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Bossier/Shreveport Battle Wings game notes

May 11, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Bossier/Shreveport Battle Wings (1-5)
vs. Florida Firecats (5-0)
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2005
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CST
Site: Century Tel Center (12,500)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Referee - Ken Antee; Umpire - Rico Orsot; Head Linesman - Britt Choate; Line Judge - Will McDonald;
Back Judge - Christopher Cockrell
Radio: KWKH 1130 AM (Charlie Chitwood)

TV: None
Series Record: Florida leads series 1-0.
Last Meeting: Florida defeated Bossier/Shreveport 46-31 at Estero, FL (4/17/04) in the only previous meeting between the two clubs.
Streaks: Battle Wings, L1; Firecats, W5
Coaches: Battle Wings - Keith Barefield (6-16, 2nd season)
Firecats - Kevin Bouis (5-0, 1st season)

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Battle Wings: Charlie Chitwood - (903) 665-2645 (office); (903) 240-1599 (cell)
Firecats: Melissa J. Nese - (239) 390-2287 (office); (239) 293-5494 (cell)

THE STAKES: The Battle Wings are trying to stay close to the playoff pack after having lost their fifth game in six tries and the going doesn't get any easier this weekend with the top-ranked and defending ArenaCup champion Florida Firecats paying a visit. Bossier is trying to put together that elusive complete game in searching for a victory that would snap a nasty 7-game home losing streak, only one loss shy of the af2's all-time home negative streak. Florida is coming in after a week off and has hopes of extending its best-ever season-opening winning streak to six games.

THE SERIES: The Battle Wings began their early-season road woes last year with the drive to Ft. Myers, FL over East weekend and lost 46-31 to the Firecats. The game was Florida's first of the year, while Bossier embarked one week later on the long flight to Hawaii. The 'Wings entered that game with a 1-0 mark while Florida was trying to start off on the right foot after a 10-6 campaign in 2003 that ended with a 42-35 first-round playoff loss at Macon.

THE IFs:
If Bossier/Shreveport defeats Bakersfield, it would ...
· be the Battle Wings first home victory of the year;
· stop a seven-game home losing streak dating to June 18, 2005 (BOS 66, RGV 59 - OT);
· give the 'Wings a victory over a team with a winning record for the first time since defeating Hawaii on April 30, 2004;
· put Bossier on the good foot heading out on a three game road swing through Oklahoma City, Albany and Macon;
· get the 'Wings back within a game of sixth place in the National Conference playoff chase.

BOSSIER/SHREVEPORT (1-5) (Lost 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/03 MEMPHIS* L 24-63
4/09 TULSA L 51-61
4/16 @ Quad City* L 29-36
4/23 AMARILLO* L 66-86
5/02 @ Rio Grande Val. W 77-69
5/07 BAKERSFIELD L 40-75
5/14 FLORIDA 7:00
5/21 @ Oklahoma City* 7:30
6/04 @ Albany 6:30
6/11 @ Macon 6:30
6/18 OKLAHOMA CITY* 7:00
6/25 @ Amarillo* 7:00
7/09 RIO GRANDE VAL. 7:00
7/15 @ Bakersfield 9:00
7/23 QUAD CITY* 7:00
7/30 @ Memphis* 7:00

Florida Firecats (5-0)(Won 5)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/1 @ Macon W 35-32
4/8 @ Manchester W 32-26
4/16 RIO GRANDE VAL. W 63-30
4/23 SOUTH GEORGIA W 42-37
4/30 @ Arkansas W 68-50
5/14 @ Bossier/SHV
5/21 @ Louisville
5/28 AMARILLO
6/4 BIRMINGHAM
6/11 @ South Georgia
6/18 MANCHESTER
6/25 MACON
7/9 ARKANSAS
7/16 W-B/SCRANTON
7/23 @ Green Bay
7/30 @ Birmingham
Date Opponent Result Score


