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Birmingham Steeldogs game notes

May 9, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Birmingham Steeldogs (3-2)
at Florida Firecats (4-1)
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. CT
Site: Germain Arena (7,128)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss:
Officials: Matt Austin (Referee), Conrad Carney (Umpire),
Folayan Kindred (Head Linesman), Tommy Walsh (Line Judge), Todd Ransom (Back Judge)
Radio: WAPI-1070 AM (Matt Coulter and Roger Shultz)
TV: None
Series Record: FLA 4-3
Last Meeting: FLA, 28-27, July 30, 2005 @ BIR
Streaks: Birmingham W2, Florida W4
Coaches: Ron Selesky (22-15; 1-1 playoffs, 3rd Season
Overall; 3-2, 1st Season in Birmingham)
Kevin Bouis (18-3, 2nd Season)

THE STAKES: The Steeldogs have won two straight games for the first time since 2004. Birmingham has accomplished in five games what would have taken more than 16 games in 2005: they have three wins. Yes things have turned around in The Magic City, and this week, the Steeldogs hope top win their second straight road contest and their third straight overall in Estero, Fla., where Birmingham hasn't picked up a win in three years.
THE SERIES: Florida leads the all-time series 4-3, with their last win coming in dramatic fashion in the regular-season finale. The Firecats won 28-27 on a 39-yard hail mary pass from Chris Wallace to Brent Burnside.
THE IFs:
If Birmingham defeats Florida, it would...
- Even Birmingham's record against the Firecats
- Give Birmingham a three-game winning streak overall, a two-game streak on the road
- Give Coach Selesky his 23rd overall coaching victory


BIRMINGHAM (3-2, Won 2)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 EVERETT 7:00 W 41-36
4/14 RIO GRANDE 7:00 L 43-44
4/21 @ Louisville 6:30 L 40-62
4/29 @ South Georgia 6:30 W 40-34
5/5 LOUISVILLE 7:00 W 63-60
5/13 @ Florida 6:30 ---
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
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 Tied 2-2
6/17 @ Memphis 7:00 BHM 3-2
6/24 FLORIDA 7:00 FLA 4-3
7/8 @ Rio Grande 7:00 Tied 1-1
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

FLORIDA (4-1, Won 4)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 @ Memphis L 46-78
4/15 @ Macon W 53-40
4/22 MEMPHIS W 60-55
4/29 @ Bossier City W 47-26
5/6 @ Tennessee Valley W 76-37
5/13 BIRMINGHAM --- FLA 4-3
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/20 @ Manchester
5/27 SOUTH GEORGIA
6/3 TENNESSEE VALLEY
6/17 MACON
6/24 @ Birmingham
7/1 GREEN BAY
7/8 @ Wilkes-Barre
7/15 ALBANY
7/22 LOUISVILLE
7/29 @ South Georgia

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.

KEVIN BOUIS, FLORIDA FIRECATS
Coach Bouis is in his 3rd year with the Firecats and has been promoted to the head coach position for 2005 Season.

A former player for the the National Indoor Football League Mississippi Firedogs. He helped his team win 2 League Championships with All League Honors. He also led the team in interceptions with 13 and 30 total defensive turnovers (23 int. 7 fumbles recovered).

Bouis played college football at Kentucky. While he was there he started as a true freshmen as a safety. He majored in kinesiology.

LAST SERIES MEETING: July 30, 2005: Florida defeated Birmingham, 28-27, in Birmingham.
SERIES NOTABLES: Birmingham last defeated the Firecats in Estero on May 3, 2003. The Steeldogs won a thriller, 38-35 in overtime.
FAMILIAR FACES:

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
STEELDOGS
Player Rank Category Stat
Kerry Wright t-5th Scoring 78 pts
Kerry Wright 2nd All Purpose 179.4 p/g
Kerry Wright t-5th Scoring (TDs) 13
Kerry Wright 2nd Yards Per Catch 18.3
Kerry Wright 2nd Reception Yards 605
Kerry Wright 1st Rec. Yds/Gm 121.0
Kerry Wright t-7th Receiving TDs 12
Kerry Wright 10th FG Returns 2-21
Kerry Wright t-5th Kick Returns 19-271
Kerry Wright t-3rd Kick Return TDs 1
Mareno Philyaw 1st Yards Per Catch 24.0
Robert Kent 1st Offense Per Play 11.2
Terrell Browden t-6th Rushing 13.4 p/g
Terrell Browden t-7th Rush Attempts 21
Terrell Browden t-6th Rushing TDs 6
Terrell Browden t-4th Rushing Yards 67
Theo Sanders 9th Rush Attempts 20
Theo Sanders 8th Rushing Yards 63
Ryan Hawk t-6th Total Offense 1315 yds
Ryan Hawk 10th Offense Per Play 7.3
Ryan Hawk t-8th Total Off Yards 263.0 p/g
Ryan Hawk 7th Passing Avg/Gm 260.6
Ryan Hawk t-1st Yards/Completion 14.2
Ryan Hawk t-8th Yards/Attempt 7.5
Ryan Hawk 8th Passing Yards 1303
Alex Walls t-5th Field Goals Attp 7
Alex Walls t-6th Field Goals Made 2
Allyn Sheffield t-5th Interceptions 3
Michael Gholar t-2nd INT Rtn Yds 27
Jordan Brumbaugh t-9th Tackles For Loss 4.0
Eric Thomas t-3rd Fumbles Rcvd 0.5 p/g
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Steeldogs and Firecats stack up:
Statistical BIRMINGHAM FLORIDA
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 15th 45.4 3rd 56.4
Scoring Defense t-9th 47.2 t-9th 47.2
Total Offense 3rd 306.8 8th 282.2
Total Defense 10th 260.8 9th 253.6
Pass Offense 5th 273.4 10th 252.2
Pass Defense 9th 233.6 8th 232.6
Rushing Offense 3rd 33.4 4th 30.0
Rushing Defense 22nd 32.0 18th 24.5
Pass Rating 11th 95.6 6th 114.1
Pass Def. Rating 9th 94.2 14th 98.4
Kickoff Returns 21st 25-313 12th 18-338
MFG Returns 12th 10.5 13th 10.3
Turnover Margin t-4th +4 3rd +6
Field Goals t-12th (2-7) .286 t-20th (0-2) .000
PAT Kicking 15th 17-25 (.680) 19th 22-33 (.667)
Sacks By t-10th 7-33 t-14th 6-26
Sacks Against t-7th 5-27 t-7th 5-41
First Downs 12th 89 7th 102
Opp. First Downs t-12th 74 5th 70
Penalties 7th 41-253 8th 38-265
Opp. Penalties 22th 36-219 8th 50-321

