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Buffalo Destroyers Game Notes

April 8, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
TV: Empire Sports Network Jim Brinson and Bob Trimble
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM
Web: www.buffalodestroyers.com/gamezone.html Live Stats and Scores
Officials: Wes Fritz (Referee), Tony Payne (Umpire), Rich Grube (Head Linesman), Kent Payne (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge)
Series Record: Orlando leads 2-0 regular season
Coaches: Buffalo, Ron Selesky (4-6, 1st season) Orlando, Fran Papasedero (13-11, 2nd season)

THE SERIES:
@ Orlando 32 Buffalo 27, July 27, 2002 (Playoffs)
@ Orlando 48 Buffalo 40, July 13, 2001
@ Orlando 48 Buffalo 40, July 30, 1999

HEAD COACH: Ron Selesky earned 2002 af2 Coach of the Year honors guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular season mark of 13-3 and the Northeast Division championship. The Conquest also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 Arena Cup playoffs. Selesky compiled an overall record of 19-13 in two seasons in the af2 during the regular season with a 1-1 playoff mark.

Selesky joined the Conquest after leading the expansion Louisville Fire to a 6-10 mark in 2001. Prior to his stint in Louisville, Selesky spent one season as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Carolina Cobras. He was the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. While Selesky was in Tampa Bay, the Storm compiled a 31-11 regular-season record and earned a berth in ArenaBowl XII in 1998.

Selesky played college football at North Central College (Division III) in Naperville, Illinois, where he was a four-year starter at left offensive tackle. Following his college career, he played in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings in 1987 and attended NFL camps in San Diego (1988), Miami (1990) and Detroit (1992).

GAME PREVIEW: Buffalo looks for their first ever win over the Orlando Predators. The Destroyers are coming off an impressive 46-39 victory over the New York Dragons where rookie QB Chris Sanders threw five touchdown passes in his first career AFL start. Buffalo is 1-1 this season against the Southern Division, beating the Georgia Force and falling to the Tampa Bay Storm.

DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: Buffalo finishes its three game road trip as they head west to meet the Los Angeles Avengers next Friday, April 18 at 10:30 p.m.

DESTROYERS RADIO NETWORK: The Buffalo Destroyers will have 13 of 16 games broadcast on radio this season. WNSA 107.7 FM in Buffalo will serve as the flagship station for the second consecutive season. WJTN 1240 AM in Jamestown, NY and WSPQ 1330 AM in Springville, NY will pick up all 13 games this season as well.

BUFFALODESTROYERS.com: For all the latest news on the Destroyers, log on to www.buffalodestroyers.com. During games, click on the Gamezone for live scoring and stats. LAST WEEK: Buffalo 46 New York 39

The Destroyers defense held the New York Dragons high powered offense out of the end zone in the final minute of the game to take a 46-39 victory in front of 9,064 fans Sunday afternoon at Nassau Coliseum.

Buffalo took the lead midway through the first on a WR/DB Jarrail Jackson three yard touchdown run, taking a 7-6 lead. New York closed the first half with QB Aaron Garcia connecting with OS Mike Furrey and after the two point conversion, were up 14-7 after the first period.

Buffalo QB Chris Sanders, making his first career AFL start, hooked up with OS James Bowden early in the second period for a seven yard touchdown. After Buffalo held New York on a fourth down and 10, Sanders tossed another touchdown to Bowden as Buffalo went ahead 19-14. Garcia came back with his third touchdown pass, this time to WR/DB Damien Groce to go back ahead 20-19. Buffalo regained the advantage with 13 seconds left in the half on a WR/LB Sir Mawn Wilson one yard touchdown run. Buffalo took a 26-20 lead into the half.

New York opened the second half with Furrey scoring on a two yard run, but Buffalo FB/LB Juan Long caught a screen pass and rumbled 31 yards for the touchdown to go back up 33-27. After another Buffalo stop on defense, Sanders pass bounced off the goal post into the hands of Wilson for a 12 yard score. Buffalo took a 39-27 lead into the fourth quarter.

Sanders and Bowden connected for a third time to extend the Buffalo lead to 46-33 midway through the fourth quarter. Furrey caught his fourth touchdown of the day from Garcia from 18 yards out to close within a touchdown at 46-39. Buffalo OL/DL Donovan Arp came up with a big sack inside a minute as the Destroyers defense forced two incomplete passes by Garcia in the final 10 seconds to earn their first division win of 2003.

