Carolina Cobras Game Notes
April 23, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Carolina Cobras (0-12) vs. Arizona Rattlers (7-5)
Date: April 26, 2003
Kickoff: 10:00 p.m.
Site: America West Arena (16,321)
Officials: Wes Fritz (Referee), Tony Payne (Umpire), Rich Grube (Head Linesman), Kent Payne (Line Judge), James Cole (Back Judge)
Series Record: Arizona leads all-time series 3-0
Coaches: Carolina: Mike Hold (1st Season, 0-12) Arizona: Danny White (12th Season, 122-57)
THE SERIES: Arizona leads all-time series 3-0
@ Arizona 44, Carolina 42 â July 8, 2001
Arizona 48, @ Carolina 42 (OT) â June 7, 2002
@ Arizona 61, Carolina 59 â August 4, 2002
COBRAS LAST WEEK: The Cobras committed a franchise-record eight turnovers in a 59-19 loss to the Georgia Force at the Charlotte Coliseum. Georgia's defense forced five interceptions and three fumbles in handing the Cobras their 12th consecutive loss despite a franchise-record 413 all-purpose yards from Bernard Holmes. The performance was the third best single-game showing in Arena Football League history. Holmes had nine receptions for 125 yards, returned nine kickoffs for 216 yards and had two missed field goal returns for 72 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown. It was his franchise record sixth 100-plus receiving yard game of the season. Stewart Patridge completed 16-of-35 passes for 173 yards and one touchdown, but threw four interceptions on the night. RATTLERS LAST WEEK: The Rattlers won their second consecutive road overtime game and tied the franchise record with 82 points in an 82-81 win at Los Angeles. The two teams combined for 163 points, the second highest total in the history of the Arena Football League. Sherdrick Bonner tied his career high with nine touchdown passes on 26-of-43 passing for 358 yards. FB/LB Bo Kelly led the Rattlers attack, rushing for 44 yards and a touchdown on five attempts. Kelly also caught three passes for 60 yards and the game-winning touchdown. Randy Gatewood and Orshawante Bryant each had four touchdown receptions.
HEAD COACHES: After two seasons as head coach of the af2 Augusta Stallions, Mike Hold is making his AFL coaching debut with the Cobras in 2003. He led the Stallions to a combined 22-10 record in his two years, including a 13-3 mark and playoff appearance in 2002. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Hold spent 12 seasons as an AFL quarterback. He saw action for eight teams during his tenure and was the last remaining active player from the league's first season when he retired in 2000. Hold had training camp stints with the Denver Broncos (1986) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987, 88). He appeared in three games for Tampa Bay during the NFL strike in 1987. A 1985 graduate of the University of South Carolina, Hold led the Gamecocks to the school's only 10-win season in 1984 and earned MVP honors of the Gator Bowl. Despite playing only two seasons, he ranks seventh on the school's all-time passing yards list with 2,981 yards.
Head Coach and General Manager Danny White is in his 12th season with the Arizona Rattlers. The 2002 Arena Football Hall of Fame inductee is second all-time in coaching victories, with 122 wins. White is only the second coach in AFL history to notch 100 wins. White's career-winning percentage of .682 ranks fifth all-time in AFL history. He is a two-time ArenaBowl Champion (1994, 1997).
LAST YEAR'S COBRAS-RATTLERS MEETINGS:
Arizona 61, Carolina 59 (8/4/02 at Arizona â Playoffs)
John Fitzgerald completed 19 of 31 passes for 338 yards and six touchdowns, but the Cobras could not hold off a furious second-half rally by the 2nd-seeded Rattlers. Carolina scored three touchdowns in the final 30 seconds of the first half to take a 39-20 lead into the break. The second half was all Arizona, as the Rattlers held Carolina scoreless in the third quarter to cut the lead to 39-35. The Rattlers took their first lead of the game at 55-52 on a Randy Gatewood pass from Sherdrick Bonner with 1:35 remaining. The Cobras responded and regained the lead, 59-55, on a Cory Fleming 16-yard touchdown reception with just nine seconds left. However, Bonner found Chris Horn for the game-winning 32-yard TD pass off the net as time expired. Fleming and Aaron Bailey each had three TD receptions for the Cobras.
Arizona 48, Carolina 42 (OT) (6/7/02 at Carolina)
In another thriller, Chris Horn scored three times to lead the Rattlers to a 48-42 victory. Horn uncharacteristically ran the ball into the end zone 4:22 into the extra period for the win. He finished with eight receptions for 159 yards. Sherdrick Bonner was 20-of-37 for 265 yards and four TDs. Bonner gave Arizona a 42-35 lead with 43 seconds remaining on an 11-yard strike to Hunkie Cooper. Carolina sent the game into overtime on a 15-yard pass from John Fitzgerald to Cory Fleming as time expired. Fleming finished with eight catches for 97 yards and two TDs. Fitzgerald was 27-of-43 for 278 yards and three scores.
