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Conquest Wants to Avoid Speed Trap

May 31, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


RICHMOND, Va. – The Albany Conquest (6-1, first place in Northeast Division) heads to Richmond to battle the Speed (7-0, first place in Atlantic Division) on Saturday at the Richmond Coliseum. Kickoff between these American Conference powerhouses is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Although both clubs sit atop their respective divisions, the Speed and Conquest are two very different clubs. The Speed overpowers opponents with its explosive offense and stingy defense, winning by an average margin of 34.6 points. The Conquest, on the other hand, relies heavily on solid defense and usually finds itself in close contests; Albany averages just 6.7 points more than opponents when it wins. An interesting similarity between these teams, however, is found in strength of schedule. Albany's foes are a combined 22-34 this season while the Speed's victims have a 20-33 mark.

Richmond ranks first in the league in points scored (429), averaging 61.3 per game, while the Conquest has scored 244 points this season. In fact, the Conquest's 244 points is the lowest total for a first-place team and is the fewest of any team in its division, except the New Haven Ninjas, who also have 244.

While the Speed has dominated most of the season, it has won its last two games in un-Speed-like fashion. The Cape Fear Wildcats held the Speed to 36 points in Week 6, its lowest total of the season, while the Greensboro Prowlers nearly shocked Richmond in Week 8, leading by as many as 20 points before falling 66-57. (Richmond had byes in Weeks 7 and 9.) For Albany, the team that thrives in close games, Richmond's 8.5-point margin of victory over the last two games has to provide encouragement for the first-year club.

To win, however, the Conquest has to contain the league's top rated offense, which is led by passer BOB BEES. Bees, who has thrown for 1,615 yards and 34 touchdowns, is No. 2 in af2 with a 119.6 QB rating. His favorite targets tend to be JEFF TOWNSLEY and KEVIN HARVEY, who have combined for 1,180 yards and 26 scores this season.

Albany's best offense is its defense, as it has held opponents under 31 points per game this season. BRANDON TINSON leads the crew with 41.5 tackles and is tied with HENRY BAKER for the team lead in interceptions with three. ALEX HOUSTON provides a formidable pass rush threat, having tallied eight sacks on the year. Houston also has forced three fumbles and recorded seven tackles for loss.

This is the first of two regular season matchups between these teams. Even though it is a non-divisional series, these games could determine homefield advantage for the second round of the playoffs, should these teams make it that far.

National Conference headliner: Wheelers want revenge

After sweeping Peoria and Wichita by an average of 31 points last season, the last thing the Quad City Steamwheelers likely expected to be doing in Week 10 was trying to shake off a loss to the Stealth while hoping for revenge against the Pirates. But that's the situation the two-time af2 champions find themselves in as they put their 25-0 all-time home record on the line against Peoria Saturday.

After winning 41 of its first 42 games, Quad City (5-2) has dropped two of its last three, with an 81-56 loss at Peoria May 10 and a 57-38 setback at Wichita last Saturday. The Pirates (6-2) took over the Midwest Division lead this week, knocking the Steamwheelers out of first place for the first time ever. Peoria has won four games in a row, with its two earlier losses by a combined 10 points.

Only Richmond has a better combination of scoring offense and defense than the Pirates, who post 53.4 points per game (third in af2) while allowing just 34.4 (fourth in af2). But Quad City also can score with the best of them, ranking sixth in the league with a 52.6 ppg average.

The Steamwheelers figure to get an extra boost with the return of QB TONY ZIMMERMAN, who missed last week's loss with a fractured fibula. The rookie field general is af2's third-rated passer, throwing for 1,415 yards and 35 touchdowns against just five interceptions – including 249 yards, seven TDs and one pickoff against the Pirates three weeks ago.

Zimmerman lights it up with the help of WR/DB CHRIS ANTHONY and OS IRA GOOCH. Anthony (661 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns) has at least one TD catch in every game this season. Gooch has come on strong over the past month, vaulting to first in af2 with 240.3 all-purpose yards per game and second in the league with 122 points (20 TDs). A team-high 678 yards and 17 scores have come as a receiver. Gooch and Anthony combined for 196 receiving yards and four touchdowns in the loss to Peoria, with Gooch adding 273 combined return yards and a 56-yard missed field goal return for score.

