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Central Valley Coyotes game notes

May 3, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Central Valley Coyotes News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Game: Central Valley Coyotes at Tulsa Talons
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2005
Kickoff: 5:00 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: Tulsa, Okla.
Arena: Tulsa Convention Center (7,111)
Radio: ESPN Radio 1430 AM (Antoine Ibrahim, Marcas Grant)
Series Record: Talons lead 3-1
Last Meeting: Tulsa 62, Bakersfield 49 – June 21, 2003, Tulsa Convention Center
Officials: Joe Pester (R), Chad Bowers (U), Marc Bovos (HL), Larry Smith (LJ), Scott Gasaway (BJ)
Head Coaches: Central Valley – Fred Bilietnikoff Jr. (second season, 5-6) Tulsa – David Alexander (first season, 3-1)

2005 COYOTES: Although Central Valley struggled last season to a 3-13 record, they have matched their 2004 win total in just their fourth game. Coyote head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr., who took over as head coach last mid-season, hopes his new-look squad can maintain a share of first place in the West Division defeating Tulsa in their first meeting since they moved to Fresno. QB Juston Wood seems to be finding his rhythm as he has thrown ten touchdowns and rushed in two in his last two games. Additional returnees, WR/LB Marvin Brown and WR/DB LaMonte Jones have combined for 18 catches for 200 yards this year. The team has found "instant offense" with the acquisition WR/LB George Williams, as he has recorded five TD's in his last two games. The team has gotten a boost defensively with the additions of DS's, Marvin Owens and Joshua Robinson, who is the team's leading tackler with 24. FB/LB Clint Merz is emerging as one the Coyote's best pass rusher as he has recorded 12 tackles in four games. On the front line, fourth-year veteran Oscar Grajeda and third-year star Ahmad Bhatti have provided experience. WR/DB DeRonn Finley, is helping fill the void that OS Kenyatte Morgan left while leading the team with 19 catches and one kick return for a score. WR/DB Michael Duncan is poised to become the team's top two-way star as he has recorded 12 receptions 10 tackles and one interception on the year. FB/LB Vai Notoa, who was Hawaii's all- time leading rusher last season, leads the rushing attack with 52 yards on 13 carries and one touchdown.
THE SERIES: This is the first time the two teams will meet since the Coyotes franchise moved to Fresno. The teams met four times while the team was in Bakersfield and known as the Blitz. The Talons took the first two contests in 2002, 48-27 and 57-50. In 2003, the two teams split the series with the Blitz winning the first game at Centennial Garden, 45-40 on June 14. The Talons won the rematch the following week at the Tulsa Convention Center, 62-49 on June 21.

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (3-1)
Date Opponent Time(P) Radio
April 2 @ Bakersfield Win 33-20
April 16 @ Oklahoma City Loss 48-41
April 23 Arkansas Win 71-41
April 30 Bakersfield Win 40-21
May 7 @ Tulsa 6:00 AM 1430
May 14 Rio G. Valley 7:30 AM 1430
May 21 @ Amarillo 6:00 AM 1430
May 28 @ San Diego 7:00 AM 1430
June 4 Tulsa 7:30 AM 1430
June 11 San Diego 7:30 AM 1430
June 18 @ Rio G. Valley 6:30 AM 1430
June 24 @ Bakersfield 7:00 AM 1430
July 9 Bakersfield 7:30 AM 1430
July 16 @ San Diego 7:00 AM 1430
July 23 Memphis 7:30 AM 1430
July 30 San Diego 7:30 AM 1430

TULSA TALONS (3-1)
Date Opponent Time(P) Score
April 1 Amarillo Loss 62-55
April 9 @ Bossier-Shrev. Win 61-51
April 23 @ San Diego Win 55-37
April 30 Oklahoma City Win 47-34
May 7 Central Valley 5:00
May 13 @ Bakersfield 7:00
May 21 Macon 5:00
May 28 Bakersfield 5:00
June 4 @ Central Valley 7:30
June 11 @ Rio G. Valley 5:30
June 18 San Diego 5:00
June 25 Arkansas 5:00
July 9 @ Memphis 5:00
July 16 Rio G. Valley 5:00
July 23 Amarillo 5:00
July30 @ Oklahoma City 5:30


COYOTE HEAD COACH: Fred Biletnikoff Jr. enters his third season in the arenafootball2 league and second with the Coyotes. Biletnikoff Jr. joined the Coyotes coaching staff last season as assistant head coach before becoming interim-head coach midway through the season. After five games as interim-head coach, Biletnikoff Jr. earned the title of head coach, winning his final two games of the season. He was also a part of the Fresno Frenzy coaching staff in 2002.


