Barracudas Game Notes

May 23, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Pensacola Barracudas News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Pensacola Barracudas (2-4) vs. Tennessee Valley Vipers (6-0)
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2002
Kickoff: 7 p.m.
Site: Pensacola Civic Center (8,118)
Officials: W.C. Chick DeSensi (referee), Mike Hagan (umpire), Kevin McGrath (head linesman), Danny Doyle (line judge), Gary Wise (back judge)
Radio: WCOA 1370 AM
Steve Barnes (Play-by-play)
Greg Golden (Color Commentary)
Series Record: Series tied,1-1
Last Meeting: Tennessee Valley 68, Pensacola 49 5/11/01 in Pensacola.
Streaks: Pensacola lost 2; Tennessee Valley won 6
Coaches: Mike Buck (Career: 8-9, Season: 2-4)
Kevin Guy (Career: 6-0, Season: 6-0)

THE STAKES: Tennessee Valley is looking to remain perfect on the season, while Pensacola needs a win to get back into the playoff race.

THE SERIES: The series is tied, 1-1.

THE IFs:

If Pensacola defeats Tennessee Valley it would ...
· Give Pensacola two wins in the division
· Give the Barracudas their second home win over the Vipers in team history
· Snap a two-game losing streak.

HEAD COACHES: In his second season as a head coach, Mike Buck returns to Pensacola where he served as offensive coordinator for the 2000 Barracudas playoff team. Last year Buck took the head coaching job in Norfolk four games into the season and led the 0-4 Nighthawks to a 7-5 record the rest of the way. Buck was a backup quarterback for the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals.

The Vipers Kevin Guy brings a lot of Arena League experience to the table having played and coached in the AFL. Guy began is AFL career with the Minnesota Fighting Pike as a player and led the team in tackles his rookie year before moving on to play for the New Jersey Red Dogs. He wrapped up his playing career with the Orlando Predators. He has coaching experience with New Jersey as well as the Florida Bobcats.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Tennessee Valley came to Pensacola in 2001 and dealt the Barracudas a 68-49 defeat at the Civic Center.

FAMILIAR FACES: Tennessee Valley's kicker, Todd Latourette, is a graduate of Tate High School.

PENSACOLA BARRACUDAS INJURY REPORT:

Pos. Name Injury Status
OL/DL Marvin Davis foot out
OS Nick Iano hand out

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

Head coach Mike Buck on last week's loss at Macon: "Their kickoff returns and penalties really killed us. It was unbelievable. When you score 65 points, you shouldn't lose. But you can't give up 80."

Quarterback Charlie Peterson on how his alma mater's (BYU) offensive system is similar to af2: "The similarities are there. Obviously the timing is a lot different on a field like this. I love throwing the ball, that's why I went to BYU in the first place. So, arena ball fits right in that category."

MILESTONES: Stromas Stalking Receiving Records: WR/LB Robert Stromas, set the team's career reception record last week with five catches. He passed Rodney Woodham's team mark with a 10-yard touchdown from Charile Peterson and his 41 receiving yards leaves him just three yards behind Woodham's team record. Also, Stromas tied with Woodham for the all-time record for touchdown catches with 23.

Player Rec. yds Rec. Rec.TDs
Rodney Woodham 1,074 85 23
Robert Stromas 1,071 89 23

DROPBACK: The Barracudas dropped an 80-65 decision at Macon. The total points (145) are the third most in game in af2 history. The 80 points Macon put on the board were the most ever surrendered by a Pensacola team.

FORWARD MOTION: In a strange scheduling quirk, Pensacola will play at Tennessee Valley next week. At least the two teams don't have to worry about trading game films.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

An all-points bulletin: Last week's 80-65 loss was the third highest point total in af2 history. The 145 total point ranks behind Birmingham and Tallahassee's 160 in 2000 and the 146 scored by Quad City and Wichita last season.

Picky, picky: Will Pettis kept up his thieving ways last week by intercepting a Macon pass. That pick was his most acrobatic of the season as he jumped about three feet in the air, caught the ball and landed flat on his back.

This guy is pretty good: Charlie Peterson's first game was not a fluke. After throwing for 272 yards and five touchdowns in his debut at Birmingham, the former BYU star threw for 328 yards and seven touchdowns at Macon. That passing total is three yards behind the Barracuda record held by Bobby Clayton and the seven touchdown passes broke the old record of six in a game also held by Clayton.

And Charlie hasn't been very picky: Charlie Peterson did throw an interception against Macon. It was his first of the year, but it was a fourth-down play and he was virtually sacked on the play so he just tossed it up. Being safe with the ball is nothing new for him. At BYU, he went 164 consecutive pass attempts without an interception to break the Cougars' record in that category set by Jim McMahon.

A streak-streak: Things are going in twos around here. The Barracudas opened the season with a two-game losing streak, then followed that with a two-game winning streak. Pensacola has dropped the last two games and now will face Tennessee Valley in -- you guessed it -- the next two games.

Speaking of twos: Robert Smith has now played in two games for the Barracudas and has recorded two safeties. He sacked Birmingham quarterback Montressa Kirby in the end zone two weeks ago and at Macon, he blocked a John Rayborn pass that Rayborn then caught. Smith tackled him in the end zone for the safety.

Speaking of twos, Part II: Not only has Pensacola recorded a safety in its last two games, the Barracudas have surrendered a safety in their last two games. Now that is some eerie stuff.

Maybe it is the motel food: Tennessee Valley is looking to win its 12th consecutive road game this week. The last time the Vipers lost on the road was the Arena Cup game on Aug. 10, 2000, a 68-59 defeat to Quad City. In other words, the Vipers have not lost an away game in 21 months, one week and four days. About the only other folks to have that much success on the road are the traveling salesmen in those old farmer's daughter jokes.

A good first impression: Offensive specialist Joseph Koroma saw his first action of the season at Macon. On his first catch, Charlie Peterson made a great pump fake as Koroma put a spin move on the Knights' defensive back. The ball was delivered as Koroma was about 10 yards behind the defender for an easy 32-yard touchdown. After the score, the Macon DB had to leave the field to replace the jock strap he was faked out of on the play.

Okay, let's get this straight: The team is called Tennessee Valley, but it is not in the Volunteer State. The team is based in Huntsville, Ala. That part of Alabama is located in the Tennessee Valley. Of course using that logic, Pensacola could be the L.A. Barracudas (Lower Alabama).

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Pensacola QB Charlie Peterson vs. Tennessee Valley's secondary: Peterson is averaging 300 yards per game through the air. The Vipers give up just 179.5. Something has to give here.

Cudas WR/LB Robert Stromas: WR/LB Robert Stromas will set a new record for receiving yards if he makes a catch for over three yards.

Cudas kick coverage teams against Tennessee Valley's Kelly Fields: Fields is one of the top return men in af2, averaging 24.7 yards on missed field goal returns. He also has returned 14 kickoffs for 301 yards and somehow managed a 49-yarder that did not go for a touchdown.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

5/26/00 Quad City destroyed Greensboro 103-3. Enough said.

5/27/00 Pensacola beat Tulsa 73-59. The point total (132) is the most in a Barracudas' game until last week at Macon.

5/24/01 Baton Rouge QB Herb Tyler set the af2 season record for rushing touchdowns with 15. He ended up with 19 on the year.



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