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Birmingham Steeldogs game notes

June 6, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Alabama Steeldogs News Release


QUICK FACTS:
South Georgia Wildcats (1-8)
at Birmingham Steeldogs (4-5)
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2006
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT
Site: BJCC Arena (16,000)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: Referee: Larry Mallam, Umpire: Chris Hughes,
Head Linesman: Abdullah Salaam, Line Judge: Andy Britton,
Back Judge: Wayne Gautney
Radio: WAPI-1070 AM (Matt Coulter and Roger Shultz)
TV: None
Series Record: Tied 2-2
Last Meeting: BIR, 40-34, April 29, 2006 @ SGA
Streaks: Birmingham L1, South Georgia L3
Coaches: Ron Selesky (23-18; 1-1 playoffs, 3rd Season
Overall; 4-5, 1st Season in Birmingham)
Donnie Davis (2-13, 2nd Season)


THE STAKES: Birmingham returns home after dropping their third-straight road game. Just beyond the halfway mark of the season, the Steeldogs are at a playoff crossroads. Three teams are currently in contention for the sixth and final playoff spot in the American Conference each with 4-5 records. If the season ended today, Birmingham would be on the outside looking in. This weekend's game is pivotal to the Steeldogs' playoff scenario.
THE SERIES: After dropping the first two games to the Wildcats (including a playoff match in 2004 when the team was located in North Carolina) Birmingham has won two straight in the series, both on the road. The Steeldogs have never beaten the Wildcats at home.
THE IFs:
If Birmingham defeats South Georgia, it would...
- Give the Steeldogs a winning record for the first time since early May
- Give the Steeldogs a 2-0 series record against Everett
- Give the Steeldogs a 2-3 road record
- Give Birmingham its first victory over Head Coach Tony Wells


BIRMINGHAM (4-5, Lost 1)
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 L 44-62
5/20 @ Tennessee Valley 7:30 L 17-21
5/27 MACON 7:00 W 71-30
6/3 @ Everett 9:30 L 34-40
6/10 SOUTH GEORGIA 7:00 --- Tied 2-2
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
6/17 @ Memphis 7:00 BHM 3-2
6/24 FLORIDA 7:00 FLA 5-3
7/8 @ Rio Grande 7:00 Tied 1-1
7/15 @ Macon 7:00 BIR 5-4
7/22 MEMPHIS 7:00 BHM 3-2
7/29 TENNESSEE VALLEY 7:00 TV 10-2

SOUTH GEORGIA (1-8, Lost 3)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 TENNESSEE VALLEY 6:30 L 50-58
4/15 TULSA 6:30 L 24-46
4/21 @ W/B Scranton 6:00 L 33-36
4/29 BIRMINGHAM 6:30 L 34-40
5/6 @ Macon 6:30 L 22-60
5/13 MEMPHIS 6:30 W 48-41
5/20 @ Oklahoma City 6:00 L 33-66
5/27 @ Florida 6:30 L 28-64
6/3 MACON 6:30 L 42-55
6/10 @ Birmingham 7:00 --- Tied 2-2
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
6/17 GREEN BAY 6:30
6/24 @ Memphis 7:00
7/8 BOSSIER CITY 6:30
7/15 @ Tennessee Valley 7:30
7/22 @ Rio Grande 7:30
7/29 FLORIDA 6:30

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.

DONNIE DAVIS, SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS

Davis was named the Wildcats second head coach in the team's five-year history on June 14, 2005. Davis served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Georgia Force (AFL) during the 2004 season. In his first game as Offensive Coordinator, Davis guided the Force to a 72-51 victory snapping a six game losing streak. During the remaining four games the Force averaged 58.3 points per game. Davis began his Arena Football League career with the Arizona Rattlers in 1997 and guided them to an Arena Bowl XI championship and earned MVP honors.

After three seasons with the Rattlers, Davis joined the Milwaukee Mustangs for a season and then went on to play two seasons with the Georgia Force before retiring in 2003. He finished his AFL career 701-of-1,108 passes for 8,192 yards and 138 touchdowns. He also rushed for 155 yards on 46 carries and 12 touchdowns. Davis ended his collegiate career in 1995 at Georgia Tech in fifth place on the Yellow Jackets career passing list with 3,261 yards and touchdown passes with 22. He also rushed 96 times for 390 yards and four touchdowns. Donnie and his wife Telsie and have two daughters, Chloe and Charlee

LAST SERIES MEETING: April 29, 2006: Birmingham defeated South Georgia, 40-34, at Albany, Ga.

SERIES NOTABLES: This is the second time that the Wildcats and Steeldogs have tangled in Birmingham. The first came in 2005, when the Wildcats defeated the Steeldogs 69-49 on May 7.

