Sports stats

Birmingham Steeldogs Game Notes

April 26, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


STEELDOGS HEAD NORTH TO FACE THE FIRE
After three games, Birmingham finds itself winless for the first time in team history. However, two of Birmingham's American Conference South Division opponents are also 0-3, meaning that the Steeldogs are not far away from where they desire to be, especially having played just one division team thus far. This week, the Steeldogs travel to Louisville, Ky., a city once hailed by native son Muhammad Ali as "the greatest in the world," to face the red-hot Fire (3-0).

COACHES
BOBBY HUMPHREY, BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS
YEARS IN THE AF2: 6 YEARS AT BIR: 6
OVERALL RECORD: 49-39 (.556)
REGULAR SEASON: 47-36 (.566)
POSTSEASON: 2-3 (.400)
RECORD VS FIRE: 3-1 (.750)

Coach Humphrey returns for his sixth season as the head coach of the Birmingham Steeldogs. He is the longest-tenured coach in af2 football, as well as the all-time winningest. In 2004, Humphrey surpassed friend and long-time rival Kevin Porter as the league's most victorious head man with his 46th win. Humphrey's next win will be his 50th career victory, another af2 milestone.

Bobby is a 2004 inductee into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. He currently resides in Birmingham with his wife Barbara and their five children.

TOMMY JOHNSON, LOUISVILLE FIRE
YEARS IN THE AF2: 3 YEARS AT LOU: 43
OVERALL RECORD: 17-18 (.486)
POSTSEASON: 1-1 (.500)
RECORD VS STEELDOGS: 1-0 (1.000)

This is Johnson's third year to coach the Fire, having served as the team's defensive coordinator prior to taking his current position during the third game of the 2003 season. Under Johnson, the Fire has one career playoff appearance. (2004)

He then attended the University of Alabama where he played Defensive Back. His senior class at U of A was known for having the most wins in a four year time period with a record of 45 wins and 5 losses. Johnson played for Alabama in the 1992 National Championship game; serving has an integral part in the defense that shut down the Miami Hurricanes and Heisman Trophy-winning QB Gino Torretta. Johnson played with two different AFL teams before moving into coaching: the Albany Firebirds and the Carolina Cobras.

2005 STEELDOGS SCHEDULE
REGULAR SEASON: 0-3
DATE OPPONANT TIME SERIES/RES.
4/9 San Diego 7:00 L, 57-58
4/14 at Macon 6:30 L, 50-67
4/23 Memphis 7:00 L, 24-60
4/30 at Louisville 6:30 BIR Leads 3-1
5/7 South Georgia 7:00 SGA Leads 1-0
5/14 at San Diego 9:00 SD Leads 1-0
5/21 at Arkansas 7:00 BIR Leads 4-3
5/28 Green Bay 7:00 BIR Leads 1-0
6/4 at Florida 6:30 BIR Leads 3-2
6/11 Louisville 7:00 BIR Leads 3-1
6/18 at Memphis 7:00 BIR Leads 3-1
6/24 at Green Bay 7:00 BIR Leads 1-0
7/9 Macon 7:00 BIR Leads 4-3
7/16 at South Georgia 6:30 SGA Leads 1-0
7/23 Arkansas 7:00 BIR Leads 4-3
7/30 Florida 7:00 BIR Leads 3-2

GAME INFORMATION:
Date: Saturday, April 30
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m.
Arena: Freedom Hall
Capacity: 15,646
Television: None
Steeldogs Radio Network:
Flagship: WJOX AM-690
Play-By-Play: Matt Coulter
Color: Roger Shultz
Series Records: BIR leads 3-1
Officials: R: Matt Austin, U: Conrad Carney, HL: Greg
Bradley, LJ: Tommy Walsh, BJ: Todd Ransom

STEELDOGS-FIRE SERIES

This is the fifth meeting between Birmingham and Louisville, dating back to Louisville's second game in team history. Birmingham won the first three meetings between the two teams, including two at Freedom Hall.
In the first game, the Steeldogs came back from an early second quarter deficit to defeat the Fire, 39-21, at Freedom Hall on April 14, 2001. Birmingham shut out Louisville in the third quarter, 13-0, to take command of the game. Three Steeldogs players recorded interceptions in the game.

On June 7, 2002, Louisville made their first of two trips to the BJCC Arena, falling 45-32 in another sloppy match-up that saw each team go scoreless in the second quarter. The Steeldogs relied on the trusty arm of QB Montressa Kirby, who completed 16 of 23 passes for 175 yards and four touchdowns. OS Wayne Thomas caught nine balls for 116 yards and two scores.

Later in the year, on July 27, Birmingham made their most recent trip to The Bluegrass State, dousing the Fire, 77-34, in each team's regular-season finale. Kirby completed 17 of 24 passes for 234 yards and scored eight touchdowns. OS Herman Bell caught seven passes for 116 yards and three scores. Louisville opened the game with a 57-yard kickoff return for a score by Anthony Shelman.

On May 10, 2003, the Fire won their first game against the Steeldogs, 40-37 at the BJCC Arena. QB Josh Rogers had a monster outing, completing 22 of 34 passes for 221 yards, five touchdowns and two picks. Marc Samuel's 26-yard FG with three seconds remaining in the game sealed the win.