INJURY UPDATES: DS Larry Casher is probable with an ankle injury suffered against Tampa Bay...WR/DB Buddy Crutchfield was placed on injured reserve last week with a quad contusion.
COBRAS MILESTONES:
OS Ben Bronson needs:
⢠1 receiving touchdown for 50
QB Robert Hall needs:
⢠130 passing yards to reach 7,500
OS Bernard Holmes needs:
⢠6 receiving touchdowns to reach 50
⢠1 touchdown to set a new Cobras season record
⢠11 receptions to set a new Cobras season record
⢠155 receiving yards to set a new Cobras season record
WR/LB Ty Law needs:
⢠270 receiving yards to reach 3,000
⢠4 receiving touchdowns to reach 50
DS Derek Stingley
â¢1 pass breakup for 100
COBRAS NEXT WEEK: The Cobras return home to face the Chicago Rush on Sunday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m. The Rush won the only previous meeting 41-38 on April 28, 2001 at Chicago.
SNAKE BITES:
Record-Setting Losing Streaks: Last week's loss to Georgia was the Cobras' franchise-record 12th straight. The previous long streak of eight came during the 2000 campaign. The AFL record for consecutive losses to start the season is 14 set by Memphis in 1996. The Cobras have lost six straight at home and on the road, both franchise records. One For The Record Book: OS Bernard Holmes had the best game of his career and the third-best overall performance in Arena Football history last Friday when he recorded a franchise-record 413 all-purpose yards in the Cobras loss to Georgia. Holmes had nine receptions for 125 yards, returned nine kickoffs for 216 yards and had two missed field goal returns for 72 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown. Below are the top three all-purpose yardage games in Arena Football history:
Player Date Team Yards
Barry Wagner 6/21/96 Orl. vs. Iowa 434
Lamont Cooper 5/4/02 Buf. at Det. 415
Bernard Holmes 4/18/03 Car. vs. Geo. 413
Holmes Continues To Shine: No player has had a bigger impact for the Cobras this season than Bernard Holmes.
He has recorded 200 or more all-purpose yards in each of his last nine games played and leads the AFL with 241.1 all-purpose yards per game. So far this season, he has recorded six of the eight best single-game all-purpose yardage totals in franchise history. Holmes has already set new franchise season records for 100-yard receiving games (6), kickoff returns (66), kickoff return yards (1,365), combined return yards (1,463) and all-purpose yards (2,411). His 180 receiving yards on March 9 against Las Vegas and 13 receptions on April 4 at Los Angeles were career highs. Below are the top eight all-purpose yardage games in Cobras history:
Climbing The Charts: In just 10 games played, Holmes ranks as one of only three players in AFL history to have nine or more games of 200 or more all-purpose yards in a season.
Player Season Team Games
Lamont Cooper 2001 Oklahoma 12
Steve Papin 1998 San Jose 10
Steve Papin 2002 New York 9
Bernard Holmes 2003 Carolina 9
A Night To Forget: Carolina's 40-point loss to Georgia last week was the second worst in franchise history, equaling the team's 60-20 loss at Tampa Bay on opening night. Carolina's 19 total points were the organization's third fewest. It was the second time this season that the Cobras have been held under 20 points and the sixth time that the team has lost by 20 or more.
The Quarterback Carousel: The Cobras have used five different quarterbacks this season, but have settled in with Stewart Patridge as the starter the last three weeks. Chad DeGrenier started the season opener at Tampa Bay, throwing four interceptions. Patridge got the nod in week two at Buffalo. Robert Hall was the starter in weeks three and four against Detroit and Orlando. Rookie Glen Gauntt got the start in week five at Grand Rapids. Ron Lopez got the starting nod in week six against Las Vegas. Lopez was replaced in the fourth quarter of that game by Hall, who started the next three weeks. Patridge returned to the starting lineup in week 10 at Los Angeles.
The AFL's Version Of Slash: QB Robert Hall has thrown 24 touchdowns this year, rushed for six more and has two receptions for 31 yards. Hall has seen action as both a quarterback and offensive specialist during his AFL career. He is the only player in league history to have 2,000 passing yards and 2,000 receiving yards in his career.
Third Quarter Woes: The Cobras have scored just 68 points in the third quarter this season, an average of only 5.7 points per game. Carolina has been outscored 164-68 in the period, including 21-0 in last week's loss to Georgia.
A Passing Frenzy: The Cobras defense has allowed opponents to complete 68.6 percent of their passes over the last eight games (164-of-239). Four of those eight games have seen opposing quarterbacks complete over 70-percent of their attempts.
Might Want To Skip The Georgia Games: Matt George ranks ninth in the AFL in PAT percentage at 81.8 percent (36-of-44). He would lead the league if it weren't for his two games against Georgia. He is 2-of-8 against the Force this season and 34-of-36 (.944) against the rest of the league. George's 51-yard field goal on April 11 against Tampa Bay tied the longest in Cobras franchise history. It was the fourth 50-plus yard field goal of his career. He Only Scores Touchdowns: WR/DB Jamaal Garman has scored six touchdowns in his seven games played this season. Five of his 15 receptions have been for scores and his lone rush of the season last week against Georgia resulted in the first rushing touchdown of his career.
