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Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings game notes

July 20, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Bossier/Shreveport Battle Wings (3-11)
vs. Quad City Steamwheelers (8-6)
Date: Saturday, July 23, 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: Mark Bailey
Back Judge: Christopher Cockrell

Radio: KWKH 1130 AM (Charlie Chitwood)

TV: None
Series Record: Quad City leads all-time series, 3-1.
Last Meeting: In their first meeting in Illinois since the 2002 season, the Battle Wings dropped a 36-29 decision to the Steamwheelers on April 16.
Streaks: Battle Wings, L3; Steamwheelers, W4
Coaches: Battle Wings - Keith Barefield (8-21, 2nd season)
Steamwheelers - Rick Frazier (16-14, 1st season at Quad City)

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Battle Wings: Charlie Chitwood - (903) 665-2645 (office); (903) 240-1599 (cell)
Steamwheelers: Justin Pearson - (563)324-4888 (office); (303) 868-2757 (cell)

THE STAKES: The Battle Wings are playing for pride and an eye toward 2006 in the home finale. They're also hoping to play the role of spoiler as Quad City will be trying to lock up a playoff berth on the season's next-to-last weekend. The 'Wheelers are also looking to claim their ninth victory of the year, guaranteeing a winning record in each of the team's six seasons in af2.

THE SERIES: The home field advantage has been significant to both teams in the four games played to date. Quad City has won all three games played at The Mark while Bossier claimed its lone victory in the series in 2002 at the Century Tel Center. That game continues to stick in the craw of the 'Wheeler fans - the Wings won 54-52 and were partly responsible for keeping Quad City out of the playoffs for the only time in franchise history. The previous two seasons - the first two seasons of the af2's existence - the Steamwheelers won ArenaCup championships.

THE IFs:
If Bossier/Shreveport defeats Quad City...
- the Wings will have their second victory over QC in as many games played at the Century Tel Center;
- it will give the Wings their fourth victory of the year and a chance to match last season's 5-11 record;
- it will be the Wings' third win of the year at CTC;
- the Steamwheelers will need help from Memphis against Central Valley and a win on the road at Louisville to make the af2 playoffs;
- the Wings will avoid a series sweep at the hands of the Wheelers
- the Wings will claim their first-ever home-finale victory in the five year history of the franchise
- the Wings will put a halt to their current 3-game losing streak.

BOSSIER/SHREVEPORT (3-11) (Lost 3)
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 W 28-22
5/21 @ Oklahoma City* L 17-52
6/04 @ Albany L 53-68
6/11 @ Macon L 36-57
6/18 OKLAHOMA CITY* W 54-46
6/25 @ Amarillo* L 38-51
7/09 RIO GRANDE VAL. L 52-66
7/15 @ Bakersfield L 33-56
7/23 QUAD CITY* 7:00
7/30 @ Memphis* 7:00

Quad City Steamwheelers (8-6)(W4)
Date Opponent Time Result Score
4/10 @W-B/Scranton L 64-28
4/16 BOSSIER/SHREVE W 36-29
4/23 @ Oklahoma City W 61-43
4/30 MEMPHIS W 45-42
5/7 @ Amarillo L 48-58
5/14 W-B/SCRANTON L 55-63
5/21 @ Green Bay L 49-56
5/28 OKLAHOMA CITY L 49-56
6/4 LOUISVILLE W 47-41
6/11 @ Memphis L 54-67 (OT)
6/18 ALBANY W 62-50
6/24 @ Manchester W 41-39
7/9 GREEN BAY W 40-37
7/16 AMARILLO W 52-46
7/23 @ Bossier/Shreve 7:00
7/30 @ Louisville 7:30

HEAD COACHES: The Battle Wings' Keith Barefield is in his second season at the helm of the ballclub and owns an 8-21 record (5-11 in 2004). His impressive resume includes 19 seasons, ten as head coach, at Evangel (Mo.) University where he build a perennial NAIA powerhouse. The Crusaders were nationally ranked each year of his head coaching tenure and qualified for the playoffs four times from 1993-97. Barefield was named the Heart of America Conference Coach-of-the-Year in 1996 and 1997 and during his time at the Springfield, MO, school, he earned himself the title of winningest coach in the state at any level in the 1990's. His record at Evangel was 66-33-2, the best in school history. From Evangel, Barefield moved to the prep ranks at Cornerstone Christian School in San Antonio, TX as the school's varsity coach. In three seasons, the Warriors compiled a 29-7 record and advanced to the state playoffs, including wining the TAPPS 3A Texas state title in 2001 and 2003.... The Steamwheelers are under the direction of new head coach Rick Frazier. While new to the Quad Cities, the native East Texan is no stranger to the arena game. From the high school ranks of Cumby, Texas and the JUCO scene at Cisco (TX), Frazier's first gig was as defensive coordinator of the old AFL Milwaukee Mustangs in 1995-96. He served as that franchise' head coach from 1998-2001, then was assistant head coach and DC for the 2002 Toronto Phantoms (AFL). He received his first dose of af2 in 2003, guiding the now-defunct Norfolk Nighthawks to an 8-8 mark, then moved back into the AFL last year with Grand Rapids, starting out as DC and taking over as interim head coach for the team's final five games. Frazier has a 29-35 record as head coach on his arena resume....


