Blitz Vets Back to Lead the Way

March 17, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bakersfield Blitz News Release


Bakersfield, Calif. - With the 2005 Bakersfield Blitz just hours away from the official start of training camp, six components from last season's West Division Champion team have been assigned by the league office. The Blitz opens training camp at the Bakersfield Police Activities League on 4th Street today at 5:00 p.m.

QB Chad Elliott (6-2, 215, Syracuse) returns for his third season under center and ranks as one of the af2's all-time leading passers. Last season Elliott completed 64% of his passes and racked up nearly 4,000 yards with 67 touchdown throws. In af2 history, Elliott ranks in the top 10 in every offensive category, including 7th in yards and touchdowns, 6th in completions and 5th in completion percentage.

No one benefited more from Elliott's strong arm than WR/LB Eric Mahanke (6-3, 210, Fresno State), who ranked among af2 leaders last year with 110 receptions and 27 touchdown catches. He had 1,455 yards receiving and caught a touchdown in every game but one last year. Mahanke is also a performer on the defensive side, picking off six passes over the last two years and recording over 130 tackles in his three year career.

OS Steve Wofford (5-9, 185, Southern) is back for his third season with his hometown Blitz. The former Bakersfield High and Southern University standout missed two games last season and pulled in just shy of 1,000 yards receiving. He caught 12 touchdown passes and also amassed 915 return yards on missed field goals and kickoffs.

WR/LB Rennard Reynolds (6-2, 185, Alcorn State) had a strong rookie season for the Blitz last year, finishing third on the team with 680 yards receiving and second in touchdown catches with 13. His 360- plus return yards combined to give the Long Beach native a 1,000-yard season.

DS Ken Haslip (5-10, 180, USC) returns for his second season in the defensive backfield for Bakersfield, and his fourth in af2. In 2003 he had one of the highest single season tackle totals in league history (97.5) and ranks in the top 10 all-time in af2 history. Haslip led the Blitz with 66.5 tackles a season ago and had two interceptions as well.

FB/LB Nick Onaindia (6-3, 245, Utah State) also returns to the Blitz for his second full season. The Bakersfield native finished third on the team with 41 tackles and had five sacks. The former West High Viking led all rushers with 71 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground.

The Blitz 2005 schedule includes eight games at home and eight on the road, starting with Opening Night on Saturday, April 2nd against Central Valley. Friday Night Football will hit the Rabobank Arena this season, as the remainder of the home schedule will consist of Friday night match-ups. The Blitz will compete in the National Conference West Division along with the Central Valley Coyotes, Rio Grande Valley Dorados, San Diego Riptide and the Tulsa Talons.



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