THIS WEEKS QUOTES:

Coyote head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. on last weeks 40-21 win against Bakersfield: "It was a game of two halves. The first half we came out very sluggish and kept them in the game. In the second half we started to click offensively and we were able to pull away. Our defense played an overall great game."

Biletnikoff Jr. on having the chance to own sole-possession of first place with a win: "It is still very early in the season to get real excited but it would definitely be a huge stride for this organization. Anytime you can get a division win on the road it is a big. This game could really set the tone for who is going to be chasing who in the race for the division."

Biletnikoff Jr. on having to play three of the next four on the road: "We have to maintain the same focus we had these last two weeks at home. Tulsa, Amarillo and San Diego are all very tough places to play. This will be a huge test for our team."


CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES
2004 Results (3-13)
Date Opponent Result Score
Mar. 27 Hawaii Loss 68-35
April 10 Bakersfield Loss 65-48
April 23 @ San Diego Loss 59-34
May 1 Peoria Loss 34-33
May 8 @ Green Bay Loss 50-32
May 15 Rio G. Valley Win 42-25
May 23 @ Hawaii Loss 54-48
May 29 Bakersfield Loss 41-25
June 5 San Diego Loss 45-24
June 13 @ Hawaii* Loss 70-42
June 19 @ Bakersfield Loss 33-26
July 3 @ Oklahoma City Loss 69-35
July 10 San Diego Loss 63-49
July 17 @ Bakersfield Loss 45-19
July 24 Hawaii Win 64-63
July 30 @ San Diego Win 48-34
*Fred Biletnikoff Jr. took over as head coach

NEXT GAME: The Coyotes will return home to take on the Rio Grande Valley Dorados at Selland Arena on May 14. It will be Central Valley's third- straight divisional opponent. That game will kick off at 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and can be heard on ESPN Radio 1430 AM.

OLD STOMPING GROUNDS : The original Bakersfield Blitz franchise was purchased by current Coyotes Operator, the Tachi Yokut Tribe, in 2004. The tribe then decided to relocate the franchise to Fresno, naming the team the Central Valley Coyotes.

THE "IF" SECTION
If the Coyotes defeat Tulsa it would:
- be their sixth win in their last seven games
- give them a 3-0 divisional record
- be their fifth-consecutive divisional win
- give them their third-straight overall win
- give them sole-possession of first place in the West division

Coyote History
Season (head coach)
Record
2002 Bakersfield (James Fuller) 9-7 (playoffs 0-1)
2003 Bakersfield (James Fuller) 8-7-1(playoffs 0-1)
2004 Central Valley(Cree Morris - Biletnikoff Jr.) 3-13
2005 C. Valley (Biletnikoff Jr.) 3-1

WEST HEADS EAST: With the departure of the Hawaiian Islanders, the Coyote's Western division took new shape. While Bakersfield, Central Valley and San Diego remain, the realigned division now features the Rio Grande Valley Dorados and the Tulsa Talons.

SLOW STARTERS: The Coyotes held the lead at halftime just twice last season, winning both games (vs. Rio Grande Valley 21-12 on May 15, 2004 and vs. San Diego 27-6 on July 30, 2004). The Coyotes were 1-13 when trailing at halftime in 2004. This season the Coyotes are 3-0 when leading at the break and 0-1 when trailing.

NOT SO SWEET HOME: Selland Arena has been particularly kind to visiting teams. Since the arena's first indoor football game, (Los Angeles Avengers vs. Houston ThunderBears on June 9, 2001) the home team holds a 8-11 record.