Sanders finished the afternoon 21 of 36 for 213 yards five touchdowns. Wilson was Ironman of the Game with five catches for 54 yards one touchdown and had one rush for one yard and a touchdown. He also added four tackles on defense. Bowden garnered Game MVP honors with seven catches for 65 yards and three touchdowns. DS Dwaine Carpenter led the defense with six tackles and DS JoJo Polk added 5.5 tackles.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Orlando 32 Buffalo 27

Playoffs First Round, July 27, 2002

The Orlando Predators eliminated the Destroyers from the 2002 Arena Football League playoffs with a 32-27 win in front of 9,137 fans at the TD Waterhouse Centre.

QB Jeff Loots found OS Lamont Cooper for a 30 yard score to even things up at seven. Predators backup QB Connell Maynor ran in a score as Orlando led 14-7 after the first period.

FB/LB John Motton got the Destroyers on the board in the second on a 19 yard touchdown run to even the score at 14. After Orlando missed a four point drop kick, Buffalo grabbed their first lead of the game with a K Steve McLaughlin 31 yard field goal. Gruden connected with WR/DB Junior Lord with 38 seconds to go as Orlando went up 20-17. The Destroyers had a chance to score at the end of the half as they got down to the eight yard line, but could not stop the clock.

Orlando went three plays and out to start the second half and Lamont Cooper returned the missed field goal 57 yards for a touchdown as Buffalo led 24-20. Coop's 57 yard missed field goal return tied an AFL playoff record. Orlando retaliated in one play with a Gruden 43 yard touchdown pass to Antonio Stanley as the Predators led 26-24. McLaughlin added a 45 yard field goal as Buffalo went back up 27-26. Lord and Gruden hooked up for the second time in the game as Orlando led heading into the fourth 32-27.

Both teams failed to score on their next three possessions. Buffalo got a break with 3:25 remaining in the game when Predators FB/LB Duke Pettijohn fumbled and FB/LB Derrick Chachere recovered at the Destroyers 24 yard line. Buffalo got down to the Predators 14 yard line but turned the ball over on downs. The Destroyers had one more shot with 11 seconds left after Predators K Matt Simonton missed his fourth field goal of the game. On the ensuing play, Loots fumbled the ball and Orlando recovered and then ran out the clock. Neither team scored on their last five possessions of the game.

Lamont Cooper had a game high 200 all-purpose yards (72 receiving, 54 kick return, 74 missed FG return) and two touchdowns. Loots was 16 of 30 for 215 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Buffalo WR/DB Carl Bond was signed from the Predators practice squad last week.

· Orlando K Brian Schmitz was a member of the Destroyers for a month this past off-season. He was traded from Carolina to the Buffalo for the 7th pick in the 2002 Toronto Player Dispersal Draft (10/21/02). He was then obtained by the Predators from the Destroyers in trade for future considerations on 11/22/02.

TEAM NOTES:

Colonel Sanders: QB Chris Sanders made his first career AFL start last week at New York going 21 of 36 for 213 yards and five touchdowns. Sanders has no problem airing it out. He was voted the Associated Press 1995 Texas 5A Offensive Player of the Year at Flower Mound Marcus High School, just outside of Dallas. His 7,519 career passing yards rank 24th in U.S. high school football history. His 4,284 passing yards as a senior in 1995 is the fourth-highest total in U.S. high school football history in any classification.

Action Jackson: WR/DB Jarrail Jackson has shown his versatility this season after spending his rookie season as an OS. This season, Jackson is the team's leading kick returner, second in rushing, fourth in receiving and has played well in the defensive back field. He leads the team in all-purpose yards with 1,128 and his third with seven touchdowns (3-receiving, 2-kick returns, 2- rushing).

What about Mason: WR/LB Kevin Mason was originally a quarterback for the Destroyers. He played 23 games at QB from 1999-2001 for Buffalo going 182 for 333 (54.7%) for 2,042 yards 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is third all-time in attempts and completions and is fourth all-time in passing yards. He was converted to a WR/LB in 2001 and has 62 receptions for 914 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Carp Can: With one interception week nine vs. Detroit, DS Dwaine Carpenter moved into a tie for first all-time in team history with eight picks. He is currently tied for first with Carlos James (2001-2002). Carp is also tied for first all-time with 27 pass defenses. He is tied with Prentice Taylor (2000-02).