HEAD COACHES: The 2005 season didn't start the way Battle Wings' head coach Keith Barefield envisioned, but some personnel changes prior to the Rio Grande Valley game paid immediate dividends. Barefield straightened out the offense by making a huge trade, acquiring all-af2 quarterback Tim Hicks from W-B/S. That move paid off with the 'Wings scoring their highest point totals of the year in back-to-back games. Defensively, Barefield went in-house to replace Richard Britt. Mike Green was promoted from his spot as secondary/receivers coach and made against Rio Grande Valley enough adjustments to earn a 77-69 victory........Kevin Bouis is in his first year at the helm of the Firecats, but as an assistant with the club last year he's certain of the expectations for the 2005 squad - another ArenaCup championship. The 'Cats new skipper also servers as his own defensive coordinator and picked former Florida QB Ken Mastrole to be his offensive coordinator. Bouis won a pair of NIFL championships during his playing days with the Mississippi Firedogs.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Florida scored with 00:15 remaining in the first half to take an intermission lead, then came out of the locker room and held the 'Wings to 17 second-half points en route to a 46-31 victory in Estero, FL. Ken Mastrole threw for 301 yards and seven TD's, hooking up with Cainon Lamb 12 times for 109 yards and five TD's. Lamb was nearly unstoppable for the 'Cats and crossed the goal line on each of Florida's first four scores. The Battle Wings managed only 134 yards total offense but still made the game close late on a pair of unanswered touchdown throws by Sherard Poteete. Trailing only 39-31 with 2:35 left in the game, the Battle Wings couldn't come up with another touchdown and saw Lamb tally his fifth TD of the day with just 13 seconds remaining, giving the 'Cats their season-opening victory.

SERIES NOTABLES: Two of the top performers for the Firecats from last year's game are no longer on the field. One, however, will be in the sideline box. Ken Mastrole, now the 'Cats offensive coordinator, was Florida's milker last year and torched the 'Wings for 301 passing yards and seven TD's. Only Bossier's Bo Smith, Quincy Myles and Kevin Thomas remain on the roster from the 'Wings players active in that game.

FAMILIAR FACES:

TOP PERFORMERS:
BATTLE WINGS
Player Rank Category Stat
Bo Smith 3T934311123 ScoringReceptionsRec. YardsYards/CatchRec. TD'sKO Return YdsKO ReturnsKO Return TDAll-Purpose/GmRec. Yards/Gm 108 pts.3455516.3 ypc15595253191.7 yds92.5 ypg
Brian HazelwoodTim Hicks 26T2T1T32733 Kick ScoringFG Pct.FG'sFG AttemptsPAT AttemptsPAT's MadeRushing YardsYards per RushRushing TD's 51 pts.42.96143731634.8/carry7
FIRECATS
Player Rank Category Stat
Magic BentonKelly SnellSteve GorieChris Morant 45T5911T1T106610 Rec. TD'sScoringReceptionsRec. Yards/GMPasses Def.Rushing YardsRush. AttemptRush TD'sRushing YardsYards/CarryRush Attempts 1484 pts.3781.0 ypg16146373714.2 ypc17


TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how BOSSIER and FLORIDA stack up so far in 2005:
Statistical 'WINGS FIRECATS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 9 47.8 ppg 8 48.0 ppg
Scoring Defense 20 65.0 ppg 2 35.0 ppg
Total Offense 15 231.7 ypg 14 243.6 ypg
Total Defense 20 323.0 ypg 9 253.4 ypg
Pass Offense 17 207.2 ypg 19 195.2 ypg
Pass Defense 20 302.2 ypg 12 244.4 ypg
Rushing Offense 6 24.5 ypg 1 48.4 ypg
Rushing Defense 14 20.8 ypg 1 9.0 ypg
Scoring (TD's) 5 39 TD's 8 35 TD's
Scoring (Kicking) 2 51pts. 16 26 pts.
Pass Rating 18 91.8 9 107.9
Pass Def. Rating 20 128.3 6 101.6
Kickoff Returns 14 17.9 ypr 18 15.6 ypr
MFG Returns T11 10.8 ypr 13 8.0 ypr
Turnover Margin 20 -11 7 +2
Field Goals T2 6 20 0
PAT Kicking 5 .838 6 .812
Sacks By T10 7 12 12
Sacks Against 20 13 T1 2
First Downs T12 87 8 95
Opp. First Downs 20 126 T6 81
Penalties 14 57.3 ypg 1 38.4 ypg
Opp. Penalties 19 40.2 ypg 11 60.2 ypg

BATTLE WINGS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
DS Robinson Right Knee LT-IR
OL/DL Phillips Left Knee LT-IR
FB/LB Nelson Quad Pull ST-IR


BAREFIELD BITES:

Battle Wings head coach Keith Barefield on 75-40 loss to Bakersfield: "I wasn't happy at all with the way we performed as a team. Our offense still needs to pick us up a bit while the defense improves under Coach (Mike) Green. With two turnovers returned for scores, I don't think that's the way you get that done."
Barefield on FB/LB Fred Perry: "Fred's been back there plenty, but we just weren't a running team at all for the first three games. We saw some openings and Fred certainly found his way through them. He might be tougher to tackle than he is to block."
Barefield talks about the Florida Firecats: "When you look at all their numbers, you sometimes wonder about them, but the key is that they're 5-0 and have the confidence of the defending ArenaCup champions. We had a hard time with them last year in Florida and I expect they'll give us a battle Saturday night."
Barefield on the scarcity of running attacks in the af2: "Well, obviously, this is a passing game. There's certainly a time and a place to run the ball however and Florida does it very well. Look over there and they have the top two fullbacks in the game from last season and both are in the top 10 in rushing in the league right now. I think our rushing attack is coming along, but we certainly won't be relying on it to win a championship anymore than Florida did last year."

