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Conference Semifinals: Saturday Night Matchups

Published on August 7, 2009 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


NO. 5 KENTUCKY HORSEMEN (11-6) AT NO. 1 WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (14-3)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 - Wachovia Arena (7,950) 7:00 P.M. ET

Semifinal round action begins this Saturday as the Kentucky Horsemen travel to face No. 1 seed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in what will only be the second all-time series match-up. This year was the first time the two teams met, with Kentucky taking the 63-56 victory and giving the Pioneers their first lost of their regular season. In the Horsemen's first round win at South Georgia, 66-63, Kentucky had an average passing outing, but dominated the field on the ground. QBs JUSTIN RASCATI and JARED LORENZEN, who ranked No. 6 individually in rushing, gained a combined 56 yards (43 and 13, respectively) and five touchdowns. Lorenzen's 1-yard TD run with less than one minute to play turned out to be the game-winner. The QB duo was also able to complete 28-of-36 passes in the game for 293 yards and three touchdowns. On the receiving end, WR LONNELL DEWALT, Kentucky's top receiver (110-1,296-34 TDs), snatched 13 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. DB WILLIAM MULDER stood out on defense with two solo tackles, one forced fumble and one interception. Mulder ranked second in the af2 in passes defended (35) and third in interceptions (11). He was named to the All-af2 Second Team announced earlier this week. DL JAMUS MARTIN led the club in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (7). In the Pioneers' previous playoff matchup, the team flexed its muscles in a 78-21 victory. In both a strong offensive and defensive effort, the Pioneers held the Firebirds to single-digit scores for each quarter with a shutout in the second. All-af2 First Team QB RYAN VENA led his team to victory by completing 14-of-23 passes for 185 yards and five touchdowns. WR IRVING CAMPBELL grabbing six catches for 116 yards and four touchdowns. The Pioneers' defensive effort was just as impressive. DB MICHAEUX ROBINSON led the team with 8.5 tackles (8 solo, 1 assisted), one pass breakup and two interceptions. The defense as a whole earned five interceptions, three sacks and four pass breakups. The Pioneers placed six players on the All-af2 teams (4 - First Team, 2 - Second Team). If the first head-to-head meeting was any indication, expect this week's American Conference Semifinal affair to be just as high-scoring and just as competitive.

HORSEMEN PIONEERS SERIES LEADER Kentucky leads 1-0

LAST MEETING Kentucky won 63-56 on 4/11/09

LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1

LAST GAME Won 66-63 vs. S. Georgia on 8/1/09 Won 78-21 vs. Albany on 8/1/09

LEADERS HORSEMEN PIONEERS PASSING Lorenzen: 211-363-9; 2538; 58 TDs Vena: 322-479-10; 4144; 87 TDs

RECEIVING Dewalt: 110-1296; 34 TDs Campbell: 99-1329; 18 TDs

RUSHING Lorenzen: 63-307; 20 TDs Griffin: 66-318; 18 TDs

TACKLES Ross: 79 Robinson: 99.5

SACKS Martin: 7 Leak & Morgan: 11.0

INTERCEPTIONS Mulder: 11 Robinson: 14

KICKING Daniels: 110-127 PAT; 5-15 FGs; 125 PTs Davis: 129-134 PAT; 6-9 FGs; 147 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 58.4 PPG; 282.4 YPG 60.8 PPG; 291.6 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 52.4 PPG; 291.2 YPG 39.3 PPG; 263.2 YPG

*Stats reflect regular season numbers

NO. 6 GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (11-6) AT NO. 2 IOWA BARNSTORMERS (13-4)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 - Wells Fargo Arena (8,403) 8:05 P.M. ET

