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Buffalo Game Notes

February 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Buffalo Destroyers vs. Carolina Cobras
Date: Sunday, February 9, 2003.
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. (EST).
Site: HSBC Arena (18,457).
Officials: David Lambros (Referee), Al Granado (Umpire), Mike McCabe (Head Linesman), Craig Worlstad (Line Judge), Dino Paganelli (Back Judge).
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM Jim Brinson and Bob Trimble
TV: None
Series Record: Cobras lead 3-0
Coaches: Buffalo, Ron Selesky (0-1, 1st season) Carolina, Mike Hold (0-1, 1st season)

THE SERIES:

Carolina holds a 3-0 series lead over Buffalo.
July 12, 2002 Carolina 52 @ Buffalo 31
June 17, 2001 Carolina 53 @ Buffalo 44
May 4, 2001 @ Carolina 59 Buffalo 57

HEAD COACH: Ron Selesky (1st season, 0-1) 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: This week's game features two first year AFL head coaches looking for their first career AFL head coaching victory. This will be only the second time in the team's history that Buffalo has played a home game on a Sunday. The last Sunday home game was ironically against the Cobras on June 17, 2001. Carolina won that game 53-44. Sunday's game is also "Hunter's Game of Hope". The Destroyers and the Hunter's Hope Foundation are raising money to help fight Krabbe Leukodystrophy. Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and his family will attend the game. Destroyers owner Mark Hamister will present the Kelly family with a check at halftime for the money raised for the Hunter's Hope Foundation.

DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: The Fleet host the ArenaBowl XVI runner up Arizona Rattlers on Valentine's Day, February 14 at 7:30 PM at the HSBC Arena.

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.

LAST WEEK: Grand Rapids 54 Buffalo 36 The Destroyers opened the 2003 season with a 54-36 defeat at the hands of the Grand Rapids Rampage last Saturday night in front of 8,342 fans at the HSBC Arena.

Buffalo got on the board first as QB Jeff Loots hit OS Gunnard Twyner on a 25 yard touchdown pass. The extra point was blocked. The score was set up by a DS JoJo Polk fumble recovery on Grand Rapids first possession. Grand Rapids fired back on the next possession with a touchdown as they led after the first quarter 7-6.

After a Buffalo missed a field goal, Rampage QB Clint Dolezel found OS Steve Smith in the end zone for the second time, Rampage led 14-6. Buffalo pulled within one, 14-13, as Loots threw a 20 yard touchdown pass to WR/DB Bret Cooper. After both teams traded touchdowns, Grand Rapids hit two field goals in the last minute and a half to Buffalo's one as the Rampage led at halftime, 27-22.

Buffalo failed to convert on a fourth down to start the third quarter and the Rampage made them pay with a Dolezel to Ricky Ross 11 yard touchdown. Buffalo shot right back as Loots found Twyner for the third time in the game as Buffalo again closed the gap to five, 34-29. Grand Rapids began to pull away after that scoring two unanswered touchdowns to go up 47-29 early in the fourth.

Buffalo brought the deficit to 11 when Loots found Cooper wide open in the end zone for a 29 yard score as Grand Rapids led, 47-36. On the ensuing drive for Grand Rapids, OL/DL Silas Demary sacked Dolezel as he fumbled and Buffalo had a chance to recover but couldn't. After the recovery, Grand Rapids was faced with a third and long but Cooper was flagged for a personal foul and Grand Rapids was awarded a first down and Buffalo could not catch up after that play.

Loots finished 17 of 32 for 246 yards and five touchdowns. Twyner had a game high 134 yards on eight receptions and three touchdowns.

Twyner also had a game high 204 all-purpose yards. Cooper added 62 receiving yards and two scores. DS Dwaine Carpenter had a game high nine tackles (eight solo) and one pass defense. DS JoJo Polk added eight tackles and one pass defense.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Carolina 52 Buffalo 31

The Destroyers dropped their third straight game falling victim to the Carolina Cobras 52-31 in front of 6,685 fans July 12, 2002 at the HSBC Arena. The Destroyers offense came out sharp scoring on their only possession of the first quarter. The Fleet put together six play 37 yard drive while QB Fred McNair hit WR/LB Eddie Brown on a 13 yard touchdown. The score was tied 7-7 after the first period.