Selland Arena
Home team
Home record
2001 Houston ThunderBears 0-1
2003 Fresno Frenzy 4-4
2004 Central Valley Coyotes 2-6
2005 Central Valley Coyotes 2-0

FIRST IN FIRSTS: The Coyotes defense has been one of the stingiest when it comes to allowing first downs. The team has allowed the fewest first downs in the league this season with 55.

Team First Downs Allowed
1. Central Valley Coyotes 55
2. Quad City Steamwheelers 58
3. San Diego Riptide 61
4. South Georgia Wildcats 63

COYOTE PLAYERS TO WATCH:

OL/DL Ahmad Bhatti: A lineman that is in his fourth af2 season, Bhatti has played a major role in anchoring the Coyote front line this season. Last week, against his former team he recorded his third sack of the year. During his rookie season with the Fresno Frenzy in 2002, Bhatti recorded 16 tackles and four and a half sacks and an interception. In his two seasons with the Blitz, he played in 30 games while racking up 55 tackles, 11 and a half sacks and 1 interception. Look for the veteran to wreak havoc against an exceptional Talon front line.

WR/DB Micahel Duncan: Duncan returns to Tulsa to play against a team he spent five games with last season. In his brief stint with the Talons, Duncan recorded 11 catches for 171 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned 10 kicks for 184 yards and rushed in a score. On defense, Duncan tallied 16 tackles and four interceptions. Before joining Tulsa, Duncan played six games with Rio Grande Valley. Expect Duncan to have a happy homecoming as he recorded his first interception of the season last week and is currently the Coyotes second leading receiver with 12 catches on the year.

FB/LB Vai Notoa: The three-year veteran is making an impact on both sides of the ball early in the season. Last week he blocked a kick that was the turning point in a close first half against Bakersfield. Notoa also rushed for 24 yards on five carries. As the Coyotes prepare for a Tulsa team that has given up less than 40 points in their last two contests, Notoa may become and important part of the Coyotes offense at the fullback position.

"RED-N-BLACK" ZONE: The Coyotes rank first in the league in redzone scoring percentage as they have put up points on 13 of their 15 trips inside "the zone." Nine of those scores have been touchdowns.

Team Success
Rate (%)
1. Central Valley Coyotes 13-of-15 86.7
2. Armarillo Dusters 19-of-23 82.6
3. Tulsa Talons 13-of-16 81.2
3. Bossier/Sch. Battlewings 13-of-16 81.2



FRESNO CONNECTIONS: The Coyote's have several players with local connections including three Fresno State Bulldogs: OL/DL Ahmad Bhatti, and FB/LB JaJuan Huddleston. Coyote WR/DB LaMonte Jones, was a wide receiver at Fresno City College, where Coyote head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. is a offensive coordinator during the offseason.


SCORING MACHINE: WR/DB LaMonte Jones has scored a touchdown in 14 of his 19 games as a Coyote. Jones has one touchdown on the season.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
4/21 Short-term IR OL/DL Dwayne Tauiliili
4/21 Activated OL/DL Joel Tautuaa
4/6 Activated WR/DB LaMonte Jones
WR/LB George Williams
4/6 Released WR/LB Latario Rachal
4/6 Injured Reserved OL/DL Joel Tautuaa
3/28 Released WR/DB Harbert Briscoe
WR/DB B'Jay Jones
FB/LB Jabari Jackson
OL/DL Dewayne Johnson
FB/LB Kevin Thomas
3/25 Assigned

OL/DL Ahmad Bhatti
K John Gockman
OL/DL Micha Jackson-Sattler

LAST GAME:
COYOTES BEAT BLITZ, 40-20

FRESNO (April 30) - It did not take the Central Valley Coyotes (3-1) long to match their 2004 win total as they did it in their fourth game of the season after beating the Bakersfield Blitz (1-3), 40-21 at Selland Arena.

The Blitz, who were without suspended QB Chad Elliot, turned to backup Jason Thomas, who played his first full game of the season. Thomas connected on 13-of-33 passes for 108 yards and one touchdown.

Coyote quarterback Juston Wood, who was 17-of-34 for 185 yards, threw four touchdowns and ran in another while earning "Offensive player of the Game" honors for the second time this year.

