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Austin Wranglers game notes

April 6, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Austin Wranglers News Release


AUSTIN WRANGLERS (5-3) vs. GEORGIA FORCE (4-5)
SUNDAY, APRIL 11, 2004, 2 P.M. CENTRAL, FRANK ERWIN CENTER

WRANGLERS RADIO

All Austin Wranglers football games can be heard on Z102, 102.3 FM, with veteran sports radio announcer Dave Garrett calling the play-by-play and Wranglers assistant general manager and NFL veteran Glyn Milburn handling the color announcing. Head Coach Skip Foster will analyze Sunday's game and take phone calls on The Zone 1300 AM with Bucky Godbolt Wednesday night, 7-8 p.m.

HEAD COACHES

Skip Foster

Austin Wranglers

Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator

Skip Foster is making his AFL head coaching debut with the Austin Wranglers this season. Foster, deemed the second most winning coach in arenafootball2 history, will also act as the Wranglers offensive coordinator.

Prior to joining the Wranglers, Foster served as the head coach for the 2003 af2 Champion Tulsa Talons. Foster lead the team to a 13-3 regular season record while accumulating 3,995 yards in total offense, 3,679 yards passing and 316 yards rushing. This offensive effort also concluded with Tulsa outscoring their opponents 823-690 in regular season play. The Talons totaled 745 yards in offense and outscored their postseason opponents 179-130 on their way to winning the 2003 ArenaCup. During his three years with Tulsa, Foster made history when he led his team to the National Conference Central Division Championship for two straight seasons and won the ArenaCup in 2003. Foster was the only af2 coach to go undefeated at home over three consecutive regular seasons.

Foster compiled a record of 82-39-2 at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas before moving to the Talons. Foster played for six Conference Championships during his 12 seasons as the head coach of the Red Ravens. In 1990, Foster led Coffeyville to a National Championship and an undefeated season. He was selected as Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Coach of the Year in both 1990 and 1991.

After serving as an assistant to his father, Dick Foster, for four seasons at Coffeyville, Skip took over the head coaching duties where Dick won a National Championship in 1983. They are the only father/son pair in the National Junior College Athletic Association to win a national championship at the same school. Skip played football for his father from 1979-1980 at Coffeyville. A graduate of Missouri Western State College, Foster earned a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Marty Lowe

Georgia Force

Head Coach

Marty Lowe concluded his second season and first full year as Head Coach with the Georgia Force in 2003, guiding the team to a record eight wins and leading the club to its first postseason appearance. At 32 years old (9/21/71), Lowe is the second youngest head coach in the Arena Football League.

Despite being hampered by injuries all season in 2003, the Force jumped out to a 6-2 mark to start the year and was able to ride the strength of its league-leading defense to advance to the Quarterfinal Round of the playoffs. Lowe, a former AFL quarterback himself, helped pave the way for rookie Leon Murray to emerge as one of the league's rising stars after the loss of two starting quarterbacks during the year. Following the season, Murray was named to the AFL's All-Rookie Team.

In 2002, Lowe replaced Robert Lyles, who was relieved of his duties following the Force's 1-4 start. Under his direction, the Force finished the year winning five of their last eight games in the team's inaugural season.

Prior to joining the Force, Lowe served as running back coach for the University of Texas-El Paso. Lowe's coaching career in the Arena Football League started when he joined the Nashville Kats as an offensive assistant in March 2000 after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville. With the Kats, Lowe had Nashville's offense clicking on all cylinders in the 2000 playoffs, scoring more than 50 points in each of the team's first three postseason contests to quality for Arena Bowl XIV. Lowe went on to serve as the Kats offensive coordinator and assistant coach, where his duties included creating and implementing the offensive game plan and coaching the team's wide receivers and quarterbacks.

Lowe, who played quarterback at the University of Louisville from 1991-95, spent two seasons in the Arena Football League. He played quarterback for the St. Louis Stampede in 1996 and joined the Texas Terrors. He was a starter at Texas until a knee injury ended his playing career.