Quad City's defensive nemesis in the first meeting was Peoria WR/LB JERMAINE SHEFFIELD, who almost single-handedly turned a tenuous 52-49 fourth-quarter lead into a 25-point victory by returning three Steamwheeler fumbles for touchdowns. Sheffield (who is second on the team with 446 yards and nine TDs receiving overall) also forced a fumble and intercepted a pass in the win.

WR/DB LINCOLN DUPREE had his only three receiving touchdowns of the season against Quad City, adding a 40-yard missed field goal return for TD and a 49-yard kickoff return to set up another score. Dupree's five INTs on the defensive side of the ball rank third in the league this season. QB WALTER CHURCH wasn't shabby against the Steamwheelers, either, throwing as many touchdown passes (six) as incompletions, racking up 245 yards with no interceptions. For the season, Church has 1,545 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and seven INTs, connecting with OS CORNELL CRAIG for 879 yards (second-most in af2) and 15 scores. Craig also ranks in the top 10 in scoring (100 points), receptions (60) and all-purpose yards (1,240).

Peoria leads af2 with 24 sacks, including seven in last week's 72-20 victory over Louisville and three in the first meeting with Quad City. The Steamwheelers' 16 sacks tie them for eighth in the league. A pair of true Ironmen lead both teams' sack attacks. Peoria OL/DL ERIC JOHNSON is second in af2 with 10.5 sacks on the year while Quad City's FRANK TRENTADUE is fourth with 8.5. Johnson (seven rushing touchdowns) plays fullback in addition to his duties in the trenches. Trentadue, normally a fullback/linebacker, also has played on the line this year.

Norfolk (2-5) remains home for the second consecutive week and faces the visiting Greensboro Prowlers (2-6). The Nighthawks have enjoyed homefield advantage this season, posting a 2-1 record at the Norfolk Scope Arena. Greensboro comes to town searching for its first win in four games. The Prowlers are averaging 49.5 points on offense, but are giving up 53.4. Norfolk's offense averages 28.8 points a game while its defense has allowed 54.9 per contest. Greensboro has a dangerous pass attack. Receiver ANTOINE CALLOWAY leads the way with 749 yards and nine scores. The Prowlers will be without leading rusher RAFIK THOROSSIAN, who injured his neck and back during last week's game against Rochester. DESMOND WASHINGTON leads the Nighthawks' defense with 19 passes deflected and a team-high 24.0 tackles. In two games at quarterback, CHRIS WALLACE has performed respectably, passing for 398 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing only two interceptions.

Roanoke (4-4) travels to Cape Fear (5-2) Saturday looking to even up the season series. Last weekend, the Wildcats defeated the Steam 53-32 to move two games ahead of Roanoke (in the loss column) in the Atlantic Division. Both teams need to win to close the gap on first-place Richmond. The Steam has its work cut out against the league's second-ranked defense that allows just 29 points per game. Roanoke's offensive line will match up against E.J. BURT, who is af2's leading pass rusher with 12.5 sacks. While Roanoke does not a boast a standout pass rusher, collectively the Steam ranks sixth in the league with 19 sacks on the season. On offense, QB SEAN PETERSON likely will make his first start for the Steam after taking over for MIKE VOLARVICH in the second quarter of last weekend's loss. Peterson threw for 131 yards and three TDs in a relief role. Receivers KENAN McWHORTER and ANTHONY HINES have combined for 78 catches, 881 yards and nine TDs to lead Roanoke's air attack. For Cape Fear, MIKE GLUSKI has guided the Wildcats to three straight wins. On the season, the quarterback has amassed 1,375 yards and 29 scores.

