:
Jon Gregory becomes the third head coach in Twisters' history mid-way through the 2005 season. He brings a wealth of experience that spans five decades as a line coach, offensive coordinator, head coach, and general manager. Gregory is known around arena football for developing quarterbacks, having recruited and developed current Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.
Gregory recruited Warner to the Iowa Barnstormers of the AFL in the mid-90's when Warner was out of football. Warner became one of the AFL's best passers and developed into one of the greatest Cinderella stories in sports history. Warner was later signed by the St. Louis Rams of the NFL and eventually won a Super Bowl championship and league MVP award.
Among his other accomplishments, Gregory is one of three coaches in AFL history to win Coach of the Year honors twice, and the only coach to win it two years in a row. As coach of the New York Dragons of the AFL from 2000 to 2003, Gregory's offense was in the top three in the league in 2000 and 2003. His 2000 offense, led by current AFL quarterback Aaron Garcia, set the league record for points scored and touchdowns while making the playoffs. Garcia set a record for touchdown passes with 104 that same season.
From 1995-2000, Gregory coached the Iowa Barnstormers to the division championship five of his six years with the team. The Barnstormers played for the Arena Bowl Championship twice under Gregory's watch and with Warner at the helm as quarterback.
Gregory also won two Grey Cup championships in the Canadian Football League as a coach and coordinator.
LAST SERIES MEETING: The Arkansas Twisters didn't have an answer for Birmingham's offense as the Steeldogs left Alltel Arena with a 56-40 win. Birmingham hit three big plays in the first half, all passing plays. Steeldogs quarterback Jeff Aaron threw touchdown passes of 42, 45, and 48 yards to give Birmingham a 21-10 lead in the second quarter. Detronn Harris ran for a 14-touchdown late in the second quarter to give Birmingham a 28-10 halftime lead.
Arkansas began the third quarter with a drive that led to a short touchdown run by Twisters quarterback Kevin Williams, but Birmingham (2-1) answered when Demontray Carter ran for a 10 yard touchdown and the extra point put Birmingham up 35-17.
The Twisters (1-2) made a late run in the fourth quarter when Williams connected with Ted Alford for two late touchdowns, but the Twisters couldn't stop Birmingham's offense. Jeff Aaron passed for five touchdowns, two to Detronn Harris. Jeff Aaron was named the Baby Ruth Real Deal Player of the Game. Darnell Small sacked Aaron for his league leading 4.5 sack of the season, and was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Demontray Harris finished with two receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, earning him U. S. Army Ironman of the Game.
Kevin Williams finished with four total touchdowns, three passing and one rushing, and one interception.
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Off The Bench: Assistant Coach Art Haege will coach the Twisters this week against Birmingham. Head Coach John Gregory had schedule another event this week before he was named head coach. Coach Gregory will be back with the team starting on Monday, May 24.
MILESTONES: OS Kevin Williams needs just two touchdown receptions to catch Lennie Johnson for the Twisters TD record.
DROPBACK : (North Little Rock, AR) ALBANY, GA- The South Georgia Wildcats earned their second victory of the season with a 62-48 defeat over the Arkansas Twisters. The win moved the Wildcats into a tie for second place in the South Division.
Wildcats quarterback Bobby Pesavento finished the night 21-of-30 for 180 yards and six touchdowns. Pesavento's performance earned him Offensive Player of the Game. WR/DB Antwone Savage had six catches for 59 yards and two touchdowns, Chris McKinney led all receivers with 65 receiving yards on five receptions and two touchdowns. OS Archie Turner added tw3o touchdowns on 42 receiving yards and returned a kickoff 56 yards for a score. WR/DB Rob Keefe earned U.S. Army Ironman of the Game catching three passes for 13 yards, rushing for two yards and one touchdown, recovering a fumble for a touchdown and totaling 1.5 tackles and three pass break-ups.
Quarterback Travis Motley was 24-of-37 for 233 yards and four touchdowns for the Twisters. Darnell Small earned ADT Defensive Player fo Game with 3.5 tackles and one interception. He also rushed for 14 yards and two scores. Kevin Whitley had 11 receptions for 119 yards and one touchdown. WR/DB Kevin Williams added seven catches for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively the Wildcats were led by DS Larry Sutton who finished with 5.5 tackles.
The Wildcats will travel to Manchester, New Hampshire to take on the Manchester Wolves Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.
FORWARD MOTION: Arkansas will hit the road to face divisional rival Macon on May 21.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
Week Opp. Player
1 Bye ---
2 OKC CRAIG STRICKLAND, OKC
3 MEM BRIAN JONES, MEM
4 CV ANTHONY ARCENEAUX, CV
5 FL Chris Wallace, FL
6 GB Robert Garth, GB
7 SGA Bobby Pesavento, South GA
IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
Week Opp. Player
1 Bye ---
2 OKC B. J. BARRE, OKC
3 MEM RYAN KARR, MEM
4 CV GEORGE WILLIAMS, CEN. VAL.
5 FL Anthony Snead, FL
6 GB Robert Garth, GB
7 SGA Rob Keefe, South Georgia
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
Week Opp. Player
1 Bye ---
2 OKC AL HUNT, OKC
3 MEM KHREEN SMITH, MEM
4 CV JOSHUA ROBINSON, CEN. VAL.
5 FL Comone Fisher, FL
6 GB Matt Huebner, GB
7 SGA Darnell Small
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