Cobras Head West to Face LA
June 21, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Carolina Cobras News Release
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 21, 2002)- The Carolina Cobras will look to break a three-game slide when they travel cross-country to take on the Los Angeles Avengers Saturday night at the STAPLES Center. Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. (ET).
Carolina (4-5) has dropped three straight and four of their last five games, including a 53-42 setback against the Georgia Force last week. Although the Cobras have dropped a few lately, they are still tied for first place in the National Conference Southern Division (Georgia and Orlando are both 4-5 as well). Carolina is 3-1 (.750) on the road in 2002 and will play three of their next four games away from home. Los Angeles (5-4) has won two straight (both on the road), including a 68-61 victory at Grand Rapids last week, and returns home to the STAPLES Center for the first time since June 8, where they are 2-2 (.500) in 2002 and 6-12 (.333) all-time.
The Cobras defense will face a stiff challenge on Friday, facing one of the AFL's most potent offenses. Los Angeles is tied for fifth in the AFL in scoring offense with 51.8 ppg., while the Cobras defense is ranked fifth in scoring defense, allowing 46.4 ppg.
"Those guys [defense] play hard on every play, " head coach Mike Neu said. "Our defense has been our mainstay all season long."
If the Cobras defense can slow down the Avengers, the offense will have to score points. Carolina has struggled on offense over the past few weeks and ranks 14th in the Arena Football League, scoring 43.7 ppg. Quarterback Aaron Sparrow, who was the Cobras opening-day starter before getting injured in the second half of a week 1 loss versus Dallas, is expected to get his second start of the season on Saturday.
With five games left in the regular season, the Cobras need a win to keep pace in the National Conference Southern Division race.
"There's still a long way to go with five games left," Neu said. "As long as I'm here and as long as I'm the head coach of this team, we're going to fight hard and we'll find a way to get it done and put ourselves in position to get into the playoffs."
Saturday's game against Los Angeles can be heard live in the Raleigh-Durham area on WRBZ 850 The Buzz Sports Radio with Gary Hahn and Tony Haynes on the call. The game will also be televised on FOX Sports Net2 (Digital cable channel 147 in Raleigh).
The Cobras return home to the Triangle next Friday, June 28, 7:30 p.m. to take on the Orlando Predators at the ESA.
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- Cobras Head West to Face LA - Carolina Cobras
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