With a big win against the Tennessee Valley Vipers last weekend, Green Bay has advanced to the conference semifinals and travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on the Midwest Division Champion Barnstormers. This will be their fifth all-time series matchup between the two clubs. They each traded road wins in two head-to-head meetings during the regular season. In their first round win last week, the Blizzard overcame the No. 3 seed Vipers, 60-56, in Huntsville, Ala. Although Tennessee Valley outgained Green Bay in both net passing yards and total offense, the Blizzard refused to let this opportunity to move on in the playoffs go to waste. QB GINO GUIDIGLI completed 74 percent of his passes (25-of-34) for 288 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite being sacked three times, Guidigli was able to remain composed. WR ANTHONY CRISSINGER-HILL (13-149) and NATE FORSE (9-126) finished with three touchdowns each. Forse was named to the American Conference All-af2 First Team earlier this week. The Blizzard defense, however, also played a big part in the team's upset win against the defending ArenaCup Champions. DB LARRY WILLIAMS had seven solo tackles and one interception. Overall, Green Bay recorded four interceptions and seven pass breakups. Even though the Blizzard finished 19th in total defense in the regular season statistics, they were able to prove that rank isn't everything. The Barnstormers are coming off a 70-53 home win in their first af2 playoff game last week against Manchester. Although the Wolves had a slight edge in the first quarter, the Barnstormers were able to bounce back, successfully surpassing the Manchester defense. QB BRIAN VILLANUEVA and WR ERRICK MCCOWN both shared the spotlight in the contest. Villanueva, who ranked No. 9 in pass completions during the regular season, completed 24-of-30 passes for 322 yards and seven touchdowns against the Wolves. McCown earned a total of four touchdowns, two rushing and two receiving (10-157). He also returned two kickoffs to finish with a game-high 194 all-purpose yards. The defense, led by DBs DONVA LOUDER (7.5 tackles, one pass breakup) and JASON SIMPSON (3.5 tackles, 3 pass breakups), denied eight Manchester passes and sacked the quarterback twice. With both games earlier this year being decided by 5 and 6 points, respectively, it's safe to assume this week's game will go down to the wire as well.

BLIZZARD BARNSTORMERS SERIES LEADER Green Bay leads 3-1

LAST MEETING Green Bay won 71-65 on 6/13/2009

LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 5-0

LAST GAME Won 60-56 vs. Tenn. Valley on 8/1/09 Won 70-53 vs. Manchester on 8/1/09

LEADERS BLIZZARD BARNSTORMERS PASSING Guidugli: 304-475-16; 3913; 61 Villanueva: 278-471-16; 3242; 60 TDs

RECEIVING Forse: 131-1875; 28 TDs McCown: 107-1404; 23 TDs

RUSHING Medlock: 44-155; 8 TDs Payne: 52-185; 4 TD

TACKLES Belton: 90 Varner: 119.5

SACKS Fitch: 14.5 Curvey: 9.5

INTERCEPTIONS Belton: 10 Varner: 8

KICKING Forstrom: 91-104 PAT; 20-37FGs;151 PTs Glas: 103-119 PAT; 21-39 FGs; 166 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 52.7 PPG; 302.8 YPG 56.4 PPG; 227.8 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 48.6 PPG; 280.8 YPG 48.4 PPG; 313.6 YPG

*Stats reflect regular season numbers

NO. 3 BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLEWINGS (12-5) AT NO. 2 TULSA TALONS (14-3)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 - BOK Center (6,777) 8:05 P.M. ET

In what will be their first meeting of the 2009 season, the Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings journey to Tulsa to take on the Talons. Tulsa owns the all-time series lead, 10-2, over the BattleWings. In last week's first round game, Bossier-Shreveport had an all-around solid offensive showing to help the Southwest Division Champions take out Rio Grande Valley, 56-46. WR/KR P.J. BERRY, who ranked No. 4 in all-purpose yards and made the National Conference All-af2 Second Team, gained 165 all-purpose yards against the Dorados. He also had two touchdowns, one rushing and one kickoff return (58 yards). All-af2 First Team FB JASON SCHULE ran the ball five times for 12 yards and one touchdown. Schule set numerous rushing records in 2009, including most yards in a season (655). The defense also had a noteworthy performance with DBs PIERRE LEE (7 tackles, two INTs) and PHILLIP GEIGGAR (8 tackles, 1 INT, 2 pass breakups) leading the way. The BattleWings also managed to add three sacks to their team statistics. Tulsa is coming off a 90-75 home win in what was an old fashioned shootout against in-state rival Oklahoma City. Five records were set in the contest, including most total points (165), most points by one team (90 - Tulsa) and most touchdowns by one team (13 - Tulsa). Oklahoma City's record 507 total offensive yards came from its passing game, but it was enough to overpower the Talons. All-af2 Second Team QB JUSTIN ALLGOOD completed 86 percent of his passes (25-of-29; 1 INT) and finished with 300 yards and a postseason record-tying 10 TD passes. Three of his receivers had a combined 23 catches, with WR ZAC EDWARDS topping the statistics in yards (9-107) and WR CARLESE FRANKLIN and JEFF HUGHLEY both corralling three touchdowns each. Hughley also returned five kickoffs for 109 yards and one 50-yard return TD. Tulsa DB CARLOS CAMPBELL had nine solo tackles and one interception in the game. The Central Division Champions are 9-0 (including playoffs) in their new home at the BOK Center. If Bossier-Shreveport QB ANDRICO HINES continues his steady play, this could be another back-and-forth, high-scoring affair.