LAST WEEK

LOS ANGELES— Wrangler quarterback John Kaleo completed 29-of-40 for 387 yards and seven touchdowns in Austin's offensive showcase against the Los Angeles Avengers last Saturday night. Offensive specialist Tacoma Fontaine caught 11 of Kaleo's passes for 193 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also caught two more touchdown passes from reserve QB Bobby Pesavento in the last minute of the game as the Wranglers tried to rally a comeback against the Avengers. The effort was unsuccessful and the Wranglers ended the game with a loss, 81-70. The Wranglers tied a franchise-high by putting 70 points on the board, but two special teams hiccups in the third quarter that lent the opportunity for the Avengers to score on one missed field goal return and one kickoff return kept Austin behind Los Angeles.

The Wranglers posted their most productive game offensively, scoring nine touchdowns while accumulating 475 yards of offense and with Fontaine catching for 203 and WR/LB Darrin Chiaverini collecting 124. The combined 151 points in the game represents the 11th highest total in AFL history. The Georgia Force fell to the Detroit Fury, 42-40.

Box Score 1 2 3 4 Final
Austin 6 21 21 22 70
Los Angeles 14 20 21 26 81

NATIONAL SOUTHERN DIVISION
Team W L T Pct. Pts. OP
New Orleans 7 1 0 .875 365 326
Austin 5 3 0 .625 442 451
Georgia 4 5 0 .444 410 475
Orlando 3 5 0 .375 363 390
Tampa Bay 3 6 0 .333 431 439
NATIONAL EASTERN DIVISION
Team W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Dallas 5 3 0 .625 417 402
New York 5 3 0 .625 416 360
Philadelphia 4 5 0 .444 410 391
Carolina 3 6 0 .333 431 439
Columbus 2 6 0 .250 355 425
AMERICAN CENTRAL DIVISION
Team W L T Pct. Pts. OP
Chicago 6 2 0 .750 453 360
Colorado 6 3 0 .667 403 419
Detroit 4 4 0 .500 389 402
Indiana 4 5 0 .444 424 389
Grand Rapids 0 8 0 .000 278 428
AMERICAN WESTERN DIVISION
Team W L T Pct. Pts. OP
San Jose 7 1 0 .875 482 397
Los Angeles 5 3 0 .625 417 402
Arizona 4 5 0 .444 432 429
Las Vegas 3 6 0 .333 463 464

2004 STATISTICAL COMPARISON
AUS GEO
First Downs 166 165
Total Yards Gained 2,479 2,386
Average per Game 309.9 265.1
Net Rushing Yards 150 269
Average per Game 18.8 29.9
Net Passing Yards 2,329 2,117
Average per Game 291.1 235.2
Kickoff Returns 45 45
Average Yards per Return 15.7 17.8
Time of Possession 30:35 27:56
Touchdowns 63 57
Points Scored 442 410

THE WRANGLERS ARE...
Record
3 -1 At home
2-2 On the road
2-0 Against Eastern Division
1-2 Against Central Division
2-0 Against Southern Division
0-1 Against Western Division
2-2 With a spread of seven or more points
3-1 With a spread of six or fewer points
5-1 When Kaleo throws one or fewer INTs
0-2 When Kaleo throws two or more INTs

ATTAINABLE MILESTONES
* Denotes Rookie
OL/DL TOM BRIGGS
• 3 sacks from 35 total career
• 24.5 tackles from 175 career tackles
WR/DB CHARLIE DAVIDSON
• 40 receptions from 400 career receptions
• 15 receiving touchdowns from 100 career receiving
touchdowns
• 9 receptions from 60 receptions on the season
• 1 touchdowns from 10 touchdowns on the season
• 10 tackles from 310 career tackles
• 1 interception from 20 career interceptions
• 2.5 tackles from 25 tackles on the season
WR/DB TACOMA FONTAINE*
• 4 touchdowns from 20 career receiving touchdowns
• 30 yards from 700 career receiving yards
• 3 catches from 40 career receptions
WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND
• 423 yards from 8,000 career receiving yards
• 10 receiving touchdowns from 120 career receiving
touchdowns
• 28 tackles from 600 career tackles
• 4 receptions from 30 receptions on the season
• 1 touchdowns from 10 touchdowns on the season
DS CEDRIC WALKER
• 5 games from 100th regular-season career AFL
contest
• 6 pass breakups from 80 career breakups
• 3 interceptions from 25 career interceptions
• 3 tackles from 40 tackles on the season
• 14 tackles from 450 career tackles