Long and Short: FB/LB Juan Long is having a career year. He has rushed for four touchdowns this season. In his previous four seasons in the AFL, Long had two rushing touchdowns. He has already set career highs with 46 receiving yards (43 in 2001), 99 all-purpose yards (73 in 2002) and is eight rushing yards shy of a career high (currently at 53 yards, had 61 last season). Also, his 31 yard touchdown reception last week @ New York was a career best (previous was a 14 yard reception in 2001).

Loots Out For Season: QB Jeff Loots will miss this rest of the season with a torn ligament in his right thumb (throwing hand). Loots injured his thumb late in the third quarter week eight vs. Las Vegas on a 37 yard touchdown pass to OS Gunnard Twyner. Loots was nine of 14 for 130 yards two touchdowns and one interception before the injury. Loots missed two games earlier this season with a separated shoulder suffered in the Destroyers 49-45 win against Arizona on February 14. In six games, Loots is 93 of 157 for 1,233 yards 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. His totals for attempts, completions, yards and touchdown passes are all career highs.

Double Trouble: DS JoJo Polk picked off San Jose QB Mark Grieb week seven and returned it 20 yards for a touchdown. Week four @ Georgia, Polk returned a kickoff 11 yards for a touchdown.

Otis, My Man: OL/DL Otis Moore, who signed with the Destroyers March 11, currently is tied for sixth place all-time in the AFL with 11 forced fumbles. Ironically, Moore is tied with current Destroyers FB/LB coach Chad Lindsey. Moore is also 10th all-time with 14.5 tackles for loss.

That A Boy, Rook: WR/DB Chuck Wesley has emerged as one of the top rookies in the AFL after making his pro football debut week four @ Georgia. He is currently third on the team with 26 tackles, three interceptions and four pass breakups. He has scored touchdowns via interception, rushing and receiving.

They Can Play "D": The Destroyers forced a franchise record five turnovers week four @ Georgia. WR/DB Jarrail Jackson and WR/DB Chuck Wesley both notched their first career interceptions in the first quarter. WR/LB Cornelius White picked off a pass in the third quarter returning it 31 yards for a touchdown. Buffalo also forced two fumbles. They are currently third in the AFL with a +6 turnover margin.

Right On Side: Buffalo returned two onside kicks for touchdowns in the fourth quarter week four @ Georgia. With 3:05 left in the game and Buffalo holding a 49-37 lead, OL/DL Ken Bouie picked the ball out of the air returning it nine yards for the touchdown. After another Georgia touchdown, DS JoJo Polk took the onside kick back 11 yards for another Buffalo touchdown.

Not In My House: The Destroyers allowed only 16 points week two against Carolina. That is the fewest points by an opponent in team history. The previous record was set last season (May 11, 2002) when the Destroyers held the Detroit Fury to 21 points.

Getting Defensive: Destroyers DS Dwaine Carpenter was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in week two's 44-16 victory over the Carolina Cobras. This is the second time in his career that he was won this award. Carpenter was named Game MVP finishing with 3.5 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups. His total of five passes defensed ties his own Destroyers single game record, which he set last season vs. Toronto.

Dialing Long Distance: Buffalo QB Jeff Loots hit OS Gunnard Twyner on a 49 yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first half against Carolina week two. That touchdown is the longest pass play in team history. The previous mark was 46 yards, which was done twice (Jim Kubiak to Kevin Mason vs. Carolina on May 18, 2001 and Browning Nagle to Chris Perry vs. Los Angeles on July 14, 2000).

Don't Call It a Comeback: On July 15, 2000, DS JoJo Polk, playing cornerback for the af2 Tulsa Talons against the Charleston SwampFoxes, deflected a pass and crashed headfirst into the padded wall that surrounded the 50-yard field. He blacked out. When he came to, doctors told him he would never walk again. Polk had a broken bone in his neck, and doctors said he would probably be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Polk returned to the field the very next season and led the Grand Rapids Rampage in tackles helping them win the ArenaBowl Championship.

Championship Experience: Four Destroyers players have won ArenaBowl Championships. QB Jeff Loots (Arizona 1997, Albany 1999), OL/DL Mark Valvo (Albany 1999), WR/LB Cornelius White (Albany 1999), and DS JoJo Polk (Grand Rapids 2001). OL/DL Ken Bouie won an ArenaCup (af2) championship last season with the Peoria Pirates.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 8, 2003


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