SERIES BY THE NUMBERS
Record vs. Louisville: 3-1
Last regular season game: Fire, 40-37 at BIR (5/10/03)
Steeldogs' largest margin of victory: 43 (77-34 at LOU (7/27/02))
Louisville's largest margin of victory: 3 (40-37 at BIR (5/10/03))
Current streak: Louisville won the last meeting
Steeldogs' longest win streak vs. Louisville: 3 (4/14/01 to 5/10/03)
Louisville's longest win streak vs Steeldogs: 1 (5/10/03 to present)
Most points, Steeldogs: 77 (77-34 at LOU (7/27/02))
Most points, Louisville: 40 (40-37 at BIR (5/10/03))
Most points, both teams: 111 (BIR 77-34 at LOU (7/27/02))
Fewest points, Steeldogs: 37 (37-40 at BIR (5/10/03))
Fewest points, Louisville: 21 (39-21 at LOU (4/14/01))
Fewest points, both teams: 60 (BIR 39-21 at LOU (4/14/01))
STEELDOGS BESTS VS. LOUISVILLE
Most rushing yards: 31, Chris Windsor (4/14/01 at LOU)
Most receiving yards: 116, Wayne Thomas (6/7/02 at BIR)
Herman Bell (7/27/02 at LOU)
Most passing yards: 234, Montressa Kirby (7/27/02 at LOU)
Most touchdowns: 8, Montressa Kirby (6 p. 2 r.) (7/27/02 at LOU)
Most tackles: 7.5, Michael Feagin (7/27/02 at LOU)

LAST SERIES GAME

5/10/2003 - Fire Use Late Rally to Beat Steeldogs


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –
The Louisville Fire defeated the Birmingham Steeldogs, 40-37, in front of 5,706 fans at the BJCC Arena. It was the Steeldogs first home loss of the 2003 season.

The game marked the second consecutive contest that a place kicker decided the outcome of the game. Last week, Birmingham defeated the Florida Firecats in Fort Myers, 38-35, on a Rhett Gallego field goal. Ironically, it was a 26-yard field goal by Louisville's Marc Samuel that clinched a Fire win.

The Steeldogs, who took a 27-17 lead into the halftime break, were outscored 23-10 in the second half by the Fire. Birmingham was led offensively by QB Josh Kellett, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown. Kellett split time under center with Chris Windsor, who returned to the team earlier this week.

The Steeldogs struck first early in the first quarter, as WR/LB Larry Huntington picked off a Josh Rogers pass, and ran it back 42 yards for a touchdown. Gallego's extra point gave the Steeldogs a 7-0 lead. Louisville would respond, as Rogers found Alfonzo Browning wide open from 35 yards out. Samuels tied the score with the point after kick. The teams would trade scores throughout the second period, until Windsor hit OS Demontray Carter from 12 yards out, giving the Steeldogs the lead going into the locker room.

Rogers, who completed 22 of 34 passes for 221 yards, led Louisville offensively. He threw five touchdowns and two interceptions. Alfonzo Browning caught seven of those passes for 77 yards and one touchdown. Browning was named the game's Ironman.

Leading the Steeldogs in receiving was Demontray Carter, who was playing his first game at the OS position. Carter pulled down six passes for 71 yards and scored three touchdowns.

The game's most valuable player award went to Marc Samuel for his game-winning kick. The ADT Defensive Player of the game was Steeldogs WR/LB Larry Huntington.

With the outcome, both teams evened their records at 3-3.

LAST WEEK: BIRMINGHAM

4/23/2005 - Steeldogs Slip at Home

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Kevin Prentiss caught seven passes for 111 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Memphis Xplorers to a 60-24 win over the Birmingham Steeldogs at the BJCC Arena on Saturday night.

With the loss, the Steeldogs fall to 0-3 for the first time in team history. The Xplorers, inversely, improve to 4-0, the best start in the team's five-year history.

The Xplorers revved up the league's top scoring machine early in the first quarter, as Brian Jones plunged past the pylons from one-yard out, giving Memphis a 7-0 lead. The Steeldogs countered on their next possession as new kicker Vinny Cirrincione drilled a 36-yard field goal to pull the ‘Dogs within four points with just over nine minutes remaining. It was the closest that the Steeldogs would come to the Xplorers for the rest of the contest.

Andrew Zow got his first start for Birmingham but did not see much action after a shaky first quarter. The former University of Alabama quarterback finished 8 of 14 for 76 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was shaken up after a tough hit from a Memphis lineman. Ray Nelson came off the bench in the middle of the second quarter to finish the rest of the game. Nelson finished 13 of 34 for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Dre Fulgham led the Steeldogs receiving corps with seven catches for 69 yards. Detronn Harris caught six passes for 70 yards and two scores.

Memphis quarterback Brian Jones completed 9 of 15 pass attempts for 131 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Jones also ran three times for 31 yards and two touchdowns.

Memphis swept the post-game awards. The Offensive Player of the Game was Kevin Prentiss, the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game was Scott Cunningham and the ADT Defensive Player of the Game was Dahnel Singfield.

