Blitz Take Control with Third Straight Win

July 12, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bakersfield Blitz News Release


Upcoming games

The Blitz hit the turf in Bakersfield again on Saturday, July 17th at 7:00pm against the Central Valley Coyotes. That night, the first 2,000 kids 12 and under will get a free bobblehead doll of star Blitz QB Chad Elliott, sponsored by KGET-TV 17 and Del Taco. That game also features the first-ever Foam Football Fling to benefit the Bakersfield Police Activities League. Fans are encouraged to bring a toy foam football to the game and when the Blitz scores their first touchdown of the game, throw the balls onto the field. They will be collected then and donated to PAL. There will also be a silent jersey auction of Blitz jerseys from past seasons. The funds raised will be split between two organizations, the Epilepsy Society through the Haylee's Hope program (established for Blitz Coach Paul Press' daughter Haylee) and the Center for Craniofacial Disorders.

Last week

Bakersfield 43 @ HAWAII 41

The Blitz defense shined against the Islanders, forcing five turnovers and stuffing Hawaii on a late goal line stand to hold on for a 43-41 victory on Saturday night at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. Chad Elliott, one of the league's most prolific quarterbacks, completed just 15 passes and had just one touchdown throw, but scrambled for two scores on the ground and had over 200 yards through the air on the night for the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game honors. In the huddle

· WR/LB Eric Mahanke set a personal mark for receiving yards on the season with his 95-yard performance on Saturday in Hawaii. He eclipsed his old record of 1,129, set last season with Bakersfield, and now has 1,187 on the year. The Bakersfield record was set in 2002 by Steve Wofford at 1,248 – 61 yards more than Mahanke has now with three games remaining.

· Mahanke also caught his 25th touchdown pass this season on Saturday. He now has at least one touchdown catch in every game this year. He holds the previous Bakersfield team record for TD receptions, with 29, set last year.

· WR/DB Mel Miller pulled in 6.0 tackles this weekend to move into a tie for the team lead with 46.0 on the season. DS Kenny Haslip also has 46.0 and leads in solo stops with 41.

· Haslip recorded his first two interceptions of the season on Saturday. It was the second time this season a Blitz player has had more than one pick in a single game. Four Blitz players have multiple interception totals this season.

· QB Chad Elliott has 60 TD passes this season, 10 shy of the Bakersfield record he set in 2002.

· Bakersfield has just one loss this season to a divisional opponent – against the Hawaiian Islanders back in April. They are 8-1 against the three teams in the West Division. Incidentally, that one loss was nearly a win, with FB/LB Ben McCombs being stopped just shy of the goal line and a game winning touchdown as time expired.

· The Blitz has won three in a row for the first time this season. Their pattern of Loss-Win-Win had gone on the whole season until Week 15. Bakersfield has won five of their last six games and seven of their last nine.

Radio and Television

Tune in each and every Thursday night from the Holiday Inn Select for the "Indoor War Report" with Head Coach Rick Van Horne. The IWR is a weekly live talk show that discusses news and notes from the Blitz and the af2, and airs exclusively on KGEO AM 1230 with the "Voice of the Blitz" Kevin Bartl. Each show features a visit from Blitz players, as well as prizes, and specials from the Holiday Inn Select, which is located next door to Centennial Garden.

All games, home and away, can be heard on KGEO AM 1230 with "Countdown to Kickoff" 15 minutes prior to kickoff. Home games are televised live on Bright House Networks Ch. 21, with a replay of the game starting at 1:00pm the following Sunday afternoon.

This week's matchup: The Blitz has defeated Central Valley in all three previous meetings, the last being a 33-26 win on June 19th. This is the final meeting between the two clubs. Central Valley has won just one game all season, defeating Rio Grande Valley in Week 8. They have been held to 35 points or less in eight of their 13 games played so far this season.

Group outings for the Blitz are on sale now by contacting the Blitz office at 716-BLITZ (2548) or by coming in to the Bakersfield Sports Entertainment office located at Centennial Garden. The Garden box office is open Monday through Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm. For up-to-date information on the Blitz, log on to www.bakersfieldblitz.com.



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