Northeast Division rivals Rochester (5-2) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (1-7) collide Saturday at the First Union Arena at Casey Plaza – with the Pioneers thinking revenge. On May 10, the Brigade held onto a slim five-point fourth-quarter advantage to defeat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 57-52. The Pioneers ' ninth-ranked pass defense (187.4) matches up well against Rochester's 15th-ranked pass offense (215.9). However, the Pioneers are yielding 49.1 points per game compared to Rochester's 42.4. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will keep close tabs on Brigade OS MARTINO THEUS ,who set a team record for catches in a season in last weekends' victory over Greensboro. Theus has 88 catches in only eight games, totaling 962 yards. Teammate DEREK BAKER earned Ironman honors last weekend after recording an interception, three passes defended, 10 catches and 83 yards receiving. BRYAN SNYDER will be under center for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the fourth time this season. Since earning the starter's spot, Snyder has passed for 581 yards and 12 touchdowns. Since Snyder took over as the starter, the Pioneers have pushed their scoring average from 28.6 points a game to 44.6. RODRICK PRAYER leads the Pioneers' defense with 38.5 tackles, including 3.5 for loss.

Bossier City (5-3) and Birmingham (5-2) square off for the first time this season Saturday at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. Both teams are in intense playoff battles and need victories to keep pressure on the first-place teams in their respective divisions. Both teams are strong on defense, with the Battle Wings giving up just 34.6 points a game compared to the Steeldogs' 37.6. Birmingham holds a slight edge offensively, scoring 49.3 points while Bossier City averages 47.0 points a game. SHERARD POTEETE, the reigning af2 Offensive Player of the Week, leads the Battle Wings' ground attack with a league-high 189 yards. Poteete also has thrown for 1,724 yards and 27 touchdowns, including 365 yards and seven TDs in last week's 67-61 win over Memphis. Bossier City OS KEVIN STEVENSON grabbed five touchdown passes last week to continue his streak of at least one TD catch in every game this season. His 226 receiving yards were the fourth-highest total ever in af2 and the most receiving yards in the league this year. CEDRIC ROBINSON has picked off four passes for the Battle Wings' defense. MONTRESSA KIRBY has thrown 31 touchdown strikes on the year. His 134 rushing yards rank fifth in af2. WAYNE THOMAS has 18 touchdown catches and is fourth in the league with 108 points. On defense, Birmingham OL/DL JERRY TURNER has 6.5 sacks.

Since opening the season 4-1, Memphis has slipped recently by dropping its last three contests. Arkansas comes to Southaven, Miss., Saturday looking to add to the Xplorers' woes. Two weeks ago, the Twisters defeated Memphis 53-29 in the first meeting between the two teams this season. Memphis' high-powered offense (51.4 ppg) will be on exhibit against Arkansas' 10th-ranked defense (38.9 ppg). TIM LESTER leads the Xplorers' offense with 2,134 passing yards and 42 touchdowns. However, he will be missing favorite target RUSSELL COPELAND (ankle injury) for the second straight week. RICKY HEBERT has guided Arkansas to a solid start this season and has thrown 32 touchdown passes, nine of which have been caught by primary receiver LENNIE JOHNSON. On defense, Johnson leads Arkansas with four interceptions. GREG TAYLOR leads the Twisters' pass rush with six sacks.

Tennessee Valley (6-1) welcomes Pensacola (3-4) to the Von Braun Center Saturday looking to avenge last weekend's 51-38 loss to the Barracudas. With dreams of a perfect season shattered, the Vipers look to get back to their winning ways against a confident Pensacola team. The teams are evenly matched on offense, with Pensacola scoring 50.9 points a game and Tennessee Valley 49.0. However, the Vipers have been more effective on defense, holding opponents to 35.7 points per contest compared to the Barracudas' 46.7. Both teams boast impressive pass defenses. The Vipers' KELLY SNELL leads the league with eight interceptions on the season, but Pensacola's WILL PETTIS has posted a league-high 28 passes defended and has added five interceptions. On the offensive side of the ball, the Vipers' tandem of WES COUNTS and KELLY FIELDS have hooked up for 12 scores. Counts has passed for 1,371 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season while Fields has 638 receiving yards. CHARLIE PETERSON has taken the reigns of the Barracudas' offense and thrown for 827 yards and 17 touchdowns in just three games.