Carolina missed two field goals in the second quarter, one blocked by Destroyers OL/DL Jerry Sharp. K Steve McLaughlin hit a 22 yard field goal for Buffalo but Carolina QB John Fitzgerald threw two touchdown passes as the Cobras led at the break 21-10.

McNair hit WR/DB Bret Cooper with a 20 yard touchdown as Buffalo closed the gap to 28-17. The Cobras proved too much for the Destroyers in the fourth outscoring the Fleet 17-7 in the final frame. The lone Destroyers score came on a McNair to Bailey 9 yard touchdown pass.

McNair was 18 of 34 for four touchdowns and one interception. OS Lamont Cooper finished with a game high 182 all-purpose yards (151 kickoff return, 25 receiving, six rushing). Cooper passed the 13,000 career all-purpose yards mark. He is only the seventh player in league history to accomplish that feat. Bret Cooper led the Destroyers receivers with seven receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. Bailey added three catches for 61 yards and two scores.

DS Corey Johnson had a game high 9.5 tackles (9 solo) and one pass breakup. DS Prentice Taylor registered six tackles (5 solo) and a pass breakup. The Destroyers fall to 6-7 on the season and finish 4-3 at HSBC Arena for the second straight season. Carolina ups their record to 6-7.

UPCOMING MILESTONES:

· Bret Cooper needs 90 receiving yards to hit 5,550 for his career.

· Bret Cooper needs 248 receiving yards to pass former teammate Lamont Cooper (5,658) for 13th place in AFL history in receiving yards.

· Bret Cooper (87) needs one touchdown reception to move into 16th place in AFL history. Curtis Ceasar has 88 career touchdowns.

· Jeff Loots needs 126 passing yards to pass the 5,000 career yards mark.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Destroyers head coach Ron Selesky spent one season (2000) as the Cobras director of player personnel and assistant coach.

· Destroyers OL/DL Silas Demary earned 2001 All- Rookie honors with the Carolina Cobras

· Destroyers WR/LB Cornelius White played two seasons for the Cobras (2000-01). He left the Cobras as the franchise leader in points (182), touchdowns (30), receptions (95), receiving yards (1,342), receiving touchdowns (27) and tackles (75.5). He was the only player to participate in the team's first 28 regular-season games. Hew as named Carolina's Ironman of the Year in 2000 after leading the team with 16 touchdowns, 45.5 tackles and two interceptions.

· Destroyers FB/LB coach Chad Lindsey played one season for Carolina in 2000.

CONSECUTIVE GAME STREAKS:

· Jeff Loots has thrown five touchdown passes in each of his last two regular season starts.

· Bret Cooper has at least one reception in each of his 15 career games for the Destroyers.

TEAM NOTES:

Smoking Gun: OS Gunnard Twyner had an outstanding debut for the Destroyers last week. Twyner had a game high 134 receiving yards, three touchdowns and 204 all-purpose yards. In just one game, he already passed his season totals last season of 128 yards and two touchdowns in four games for the Tampa Bay Storm. His eight receptions last week is one shy of his season total of nine from last year as well.

Tough Guys: The Destroyers offensive line did not give up a sack last week. That is a feat they did not accomplish once last season when they gave up a league high 23 sacks.

Definitely Demary: OL/DL Silas Demary got off to a good start in 2003 last week. He recorded the games only sack, forced a fumble and had two tackles.

Coop Can: WR/DB Bret Cooper had a season high seven receptions vs. Carolina last season.

Now that's Sharp: OL/DL Jerry Sharp is re-signing with Buffalo this week. Sharp played last season with the Destroyers. Last season vs. Carolina, Sharp blocked a field goal attempt, the third of his career. He also played for the Cobras in 2000-01.

Long and Short of It: FB/LB Juan Long set a career high last season with 61 rushing yards. His previous high was 44 in 1999 with Grand Rapids.

Covered like a Blanket: DS Dwaine Carpenter had a game high nine tackles last week vs. Grand Rapids. In 12 career games with Buffalo, Carp has been the team's leading tackler six times.