"In the first half we were in a funk," Wood said. "I am really proud of what we did in the second half."

The Coyotes held a 20-14 lead at the half after a recording a pair of touchdowns and a pair of field goals.

It looked like it was going to be a long night for Central Valley when the Blitz opened the game with a 40-yard Nick Onaindia run to take a 7-0 lead.

However, on the Bakersfield's next possession Coyote WR/DB Michael Duncan intercepted a Jason Thomas pass, which led to a 24-yard field goal to give the Coyotes their first lead, 10-7.

Central Valley recorded their second consecutive stop when Vai Notoa blocked a Dan Burnett 41-yard field goal to give the Coyotes excellent field position at the Blitz 15. Wood found WR/DB DeRonn Finley on the next play to give the Coyotes a 17-7 advantage.

Finley, who earned "Ironman" honors caught six passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns on the night.

"I really felt like Juston was finding me," Finley said. "Our defense really picked us up when we were struggling offensively."

The two teams traded turnovers before Thomas rushed in a two-yard touchdown to cut the Coyote lead to three, 17-14.

"I felt that our players were sluggish early," head coach Fred Biletnikoff said. "We came out in the second half and set the tone."

The second half opened with two Central Valley touchdowns. The first drive took nine minutes and 25 seconds and ended with a five-yard touchdown to George Williams that gave the Coyotes a 27-14 lead.

"That drive was the turning point," Biletnikoff Jr. said. "We were able to milk most of the quarter and go up two scores."

After taking over and downs on the next possession, Wood found Finley for a second time on a 16-yard score to put Central Valley in control 33-14 after the extra-point attempt failed.

The two teams traded scores down the stretch to make it 40-21.

DS Joshua Robinson earned "Defensive Player of the Game" honors recording four tackles and four pass deflections.

The Coyotes will travel to Tulsa to take on the Talons on Saturday, May 7. The winner will take over sole possession of first place in the Western Division.


BAKERSFIELD (1-3) 7 7 0 7 -- 21
CENTRAL VALLEY (3-1) 10 10 7 13 -- 40


THE COYOTES ARE ...
• 2-0 at Selland Arena
• 1-1 on the road
• 1-0 when they score more than 50 points
• 1-0 when they score 60 or more points
• 3-1 when they allow less than 60 points
• 3-1 when they allow less than 50 points
• 2-0 when they allow less than 40 points
• 0-1 when they score first
• 3-1 when they commit fewer turnovers
• 0-0 when they commit more turnovers
• 1-0 when a player scores three or more touchdowns
• 0-0 when they score two or more TDs on the ground
• 2-0 when George Williams scores two or more TDs
• 1-0 when DeRonn Finley catches six or more passes
• 1-0 when Marvin Brown catches six or more passes
• 1-0 when Via Notoa scores two or more TDs
• 1-1 when they commit fewer penalties
• 3-1 when they record at least one sack
• 0-0 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
• 2-0 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
• 0-1 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
• 3-0 when leading at halftime
• 0-1 when trailing at halftime

PREVIOUS MEETING WITH TULSA:

TULSA STOPS BLITZ, 62-49

TULSA (April 27) -- Superior performances by wide receiver Ryan Sloth and quarterback Chad Elliott could not hold back the Tulsa Talons, as Bakersfield's four-game win streak was halted, 62-49, by the af2 National Conference-leading Talons at Tulsa's downtown Civic Center Saturday.

Tulsa (10-2) extended its af2 record of most consecutive regular season home victories to 26 in a game the Blitz led only once, 6-0. Bakersfield (5-7) will return back home to host Peoria on Saturday.

The pivotal point in the game came just before halftime as the score was tied at 21 with little time remaining in the first half. With two seconds on the clock, Tulsa quarterback Craig Strickland completed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Mitch Allner as time expired in the half.

The touchdown to end the half seemed to drain the emotion out of James Fuller's club, as the team would not be able to close the gap in the second half.

"That Hail Mary at the end of the first half was huge," Fuller said. "It really affected the team mentally going into the half." "They are a very good team," Fuller added.

"Fortunately, last week we got some turnovers. But with one of our best defensive players out, J'Sharlon Jones, it hurt us."