BATTLEWINGS TALONS SERIES LEADER Tulsa leads 10-2

LAST MEETING Bossier won 52-45 on 5/31/08

LAST FIVE GAMES 5-0 3-2

LAST GAME Won 56-46 vs. Rio Grande on 8/1/09 Won 90-75 vs. Oklahoma on 8/1/09

LEADERS BATTLEWINGS TALONS PASSING Hines: 251-402-11; 3214; 76 TDs Allgood: 341-526-17; 4312; 108 TDs

RECEIVING Berry: 88-1294; 23 TDs Hughley: 140-1909; 50 TDs

RUSHING Schule: 111-655; 28 TDs Floyd: 24-85; 5 TDs

TACKLES Cola: 85 Ransom: 92.5

SACKS Pittman: 7 Carter: 9.5

INTERCEPTIONS Lee: 8 Ransom & Thomas: 6

KICKING Carmody:116-132PAT;5-16 FGs;131 TDs Phillips: 87-95 PAT; 6-16 FGs; 105 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 61.4 PPG; 271.9 YPG 61.8 PPG; 286.9 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 50.4 PPG; 318.5 YPG 47.4 PPG; 274.9 YPG

*Stats reflect regular season numbers

NO. 4 BOISE BURN (13-4) AT NO. 1 SPOKANE SHOCK (16-1)

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009 - Spokane Arena (10,653) 10:00 P.M. ET

In the final game of the semifinal round, the Boise Burn travel to Spokane to face off against the West Division Champion Shock. This will be the fourth head-to-head meeting between the two clubs this season. The Shock won the first three meetings with the last two victories coming by a total of seven points. Spokane is also 8-0 all-time against Boise. In Boise's first round home win against Arkansas, the 41-point win margin (77-36) gave the Burn a boost of confidence going into this weekend's game. QB MARK THORSON, in his first af2 start, completed 13 of his 20 pass attempts for 159 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions. However, it was Boise's defense that had a number of big plays. WR/DB JOMO WILSON was an impact player for the Burn in their first af2 playoff outing. Wilson had one rushing TD and two catches for 26 yards on offense. On the defensive side, he had one interception (43-yard return TD), one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one assisted tackle. Wilson also returned two kickoffs for a total of 57 yards to finish with 127 all-purpose yards. He finished the regular season as the Burn's leader in scoring (164 points), receiving (93-1,032) and all-purpose yards (1,966). Wilson (All-Ironman Team) also ranked fourth on the squad in interceptions with four. DB NYGEL ROGERS also contributed 10 tackles (8 solo, 4 assisted) while LB LEVI MADARIETA (All-af2 Second Team) racked up six tackles (2 solo, 8 assisted) and two interceptions. As the runner-ups of the 2008 ArenaCup (56-55 overtime loss), the top-ranked Shock have proven to be phenomenal competitors throughout the regular season. Spokane advanced into the semifinals with a 62-21 home victory last week against Stockton. Holding the Lightning without a point in the entire second half, the Shock dominated on both the offensive and defensive lines throughout the game. National Conference All-af2 First Team QB NICK DAVILA found his receivers and completed 17-of-25 passes for 244 yards and five touchdowns. WR CHARLES DILLON grabbing five of Davila's passes for 85 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a one rushing touchdown. DB SERGIO GILLIAM recorded 10 tackles (9 solo, 2 assisted) and a postseason single-game record tying three INTs (52-yard INT return TD). Rookie DB STANLEY FRANKS also contributed six solo tackles, one interception and two pass breakups. This game will likely come down to quarterback play. Thorson, an af2 rookie, will need to stay composed on the road if Boise hopes to stay in the game against the Shock (9-0 at home in 2009, including playoffs).

BURN SHOCK SERIES LEADER Spokane leads 8-0

LAST MEETING Spokane won 56-51 on 7/25/09

LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 4-1

LAST GAME Won 77-36 vs. Arkansas on 8/1/09 Won 62-21 vs. Stockton on 8/1/09

LEADERS BURN SHOCK PASSING Tharp: 241-357-22; 2916; 65 TDs Davila: 349-491-9; 3863; 86 TDs

RECEIVING Wilson: 92-1032; 22 TDs Vijil: 116-1415; 36 TDs

RUSHING Walker: 70-174; 16 TDs Nikolao: 59-182; 8 TDs

TACKLES Sanders: 80.5 Franks: 96

SACKS Guerrero: 10.5 McCombs: 15.5

INTERCEPTIONS Madarieta: 8 Gilliam: 13

KICKING Scott: 95-112 PAT; 7-10 FGs; 116 PTs Jackson: 110-128 PAT; 9-11 FGs; 137 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 56.9 PPG; 235.7 YPG 60.8 PPG; 293.1 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 39.8 PPG; 261.6 YPG 37.6 PPG; 251.7 YPG

*Stats reflect regular season numbers

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