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Buffalo Destroyers Game Notes

May 7, 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: William LeMonnier (Referee), Dan Ferrell (Umpire), Allen Baynes (Head Linesman), David Chesney (Line Judge), Billy Beckett (Back Judge)
Series Record: New York leads 4-3
Coaches: Buffalo, Ron Selesky (5-9, 1st season) New York, Todd Shell (6-4, 1st season)

THE SERIES:
Buffalo 46 @ New York 39, April 6, 2003
@Buffalo 40 New York 35, June 8, 2002
@New York 69 Buffalo 54, April 28, 2002
@Buffalo 58 New York 51, June 8, 2001
@New York 70 Buffalo 58, April 27, 2001
Iowa 56 @ Buffalo 35, April 22, 2000
@Iowa 49 Buffalo 42, June 12, 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 and New York will meet for the second time this season after Buffalo beat the Dragons 46-39 last month on Long Island. This game is pivotal for playoff seeding as Buffalo is one game out of the last playoff spot, which is currently held by the Dragons. If Buffalo wins, they would take over the final playoff spot because they would own the tie breaker with New York by owning a 2-0 head to head record.

DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: Buffalo finishes the regular season next Sunday, May 18 as they make their first ever trip to Las Vegas to meet the Gladiators at 6:00 p.m. (EST) at the Thomas and Mack Center. The game will be televised on the Empire Sports Network.

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: Detroit 50 Buffalo 48

The Destroyers defense forced a turnover on downs as the clock was running down to less than two seconds, but did not get to have one last offensive play as the clock was run out and the Destroyers lost a tough 50-48 decision to the Detroit Fury in front of 4,713 fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Detroit went up 13-0 before the Destroyers had the ball on offense but Buffalo quickly made the score 14-13. On their first possession, QB Bob Bees tossed a 16 yard touchdown to WR/LB Cornelius White. When Detroit got the ball back, OL/DL Alex Houston sacked Fury QB Andy Kelly forcing him to fumble and Houston recovered on the Fury 18 yard line. On the next play, Bees found OS Carl Bond in the endzone for an 18 yard score.

Detroit scored 10 points in the last 16 seconds of the second quarter to take a 30-14 lead into the locker room.

White opened the scoring in the second half reeling in a 32 yard touchdown from Bees to close within nine at 30-21. DS Dwaine Carpenter intercepted Kelly in the endzone, his sixth of the season and his ninth of his career to set a Destroyers career record.

Detroit extended their lead to 37-21 on Kelly’s third touchdown pass of the game early in the fourth. Buffalo pulled within nine again on a wild play as Bees hit White on a screen pass and White leaped at the goal line, fumbled and the ball was recovered by OL/DL Steve Scifres in the endzone for the Buffalo touchdown. It was Scifres first career touchdown. After a Detroit score, Buffalo came right back as Bees and Bond hooked up for a nine yard touchdown. Detroit led 43-34. On the next Fury drive, Kelly was intercepted by WR/DB Chuck Wesley and on the next play Bees rewarded Wesley with a 24 yard touchdown as Buffalo pulled within two at 43-41 with 1:36 left in the game. Buffalo forced a fourth and long with 45 seconds left but Detroit scored as Grovesteen caught a pass in the back of the endzone. Buffalo recovered quickly as Wesley caught his second touchdown from nine yards out to once again close the gap to two at 50-48 with 24 seconds left. The Fury went four plays and out with two seconds left but the clock continued to run as the game ended without Buffalo getting one last chance to have an offensive play.

Bees finished 18 of 29 for 238 yards and six touchdowns. White led the receivers with eight receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns. Bond added four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns.

Wesley had a solid game on both sides of the ball with four receptions for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He had five tackles, one interception and two pass breakups on defense.

DS Dwaine Carpenter led the Destroyers defense with seven tackles, one interception and one pass breakup. DS JoJo Polk had five tackles and three pass breakups.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Buffalo 46 New York 39 Nassau Coliseum, April 6, 2003

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 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.

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.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Buffalo Defensive Coordinator Weylan Harding played two seasons for the Iowa Barnstormers (1995-96). Harding led the Barnstormers with 68 tackles in 1996. Ironically, former Destroyers WR/DB and current Dragon Carlos James was second with 56.5 tackles for Iowa in 1996. James played two seasons in Buffalo (2001-02) and is second all-time in scoring (168), tied for second in interceptions (8), fifth in tackles (76) and fifth in all-purpose yards (1,140).

· Dragons DS Corey Johnson played two seasons in Buffalo (2000,2002). Johnson was the leading tackler for Buffalo last season with 70 tackles. He also broke the team record for interceptions in a season with seven.

· Dragons OL/DL Jerry Sharp appeared in seven games for Buffalo this season recording 4.5 tackles and two pass breakups. He also spent the 2002 season with Buffalo.

· Dragons Assistant Coach Derrick Chachere played two seasons with Buffalo (2001-02).

TEAM NOTES:

Bees Gets Straight A’s: Buffalo QB Bob Bees has rejuvenated the Destroyers offense since he made his debut two weeks ago. In two games, Bees has passed for 431 yards nine touchdowns and only 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 have been hit hard by injuries this season. Buffalo has lost its top two QB’s and top receiver to injuries as well as many linemen. Buffalo has lost 73 games to injury this season.

Record Breaker: With an interception and pass breakup last week @ Detroit, DS Dwaine Carpenter set a franchise record with nine career interceptions. Earlier this season, he set a franchise record with 36 passes defended. Carp has also has season records for pass breakups (16) and passes defended (22).

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 1,745 all-purpose yards (9th in the AFL). This season, Jackson is the team’s leading kick returner, second in rushing and third in receiving. He also third with eight touchdowns (3-receiving, 2-kick returns, 3- rushing).

Smoking Gun: OS Gunnard Twyner set Destroyers single season records week 13 vs. Indiana 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 six touchdowns this season. In his previous four seasons in the AFL, Long had two rushing touchdowns. He has already set career highs with 74 rushing yards (61 in 2002), 46 receiving yards (43 in 2001) and 120 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).

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 38 tackles, four interceptions and six 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.

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