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BattleWings Game Notes

May 27, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings News Release


LAST MEETING RECAP:

Shreveport BattleWings stood toe-to-toe with the undefeated Tulsa Talons, but the reigning af2 champions used fierce second half defensive pressure to record a 14-point victory in the Tulsa Convention Center. The BattleWings scored on their first possession, then the teams traded scores in the first half. BattleWings' quarterback Steve Panella ran for one touchdown and passed for another in the first half. His scoring toss with 3:37 seconds remaining in the half covered 49 yards to P.J. Winston, who was playing in his first game in 2008 after starting the season on the injured reserve list. The lightning strike followed a thunder clap was provided by BattleWings kick returner Phillip Geiggar, who had tied the game at 21 with a 55-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

  The BattleWings claimed a 31-28 halftime lead when David Carlton connected on a 23 yards field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

  In the second half, the defensive units essentially took over the game. There was just one score in the 3rd quarter. Panella connected with Chavis McCollister for a six-yard touchdown pass to give the BattleWings a 37-28 lead. McCollister caught eleven passes for 113 yards and the lone score. Panella ran for a touchdown and was 27 of 37 on pass attempts with two TD's and one interception.

  Tulsa's defense began to relentlessly pressure Panella in the second half. The Talons scored twice to start the 4th quarter and took a 42-37 lead. As the BattleWings found themselves playing from behind for the first time since the 2nd quarter, Panella was sacked and fumbled the ball away with 7:33 remaining in the game. The Talons responded with their third unanswered touchdown and the BattleWings were not able to recover. Bossier-Shreveport scored once more on a Jason Schule one yard run, his second rushing touchdown of the game.

  The BattleWings had an impressive night defensively, forcing three turnovers. Geiggar and Dedrick Clark each had interceptions.  Tulsa scored five rushing touchdowns, however, on their way to remaining undefeated. The BattleWings let a fourth-quarter lead collapse. Tulsa outscored them 29-6 in the final period.

Streaks: BattleWings L 3, Talons W 8

Coaches: Jon Norris (23-17, 2-2 playoffs, Second Season) Mitch Allner (22-2 Second Season)

MEDIA CONTACTS: BattleWings: Chris Boyd, (318) 746-8755, Cell: (318) 228-7126 Talons: Jeana Hogan, (918) 294-1000, Cell: (918) 208-3270

THE STAKES: A matchup between two playoff teams in 2007. The BattleWings have struggled recently with three consecutive losses (One of them to the Talons) while the Talons have started the season perfect and continue a 17 game winning streak.

THE SERIES: This will be the 11th regular season match-up between the BattleWings and the Talons since the beginning of the 2001 season. The Talons hold a 9-1 edge in the all-time series.

THE Ifs:

If Bossier-Shreveport defeats Tulsa, it would ...

Give Bossier-Shreveport a 2-9 series record vs. Tulsa

Give Bossier-Shreveport a 3-3 home record in 2008

Give Jon Norris a 15-10 regular season record as head coach of the BattleWings

Give Bossier-Shreveport its 4th win of the 2008 season

Keep Bossier-Shreveport in the playoff race in the Southwest Division.

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