Post To Post: Carolina has allowed a franchise record five kickoff returns for touchdowns this season and one missed field goal return for a touchdown. In the previous three years of the team's history, the Cobras had allowed only six kickoff returns for touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, Bernard Holmes has returned two kickoffs for scores and one missed FG for a touchdown.
Nick At Night: WR/DB Nick Ward had the best game of his three-year AFL career on April 11 against Tampa Bay. Ward had seven receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns on offense, all of which are new career-highs. Defensively, he had 5.0 tackles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and one interception.
Cobras Among League Leaders: OS Bernard Holmes leads the AFL in all-purpose yards per game with 241.1 per outing...Holmes is 2nd in kickoff returns (66), 2nd in all-purpose yardage (2411), 3rd in kickoff return yardage (1365), tied for 6th in kickoff return TDs (2), 7th in receiving yards per game (94.8) and tied for 8th in receptions (79)...K Matt George is tied for the league lead in field goal attempts (30), is tied for 5th in field goals made (10), is 9th in PAT percentage (81.8) and is 10th in scoring among kickers (66)...DS Larry Casher is 11th in the league in tackles with 54.5.
The True Ironmen: WR/DB Nick Ward and K Matt George are the only two players that have appeared in every game for the Cobras this season.
Patridge Makes His Mark: QB Stewart Patridge made his second start of the season on April 4 at Los Angeles and quickly put his mark on the Cobras record book. He posted franchise records of 30 completions and 46 pass attempts, throwing for 287 yards and six touchdowns, both of which are season-highs for a Cobras quarterback.
From Teammate to Coach: WR/DB Ben Bronson, QB Robert Hall and OS Bernard Holmes were teammates of Cobras head coach Mike Hold with the Houston ThunderBears.
It's A Small World: Defensive coordinator Flint Fleming was a teammate of OL/DL Jim Stiebel with the Buffalo Destroyers in 2000. Fleming played with WR/DB Bernard Holmes and WR/DB Nick Ward as a member of the Florida Bobcats in 2001.
Supporting Our Military: To show their support for the men and women serving in our armed forces at home and overseas, the Carolina Cobras are offering special discounts and, when available, complimentary tickets for all armed forces personnel and their families to any Cobras game for the remainder of the 2003 season. To take advantage of this offer, armed forces personnel and/or their families will be asked to present a military ID at the Charlotte Coliseum box office to receive the tickets.
Check Your Calendar: The Cobras final road game of the season will be played at Orlando on Friday, May 9 instead of Sunday, May 11 as originally scheduled. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at the TD Waterhouse Center.
COBRAS PLAYERS TO WATCH:
OS Bernard Holmes: Holmes has posted 200 or more all-purpose yards in each of his last nine games, including a franchise-record 413 yards last week against Georgia. He leads the AFL with 241.1 all-purpose yards per game and has recorded six of the top eight all-purpose yardage games in franchise history this season. His 180 receiving yards on March 9 against Las Vegas and 13 receptions on April 4 at Los Angeles are career highs. Holmes is 2nd in the league in kickoff returns (66), 2nd in all-purpose yardage (2411), 3rd in kickoff return yardage (1365), tied for 6th in kickoff return TDs (2), 7th in receiving yards per game (94.8) and tied for 8th in receptions (79).
QB Stewart Patridge: Patridge has started each of the last three games since taking the starting role on April 4 at Los Angeles. In that three-game span, he has completed 66-of-122 passes for 11 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also rushed for two touchdowns.
DS Derek Stingley: Stingley ranks among the league's leaders with 12 passes defended and 41.0 tackles this season. He has recorded at least one pass breakup in nine of his 10 games played. Stingley has posted a season-high with 8.0 tackles three times â February 14 vs. Detroit, March 21 vs. Dallas and April 11 vs. Tampa Bay.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
April 23: Signed Aundrae Harris, signed Blaine Mensch from the practice squad.
April 22: Released Van Johnson, waived John Barnes, Jerness Gethers and Glen Mitts.
April 18: Signed Adrian Jones to the practice squad, waived Kelron Sykes from the practice squad.
April 16: Activated Ben Bronson and Van Johnson from injured reserve, placed Buddy Crutchfield on injured reserve, waived Adrian Jones.
April 15: Activated Jim Stiebel from injured reserve, waived Kyle Benn.
April 11: Signed Blaine Mensch to the practice squad.
April 10: Activated Buddy Crutchfield from injured reserve.
April 9: Signed Kyle Benn and Robert Stewart, waived Blaine Mensch.
April 8: Released Michael Blair and Tramain Jones, waived Johnny Frost from the practice squad, signed Kelron Sykes to the practice squad.
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