Conquest Weekly
April 23, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
The Conquest recorded their first win at Verizon Wireless Arena in franchise history, knocking off the Manchester Wolves 64-54 on Friday April 18th in New Hampshire. Albany allowed the opening touchdown within the first five minutes of the game, but responded with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Dan Cole to Vernard Abrams to take a 7-6 lead; they would not trail in the game again. The Conquest scored 19 points in the second quarter, highlighted by a 15-yard touchdown run by fullback Norman Bauer and a 24-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown by wide receiver Chris Bocage; it was his first TD reception in his af2 career. Albany broke away in the third quarter, scoring the first three touchdowns of the second half. Cole linked up with Abrams for another touchdown and Brandon Taylor recovered a fumble and returned it 35-yards for a touchdown. Cole then connected with Antwun Williams for his longest TD pass of the season, a 45-yard strike to put Albany ahead 54-27. Even backup QB Joe DeLuise got in on the action, scoring on a 1-yard run for his second career af2 touchdown. Kicker Jason Fralicker successfully booted his first career af2 field goal, in his first attempt of the season, to grab a 64-40 lead with three minutes left. Manchester tacked on two touchdowns late in the game, but it was not enough and the Conquest secured the ten-point victory.
Week 5 Preview:
Albany cracked the af2's Coaches Poll for the first time this season, climbing to #15 in the Week 5 edition. The Conquest's road victory in Manchester bounced the Wolves out of the top-16 and elevated Albany into the spotlight. This week the Conquest will square off with the Mahoning Valley Thunder for the second time this season, their fourth all-time meeting. The Thunder could very easily have a 3-1 record coming into their Week 5 clash in Albany. Mahoning Valley has lost their last two home games on the last possession of each game. In Week 2 Thunder kicker Rick Ziska nailed a 23-yard field goal with 43 seconds left to put Mahoning Valley ahead 39-37, but Manchester marched down the field and scored on a Dan Crosier 1-yard run with 15 seconds left to claim a 45-39 win. Mahoning Valley had the game stolen again in Week 4. WR Clenton Rafe caught a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:50 to go in the game to put the Thunder on top 35-34. Then Lexington fumbled the ensuing kick return and the Thunder recovered the ball in their own territory. Lexington got the ball back with 34 seconds left and stunned the crowd as QB Eddie Eviston found WR Chad Spencer for a 35-yard touchdown pass as time expired to give the Horsemen a 41-35 win.
Week 5 Schedule:
(All games are broadcast LIVE on 88.3 FM The SAINT and on the Internet at www.albanyconquest.com)
Saturday, April 26 - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center
vs. Mahoning Valley Thunder (1-3) - Streak: Lost 3
Fourth Place, East Division, American Conference
Mahoning beat Albany 59-33 in the season opener on March 29th at the Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, Ohio. The Thunder have lost three-straight games, including two on the final possession of the game. Albany is looking to extend their winning streak to three and a home win over Mahoning Valley would give the Conquest three-straight home wins, dating back to July 27, 2007. Leading Passer: Josh Swogger (#9) - 38-for-102, 483 yards, 12 TDs, 80.73 QB Rating. Leading Rusher: John Tackmann (#5) - 13 carries for 62 yards, 5 TDs, 4.8 yards per carry. Leading Receiver: DeMarcus Mathes (#10) - 21 catches for 256 yards, 5 TDs, 12.2 yards per catch. Leading Tackler: John Tackmann (#5) - 23.0 tackles (21 solo, 4 assists), 1 tackle for loss, 2 break-ups.
Conquest Player of the Week: (Week 4)
Antwun Williams - WR - #80 10 receptions for 156 yards and 2 TDs With an injury to Jared Jones in Week 3 against Peoria, Antwun Williams stepped into the Conquest's #1 receiver role with ease. The former Virginia St. wide out linked up with QB Dan Cole ten times for 156 yards and two touchdowns, including a season-high 45-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter that gave Albany a 27-point lead. Williams currently leads Albany with 22 receptions for 268 yards and five touchdowns and is averaging 12.2 yards per catch.
Conquest Arrows:
- BREAKING ANOTHER STREAK - Albany's win in Manchester in Week 4 snapped a six-game losing streak for the Conquest against the Wolves at Verizon Wireless Arena. Now Albany is looking to snap a three-game losing streak against the Mahoning Valley Thunder, they are 0-3 all-time against the Thunder.
