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Birmingham Steeldogs game notes

April 11, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Rio Grande Valley Dorados (1-1)
at Birmingham Steeldogs (1-0)
Date: Friday, April 14, 2006
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT
Site: BJCC Arena (16,000)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Marc Curles (Referee), Mark Baynes (Umpire),
Dirk Bell (Head Linesman), Larry Neal (Line
Judge), Tony Ross (Back Judge)
Radio: WAPI-1070 AM (Matt Coulter and Roger Shultz)
TV: None
Series Record: BIR leads 1-0
Last Meeting: BIR, 59-58, June 26, 2004 @ BIR
Streaks: Birmingham W1, Rio Grande W1
Coaches: Ron Selesky (20-13; 1-1 playoffs, 3rd Season
Overall; 1-0, 1st Season in Birmingham)
Marty Hammond (1-1, 0-0 playoffs, 1st Season)

THE STAKES: The Steeldogs are trying to put together their first win streak since the 2004 season by knocking off Rio Grande. This is the first game of a home-and-home series between the two clubs. The Steeldogs have not started a season 2-0 since 2003. Birmingham's rookie-laden squad performed admirably in the opening night win over Everett. The first-year tandem of QB Ryan Hawk and OS Kerry Wright produced 118 yards and three scores.

THE SERIES: Birmingham defeated Rio Grande, 59-58, in the only prior meeting between the two teams; June 26, 2004 at the BJCC Arena.

THE IFs:
If Birmingham defeats Rio Grande, it would ...
- Give the Steeldogs a 2-0 series record with Rio Grande
- Give Ron Selesky a 2-0 record with the team, 22-14 overall
- Give the Steeldogs their first 2-0 start since 2003
- Give Birmingham a 30-19 all-time home record
- Give Birmingham their first two-game winning streak since June 26, 2004, when Birmingham turned in their second win in a row by beating Rio Grande


BIRMINGHAM (1-0, Won 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 EVERETT 7:00 W 41-36
4/14 RIO GRANDE 7:00 --- BHM 1-0
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/21 @ Louisville 7:00 Tied 3-3
4/29 @ South Georgia 7:00 SGA 2-1
5/5 LOUISVILLE 7:00 Tied 3-3
5/13 @ Florida 6:30 FLA 4-3
5/20 @ Tennessee Valley 7:30 TV 9-2
5/27 MACON 7:00 Tied 4-4
6/3 @ Everett 9:30 BHM 1-0
6/10 SOUTH GEORGIA 7:00 SGA 2-1
6/17 @ Memphis 7:00 BHM 3-2
6/24 FLORIDA 7:00 FLA 4-3
7/8 @ Rio Grande 7:00 BHM 1-0
7/15 @ Macon 7:00 Tied 4-4
7/22 MEMPHIS 7:00 BHM 3-2
7/29 TENNESSEE VALLEY 7:00 TV 9-2

RIO GRANDE VALLEY (1-1, Won 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/1 @ Central Valley 7:30 L 34-65
4/8 TULSA 7:30 W 75-40
4/14 @ Birmingham 7:00 --- BIR 1-0
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/22 ARKANSAS 7:30
4/29 @ Tulsa 7:00
5/6 BOSSIER CITY 6:30
5/13 @ Bakersfield 8:00
5/20 @ Amarillo 7:00
6/3 @ Oklahoma City 7:00
6/10 AMARILLO 6:30
6/17 @ Arkansas 7:00
6/24 OKLAHOMA CITY 6:30
7/1 @ Bossier City 7:00
7/8 BIRMINGHAM 6:30
7/22 SOUTH GEORGIA 6:30
7/29 SPOKANE 7:30

HEAD COACHES:
RON SELESKY, BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS
Head Coach Ron Selesky is an Arena Football League and af2 coaching veteran. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Columbus Destroyers in 2005 under Head Coach Chris Spielman. Prior to that, Selesky spent the 2004 season on the sidelines for the Carolina Cobras, beginning the year as the team's defensive coordinator before finishing the season as the head coach.

Selesky earned af2 Coach of the Year honors in 2002, guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular-season mark of 13-3 and a Northeast Division title. He spent the 2001 season as the head coach of the Louisville Fire, leading the team to a 6-10 mark.

Selesky spent the 2003 season as head coach and director of football operations for the Buffalo Destroyers, prior to the team relocating to Columbus, Ohio. He also served as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. With the Storm, his teams compiled a 31-11 regular season record and earned a berth in the 1998 ArenaBowl.

MARTY HAMMOND, RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS
Hammond comes to the team after serving as the associate head coach/offensive coordinator/receivers coach for Tennessee Valley from 2002-04. He played wide receiver at the University of West Alabama from 1992-95 and was a teammate of Guys. Hammond graduated in 1996 with a degree in computer science. As a freshman, he was named the Gulf Coast Conference Rookie of the Year after catching 39 passes for 339 and two touchdowns. A native of Lexington, Ala., he was an All-State pick and MVP for Lexington High School.
Hammond is familiar with the organization, having served as a training camp coach for the Dorados during the 2005 preseason. Guy, meanwhile, becomes the second Dorados head coach in as many seasons to move up to the AFL. His predecessor, Gary Gussman, took an assistant coaching position with Las Vegas.

LAST SERIES MEETING: June 26, 2004: Birmingham defeated Rio Grande, 59-58, in Birmingham.
SERIES NOTABLES: Steeldogs QB Jeff Aaron had a stellar outing, finishing 12 of 19 for 300 yards and five touchdowns. The two teams combined for 46 fourth-quarter points.
FAMILIAR FACES: Rio Grande QB Josh Kellett returns to Birmingham after spending the 2003 season with the Steeldogs. Kellett played in 12 games for the team, throwing for 1,486 yards. The Steeldogs last faced Kellett in 2004 when he was the quarterback of the Tennessee Valley Vipers.

