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Central Valley Coyotes game notes

May 31, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Central Valley Coyotes News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Game: Tulsa Talons at Central Valley Coyotes
Date: Saturday, June 4, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Site: Fresno, Calif.
Arena: Selland Arena (8,911)
Radio: ESPN Radio 1430 AM (Antoine Ibrahim, Marcas Grant)
Series Record: Tulsa leads 3-2
Last Meeting: Central Valley 64, Tulsa 63 – May 7, 2005 at Tulsa Convention Center
Officials: Jim Crowley (R), Kevin Matthews (U), Patrick Turner (HL), Shawn Hochuli (LJ), Brad Glenn (BJ)
Head Coaches: Central Valley – Fred Biletnikoff Jr. (second season, 7-8) Tulsa – David Alexander (first season, 6-2)

2005 COYOTES: Central Valley, who struggled last season to a 3-13 record, surpassed their 2004 win total in just their fifth game this season. The Coyotes (5-3), who snapped a two-game losing streak in San Diego last week by scoring a franchise-record 83 points, look to regain a share of first place and hope to sweep the division-leading Tulsa Talons (6-2). Coyote head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr., who took over as head coach last mid-season, has helped the Coyotes become one of the league's highest scoring teams as they are averaging over 55 points per game. QB Juston Wood has established himself as one of the leagues top-passers as he has thrown more touchdowns than any other quarterback with 44. He is also leading the league in total offense (2,295) and is second in passing yards (2,174). The team has found "instant offense" with the acquisition WR/LB George Williams, as he has recorded 16 TD's in his last five games and is first on the team in receptions (45) and receiving yards (699). WR/DB DeRonn Finley, has contributed to the offense with 11 touchdowns on 38 catches for 429 yards. He has also returned a kick return for a score. Central Valley has gotten a boost defensively with the additions of DS's, Marvin Owens and Joshua Robinson, who is the team's leading tackler with 39 and half. WR/LB Wes Borba has been a key returnee that have contributed on both sides of the ball as Borba has caught 13 passes for 133 yards and 3 TD's and is second on the team in tackles (22.5). FB/LB Clint Merz, has recorded 18 tackles in seven games. On the front line, fourth-year veteran Oscar Grajeda and third-year star Ahmad Bhatti have provided experience.
THE SERIES: The Coyotes look for the season sweep against the division-leading Talons after taking the last meeting, 64-63, on May 7, 2005 at the Tulsa Convention Center. This is the second 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 (5-3)
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 Win 64-63
May 14 Rio G. Valley Loss 61-51
May 21 @ Amarillo Loss 68-61 (OT)
May 28 @ San Diego Win 83-70
June 4 Tulsa 7:30 1430 AM
June 11 San Diego 7:30 1430 AM
June 18 @ Rio G. Valley 6:30 1430 AM
June 24 @ Bakersfield 7:00 1430 AM
July 9 Bakersfield 7:30 1430 AM
July 16 @ San Diego 7:00 1430 AM
July 23 Memphis 7:30 1430 AM
July 30 San Diego 7:30 1430 AM

TULSA TALONS (6-2)
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 Loss 64-63
May 13 @ Bakersfield Win 41-31
May 21 Macon Win 61-39
May 28 Bakersfield Win 56-43
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 week's 83-70 victory against San Diego: "I couldn't have asked for a better performance out of our offense, they were really clicking on all cylinders. I still think that our defense has not reached its potential. We really need a find a way to balance some things out."

Biletnikoff Jr. on the importance of this game: "This game could really set the tone for the rest of the season. For us to have the opportunity to take control of the division lead is a big thing heading into the second half of the season. Win this game and we hold tie-breaker on them which could also prove big down the stretch."

Biletnikoff Jr. on Tulsa: "They have one of the best QB's (Josh Blankenship) and arguably the best OS (Donovan Morgan) in the league which makes them tough to stop. We need to play a similar type of game that we played against them earlier this season, but we have to do a better job stopping their passing attack."