- OFF TO A GOOD START - Led by first year Head Coach Jeff Hoffman, the Conquest are starting to build some momentum in the East Division. Albany is looking to put together their first three-game winning streak in four years, having last won three in a row from May 8 - May 22, 2004. The Conquest have not start a season with a 3-1 record since the 2003 season where they went 9-1 in their first ten games.
- af2 FIRSTS - WR Chris Bocage recorded his first career af2 touchdown reception, a 24-yard TD on a screen pass against Manchester. K Jason Fralicker also cashed in with his first career af2 field goal in Week 4. Fralicker booted a 19-yard field goal through the uprights and is currently the only af2 kicker with a perfect 100% field goal percentage this season.
- CAUSING PROBLEMS - LB Heath Decker recorded his first forced fumble of the season, becoming one of only 11 players in the af2 this year to cause a fumble.
- AERIAL ASSAULT - QB Dan Cole ranks first in the af2 in Total Offense Average (291.0) and is tied for first in Passing Yards Per Game (271.0). Albany as a team ranks second in the league in Total Offense (291.0).
Albany Conquest Team Leaders:
Passing
-Attempts: Dan Cole (122)
-Completions: Dan Cole (69)
-Percentage: Dan Cole (56.6%)
-Yards: Dan Cole (813)
-Touchdowns: Dan Cole (14)
-Long: Dan Cole (45)
Receiving
-Receptions: Antwun Williams (22)
-Yards: Jared Jones & Antwun Williams (268)
-Touchdowns: Antwun Williams (5)
-Yards/Catch: Jared Jones (12.8)
-Yards/Game: Jared Jones (134.0)
-Long: Antwun Williams (45)
Rushing
-Attempts: Dan Cole (11)
-Yards: Dan Cole (74)
-Touchdowns: Dan Cole & Joe DeLuise (2)
-Yards/Carry: Norman Bauer (15.0)
-Yards/Game: Dan Cole (24.3)
-Long: Dan Cole (40)
Kick Returns
-Attempts: Jared Jones (10)
-Yards: Jared Jones (184)
-Touchdowns: Jared Jones (1)
-Yards/Return: Chris Bocage (24.5)
-Yards/Game: Jared Jones (92.0)
-Long: Jared Jones (55)
Field Goals
-Attempts: Jason Fralicker (1)
-Kicks Made: Jason Fralicker (1)
-Percentage: Jason Fralicker (100.0%)
-Long: Jason Fralicker (19)
Kickoffs
-Attempts: Jason Fralicker (27)
-Yards: Jason Fralicker (1,434)
-Yards/Kick: Jason Fralicker (53.1)
-Touchbacks: Jason Fralicker (7)
Defense
-Tackles: Brandon Taylor (16.0)
-Solo Tackles: Clarence Curry (13)
-Sacks: Kevin Marchant (2)
-Tackles For Loss: Brenton Brady (2.0-14 yards)
-Interceptions: None (0)
-Pass Breakups: Matt Millard (2)
-Forced Fumbles: Heath Decker (1)
-Blocked Kicks: None (0)
-Defensive Touchdowns: Brandon Taylor (1)
East Division Standings:
(AMERICAN CONFERENCE)
Team W L PCT Home Road
WB/Scranton 3 1 .750 1-0 2-1
Albany 2 1 .667 1-0 1-1
Manchester 1 2 .333 0-1 1-1
Mahoning Valley 1 3 .250 1-2 0-1
This week Albany is back home to host the Mahoning Valley Thunder on Saturday, April 26th for a 7:00 pm kick off at the Times Union Center, looking for revenge of their Week 1 loss to the Thunder in Ohio.
Partial season ticket packages and single game tickets are now on sale for the 2008 Albany Conquest regular season. For more information please contact the Conquest at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyconquest.com.
• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...
arenafootball2 Stories from April 23, 2008
- Conquest Weekly - Albany Firebirds
- Dusters move up in the Coaches Poll for Week Five - Amarillo Venom
- af2 lends a helping hand in Arena Football League's V Week efforts - af2
- Florida Firecats Remain Third in Week Five Coaches Poll - Florida Firecats
- Central Valley Remembers Winning Ways in a Victory over Stockton - Central Valley Coyotes
- Talons Top Coaches Poll For Fifth Straight Week - af2
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