Tulsa, winner of five straight games, hosts the upstart Wichita Stealth Saturday night at the Tulsa Convention Center. Last weekend, the Stealth shocked two-time af2 champions Quad City 57-38. Under the guidance of newly-acquired quarterback and former AFL great RON LOPEZ, the Stealth's offense came to life for the first time this season. Lopez threw for 271 yards and four scores, leading 2-6 Wichita to its highest point total of the season. Lopez returns as starter this week and will look to topple the 6-1 Talons. Tulsa has jumped to the top of the Central Division standings, scoring 57 points per game behind the QB tandem of ANTHONY BUICH and JOE PHEARS. MITCH ALLNER leads the Talons' receiving corps with 50 catches for 679 yards and 12 scores. On defense, Tulsa is led by ballhawk LARRY HOLLINQUEST, who has recorded five interceptions on the season. Wichita's BRYAN HENDERSON enters the game with 10 sacks and is vying with Cape Fear's E.J. BURT and Peoria's ERIC JOHNSON for the league single-season sack record (20.0). On July 20, the two teams meet for the final time this season in Wichita.

The Hawaiian Islanders travel to the mainland to face Western Division rival San Diego in the second of three meetings between the two teams this season. Since winning the first game of the year, Hawaii has dropped its last seven games to fall to the bottom of the division. The losing streak includes a 52-50 loss to San Diego on May 11 that saw Riptide kicker RYAN GEISLER nail the game-winning field goal as time expired. The Islanders have struggled on defense, giving up 56.1 points a game. But Hawaii's offense averages a solid 42.0 ppg. Fresno has fared a little better in both categories, scoring 48.4 points a contest and allowing 49.8. DARNELL ARCENEAUX has performed well as the Islanders' quarterback throwing for 1,368 yards and 18 scores. Hawaii receiver DARRELL JONES has 51 catches for 561 yards and seven touchdowns. San Diego's RICO CURTIS leads the league in tackling with 61.5 on the season. KANE CLAUNCH heads the Riptide offense, having passed for 1,759 yards and 35 touchdowns, with 12 going to leading receiver MARTY GRAHAM. The Riptide and Islanders meet again June 14 in Hawaii.

Fresno and Bakersfield meet at Centennial Garden in the second installment of "The Battle of Highway 99." Since opening the season 0-5, the Frenzy has rebounded to post a three-game winning streak and tie San Diego for second place in the Western Division. Bakersfield won 43-33 over the Riptide last weekend to improve to 5-2 overall and remain in first place in the West. The Fresno and Bakersfield offenses match up almost identically, with the Blitz scoring 45.3 points a game and the Frenzy scoring 45.1. On defense however, it is another story. Bakersfield has been more effective, allowing just 40.0 points per contest compared to Fresno's 55.6. Fresno and Bakersfield are disciplined teams, ranking No. 2 and 3, respectively, in penalties against. STEVE WOFFORD leads the Blitz pass offense with 726 yards and 15 touchdowns. Bakersfield QB CHAD ELLIOTT has passed for a league-high 1,914 yards plus 31 touchdowns. Fresno's starting QB RICKY RAY signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League, meaning KENNY ROSE will make his af2 debut against the Blitz. LAMONT WEBB has amassed 719 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns on the season, giving Rose a proven target to throw to. Webb, the league's top kick returner with 984 yards, also leads af2 with 1,781 all-purpose yards.

WEEK 10 SCHEDULE

Friday, May 31
Mobile at Tallahassee, 7:00 p.m.
Charleston at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.
Carolina at Louisville, 7:30 p.m.
Augusta at Macon, 7:30 p.m.
New Haven at Mohegan, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Greensboro at Norfolk, 7:00 p.m.
Albany at Richmond, 7:00 p.m.
Roanoke at Cape Fear, 7:30 p.m.
Rochester at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:30 p.m.
Peoria at Quad City, 8:00 p.m.
Bossier City at Birmingham, 8:30 p.m.
Arkansas at Memphis, 8:30 p.m.
Pensacola at Tennessee Valley, 8:30 p.m.
Wichita at Tulsa, 8:30 p.m.
Fresno at Bakersfield, 10:00 p.m.
Hawaii at San Diego, 10:00 p.m.



arenafootball2 Stories from May 31, 2002


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