Sports stats



BattleWings Playoff preview

August 9, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings News Release


No. 5 BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT (12-5) at No. 1 RIO GRANDE VALLEY (16-1) FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2007 - Dodge Arena (5,600) 8:30 P.M. ET

The second round of the playoffs begin Friday night when the Battle Wings fly into Dodge Arena to face the Dorados in what promises to be an intense affair. Bossier-Shreveport is coming off an impressive road victory at Arkansas (62-40) while Rio Grande Valley was pushed to the limit by the Alabama Steeldogs (44-41). This year the Dorados and Battle Wings split their season series, 1-1, with each team winning on their opponent's home field. Bossier-Shreveport earned a 52-48 victory in Week 4 and Rio Grande Valley claimed the second contest in Week 16, 42-39. Quarterback play was a big factor in the regular season and figures to play an important part in this week's battle as well. In the Battle Wings' Week 4 win, QB QUINCY CARTER had a stellar outing, throwing for 344 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions (no sacks). That turned out to be the Dorados' only loss of the season, as the team has won 14 straight games (13 regular season, 1 playoff). In Week 16's head-to-head matchup, the Rio Grande Valley defense got to Carter, sacking him three times and forcing three key interceptions (two in the second half).

Bossier-Shreveport enjoyed its best season ever this year under the direction of Head Coach JON NORRIS. Carter was a big reason behind the team's success as well, as the former starting signal caller for the Dallas Cowboys threw for 66 TDs and 3,254 yards. The Battle Wings offense is not just about Carter, however. FB JASON SCHULE and WR JAMAAL PERRY have both put together All-af2 caliber seasons. Schule led the league in rushing yards with 351 and finished second in rushing scores with 20. Perry recorded career highs in receptions (112), receiving yards (1,483) and touchdowns (27). The team's defense is equally as impressive. Leading the charge is rookie DL ELEX REED. Reed finished second in the league in sacks with 17.5 and led the af2 in tackles for loss with 24. DBs PHILLIP GEIGGAR (team-high 9 INTs), KENNETH WILLIAMS and CHRIS IBEZIM have also played well in the defensive backfield. As a group, the defense ranked tied for third in points per game allowed at 39.8 per game. In last week's first round win at Arkansas, the usual suspects (Reed on defense, Schule on offense) showed up and performed well. Reed registered an af2 postseason record 3.5 sacks while Schule rushed for 37 yards and four scores. Reed also forced two fumbles and recovered one.

Rio Grande Valley's first round win was not as comfortable as Bossier-Shreveport's. The Dorados trailed 41-38 with 1:38 to play against Alabama before driving down the field on their next possession. With just 19 seconds left to play, QB JOSH KELLETT hooked up with WR COCO BLALOCK on the game-winning 11-yard score. Kellett finished with 258 yards passing with six TDs and no interceptions. Blalock scored three receiving TDs and WR GEORGE WILLIAMS, the league's leading scorer, caught nine passes for 137 yards and one TD. Kellett ranked fourth in the league in touchdown passes in 2007 with 86 while Blalock amassed a team-high 2,270 all-purpose yards. As good as Rio Grande Valley is on offense, they are even more dominating on defense. They limited their opponents to a league-low average of 32.8 points per game in 2007. The group also shattered the af2 single-season sack record with 66 overall. DL QUINTON STATON led the league in sacks individually with 18.5. KEENAN WASHINGTON ranked third in the league with 14.5 sacks. The defensive backfield is anchored by DBs CHRIS CANTY (team-high 63.5 tackles, 8 INTs, 3.5 tackles for loss) and ANDRE GOINES (team-high 11 INTs, 54 tackles, 19 pass breakups). Expect emotions to run high in this game. It has been well documented that these two teams don't like each other very much. Last time they took the same field together, four players (3 Rio Grande Valley, 1 Bossier-Shreveport) were ejected for extracurricular activities and verbal battles were being waged all night long.

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT/RIO GRANDE VALLEY - BY THE NUMBERS:

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT RIO GRANDE VALLEY

SERIES LEADER Rio Grande Valley leads 4-3

LAST MEETING Rio Grande Valley won 42-39 on 7/14

LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 5-0

LAST GAME Won 62-40 at ARK on 8/4 in 1st round Won 44-41 vs. ALA on 8/5 in 1st round

2007 LEADERS BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT RIO GRANDE VALLEY

PASSING Carter: 228-383-12 3254; 66 TD Kellett: 309-546-17 3982; 86 TD

RECEIVING Perry: 112-1483; 27 TD Williams: 99-1534; 42 TD

RUSHING Schule: 89-351; 20 TD Gatlin: 47-161; 7 TD

TACKLES Williams: 94.0 Canty: 63.5

SACKS Reed: 17.5 Staton 18.5

INTERCEPTIONS Geiggar: 9 Goines: 11

KICKING Hazelwood: 93-117 PAT;15-26 FG;138 PTs Phillips: 101-127 PAT; 5-12 FG; 116 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 54.2 PPG; 256.3 YPG 56.5 PPG; 275.6 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 39.8 PPG; 244.1 YPG 32.8 PPG; 212.6 YPG



arenafootball2 Stories from August 9, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central