Conquest Extend Thanks after Second Season

August 19, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


After finishing fifth in arenafootball2 in attendance (5,534 fans per game) for the second straight season, and hanging another Northeast Division Championship banner in the Pepsi Arena, the Albany Conquest would like to thank everyone who made the last two seasons of arena football in Albany a giant success.

"With winning our second consecutive Northeast Division Championship and compiling another 13-3 record, while averaging over 6,000 fans per game", Stated Conquest General Manager Rob Thompson, "We have proved that arena football is alive and strong in Albany. We could not have done that without the support we received from the fans, sponsors and community".

The Conquest finished the 2003 season with a 13-4 overall record, including a 59-47 loss at the hands of the American Conference Champion Macon (GA) Knights, in the playoff quarterfinals. Macon plays against the Tulsa Talons, in Tulsa, OK, for the 2003 ArenaCup title on Saturday night. It is the second consecutive season in which Albany came two games away from playing in the league title game.

"We wish we were still playing, getting ready to host the ArenaCup here this week, but it didn't happen", Conquest Head Coach Pete Costanza commented. "We won eight straight games on our turf this season, mostly due to the fans grinding out every game with us to the very end. I think we gave them their money's worth each time and we appreciate them for the continued fanatical support".

Costanza, coaching in his first season in Albany, guided the Conquest to the #1 total offense (300.2 yards per game), #1 passing offense (278.8 yards per game) and #2 scoring offense (54.9 points per game) in the league. QB Ryan Vena broke the af2 single season passing record, throwing for 4,460 yards and 85 touchdowns. The second-year signal caller led the league in passer rating (123.3), total offense (4,626 yards) and completions (515), while finishing second in touchdown passes and completion percentage (67.4).

The Conquest returned 12 players from the inaugural team, including standout OS Corey Hill. Hill caught another 161 passes in 2003, tying the mark he set last season for receptions in a single season in any pro football league. Hill and Vena were major contributors to the two years of success in Albany. Both were expecting looks from higher leagues following 2002, but when no opportunity arose, they returned to finish what they started.

"That's the most frustrating part", said Costanza, "These guys, along with a bunch of other good kids, came back here and put themselves in a position to accomplish their goal, a championship. We added a few new faces, like Phil (Taylor), Nick (Anderson), Spencer (Conley) and Lube (Stamenich), but they jelled with these returners and really came close to creating something special. In this league, you never get the same team two years in a row, so it hurts when you come up short after working together for so long."

Vena, along with many of the other Conquest standouts, will receive tryouts with Arena Football League teams between now and the end of the year. The AFL on NBC begins next February, with the defending champion Tampa Bay Storm looking to repeat for the second time in team history (1995-96).

Look for the Conquest mascot, Kid Quest, and his troops all over the Capital Region during this off-season. If you would like to get the Conquest involved in your event, call the Conquest Community Relations office at 487-2068. Season tickets are available for the 2004 season right now, with tickets available for as low as $63. For more information log onto www.albanyconquest.com, or follow the 2003 ArenaCup at www.af2.com.



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