The game's attendance was 4,995.

LAST WEEK: LOUISVILLE (from Timesleader.com)

4/22/05 – Louisville Beats WB/Scranton

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. -- Rocco Forgione was awarded a game ball for being named his team's Most Valuable Player on Friday at Wachovia Arena.

It was a deserving gesture, as Forgione led all Wilkes-Barre/Scranton receivers with nine catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. But it also could have been construed as a sick joke, as Forgione dropped balls that hit his hands on the final two plays of the game in a 58-50 arenafootball2 loss to the Louisville Fire.

It was two Pioneers turnovers, not Forgione's late drops, that truly led to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's first loss of the season. The Pioneers (3-1) slipped to second place in the American Conference East Division and the Fire (3-0) moved into first.

"All we've got to do is take care of the football," said Pioneers coach Les Moss, slowing his speech toward the end of his sentence to magnify the importance of playing turnover-free football.

The Pioneers held Louisville to a 25-yard Danny Kight field goal with 36 seconds remaining and trailed 58-50. J.R. Thomas set up the Pioneers with an electrifying, 48-yard kickoff return in which he reversed field at his own 15-yard line and took off down the left sideline.


That was the last positive yardage the Pioneers would earn on their own. Fullback Taso Apostolidis fumbled a toss on first down and recovered it for a 5-yard loss. On second down, Pioneers quarterback Kyle Rowley had all day to find a receiver, but couldn't and threw away the ball.

A defensive holding call on Louisville gave the Pioneers a first down at the Fire 6 with nine seconds left. Rowley had plenty of time again on first down and found Forgione streaking in the back of the end zone, but the ball was a shade behind Forgione and the Valley View High School product couldn't hang on. On the game's final play, Forgione ran a quick slant to the middle, Rowley gunned the ball sidearm and Forgione appeared to make the catch, but again couldn't make the grab.

COMPARISON STATS AND AWARDS
QB COMPARISON: Both Birmingham and Louisville are blessed with a wealth of talent at the quarterback position. The Steeldogs are bringing along two highly-touted rookies in Ray Nelson and Andrew Zow, while the Fire has put the onus squarely on veteran Matt Sauk. Here's how they compare...
Player Comp.-Att.-Int. Yds TD
Ray Nelson 27-59-3 386 4
Andrew Zow 28-50-2 349 4
Player Comp.-Att.-Int. Yards TD
Matt Sauk 65-95-1 689 14

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Fire and Steeldogs match-up statistically...
Statistical BIRMINGHAM LOUISVILLE
Category Stat Rank Stat Rank
Scoring Offense 43.7 9th 54.0 5th
Scoring Defense 61.7 18th 46.0 11th
Total Offense 276.7 4th 239.0 12th
Total Defense 242.0 8th 252.0 9th
Pass Offense 233.7 10th 225.7 11th
Pass Defense 222.3 9th 246.3 14th
Rushing Offense 43.0 1st 13.3 t-13th
Rushing Defense 19.7 12th 5.7 1st
Scoring (Kicking) 6.3 4.7
Pass Rating 82.40 19th 126.66 3rd
Pass Def. Rating 113.77 14th 92.77 4th
Kickoff Returns 19-353 10th 20-375 6th
MFG Returns 0-0 t-20th 1-14 t-20th
Turnover Margin -7 19th +5 3rd
Field Goals 3-4 2nd 1-3 t-7th
PAT Kicking 10-13 12th 11-17 15th
Sacks By 2 t-15th 1 t-18th
Sacks Against 7 t-15th 3 t-6th
First Downs 56 10th 52 12th
Opp. First Downs 46 t-4th 58 t-13th
Penalties 30 11th 23 10th
Opp. Penalties 32 8th 30 17th


OFFENSIVE MVP AWARD (selected by media)
Game Opp. Player
1 San Diego Anthony Buich (San Diego)
2 Macon Chris Johnson (Macon)
3 Memphis Kevin Prentiss (Memphis)
4 Louisville
6 South Georgia
7 San Diego
8 Arkansas
9 Green Bay
10 Florida
11 Louisville
12 Memphis
13 Green Bay
15 Macon
16 South Georgia

ADT DEFENSIVE MVP AWARD (selected by media)
Game Opp. Player
1 San Diego Eldrick Hill (Birmingham)
2 Macon Anthony Collins (Macon)
3 Memphis Dahnel Singfield (Memphis)
4 Louisville
6 South Georgia
7 San Diego
8 Arkansas
9 Green Bay
10 Florida
11 Louisville
12 Memphis
13 Green Bay
15 Macon
16 South Georgia

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN AWARD (selected by media)
Game Opp. Player
1 San Diego Anthony Griffin (San Diego)
2 Macon Matt Jackson (Macon)
3 Memphis Scott Cunningham (Memphis)
4 Louisville
6 South Georgia
7 San Diego
8 Arkansas
9 Green Bay
10 Florida
11 Louisville
12 Memphis
13 Green Bay
15 Macon
16 South Georgia



arenafootball2 Stories from April 26, 2005


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 Alabama Steeldogs Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central