STEELDOGS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
WR/DB Donald Amaker Torn ACL Out (Season)
OL/DL Myron Powe Knee Out
WR/LB Bradly Chavez Knee Out
OL/DL Samuel Fakunle Hamstring Out

DROPBACK Steeldogs QB Ryan Hawk completed 23 of 39 pass attempts for 311 yards and five touchdowns as the Birmingham Steeldogs defeated the Louisville Fire, 63-60, in front of 6,156 fans at the BJCC Arena.

Hawk's favorite target was OS Kerry Wright, who pulled down nine balls for 159 yards and two scores and came away with the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game award.

Birmingham (3-2) trailed 14-0 at the end of the first quarter, marking the second time in as many weeks that the team failed to score in the opening frame. Early in the second quarter, the Steeldogs finally broke through, as FB/LB Terrell Browden plunged into the end-zone from one yard out to close the margin to 14-6. The Steeldogs forced a fumble on the next Fire possession, and Hawk connected with Wright from 34 yards out to narrow the Louisville lead to two.

The Fire (2-3) closed the first half on a high note, scoring 14 points in the final six minutes and taking a 27-18 lead into the break.

The Steeldogs exploded in the third quarter, outscoring the Fire 28-7. Anthony Morris caught the first of his two touchdown passes in the quarter at the 13:34 mark, a 7-yard heave from Hawk. Wright reeled in a 13-yard bullet on the Steeldogs next drive, and Michael Gholar returned a Brett Dietz interception 27 yards for a score. Morris caught another touchdown pass with 5:13 left in the third to put the Steeldogs up 46-34.

Louisville made the game interesting late in the fourth quarter, as Lance Taylor returned a kickoff 50 yards for a score with 41 seconds remaining in the game. But the Steeldogs managed to hold on for the remaining seconds to preserve victory.

The U.S. Army Ironman of the Game was Louisville's Lance Taylor. The ADT Defensive Player of the Game was Birmingham's Michael Gholar. The Cutter's Catch of the Game belonged to Anthony Morris, a 16-yard touchdown reception with 5:13 remaining in the third quarter.

FORWARD MOTION: The War of I-65, Birmingham's intense rivalry with the Tennessee Valley Vipers, returns for the first time since 2004. The Steeldogs and Vipers will hook-up for the 12th time in the series in Huntsville on Saturday, May 20.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
HAWK HIGH ON THE WING: Ryan Hawk is on the fast track to becoming the most prolific quarterback in the seven-year history of the Birmingham Steeldogs. Averaging 260 yards per game through the air, Ryan is on pace to throw for 4,170 yards this season. The previous all-time team high for a single-season: 3,542. If he eclipses 3,530 yards this season, he will automatically become the team's second all-time leading passer.

OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION: Through the first four games of the season, the Steeldogs highest point total this season was 43. Last Friday, after being shut out in the first quarter, Birmingham blew up for 63 points. One of those scores was a defensive touchdown by Michael Gholar.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
MAY 14, 2004: Birmingham's most recent victory over the Florida Firecats, 55-34, in Birmingham.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Kerry Wright (BIR)
2 RGV Dwight Counter (RGV)
3 Louisville Brett Deitz (LOU)
4 SGA Mareno Philyaw (BIR)
5 LOU Kerry Wright (BIR)

IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Bradly Chavez (BIR)
2 RGV Terrell Browden (BIR)
3 Louisville Terrell Browden (BIR)
4 SGA Chris McKinney (SGA)
5 LOU Lance Taylor (LOU)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Everett Jordan Brumbaugh (BIR)
2 RGV Bobby Keyes (BIR)
3 Louisville Dwayne Lefall (LOU)
4 SGA Jordan Brumbaugh (BIR)
5 LOU Michael Gholar (BIR)

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