Coaches Connection: Four Destroyers WR/LB Mike Guazzo, WR/LB Anthony Payton, K Mike Moser and OL/DL Alex Houston played for Ron Selesky in af2. Guazzo and Houston played for the Northeast Division champion Albany Conquest last season. Moser and Payton played under Selesky in 2001 with the Louisville Fire.

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.

Super Coop: WR/DB Bret Cooper became the 17th player in AFL history to pass the 5,000 career receiving yards mark with 44 yards June 13, 2002 vs. Toronto.

Cha-Ching: QB Jeff Loots will take over the signal calling duties after serving primarily as the backup to Fred McNair last season. Loots started three games last season including the season finale in LA passing for a season high five touchdowns. Loots set a Destroyers season and career record with a 61.4% completion percentage. Loots had a great 2003 debut passing for 246 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Career Year: OL/DL Hardy Mitchell had a career year in 2002. He tied a career high with one fumble recovery week six vs. Grand Rapids. He blocked his first career FG attempt week eight vs. New York. Mitchell also set a career high's with 12 tackles and two sacks. Payton's Place: WR/LB Anthony Payton, a Leesville, Louisiana native played high school football in Germany and was named best high school player in the country as well as being named to the All-Europe team in 1990 at Stuttgart High School.

A, OK: OL/DL Alex Houston was a first team All-af2 selection last season finishing 2nd in the league with ten tackles for a loss and ranked 3rd with four forced fumbles. His 11.5 sacks also ranked 8th in the af2.

The Replacements: Head Coach Ron Selesky achieved his dream of playing professional football in 1987 when he played part of the season with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings as a replacement player.

Hoops Anyone: Special Teams Coordinator Ryan Gallo is the only coach in the AFL who played college basketball. Gallo played Division I basketball at nearby St. Bonaventure University and was roommates with former Washington Wizards guard David Vanterpool.

Destroyers Diversity: Three of the four assistant coaches for the Destroyers are minorities. The Destroyers have the most minorities on staff than any other team in the AFL.

TRANSACTIONS:

January 8, 2003: PLACED ON REFUSED TO REPORT: OL/DL Evan Pilgrim PLACED ON PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM: OL/DL Jeremy Johnson; OL/DL Mark Valvo

January 9, 2003: SIGNED: OL/DL Mark Holtzman

January 10, 2003: VOIDED CONTRACT: OL/DL Mark Holtzman

January 13, 2003: PLACED ON PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM: FB/LB Juan Long

January 14, 2003: SIGNED: K Mike Moser

January 15, 2003: SIGNED: OL/DL Clyde Wilkins WAIVED: OS Tyree Davis; FB/LB Tyrell Peters

January 17, 2003: SIGNED: OL/DL Antonio Anderson; WR/DB Jason Collins-Baker; FB/LB Eddie Diaz; OL/DL Demond Gibson; FB/LB Dwayne Woods PLACED ON INJURED RESERVE: OL/DL Jose White

January 21, 2003: ACTIVATED FROM PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM: FB/LB Juan Long PLACED ON TEAM SUSPEND: OL/DL Antonio Anderson WAIVED: QB Mike Cawley; OL/DL Seneca Knight; WR/LB Chad Plummer

January 22, 2003: SIGNED: OL/DL Dave Sucura

January 27, 2003: WAIVED: OL/DL Imani Bell, WR/DB Malik Campbell, WR/DB Jason Collins-Baker, OL/DL Gonzalo Floyd, DS Ken Haslip, OL/DL Jason Jewell, WR/DB Van Johnson, OL/DL Brad Keeney, QB Chris Sanders, OL/DL Dave Sucura, FB/LB Corey Terry and OL/DL Clyde Wilkins. INJURED RESERVE: FB/LB Eddie Diaz; OL/DL Jeremy Johnson SIGNED: WR/DB Sir Mawn Wilson

January 28, 2003: SIGNED: OL/DL Ken Bouie

January 31, 2002: SIGNED TO PRACTICE SQUAD: WR/DB Jason Collins-Baker; OL/DL Gonzalo Floyd; QB Chris Sanders

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