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 stay home to take on the division-rival San Diego Riptide at Selland Arena on June 11. It will be the second of two-game home stand. The game will kickoff 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 eighth win in their last 11 games
- be their second-consecutive win against the Talons
- give them their second-straight overall win
- give them a share of first place in the West division
- give them a 5-1 record against divisional opponents
- give them their third home win, surpassing last year's total (2)

Coyote HistorySeason (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.) 5-3

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 4-1 when leading at the break and 1-2 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 8-12 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 2-1

"RED-N-BLACK" ZONE: The Coyotes rank first in the league in redzone scoring percentage as they have put up points on 29 of their 32 trips inside the 10-yard line. 24 of those scores have been touchdowns.

Team Success Rate (%)
1. Central Valley Coyotes 29-of-32 90.6
2. Amarillo Dusters 34-of-41 82.9
3. Rio G. Valley Dorados 33-of-40 82.5
4. Bakersfield Blitz 27-of-33 81.8


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


WOOD WATCH: Coyote second-year quarterback Juston Wood currently leads the league in total offense with 2,295 yards and touchdown passes with 44. He also ranks second in the league in passing yards per game (271.8) and has helped bolster a Coyote offense that is averaging 55.5 points per game (third best in the league.) Wood has also rushed for 121 yards on the season putting him third amongst quarterbacks.

Total Offense yds avg
1. Juston Wood – C. Valley 2,295 286.9
2. Julian Reese – Amarillo 2,276 284.5
3. Sam Clemons – Quad City 2,170 271.2
4. Matt Sauk – Louisville 2,130 266.2

Passing Yards yds avg
1. Julian Reese – Amarillo 2,179 272.4
2. Juston Wood – C. Valley 2,174 271.8
3. Matt Sauk – Louisville 2,149 268.6
4. Sam Clemons – Quad City 2,146 268.2

Touchdown Passes TD's
1. Juston Wood – Central Valley 44
2. Kyle Rowley – Wilkes Barre/Scranton 43
2. Chris Wallace – Florida 43
4. Craig Strickland – Oklahoma City 41
4. Jake Eaton – Manchester 41

SCORING MACHINE: WR/DB LaMonte Jones has scored a touchdown in 16 of his 22 games as a Coyote. Jones has two touchdowns on the season.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
5/26 Activating from Long-term IR OL/DL Joel Tautuaa
5/26 Short-term IR FB/LB Vai Notoa
5/25 Suspended FB/LB JaJuan Huddleston
5/25 Acquired OL/DL Kevin CarrollWR/DB Tierre Sams
5/23 Activating from suspension FB/LB Terrell Colbert
5/23 Traded OL/DL Antonio Sherrell
5/23 Refuse to Report OL/DL Antonio Sherrell
5/19 Acquired OL/DL Antonio Sherrell
5/19 Traded OL/DL Antonio Dingle
5/19 Long-term IR OL/DL Dwane Tauiliili
5/12 Activating from short-term IR WR/DB Anthony Arceneaux
5/12 Refuse to Report OL/DL Antonio Dingle
5/11 Long-term IR WR/DB Michael Duncan
5/11 Activated OL/DL Antonio Dingle
5/4 Activated OL/DL Dwane Tauiliili
4/25 Short-term IR WR/DB Anthony Arceneaux
4/21 Short-term IR OL/DL Dwane Tauiliili
4/21 Activated OL/DL Joel Tautuaa
4/6 Activated WR/DB LaMonte JonesWR/LB George Williams
4/6 Released WR/LB Latario Rachal
4/6 Injured Reserved OL/DL Joel Tautuaa



LAST GAME:

COYOTES ROLL RIPTIDE, 83-70

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (May 28) -- It was a night to remember for the Central Valley Coyotes (5-3), who scored on 14 of their 18 possessions to set a franchise record for points while rolling over the San Diego Riptide (2-6), 83-70, in front of a crowd of 3,279 at ipayOne Center at the Sports Arena in San Diego.

