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Buffalo Destroyers Game Notes

April 28, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
TV: None
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM Jim Brinson and Bob Trimble
Web: www.buffalodestroyers.com/gamezone.html Live Stats and Scores
Officials: Riley Johnson (Referee), Rick DiBernado (Umpire), Neil Brunner (Head Linesman), Paul Engelberts (Line Judge), Bud McCleskey (Back Judge)
Series Record: Detroit leads 2-1
Coaches: Buffalo, Ron Selesky (5-8, 1st season) Detroit, Al Luginbill (6-7, 1st season)

THE SERIES:

Detroit 34 @ Buffalo 14, March 30, 2003
@Detroit 50 Buffalo 48, May 4, 2002
@ Buffalo 49 Detroit 21, May 11, 2002

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 and Detroit will meet for the second time this season. Buffalo will look to avenge a 34-14 defeat at the hands of the Fury March 30 at the HSBC Arena. The game was moved from Sunday, May 4 to Thursday, May 1 to accommodate an NBA playoff game for the Detroit Pistons. The Fury are one game ahead of Buffalo in both the Eastern Division and the playoff race.

DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: Buffalo hosts the New York Dragons in its 2003 home finale Sunday, May 11 at 3:00 p.m. at the HSBC Arena. Buffalo beat New York 46-39 at Nassau Coliseum on April 6.

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 36 Indiana 35

The Destroyers defense stopped a two point conversion with no time left on the clock as Buffalo got the better of the Indiana Firebirds 36-35 in front of 7,691 fans Saturday night at the HSBC Arena.

Buffalo QB Bob Bees, their fifth starter of the season, threw for three touchdowns and 193 yards in his first AFL game since the 2000 season. Buffalo got on the board when WR/DB Jarrail Jackson ran it in from two yards out with 5:55 left in the second quarter. Indiana led 10-7. FB/LB Juan Long tallied the Destroyers second touchdown late in the second on a one yard run. It was Long's fifth rushing touchdown of the season and set a career high for rushing yards in a season with 62 yards this season. Indiana led at halftime 20-14.

Buffalo opened the second half with Bees hitting OS Gunnard Twyner for a 24 yard touchdown as Buffalo took its first lead of the game 21-20. That was Bees first career touchdown pass. Indiana K Clay Rush hit a 40 yard field goal on the ensuing drive as the Firebirds took a 23-21 lead into the fourth quarter.

WR/LB Cornelius White caught a three yard touchdown pass in the back of the endzone with 7:28 left in the game as Buffalo regained the lead 28-23. After an Indiana touchdown, White reeled in a 23 yard pass from Bees to go back up 36-29 with less than one minute to play. Indiana scored with no time left after they had three plays after the final buzzer due to Destroyers penalties, but the conversion failed and Buffalo came away with the win.

Twyner finished with seven receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown. White had four receptions for 52 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson earned Ironman of the Game honors with 111 all-purpose yards (72 kick return, 20 receiving, 16 missed field goal return and three rushing) and one touchdown. He also had 3.5 tackles.

DS Dwaine Carpenter was named game MVP with a game high nine tackles (nine solo) and three pass breakups. OL/DL Ken Bouie and OL/DL Silas Demary each added a sack.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Detroit 34 Buffalo 14 HSBC ARENA, March 30, 2003

The Destroyers defense held the Detroit Fury offense, which averages over 53 points a game, to 34 points but failed to build on their first half performance falling 34-14 front of 7,197 fans at the HSBC Arena.

Buffalo got the first stop of the game, WR/DB Chuck Wesley knocked the ball out of the hands of Fury OS Sulecio Sanford on the Buffalo five yard line and DS Dwaine Carpenter recovered the ball. QB Tim Carey rewarded Wesley for his efforts finding him for a 23 yard touchdown pass. Buffalo also stopped Detroit on their second drive, Carpenter picked off a QB Andy Kelly pass in the end zone as Buffalo led after one period, 6-0.

Detroit got on the board when WR/LB Junior Lord caught a Kelly pass of the net for a touchdown. Buffalo shot right back, WR/LB Cornelius White reeled in an eight yard pass from Carey. Backup QB Chris Sanders and OL/DL Anthony Hicks hooked up for the two point conversion to go up 14-7. Detroit closed the half with a FB/LB Rupert Grant one yard touchdown to tie the game at 14.