FAMILIAR FACES:

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Steeldogs players who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
STEELDOGS
Player Rank Category Stat
Ryan Hawk 9th Total Off. Plays 317
Ryan Hawk 8th Pass Yds/Comp. 12.6
Ryan Hawk 5th Pass Attempts 303
Kerry Wright 6th All-Purpose Yds 162.6 p/g
Kerry Wright 8th Yards/Catch 15.3
Kerry Wright 2nd Rec. Yards/Game 111.7
Kerry Wright 4th Missed FG Rtns 4-63
Terrell Browden t-6th Rush Attempts 33
Terrell Browden 6th Rush Yards 115
Alex Walls t-3rd Field Goals 6-16
Alex Walls t-4th FGs Attempted 16
Alex Walls t-2nd Field Goals Made 6
Alex Walls t-5th Field Goal Pct. 37.5%
Bobby Keyes t-4th Interceptions 6
Bobby Keyes 3rd INT Returns 6-10
Allyn Sheffield 7th Interceptions 3

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Steeldogs and Wildcats stack up:
Statistical BIRMINGHAM SOUTH GEORGIA
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 16th 43.3 23rd 30.2
Scoring Defense 7th 43.2 11th 45.7
Total Offense 8th 276.1 23rd 181.0
Total Defense 7th 238.2 5th 235.4
Pass Offense 10th 243.6 23rd 151.1
Pass Defense 6th 218.1 5th 208.7
Rushing Offense 2nd 32.6 4th 29.9
Rushing Defense 11th 20.1 t-19th 26.8
Pass Rating 16th 91.0 23rd 62.6
Pass Def. Rating 11th 97.1 18th 107.2
Kickoff Returns 23rd 13.1 10th 18.2
MFG Returns 17th 9.9 18th 9.7
Turnover Margin t-4th +7 t-21st -13
Field Goals t-7th 6-16 (.375) 17th 4-15 (.267)
PAT Kicking 15th 34-47 (.723) 17th 18-26 (.692)
Sacks By t-8th 15-74 22nd 6-44
Sacks Against t-10th 11-58 22nd 26-132
First Downs t-11th 157 23rd 120
Opp. First Downs 8th 143 2nd 130
Penalties 10th 69-467 2nd 62-358
Opp. Penalties 11th 75-515 18th 66-429

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

DROPBACK
EVERETT, Wash. - The Everett Hawks collected their second straight win Saturday night, defeating the Birmingham Steeldogs, 40-31, at the Everett Events Center.
With just over a minute remaining and the Steeldogs trailing by six points, Everett lined up for a 24-yard field goal. Kicker Craig Hawley pulled the ball wide, giving the Steeldogs a shot at a last-second victory. However, a penalty for running into the kicker was enforced, giving the Hawley another shot. He nailed the shorter attempt, putting the game out of reach for Birmingham.
The Steeldogs struggled offensively, just one week after a record-setting 41-point victory over the Macon Knights. Birmingham managing just 111 passing yards and convertd just two of nine third down attempts. The Steeldogs once again employed the two-quarterback shuffle, but the results were short of last week's blowout victory. Ryan Hawk finished 11 of 21 for just 77 yards, while Robert Kent completed 7 of 17 for 48 yards.
Birmingham's leading receiver was Bradly Chavez, who continued filling in for the injured Kerry Wright. Chavez caught five passes for 34 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass on the Steeldogs' opening drive.
Birmingham returns home on Saturday, June 10, to host the South Georgia Wildcats. Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 205.715.6000 or by logging on to www.ticketmaster.com. Group and season tickets can be purchased via the Steeldogs Front Office by calling 205.458.8833. For more information, visit www.steeldogs.com.
FORWARD MOTION: Birmingham hits the road for the sixth time this season next weekend, playing in Southhaven, Miss., versus the defending af2-champion Memphis Xplorers.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
JUNE 8, 2001: Birmingham scored their largest margin of victory in franchise history, defeating the Columbus Wardogs, 64-14, at the BJCC Arena.

SCHUTT 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 Louisville Kerry Wright (BIR)
6 Florida Magic Benton (FLA)
7 Tn. Vally Chris Gunn (TVV)
8 Macon Bradly Chavez (BIR)
9 Everett Brian Baker (EVE)

U.S. ARMY 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 Louisville Lance Taylor (LOU)
6 Florida Brittney Tellis (FLA)
7 Tn. Vally Johnny Anderson (TVV)
8 Macon Mareno Philyaw (BIR)
9 Everett Milton Myers (EVE)

ADT 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)
6 Florida Cory Bailey (FLA)
7 Tn. Vally Bobby Keyes (BIR)
8 Macon Deon Deboise (BIR)
9 Everett John Fields (EVE)

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