Coyote quarterback Juston Wood, who threw an interception on his first pass, came back to earn "Offensive Player of the Game" honors while being responsible for ten touchdowns. Wood was 24-of-32 for 317 and eight touchdowns. The second-year star also gained 72 yards on the ground along with two scores.

San Diego FB/LB Asi Faoa, who earned "Defensive Player of the Game" honors, had a chance to cut the Riptide deficit to six when he pushed for the goaline from the two-yard line with 3:21 to go in the game, but Coyote OL/DL Micah Jackson Sattler was able to strip the ball loose as it rolled out of the endzone for a Central Valley touchback.

The Coyotes would drive down the field on the ensuing drive to extend their lead to 83-64 after a three-yard Wood run which ensured the victory.

"We felt like we couldn't be stopped offensively," Wood said. "You've got to give it to our front line and our receivers. They really put on a show tonight."

The Riptide took an early 7-0 lead after the early turnover when OL/DL David Hurst caught a 21-yard pass on a trick play from WR/DB Steve Gonzalez, who threw the ball to the wide-open lineman after catching a screen-pass behind the line of scrimmage.

The Coyotes responded on the next drive and added a 22-yard John Gockman field goal after their second defensive stop to make it 10-7 with 52 seconds left in the first quarter.

Central Valley went up 24-14 after a two-yard WR/LB George Williams run with 6:27 left in the first half. The drive, which started after WR/LB Wes Borba caused a fumble that the Coyotes recovered, was highlighted by a 27-yard run by Wood on a fourth-and-one.

"That play was what got our offense really going," head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. said. "We never really looked back after that."

The two teams would continue to change scores, with the last one being a 45-yard strike to Williams, giving him his third touchdown of the half and the Coyotes a 37-27 lead at the break.

"I knew that if we were going to be able to keep pace with them, I was going to have to get open," said Williams, who finished with eight catches for 132 yards and five touchdowns.

Wood found Williams again to start the second half and added a one-yard touchdown run after the Coyote's special teams recovered a ball on the ensuing kickoff to give the Coyotes a 51-27 advantage with 10:54 in the third quarter.

Each offense continued to be effective throughout the third quarter, trading touchdown for touchdown while the Coyotes held on to a 14 point lead, 64-50, going into the final period.

Riptide DS Travon Walker finally stopped the scoring when he intercepted a Wood pass to start the fourth quarter.

San Diego cut the Coyote lead to seven, 64-57, with 13:48 left in the game when Gonzalez, who earned "Ironman of the Game" honors with eight catches for 147 yards, pulled in a 16-yard pass from QB Kane Claunch.

Central Valley never looked back, scoring on every remaining possession to cruise to victory.

The 153 total points scored is the highest franchise history and the fifth-highest in af2 league history.

The Coyotes (5-3) will take on the Tulsa Talons (6-2) in a battle for first place in the West Division on Saturday, June 4 at Selland Arena. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game can be heard on ESPN 1430.



CENTRAL VALLEY (5-3) 10 27 27 19 -- 83
SAN DIEGO (5-2) 7 20 23 20 -- 70



THE COYOTES ARE ...
· 2-1 at Selland Arena
· 3-2 on the road
· 3-2 when they score more than 50 points
· 3-1 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
· 4-1 when they commit fewer turnovers
· 0-1 when they commit more turnovers
· 3-1 when a player scores three or more touchdowns
· 0-1 when they score two or more TDs on the ground
· 3-1 when Juston Wood throws five or more TDs
· 4-0 when George Williams scores two or more TDs
· 2-1 when G. Williams catches six or more passes
· 1-1 when DeRonn Finley catches six or more passes
· 1-0 when Marvin Brown catches six or more passes
· 1-1 when Via Notoa scores two or more TDs
· 1-2 when they commit fewer penalties
· 3-3 when they record at least one sack
· 0-0 when they go scoreless for at least one quarter
· 2-1 when they pitch a shutout in a quarter
· 0-2 when the game is decided by 7 or fewer points
· 4-1 when leading at halftime
· 1-2 when trailing at halftime





PREVIOUS MEETING WITH TULSA:

COYOTES WIN SHOOTOUT, 64-63

TULSA, Okl. (May, 7, 2005) -- The Central Valley Coyotes (4-1) scored on all but two offensive possessions on a record-setting night to beat the Tulsa Talons (3-2), 64-63 before a crowd of 5,027 at the Tulsa Convention Center.