Buffalo's defense got another big stop to start the second half. Hicks batted down a Kelly pass on fourth down and four as Buffalo got the ball back but could not convert on the ensuing possession. Kelly threw his second touchdown of the game to Lord as Detroit led 21-14. After a Carey interception, his second of the game, Kelly threw a six yard touchdown to Sanford to extend their lead to 28-14 after the third.

Carey finished 11 of 24 for 123 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions. Sanders, who replaced Carey in the fourth quarter who left with a pulled groin, was five of nine for 55 yards. OS Jarrail Jackson finished with a game high 187 all-purpose yards. He also led the Destroyers with a game high seven receptions for 53 yards.

Wesley led the defense with a game high 8.5 tackles (eight solo), one tackle for a loss, three pass breakups and one forced fumble. Carpenter tallied four tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Detroit WR/LB Thomas Bailey played one season for the Destroyers in 2002. Bailey was Buffalo's fourth leading receiver with 23 catches for 316 yards and seven touchdowns. He added 23 tackles and two interceptions on defense.

· Buffalo FB/LB Juan Long played for Detroit head coach Al Luginbill on the XFL champion Los Angeles Xtreme in 2001.

SERIES NOTES:

· FB/LB Juan Long earned Ironman of the Game honors in the Destroyers 49-21 win over Detroit May 11, 2002. Long had a career high 21 rushing yards on three carries. He also had two tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one forced fumble.

· WR/DB Jarrail Jackson made his AFL debut for the Destroyers May 11, 2002 vs. Detroit. Jackson caught four passes for 63 yards and a touchdown. He also had a 20 yard kickoff return to lead the team with 83 all-purpose yards.

· DS Dwaine Carpenter had a game high 7.5 tackles along with one interception and one pass breakup May 11, 2002 vs. Detroit.

· WR/DB Chuck Wesley caught his first career touchdown pass, a 23 yarder March 30, 2003 vs. Detroit. He also led the defense with 8.5 tackles, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one tackle for loss.

TEAM NOTES:

Feel The Sting: Buffalo QB Bob Bees played in his first AFL game since 2000 last week leading the Destroyers to a 36-35 win over Indiana that put Buffalo back in the playoff hunt. He was 15 of 28 for 193 yards three touchdowns and one interception. Bees spent the first 12 games of the season as the backup to 2002 Offensive Player of the Year Mark Grieb in San Jose but did not see any action. He previously played for the Oklahoma Wranglers in 2000 appearing in two games going three of nine for 31 yards and one interception.

Injury Bug: The Destroyers put QB Kevin Mason and FB/LB Mike Guazzo on Injured Reserve last week. Mason sprained his neck after he went head first into the wall and Guazzo broke his shoulder week 12 @ LA. Buffalo has lost 65 man games to injury this season.

Record Breaker: With three pass breakups last week vs. Indiana, DS Dwaine Carpenter set a franchise record with 34 passes defended moving past former teammate Prentice Taylor who had 33 from 2000-02. With his interception week nine vs. Detroit, Carp 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 has also tied season records for pass breakups (15 with Prentice Taylor 2001) and passes defended (20 with Corey Johnson 2002).

Smoking Gun: OS Gunnard Twyner set Destroyers single season records last week with his 101 yard, one touchdown performance. He set the record for most games with 100 or more receiving yards at 5 (Lamont Cooper, 2002, and Bobby Olive, 2000, each had 4). His 16th touchdown catch of the season broke Bobby Olive's record of 15 from 2000.

Long and Short: FB/LB Juan Long is having a career year. He has rushed for five touchdowns this season. In his previous four seasons in the AFL, Long had two rushing touchdowns. He has already set career highs with 62 rushing yards (61 in 2002), 46 receiving yards (43 in 2001) and 108 all-purpose yards (73 in 2002). Also, his 31 yard touchdown reception week 10 @ New York was a career best (previous was a 14 yard reception in 2001).

Action Jackson: WR/DB Jarrail Jackson is looking to become only the second player in Destroyers history to pass the 2,000 all-purpose yards mark in a season. (Lamont Cooper had 2,746 yards in 2002) Entering the week, Jackson has 1,604 all-purpose yards (10th in the AFL). This season, Jackson is the team's leading kick returner, second in rushing and fourth in receiving. He also third with eight touchdowns (3-receiving, 2-kick returns, 3- rushing).

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 33 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.

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.

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 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 28, 2003


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