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Battle Wings' Schexnayder weaves own web in debut

April 18, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings News Release


BOSSIER CITY - Clint Schexnayder grew up in Houma, LA, so it figures he'd know something about bugs. He just didn't know getting bitten by one would put him on the injured reserve list.

Missing for the first two weeks of the Battle Wings 2005 campaign due to the effects of a spider bite, the lanky receiver and linebacker made his debut against Quad City a memoreable one, leading the 'Wings defense in tackles while pulling down an interception and swatting away another pass. On offense, the former Nichols State and Rhodes College standout made an impressive catch on a 23 yard Caleb Slover pass, leaping amidst three defenders to grab an important first down conversion.

"It was good to finally get back on the field," Schexnayder said after Saturday's game. "It would have been even better if we'd gotten a win. I don't think we're very far from getting it all together though."

From what Battle Wings head coach Keith Barefield saw, "getting it all together" will be a little easier now that Schexnayder is healthy and available to play.

"It was very nice to see Clint out on the field making that kind of contribution," Barefield said. "With that kind of perfomance, it just goes to show how much we missed him during the first two games. A spider bite is a heck of a way to lose a guy for a while, but we're sure going to enjoy having him out there the rest of the season."

The 6-3, 215-pounder is the only player on the squad to have joined Bossier/Shreveport for the season directly from another indoor football league this year. Before making the club out of camp, "Schexy" played the previous three seasons with the Bayou Bucks of the NIFL, earning his way out of that league with a breakout 2004 season.

"We liked what we'd heard about him and having someone his size possess an ability to defend well against the pass is a real plus," Barefield added. "He has a knack back there. He gets where he needs to be on defense and on offense, he has good hands to go along with that size."

Schexnayder hauled in 65 passes for 737 yards last year, scoring 12 touchdowns in the 12 games he played to finish second on the club. Defensively, he added 15 solo and three assisted tackles. In the Bucks opening-round 70-63 playoff loss at Lexington last year, he was a primary target, pulling down seven passes for 74 yards and pair of TD's.

"That was a tough place to play, too," Schexnayder said. "The crowd was pretty wild. I even had a seven-year-old flip me off."

Schexnayder and the Bossier/Shreveport Battle Wings return to the Century Tel Center this Saturday evening for a 7:00 p.m. kick-off against expansion Amarillo (1-1). The Dusters surprised the league by knocking off perennial playoff contender Tulsa in the season's first week but were mauled seven days later by Memphis. After a week off, the upcoming trip to Bossier City will be the first-ever af2 road trip for the squad.

Tickets for Saturday's game are available through the Battle Wings front office (4400 Barksdale Blvd.) and can also be ordered over the phone at (318) 746-8755. Fans can also purchase tickets the day of the game at the Century Tel Center ticket offices.

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