The Blitz sorely missed Jones, who suffered a severe ankle sprain in last week's 45-40 win over the Talons. "I felt we got ourselves in a hole with J'Sharlon hurt, and it's hard to keep up with these guys all night," Elliott said. Elliott was in top form, connecting on a season-best six touchdown passes, with 337 passing yards.

Tulsa quarterback Craig Strickland passed for five TD's and 262 yards.

Sloth was one of three Blitz receivers to catch two touchdowns Saturday, and his 193 yards was the most by a Blitz receiver this year. Eric Mahanke hauled in two TD's and added 115 yards, while Kusanti Abdul-Salaam had two TD receptions covering 31 yards.

The Blitz scored on two of their first three possessions Saturday and twice had one-play touchdown drives. The first one-play drive came on Mahanke's 39-yard catch, his longest of the game, for a second-quarter TD that put the score at 14-13 in favor of the Talons.

The team's each traded a pair of touchdowns late in the second quarter, but the Talons grabbed the lead as time expired in the first half with a 45-yard TD reception by Mitch Allner (21-28).

Bakersfield was unable to stop the Talons offense in the second half as they added three touchdowns in the third quarter.

With 40 seconds left in the third quarter, Elliott found Ryan Sloth, for a 39 yard TD, to pull Bakersfield within two scores (48-35).

Two possessions later Abdul-Salaam grabbed his first touchdown of the game, a 21-yarder, to pull the Blitz within six, but Tulsa's offense sealed the victory with 14 straight points.

Further evidence of Jones being missed was the fact that Tulsa's 62 points is the most points scored against the Bakersfield defense this year.

Coming into Saturday night's game, the Blitz pass defense was ranked No. 1 in the af2.


BAKERSFIELD (5-7) 6 22 7 14 -- 49
TULSA (10-2) 7 28 13 14 -- 62

THIS WEEK IN AF2 (all times Pacific):

Saturday, May 7, 2005
Albany at Macon 4:30 p.m.
Louisville at Manchester 4:30 p.m.
Quad City at Amarillo 5:00 p.m.
Green Bay at Arkansas 5:00 p.m.
South Georgia at Birmingham 5:00 p.m.
Bakersfield Blitz at Bossier-Shreveport 5:00 p.m.
Oklahoma City at Memphis 5:00 p.m.
San Diego at Rio Grande Valley 5:30 p.m.

Bye: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Florida

"U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the two-way player who best demonstrated the ideals of the AFL's style of ironman football.

Week Opp. Ironman of the Game
1 @ Bakersfield FB/LB Vai Notoa (C.V.)
2 tackles, one sack, 2TDs
3 @ Oklahoma City FB/LB Al Hunt (OKC)
5 receptions, 45 yds, 4.5 tack.
4 Arkansas WR/DB Anthony Arceneaux (C.V.)
5 receptions, 38 yds, 3TDs, 1 INT
5 Bakersfield WR/DB DeRonn Finley (C.V.)
6 receptions, 83 yds, 2TDs, 1 tackle

"ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was the most valuable to his team's defensive success in the game, win or lose.

Week Opp. Defensive Player of the Game
1 @ Bakersfield DS Marvin Owens (C.V)
3.5 tackles, 1 interception
3 @ Oklahoma City FB/LB Clint Merz (C.V.)
4 tackles, one TD recovery
4 Arkansas DS Joshua Robinson (C.V.)
5 tackles, 43 yd INT return for TD
5 Bakersfield DS Joshua Robinson (C.V.)
4 tackles, 4 pass-breakups

"BABY RUTH OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME": Voted on by the media, the award goes to the player who was the most valuable to his team's offensive success in the game, win or lose.

Week Opp. Offensive Player of the Game
1 @ Bakersfield QB Juston Wood (C.V.)
19-of-46 164 yards, 2TD's
3 @ Oklahoma City WR/LB Brandon Daniels(OK)
6 catches, 120 yards, 3TD's
4 Arkansas WR/LB George Williams (C.V.)
5 catches, 105 yards, 3TD's
5 Bakersfield QB Juston Wood (C.V.)
17-of-34, 185 yards, 4TD's, rush TD



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