Birmingham Steeldogs Game Notes
June 16, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Tennessee Valley (10-0) at Birmingham Steeldogs (6-4)
Date: Saturday, June 21st
Kickoff: 7:35 p.m. CST
Site: BJCC (15,000)
National Anthem: Noel Humphrey
Coin Toss:
Officials: Randall Beesly(Referee), Brent Sowell(Umpire), Kevin Bradley(Head Linesman), Rusty Baynes(Line Judge), Wayne Gautney(Back Judge)
Radio: WJOX AM 690, (Michael Bencs and Roger Shultz)
TV: None
Series Record: 1-6
Last Meeting: 8.3.02: Birmingham 65, Tenn. Valley 51
Streaks: Steeldogs won 3, Vipers won 10
Coaches: Bobby Humphrey (38-24, 4th Year) Kevin Guy (23-4, 2nd year)
THE STAKES: The Steeldogs are looking to extend their three game winning streak and improve upon their current # 5 seed. The Vipers are four games up on Macon and Birmingham for the South Division title race and are looking to stay perfect on the season.
THE SERIES: Lifetime the Steeldogs are 1-6 versus the Vipers. The Steeldogs lost six consecutive before beating the Vipers in Huntsville in the opening round of the 2002 playoffs.
THE Ifs:
If Birmingham defeats Tennessee Valley, it would ...
· Give them four straight wins for the first time this season
· Give Bobby Humphrey his 39th career win
· Give Birmingham a 5-1 mark at home this season
· Give Birmingham their second straight victory over Tennessee Valley
HEAD COACH: Entering his fourth season as Steeldogs Head Coach (the only coach in af2 to be with the same team for all four seasons), Bobby Humphrey, has guided the Steeldogs to a 38-24 record and two post-season appearances. Last season, Humphrey led the Steeldogs to an 11-5 mark, earned the team's first post-season victory and finished with a trip to the National Conference Championship Game.
LAST SERIES MEETING: The Steeldogs and Vipers last met in the opening round of the 2002 playoffs. After opening the game with a defensive stop, the Steeldogs scored on their first play from scrimmage a 39-yard touchdown to Anthony Jordan and never looked back en route to a 65-51 victory.
SERIES NOTABLES: The Vipers won the first six games in this series. The Vipers have scored 50+ points in six of the seven meetings between the two teams.
THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:
Coach Humphrey, on Tennessee Valley: "They are the real deal. They do not make many mistakes." Aryvia Holmes, on his seven consecutive 100-yard games: "I'm just going out and doing what coach asks me to do. I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help this team win."
MILESTONES: Aryvia Holmes set a club record for most consecutive 100-yard receiving games with seven after posting 122 yards at Memphis. Holmes broke the record he shared with Wayne Thomas at six for longest streak in team history. William Mayes is just one sack away from setting the club mark for most sacks in a season. Currently, Mayes has seven sacks and trails Jerry Turner (7.5 sacks in 2002) for the team mark. Mayes also moved into the all-time team sacks leader with his three-sack performance at Memphis this past week. Mayes with 14.5 career sacks moved ahead of Jerry Turner, 13 sacks into the top spot.
DROPBACK: The Steeldogs won for the third straight time dropping Memphis 51-36.
FORWARD MOTION: The Steeldogs will make the ninety- mile trip north on I-65 to face the Tennessee Valley Vipers for the backend of the home and home series.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
Pound the Ground: The Steeldogs ran for a team high 52 yards in their win at Memphis last week. Demontray Carter ran for a season-high 34 yards, the most by an individual since Montressa Kirby ran for 40 yards on June 1, 2002 against Bossier City.
Another âDog Moving on Up: Aryvia Holmes became the fifth member of the Birmingham Steeldogs to earn a promotion. Holmes is leaving the Steeldogs to sign with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL. Holmes joins Brian Holmes (Atlanta Falcons), Jerry Turner (Las Vegas Gladiators), Ernest Ross and Herman Bell (Detroit Fury) as the players to move up in ranks.
100-Yard Club: Last season, the Steeldogs had eight 100-yard receiving games led by Herman Bell's three. Aryvia Holmes, posted his record-breaking seventh consecutive 100-yard game to mark the ninth time this season the Steeldogs have had a receiver hit that mark.
Sack Attack: The Steeldogs recorded a season-high four sacks this past week at Memphis. The Steeldogs have had four or more sacks four times in their history. The team-high is five sacks set on May 5, 2001at Lafayette, LA.
Playoff Positioning: The Steeldogs currently hold the number five seed in the American Conference playoff chase. The tope six teams qualify for the post season and if the season ended today the Steeldogs would travel to fourth seeded Mohegan (7-3) in the opening round of the playoffs.
Down Set Hike: The Steeldogs will have a new QB under center this season. It will mark the third starting quarterback in the franchise's four-year history. Here is how Chris Windsor and Montressa Kirby fared their first season as starting quarterback. See below:
Player Comp.-Att.-Int. Yds TD
Chris Windsor 243-501-19 3,249 57
Montressa Kirby 260-435-16 3,357 73
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Steeldogs OL/DL Jimmy Brumbaugh: They say you only get one chance to make a first impression, well in that case Mr. Brumbaugh's was just fine. In his debut with the Black and Orange, Brumbaugh collected a sack, two tackles and was able to constantly put pressure on the Conquest QB.
Steeldogs WR/DB Cedrick Buchannon: "Buke" came out of retirement to rejoin the Steeldogs. The all-time leading tackler in Steeldogs history, Buchannon also ranks in the top three in each of these Steeldogs receiving categories; catches, yards and touchdown catches.
KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY: June 15, 2001: The Steeldogs defeated the Lafayette Roughnecks 75-31. The 75 points were the highest point total for the âDogs during the 2001 season and the third highest point total in team history.
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