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Buffalo Destroyers Game Notes

May 13, 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: Pat Garvey (Referee), Rick Lowe (Umpire), Roger McMinn (Head Linesman), Art Lucky (Line Judge), David Cutaia (Back Judge)
Series Record: Buffalo leads 4-1
Coaches: Buffalo, Ron Selesky (5-10, 1st season) Las Vegas, Frank Haege (15-13, 2nd season)

THE SERIES:
Las Vegas 50 @ Buffalo 32, March 23, 2003
Buffalo 52 @ New Jersey 45, June 23, 2002
@ Buffalo 53 New Jersey 51, April 19, 2002
Buffalo 51 @ New Jersey 31, June 1, 2001
@ Buffalo 39 New Jersey 28, April 21, 2001

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 will wrap up the 2003 season as they make their first trip to Las Vegas this Sunday. The Destroyers look to reach the six win mark for the third straight season. The Destroyers will also look to even up their record when appearing on the Empire Sports Network where Buffalo is 1-2 this season. DS Dwaine Carpenter needs only one tackle to break the team's single season record for tackles (he is currently tied with Antoine Wortham, 1999, at 81 tackles). WR/DB Jarrail Jackson needs 116 yards to become the second player in Destroyers history to amass 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season (Lamont Cooper had 2,746 last season).

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: New York 49 Buffalo 30

The Destroyers came up short in their final home game of the season as they fell to the New York Dragons 49-30 in front of 6,116 fans Sunday afternoon at HSBC Arena.

WR/DB Jarrail Jackson scored on a four yard run on the first possession of the game to give Buffalo a 7-0 lead.

New York took a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter on a K Ian Howfield 46 yard field goal. Buffalo regained the lead midway through the second when QB Bob Bees hit WR/LB Cornelius White in the endzone for a 23 yard touchdown, Buffalo led 13-10. After each team failed to score on their next possessions, Garcia dropped the snap as Buffalo OL/DL Richard McCleskey picked up the ball on the 20 yard line and returned it for a touchdown. Garcia then threw two straight touchdown passes before Buffalo K Gary Kral closed the half with a 21 yard field as New York led 24-23 at halftime.

Garcia threw his fourth touchdown of the game early in the third to go back up by a touchdown at 30-23. New York then scored a safety after Bees was flagged for intentional grounding in the endzone to extend their lead to 32-23 after three quarters.

Buffalo scored in the fourth on a two yard touchdown pass from Bees to OS Carl Bond. Bees was 19 of 34 for 184 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions. White had a game high eight receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. Bond added seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown. Jackson had a game high 139 all-purpose yards (101 kick return, 27 receiving, 10 MFG return and 1 rushing) and a touchdown.

DS JoJo Polk led the Destroyers defense with a game high 8.5 tackles and one pass breakup. Carpenter finished with three tackles, two pass breakups and one interception.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Las Vegas 50 Buffalo 32 HSBC Arena, March 23, 2003

The Destroyers defense held the Las Vegas Gladiators scoreless for over 19 minutes in the second half but could not overcome a 15 point halftime deficit as the Destroyers fell to the Gladiators 50-32 in front of 8,936 fans at HSBC Arena.

Buffalo QB Jeff Loots left the game in the third quarter after tearing a ligament in his right thumb (throwing hand). Loots was nine of 14 for 130 yards two touchdowns and one interception. Backup QB Tim Carey came in relief to pass six of 14 for 68 yards and two touchdowns.

Buffalo got on the board early in the second when Loots tossed a 12 yard touchdown to WR/DB Jarrail Jackson as Las Vegas led 10-7. After another Las Vegas touchdown, WR/DB Chuck Wesley ran it in from seven yards out to pull within three at 17-14. Vegas would score 12 unanswered points to take a 29-14 lead into halftime.

Buffalo OS Gunnard Twyner caught three touchdowns in the second half, one from Loots and two from Carey. Twyner finished with four receptions for 69 yards. Jackson led the Destroyers with six catches for 59 yards and one touchdown. He also returned six kickoffs for 122 yards for a team high 181 all-purpose yards. DS Dwaine Carpenter had a game high 10.5 tackles one interception and one pass breakup. Wesley, DS JoJo Polk and OL/DL Hardy Mitchell each tallied four tackles.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Buffalo OL/DL Richard McCleskey appeared in four games this season for the Gladiators recording 2.5 tackles, one for loss and .5 sacks and a safety.

· Buffalo WR/DB James Bowden played for the Gladiators in 2002 and was their fifth leading receiver with 22 catches for 264 yards and four touchdowns.

· Buffalo OL/DL Alex Houston played for the Gladiators in 2001 appearing in three games and collecting three tackles.

· Buffalo OL/DL Otis Moore spent last season with the Gladiators. Moore had 14 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception.

· Gladiators OL/DL Hardy Mitchell played eight games for Buffalo this season posting 10 tackles, two for loss, a sack and two QB hurries.

· Gladiators OL/DL Jerry Crafts played two seasons in Buffalo from 2001-02. Crafts holds the Destroyers record for longest interception return for touchdown at 39 yards.

· Gladiators QB Jay McDonagh played for Buffalo in three games in 1999 passing for 179 yards and three touchdowns.

· Gladiators OL/DL Wilky Bazile played the 2000 season with Buffalo recording two sacks and 4.5 tackles.

TEAM NOTES:

Bees Gets A's: Buffalo QB Bob Bees has rejuvenated the Destroyers offense since he made his debut three weeks ago. In three games, Bees has passed for 615 yards 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. 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 81 player games to injury this season.

Record Breaker: DS Dwaine Carpenter tied the Destroyers single season record for tackles with 81 last week vs. New York. He is currently tied with Antoine Wortham (1999). Carp has also set franchise records with 10 career interceptions and 39 passes defended. Carp has also has season records for pass breakups (18) and passes defended (25).

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 1,884 all-purpose yards (8th in the AFL). This season, Jackson is the team's leading kick returner, second in rushing and third in receiving. He also third with nine touchdowns (4- rushing , 3-receiving, 2-kick returns).

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 five touchdowns this season. In his previous four seasons in the AFL, Long had two rushing touchdowns. He has already set career highs with 76 rushing yards (61 in 2002), 46 receiving yards (43 in 2001) and 122 all-purpose yards (73 in 2002). Also, his 31 yard touchdown reception week 10 @ New York was a career best (previous was 14 yards in 2001).

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 41 tackles, four interceptions and seven 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 in 2002 with Peoria.

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