A BO-DACIOUS THREAT WITH THE FOOTBALL: OS Bo Smith, aka "The BOssier Bullet," had a career day returning kicks last week against Bakersfield. Smith finished with seven returns for 181 yards - both career highs - and brought another kickoff back for a touchdown. The TD return was his third in as many games and the sixth in his last 16 games. The af2 record for KO's returned for touchdowns in a season is eight, held by Memphis' Kevin Prentiss and established last year....Bo also flew across the 1,000-yard mark in all-purpose yards - needing just 46 steps to reach the milestone, he finished with 224 all-purpose yards. Smith now has 1,178 all-purpose yards in just 6 games. He set his personal mark last year, accumulating 1,827 all-purpose steps in 15 games. Saturday's game was also his third-consecutive 200+ all-purpose yards game and the sixth of his career. The big night moved him past former Battle Wing Kevin Stevenson into second place all-time in Bossier, allowing him to set his sights squarely on former teammate Shadrick McAfee. Some more milestones are within reach tonight - Bo needs:
· 229 receiving yards to take over the #1 spot from Stevenson. Bo cracked the 2,000 yard mark against Rio Grande Valley and now has 2,064 receiving steps in his career.
· 17 more receptions to pass Val Morris for the #2 spot all-time in Battle Wings history. Bo has 134 career receptions and is only 41 catches from passing Stevenson for the top spot all-time.
· Smith enters Saturday's game with 3,609 all-purpose steps and is on pace to catch Bossier's all-time leader, Shadrick McAfee (4,542 yards) in the final month of the 2005 regular season.

DROPBACK: Five days after the feel-good trip to Hidalgo, Texas and a win over Rio Grande Valley, the Bossier offense sputtered in the home loss to Bakersfield, 75-40. The Blitz' defense scored twice - once on a fumble return and once on an interception return - and kept constant pressure on Tim Hicks, forcing him into a pair of interceptions. The 'Wings defense allowed 51 points on the night but couldn't bail out the offense with stops when they were needed.

FORWARD MOTION: The 'Wings head out on the road for three straight games after facing Florida. Next week, Bossier plays at Oklahoma City for the first time ever. After a week off, Bossier will open June play with another franchise-first visit to Albany, NY. One week later, the 'Wings return to Macon, GA for the first time since 2003.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH: Bo Smith vs. Florida special teams - The BOssier Bullet has 25 kick-off returns for 595 yards and three TD's while Florida has allowed 25 KO returns for nearly 200 fewer yards (397). The Firecats have not allowed a KO return for a score this season and gave up just two scoring returns all last season...Bossier secondary vs. Florida QB Chris Wallace - Wallace has been consistent if unspectacular in guiding the 'Cats to a 5-0 mark, completing more than 61 per cent of his passes with only four INT's. Bossier's defense is last in the league in points allowed, total defense, pass defense and pass defense rating....The Trenches - Battle Wing QB's have had to run for their life more often than not to avoid more than the 13 sacks already piled up by opposing defenses. Florida's front three already has six sacks - one less than the 'Wings - but on the other side of the ball, they've allowed just two QB sacks in five games...

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAMES:
Week Opp. Player
123456 MEMTULQCAMARGVBAK Brian Jones, MEMDonovan Morgan, TULBo Smith, BOSJulian Reese, AMADwight Counter, RGVJason Thomas, BAK

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAMES:
Week Opp. Player
123456 MEMTULQCAMARGVBAK Joe Wesley, BOSKendal Shello, BOSMatt Forbes, QCCharles DavisKendal Shello, BOSJabari Jackson, BAK

U.S. ARMY IRONMAN AWARDS
Week Opp. Player
123456 MEMTULQCAMARGVBAK Terrence Quattlebaum, MEMAleric Clark, TULJack Walter, Jr., QCD.J. Humphries, AMABo Smith, BOSNathan Munson, BAK

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