Brotherly Teammates Leading af2 in Career Tackles
July 8, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
Estero, FL- It does not take long to notice that Florida Firecats' defensive specialists Quincy Sorrell and Roy Stabler have played a few downs together.
Quincy Sorrell is currently the arenafootball2 all-time career leader in tackles with 258 stops. Trailing him at number two by one tackle is his long time teammate, Roy Stabler, who has 257 career tackles.
"You do not meet good people like Roy with the kind of skill he has," Sorrell said. "We have been together since the beginning, and we have been best friends since the start.
"It is very special," Sorrell continued. "It is like we were raised together."
Sorrell, a Nicholls State alumnus, and Stabler, a Southern Mississippi alumnus, began their professional careers together with the New Orleans Thunder of the short-lived Regional Football League (RFL) in 1999. After only two games, the RFL's season ended.
After the conclusion of the RFL, Sorrell and Stabler joined the Indoor Professional Football League (IPFL). Sorrell joined the New Orleans Beast, and Stabler joined the Mississippi Firedogs. It would be the last time the two would ever wear a different uniform.
"We are a family out there," Stabler stated. "I know I can count on him, and he knows he can count on me.
"I've got his back, and he's got mine," Stabler continued. "We are always there for each other to pick each other up and to keep each other's heads up."
Prior to the IPFL's 2000 season, Stabler convinced Sorrell to join him and another explosive player in the Firedogs' defensive unit. The other teammate was current Firecats' defensive coordinator, Kevin Bouis. Bouis went on to lead the Firedogs in tackles, with Sorrell close behind. In those days, Sorrell played linebacker, while Stabler played cornerback, and Bouis headed the defensive backfield at safety. Under Head Coach John Fourcade, the three would be instrumental in a fantastic season that ultimately ended with the 2000 Indoor Professional Football League championship.
In the year 2001, the teammates decided to join the arenafootball2. They were main contributors in a solid 10-6 season for the Baton Rouge Blaze, coming up just short of the playoffs.
The next season, Sorrell and Stabler rejoined Head Coach John Fourcade and the now Coach Kevin Bouis in Fort Myers to play for the Florida Firecats. The two defensive specialists were key factors on a stout Firecat team that finished the season with a record of 9-7. The Firecats then headed into the postseason, winning three straight playoff games on the road and the American Conference championship, and furthermore seeking a birth into the 2002 ArenaCup championship game. Unfortunately, the Firecats came up short against the Peoria Pirates in the af2 championship game.
The two players, along with Coach Bouis, had another great year in 2003, helping lead the Firecats to a second straight playoff birth. Stabler finished the season tied for sixth in the af2 with 79.5 tackles, a team record. Stabler also received All-af2 First Team honors.
"I have huge confidence in them because they know the game so well," Kevin Bouis, Firecats' defensive coordinator, said. "We have been together for six years.
"I know they know what they are doing, and they pretty much know what I am thinking," Coach Bouis continued. "We are all on the same page out there."
After a bye week over the Fourth of July weekend, Sorrell slipped to second in the race for the af2 tackles lead with 71.0 tackles. He also has four tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, eleven pass deflections, and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown after a blistering block by none other than Roy Stabler. Stabler currently has 35.5 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, two interceptions, and 12 pass deflections in only nine games.
The Firecats will host the American South Division leading Birmingham Steeldogs this weekend in their biggest game thus far this season. Gates open at 6:30. The weather is not the only thing heating up in southwest Florida! Reserve your tickets today by calling the Firecats' office at (239) 390-2287!
• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...
arenafootball2 Stories from July 8, 2004
- Wessel Returns; OL/DL finds himself back in San Diego - San Diego Riptide
- Murray: We need to work just as hard off the field as we do on the field - Central Valley Coyotes
- Action-Packed Saturday Knight - Macon Knights
- Law Plays Friday, Bring A Can Food And Get A $5 Ticket - Laredo Law
- Mark Soto â Local Coach Making Impact - Laredo Law
- Week 15 Friday night matchups - af2
- Brotherly Teammates Leading af2 in Career Tackles - Florida Firecats
- Conquest travel to face Green Bay tomorrow - Albany Firebirds
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