The offensive shootout ended when Talon kicker Nick Browne's 40-yard field goal sailed right as time expired to seal the Coyote victory.

Quarterback Juston Wood connected on 28-of-43 passes for a career-high 396 yards and a franchise-record nine touchdowns to give Central their fourth win of the year and sole-possession of first place in the West Division.

"We told our team before the game that this would be a night that as coaches we were going to sit back and enjoy watching them play ball," head coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. said. "Words cannot say how much fun our coaching staff had watching our players get us our fourth win."

The 396 yards passing was the most in franchise history and the seventh-most in af2 league history.

"We stuck together the entire game," Wood said. "I feel like we are starting to gel. This was a great win for us."

Wood's favorite target was offensive specialist George Williams, who tied a franchise record with 14 receptions and broke the franchise record for receiving yards in a game with 210. Williams scored four touchdowns in the scoring onslaught.

The first half opened with an early indication of a high-scoring affair as Tulsa offensive specialist Donovan Morgan caught the first of his six touchdowns on the first play from scrimmage.

His next one was a two-yard grab on fourth-and-goal that put the Talons up 13-7 after a missed extra point.

"We knew going in he was their go-to-guy," Biletnikoff Jr. said. "He really showed why he is one of the best players in the league."

The two teams continued to trade touchdowns during the first half until John Gockman's 50-yard field attempt at the buzzer went wide right to keep the Coyote deficit at six, 33-28.

Tulsa opened the second half with their second consecutive stop and followed it with a 45-yard Nick Browne field goal that gave the Talons a 36-28 lead. It would be the last time the Talons defense was able to be successful as Coyotes would score five consecutive touchdowns on their final five possessions.

On the last play of the third quarter the Coyotes lost WR/DB Michael Duncan, who earned "Ironman of the Game" honors after an apparent shoulder injury.
After a ten minute delay due to Duncan's injury, Wood connected on a 30-yard touchdown pass to Williams less than a minute into the final quarter to bring the Coyotes to within two, at 43-41. The Coyotes faked the snap to holder Chad Munson, directing it to defensive specialist Josh Robinson who rushed it in for the two-point conversion to tie it at 43.

"It was a play that we worked on during the week," Biletnikoff Jr. said. "We didn't know if we were going to be in position to use it, but it was the perfect opportunity."

The teams would trade scores again after Tulsa QB Joshua Blankenship connected with Morgan for a 39-yard score while Wood answered with a 15-yarder to Williams to tie the game at 50.

"It was like the Morgan vs. Williams show for a while there," Biletnikoff Jr. said. "It was really great to watch two athletes rise to the occasion."

Blankenship found Morgan again to give the Talons a six-point lead. Tulsa held a 56-50 lead as they were unable to convert the point after.

After the two teams traded touchdowns again, the Coyotes took control of the seesaw battle, 64-63, when Gockman hit an extra point after a 33-yard DeRonn Finley touchdown catch with 17 seconds left in the game.

The Talons would get the ball back to attempt a 40-yard field goal after a roughing the passer penalty on Coyote lineman Micah Jackson-Sattler with five seconds to go.

Central Valley returns to home next week to take on the Rio Grande Valley Dorados on Saturday, May 14 at Selland Arena.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and the game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1430 AM.



CENTRAL VALLEY (4-1) 7 21 7 29 -- 64
TULSA (3-2) 13 20 10 20 -- 63

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