Rio Grande's Marty Hammond played at the University of West Alabama in Livingston from 1992 to 1995.

Steeldogs OL/DL Samuel Fakunle played with Rio Grande's John Bradley at the University of North Alabama.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among af2's statistical leaders:

STEELDOGS
Player Rank Category Stat
Kerry Wright 10th All-Purpose Yards 236 yds
Terrell Browden 4th Rushing 25.0 yds
Terrell Browden 5th Yards Per Rush 5.0 yds/r
Terrell Browden 5th Rush Yards 25 yds
Kerry Wright T-1st Kick Return Tds 1
DORADOS
Player Rank Category Stat
Josh Kellett 7th Total Offense 262.0 y/g
Josh Kellett 5th Total Off./Tds. 13
Mel Long 10th Scoring 24
Mel Long 4th Receptions 7 p/gm

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Steeldogs and Dorados stack up:
Statistical BIRMINGHAM RIO GRANDE
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 17th 41.0 6th 54.5
Scoring Defense 4th 36.0 16th 52.5
Total Offense 11th 263.0 9th 270.0
Total Defense 12th 259.0 3rd 216.0
Pass Offense 14th 242.0 9th 254.0
Pass Defense 14th 251.0 4th 208.0
Rushing Offense 5th 21.0 11th 16.0
Rushing Defense T-8th 8.0 T-8th 8.0
Pass Rating 17th 101.5 13th 106.7
Pass Def. Rating 12th 107.4 15th 109.2
Kickoff Returns 12th 16.9 14th 16.4
MFG Returns T-12th 0.0 T-12th 0-0
Turnover Margin T-5th +1 T-15th -3
Field Goals T-9th (0-1) .000 T-9th (0-1) .000
PAT Kicking 18th 3-5 (.600) 12th 11-15 (.733)
Sacks By T-7th 2-8 T-4th 3-7
Sacks Against T-1st 0-0 T-5th 1-(-7)
First Downs T-16th 17 2nd 40
Opp. First Downs T-3rd 17 T-14th 31
Penalties 7th 10-60 16th 18-103
Opp. Penalties 14th 11-73 8th 15-110

STEELDOGS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
WR/DB Donald Amaker Torn ACL Out
OL/DL Myron Powe Knee Out
OL/DL Eric Thomas Quad Strain Day-to-Day

MILESTONES: This is the 103rd game in the history of Steeldogs football.

DROPBACK: Steeldogs quarterback Ryan Hawk finished 21 of 37 for 242 yards and five touchdowns as the Birmingham Steeldogs overcame a ten-point halftime deficit to defeat the Everett Hawks, 41-36, in front of 6,210 fans at the BJCC Arena.

With the victory, the Steeldogs open the season 1-0 for the first time since 2003. The Hawks drop to 0-2 in their inaugural season.

Birmingham trailed 36-34 with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when quarterback Hawk hooked up with Lawrence Story from 20 yards out to put the Steeldogs on top 41-36. Birmingham withstood a late Everett charge to preserve the victory.

Aside from Ryan Hawk's outstanding performance, the Steeldogs offense was also paced by rookie offensive specialist Kerry Wright. Wright caught nine passes for 118 yards and three touchdowns. He also returned seven kickoffs for 118 yards. One of those returns went for 50 yards and a pivotal touchdown.

The Hawks were led once again by veteran signal-caller Julian Reese, who finished 23 of 36 for 259 yards and three touchdowns. A.J. Street led the Everett receiving corps with nine catches for 114 yards and one touchdown.

Birmingham players swept the post-game awards. The Schutt Offensive Player of the Game was OS Kerry Wright. The U.S. Army Ironman of the Game was WR/LB Bradley Chavez. The ADT Defensive Player of the Game was DL/DS Jordan Brumbaugh.

FORWARD MOTION: The Steeldogs are hoping to open up their first winning streak since the last time the Dorados made their way to the Magic City. It was June 26, 2004 when the Steeldogs squeaked past the Rio Grande Valley Dorados, 59-58.

Josh Kellett returns to Birmingham for the first time since the 2004 season, when the Steeldogs defeated Kellett's Vipers, 36-30, in overtime. Kellett was one of the Steeldogs' three starting quarterbacks during the 2003 season.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
RYAN HAWK, QB: Ryan shined in his first action with the Steeldogs last Saturday night, finishing 21 of 37 for 242 yards and five touchdowns. With game experience and another solid week of preparation, Hawk is expected to have another strong outing against the Dorados.

KERRY WRIGHT, OS: Wright's performance on Saturday night justified his preseason hype. Nine catches for 118 yards and three touchdowns. Seven kickoff returns for 118 yards and a touchdown. He was named the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game for his effort.

KELLETT VS. THE LINE: Gone are the days when the Steeldogs were punished by opponents in the trenches. Gone are the days of giving up multiple sacks while getting none in return. The trio of Brumbaugh, Daniel and Mayes terrorized Everett's Julian Reese last Saturday night, while the combination of Deboise, Daniel and Clark gave Hawk ample time to sit back and find his open man.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
APRIL 14, 2001: The Steeldogs picked up their first road victory of the young season...a 39-21 victory in Freedom Hall over the Louisville Fire. The Fire was then coached by current Steeldogs coach Ron Selesky.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Kerry Wright

IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Bradly Chavez

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Jordan Brumbaugh

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