FORCE TO WATCH

WR/LB MORRIS ANDERSON – With only one year of experience this two-way player is making gains on both sides of the ball. In Week Nine, on defense, he made 3.5 tackles, three solo, which brings his season total to 10 tackles. On offense this week he grabbed four passes for 62 yards, the third highest on the team. His on season totals for offense are 22 receptions for 228 yards and one touchdown. He is currently ranked in the top ten for league leaders in interceptions with two for 41 yards and one touchdown.

WR/LB DIALLEO BURKS – This two-way player has made impressive showings on both offense and defense. In Week Nine he had seven receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He is now ranked in the AFL's top 30 for most receiving yards with 39 grabs for 507 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has been shining on defense, too, earning the AFL ADT Defensive Player of the Week in Week Six. On the season, Burks has recorded 13.5 tackles, eight passes defensed and one interception.

OS MARKEITH COOPER – Although he may be small, he is dangerous. In his third season with the Force he has made a significant impact on offense. After receiving the AFL Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game honor in Week Two, Cooper has continued to dominate the field. He is currently ranked in the top 10 for the league's leading scorers, nonkickers, with 17 touchdowns. He has also racked up 52 catches for 653 yards and 13 touchdowns, which ranks him at number 12 in the league for most receptions and 13th for most reception yards. He is also one to watch during kickoffs, totaling 42 kickoff returns for 798 yards and two touchdowns.

WRANGLERS TO WATCH

WR/LB DARRIN CHIAVERINI – In only four games with the Wranglers, this AFL rookie has become a solid addition to the team's offense and defense. In Week Nine, he nabbed nine passes for 124 yards and three touchdown leaving him just one reception away from the 20 career receptions. He is a receiver the Wranglers have been turning to more often this season. For 2004, he is totaling 19 receptions for 214 yards and six touchdowns. Defensively, he is always involved in the play, totaling 5.5 tackles, two solo and seven assists.

QB JOHN KALEO – As the leader of the Wranglers offense, Kaleo has continued to perform throughout the season. In Week Nine he completed 29 of 40 passes for 387 yards and seven touchdowns. He is now only two touchdown passes away from 50 touchdowns on season and seven touchdowns from 400 career touchdown passes. He is currently ranked in the top five leading passers in the league with 188 completions out of 282 attempts for 2,284 yards and 48 touchdowns with only seven interceptions, as well as three 300-yard passing games in 2004. In 2004 he has already recorded his sixth 2,000 passing yard season.

OL/DL RAMON RICHARDSON – As an AFL rookie, this defensive player has been steadily improving his game. In Week Nine he recorded a single-game career-high in tackles with three total stops, all solo. He also accounted for 50 percent of the team's pass breakups in Week Nine. His quickness is impressive as a lineman as he has recorded one forced fumble, two passes defensed and one quarterback hurry on the season.

2004 AUSTIN WRANGLERS SCHEDULE
Week Date Opponent Time/Results
1 BYE
2 Friday, February 13 @ Orlando Predators W 49-48
3 Sunday, February 22 TAMPA BAY STORM W 56-48
4 Friday, February 27 @ Colorado Crush L 37-35
5 Sunday, March 7 CAROLINA COBRAS W 56-55
6 Sunday, March 14 INDIANA FIREBIRDS L 64-41
7 Thursday, March 18 @ Detroit Fury W 70-58
8 Sunday, March 28 PHILADELPHIA SOUL W 65-60
9 Saturday, April 3 @ Los Angeles Avengers L 81-70
10 Sunday, April 11 GEORGIA FORCE 2:00 p.m.
11 Sunday, April 18 @ Tampa Bay Storm 2:00 p.m.
12 Sunday, April 25 NEW ORLEANS VOODOO 2:00 p.m.
13 Saturday, May 1 @ Grand Rapids Rampage 6:30 p.m.
14 Sunday, May 9 DALLAS DESPERADOS 2:00 p.m.
15 Sunday, May 16 ORLANDO PREDATORS 2:00 p.m.
16 Sunday, May 23 @ Georgia Force 2:00 p.m.
17 Sunday, May 30 @ New Orleans Voodoo 3:00 p.m.
GAMES IN ALL CAPS ARE HOME GAMES PLAYED AT THE FRANK ERWIN CENTER

