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Blizzard-Riptide Game Preview

July 13, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release


2004 RECORDS:

Green Bay Blizzard (5-8, 4th National Midwest)

San Diego Riptide (6-7, 3rd National West)

SERIES HISTORY: 3 games, (SDG 1, GRB 2) The two teams split the series in 2003. Green Bay leads the series after winning in Week 2, 67-49.

2004 SEASON: The Blizzard buried the ‘Tide in Week 2, 67-49, when Green Bay wide receiver Randall Lane reeled in six touchdown receptions. San Diego had a late third quarter surge, scoring 14 unanswered points to pull within four but the Blizzard would not let up scoring twice in the fourth quarter and giving them the win.

GAME NOTES: The Riptide look refreshed after defeating the Central Valley Coyotes last weekend, putting an end to their two game losing streak. Green Bay snapped their three game losing streak after coming back from being down by 24 points after the first quarter to take the win against the Albany Conquest. Both teams are driven by their need to make the post-season and this game would be a step in that direction with a win on Saturday. The Blizzard did defeat the Riptide in Week 2, but that was prior to San Diego's franchise best four game win streak.

Last week against Central Valley, it wasn't Kane Claunch who led the Riptide to victory; it was back up quarterback Kevin Feterik. Feterik had his first af2 start against the Blizzard in Week 2. Although he sat behind Claunch for a majority of the season, he was given another chance to step up after Claunch found himself struggling in his last two starts. To date, Feterik has played in just three games this season, completing 27-of-41 passes for 284 yards, two interceptions, and five touchdowns for a passer rating of 105.1. Claunch, despite not playing last week, is still one of the af2 top ten quarterbacks. The question will be who gets the start in Week 16 against the Blizzard. Against the Blizzard, Kane Claunch completed 50% of his passes for five touchdowns but also threw one interception in the losing effort. Feterik also struggled against the Blizzard completing 9-of-17 passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions before injuring his finger. Whether it's Feterik starting or Claunch starting against Green Bay, the Riptide have plenty of other weapons on offense to look for.

Two time Offensive player of the game winner, Dwight Carter, has had a phenomenal season leading the Riptide receiving core with 89 receptions for 1189 yards and averaging 91.5 yards per game. In 2003, Carter put up half of those numbers totaling just 560 receiving yards and 48 receptions. He has developed into the Riptide's best ever receiver and continues to dominate game after game. Carter is complimented well with Jesus Reyes. Reyes is the Riptide's second go-to guy with 51 receptions for 751 yards so far this season. In last week's game, the Riptide found the end zone on the ground more than through the air. Ryan Cuthbert, who normally plays the OL/DL position, has stepped up as a formidable fullback and has pounded the ball into the end zone three times in the past two games.

The Green Bay Blizzard has also had its struggles at the quarterback position with three changes in the past three games. Matt Bunyan stepped into the starting QB position in Week 13 after Chris Greisen struggled the previous week. The Blizzard's key receivers are Robert Garth and DeRonn Finley. Combined, they have 48 touchdowns and 1560 receiving yards this season. However, with San Diego boasting a +10 turnover ratio versus the Blizzard's -8 turnover ratio, the Riptide defense looks to dominate this game and melt the Blizzard.

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