LAST SERIES MEETING: The Steamwheelers shut out Bossier/Shreveport over the game's second half, scoring nine unanswered points after the halftime break to claim a 36-29 victory at The Mark on April 16. The Battle Wings held a 29-27 advantage after two periods thanks to four Caleb Slover-to-Bo Smith TD heaves, but penalties in the second half stymied Bossier's ability to take advantage of the team's best defensive effort through the season's first three games. The contest marked the end of the brief Slover era at QB - Tim Hicks arrived on the season the next week and took over the offense in the next game against Amarillo.

SERIES NOTABLES: The Wings saw a hero in the making during the last game's second half when QC's Matt Forbes intercepted a pair of passes, thwarting Bossier's offensive efforts on two drives. Forbes was named the league's top defensive player that week and followed it up with another ADT Defensive Player of the Week in the Steamwheelers following game, a 61-43 victory over Oklahoma City. Forbes and Rio Grande Valley's Norman Mason are the only two players this season to have won league-wide honors in back-to-back weeks.

KEY MATCH-UPS: Don't look back to the last game played between these two clubs for insight into Saturday's contest - only three Battle Wings (Quincy Myles, Reggie Perkins, Robert Aguirre) remain from the starting eight in that April contest. Brent Rawls will likely be on the lookout for Fred Barr and Nate Bell, who have racked up some sacks and tackles behind the line all year. Bossier's line gave up five sacks to Bakersfield - a number that will have to be reduced against the Wheelers. QC quarterback Sam Clemons made his starting debut against the Wings and since has thrown for more than 3,500 yards and 66 TD's, averaging 255 passing yards per game. The receiving quartet of Tim Dodge (91 receptions, 1,044 yards, 14 TD's), Travis Burns (88 for 980 and 16 TD's), Jack Walker Jr. (81 for 759, 14 TD's) and Jeff Hewitt (44 for 453 and 14 TD's) has been lethal.

TOP PERFORMERS:
BATTLE WINGS
Player Rank Category Stat


WHEELERS
Player Rank Category Stat



TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how BOSSIER and QUAD CITY stack up so far in 2005:
Statistical 'WINGS WHEELERS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 19 42.6 ppg 13 47.6 ppg
Scoring Defense 19 57.7 ppg 9 48.9 ppg
Total Offense 20 232.3 ypg 7 274.4 ypg
Total Defense 20 293.7 ypg 18 286.3 ypg
Pass Offense 19 215.4 ypg 7 255.6 ypg
Pass Defense 20 272.9 ypg 16 263.8 ypg
Rushing Offense 12 16.9 ypg 11 18.8 ypg
Rushing Defense 12 20.8 ypg 14 22.5 ypg
Scoring (TD's) T20 80 TD's T13 94 TD's
Scoring (Kicking) 2 109 pts. 10 91 pts.
Pass Rating 19 81.8 8 110.2
Pass Def. Rating 17 118.1 T10 103.4
Kickoff Returns 11 18.6 ypr 7 20.4 ypr
MFG Returns 20 5/43 yds 16 6/86 yds
Turnover Margin 17 -12 T5 +5
Field Goals 2 13 FG's T11 6 FG's
PAT Kicking 9 .797 4 .830
Sacks By T15 13 14 14
Sacks Against 17 25 T9 16
First Downs 19 214 T7 267
Opp. First Downs 17 273 16 271
Penalties T12 58.7 ypg 4 47.4 ypg
Opp. Penalties 19 48.6 ypg 12 53.8 ypg

BATTLE WINGS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
DS Robinson Right Knee LT-IR
FB/LB Clark ACL Sprain ST-IR
DS Johnson Broken hand

BAREFIELD BITES:

Battle Wings head coach Keith Barefield on the loss to Bakersfield: "It's difficult to put points on the board when your quarterback is running for his life like Brent had to. The Blitz pinned their ears back and went very hard after him, as attested by the four late hits they were penalized for. We have to have better blocking up front."

Barefield on final two games of the season: "We'd really like to win these games, if for nothing else to finish with a good taste in our mouths. I don't worry about trying to match last year's record as much as I'm interested in seeing these guys continue to play hard. We can have some fun as spoilers."

Barefield on the final home game: "We have had some fine games at home this year and it would be nice to reward the fans that have supported us all season with another win Saturday. I think Brent (former Evangel star Rawls) will rebound nicely from a tough game and give the folks something to yell about again this week."

Barefield on the Steamwheelers: "They're the hottest team in the league right now (four straight wins) and they're playing to clinch a playoff berth. I think any time you can get a win over a quality opponent like them it's something good to look back on. We'll have to play defense like we did up there and have a better offensive showing to get a win."

FORWARD MOTION: Bossier wraps up the 2005 slate on the road at Memphis where Xplorer fans are bound to remember last year's visit by the Battle Wings. Bossier was humiliated at home last year 69-29 by Memphis, then returned the favor with a sound 67-28 whipping of the X-men in Southhaven. The Wings lost their season opener 63-24 to the Xplorers back in April, suffering up front when starting center Mike Homewood went down with a toe dislocation on Bossier's second offensive play of the game. The Wings scored on their first...

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: Four Battle Wings have played in all 14 games to date - OL/DL Quincy Myles and Darrick Sanders, K Brian Hazelwood and WR/LB Adrian Burnette.

DROP THIS! Battle Wing place-kicker Brian Hazelwood is second all-time in af2 history for converting drop-kick two-point conversions, having made 10 of 16 entering Saturday's game against Quad City. Hazelwood booted another through at Bakersfield, adding to his total that stands as second-best all time in af2 history. Tallahassee's Phil Setterquist set the mark in 2001, converting 60 of the two-point drop-kicks in 86 attempts.



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