All game times and locations are subject to change

AUSTIN WRANGLERS SINGLE-GAME AND SEASON TICKETS

The Austin Wranglers have released single-game tickets for the team's 2004 inaugural season. Tickets are available for as little as $8 through Texas Box Office by calling 477.6060, logging on to www.texasboxoffice.com, visiting the Frank Erwin Center's Red River box office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., or visiting any HEB grocery store.

Season tickets and group tickets are still available through the Wranglers ticket office by calling 233.7800. All fans that purchased a season ticket package after that date can pick their tickets up at the Erwin Center Red River box office with photo identification.

WRANGLERS ROSTER NOTES

GAINING STRENGTH—The Wranglers once again lead the AFL in total offense after their 475-yard offensive performance against the Avengers in Week Nine. Austin has averaged 309.9 yards of total offense per game, accumulating a total of 2,479 yards on the season. On his Week Nine performance, QB John Kaleo passed for 387 yards, securing his sixth AFL season passing for more than 2,000 yards with a 2004 total of 2,284. The Wranglers offense also leads the league in their production inside the 10-yard line. With the team scoring a touchdown 91.4 percent of the time they reach the red-zone, the Wranglers have been able to score 225 of their 442 points under pressure.

THE MACHINE—With 16 touchdowns and one two-point conversion in only five games, OS Tacoma Fontaine continues to help the Wranglers rack up points in their offensive shootouts. Since his first AFL game in Week Five when the Wranglers hosted Carolina, Fontaine has accounted for 98 of the team's 246 points in that span. Fontaine is now ranked 13th in the AFL in leading scorers, just one touchdown back from the Georgia Force's OS Markeith Cooper.

HOLDING ON—The Wranglers defense has held their opponents to an average of 2.6 yards per rush throughout the 2004 season. Georgia will pose a challenge, as they have rushed 31 times for 269 yards in 2004 with an average of 3.7 yards per rush. Of those 31 attempts, 18 have resulted in touchdowns. The Wranglers defense has only allowed an average of two rushing touchdowns per game this season, putting on a strong defensive front to control the red zone.

TOSS UP—John Kaleo's 387-yard passing performance against Los Angeles was the second-highest single-game passing performance in the AFL this season leaving him with the third-most passing yards in the AFL this season at 2,284. OS Tacoma Fontaine's 203 yards receiving in Week Nine ranks as the third-most single-game receiving yards in the AFL this season. He is preceded by his 205-yard performance at Detroit in Week Seven and Chris Jackson's 210-yard performance for Los Angeles last week. In addition, Wranglers WR/LB Darrin Chiaverini also posted 124 receiving yards on the game against the Avengers as he became the fourth Wrangler receiver to catch for more than 100 yards in a single game.

STILL AMONG THE TOP—The Wranglers special teams units look to step-up against the Georgia Force in Week 10 after a below-average performance against the Avengers. Austin's kicking team maintains the second spot in the AFL in coverage, but with Tony Dodson unable to kick a touchback in LA, the unit is looking forward to lining up on their home field to return to their league-leading ways of the first seven games.

IN EVERY DIRECTION— The combination of WR/DB Charlie Davidson and OS Tacoma Fontaine working as receivers and kick returners has proven to be the majority of the Wranglers positive yardage. The two have combined to accumulate 1,827 all-purpose yards this season and on average account for 124.3 and 166.6 all-purpose yards per game, respectively. As a team, the Wranglers have posted 3,297 total yards on the season, averaging 412.1 all-purpose yards per game.

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