Conquest Weekly
May 8, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
2008 Record:
3-2 (2-1 Home, 1-1 Road) - Streak: Lost 1 - Second Place, East Division, American Conference
Week 6 Recap:
The Tennessee Valley Vipers scored 44 points in the second half, erasing a 17-point Albany Conquest halftime lead, on their way to a 61-49 win on Saturday night at the Times Union Center.
In the first half the Conquest stormed out of the gate to take an early lead and looked unbeatable. WR Chris Bocage scored all three Albany touchdowns in the first quarter, including a scintillating 53-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 7:52 remaining in the opening quarter. Albany's defense caused all kinds of havoc in the first half, twice stopping the Vipers on downs and Conquest DB Brandon Taylor intercepted a Brent Dearmon pass, which led to another score. QB Dan Cole linked up with WR Vernard Abrams for a 7-yard touchdown pass to give Albany their biggest lead of the game, 35-12 with 4:29 left in the second quarter. But two spectacular touchdown catches by WR Maurice Brown on either side of halftime completely changed the momentum of the game.
The Vipers trailed 35-17 at half time and after trading touchdowns early in the third quarter Albany still had a 42-25 advantage. Tennessee Valley then scored 36 straight points by way of four touchdown passes from backup QB Kevin Eakin, a TD run from Travis Blanchard and a defensive sack on Cole for a safety, building a 61-42 Vipers lead with 5:35 left in the fourth quarter. Albany cut the lead to 12 points on a Cole 1-yard run with 1:38 left, but the Tennessee Valley defense kept the Conquest from mounting a dramatic comeback.
Week 7 Preview:
This week Albany will make their first trip in franchise history to Daytona Beach to square off with the expansion ThunderBirds. The Conquest have a short week, as they will travel to Florida for a Thursday, May 8th kickoff at the Ocean Center. The ThunderBirds started their inaugural season in af2 0-5, but tallied their first win last weekend on the road in Manchester. The Conquest will get leading receiver Antwun Williams back from the New York Jets minicamp, but lose tight end Jacob Hobbs, who will be attending the New York Giants minicamp this week.
Week 7 Schedule:
(All games are broadcast LIVE on 88.3 FM The SAINT and on the Internet at www.albanyconquest.com)
Thursday, May 8 - 7:00 pm - Ocean Center
@ Daytona Beach ThunderBirds (1-5) - Streak: Won 1
Fourth Place, South Division, American Conference
* The ThunderBirds are in their first season of operations in the af2 and are currently on their second head coach. After starting the season 0-2 Herkie Walls was replaced with Gary Compton, who is 1-3 in his first four games with Daytona Beach.
* Leading Passer: Matt Bohnet (#19) - 49-for-89, 472 yards, 5 TDs, 60.7 QB rating.
* Leading Rusher: James Jackson - 21 carries for 42 yards, 3 TDs, 2.0 yards per carry.
* Leading Receiver: Toris Rutledge - 43 catches for 351 yards, 4 TDs, 8.2 yards per catch.
* Leading Tackler: Jocques Richardson (#21) - 20.5 tackles (18 solo, 5 assists), 3 INTs, 1Break-Up.
Conquest Player of the Week: (Week 6)
Chris Bocage - WR - #9 4 catches (43 yards, 2 TDs), 1 rush (11 yards, 1 TD), 252 all-purpose yards
Rookie WR Chris Bocage had a breakout week for the Conquest in Week 6. The USC grad scored four touchdowns (2 receiving, 1 rushing, 1 kickoff return) and posted a game-high 252 all-purpose yards, including a dazzling 53-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Bocage broke out in the absence of Albany's top two receivers, Jared Jones (injury) and Antwun Williams (NFL minicamp), and played a key role in Albany building a 23-point lead in the second quarter. For the season, Bocage leads Albany in all-purpose yards (557) and ranks second on the team in scoring (42 points) with 7 touchdowns. With injury problems in the second half against Tennessee Valley, Bocage showed his versatility by lining up for several plays at defensive back.
Conquest Arrows:
- BACK FROM THE NFL - Albany's offense will get a boost with the return of WR Antwun Williams to the lineup this week after missing the Conquest's last game; he attended the NFL's New York Jets Rookie/Free Agent minicamp last weekend. Williams leads the team in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and yards per catch.
- OFF TO THE NFL - The Conquest will be without TE/OL Jacob Hobbs this week in their trip to Daytona. Hobbs will be attending the NFL's New York Giants Rookie/Free Agent minicamp this weekend, becoming the second Albany player in as many weeks to be invited to an NFL camp.
- THE IRONMAN - WR Vernard Abrams showed his versatility last week and was selected for the U.S. Army Ironman Award against Tennessee Valley, after making a surprise debut on the defensive side of the ball. Abrams led the Conquest receivers with 8 catches for 83 yards and a touchdown and then filled in at defensive back due to an injury and tallied 5.5 tackles and one pass break-up.
- SACK TROUBLE - Albany quarterback Dan Cole was sacked a season-high seven times last Saturday against Tennessee Valley. Cole, who was near flawless in the first half, was hurried multiple times and dropped five times in the second half by the Vipers. Tennessee Valley DE Eric Scott had 5 sacks in the game, giving him an af2 best 10 sacks for the season.
Albany Conquest Team Leaders:
Passing
-Attempts: Dan Cole (186)
-Completions: Dan Cole (103)
-Percentage: Dan Cole (55.4%)
-Yards: Dan Cole (1,245)
-Touchdowns: Dan Cole (25)
-Long: Dan Cole (45)
Receiving
-Receptions: Antwun Williams & Vernard Abrams (28)
-Yards: Antwun Williams (431)
-Touchdowns: Antwun Williams (9)
-Yards/Catch: Antwun Williams (15.4)
-Yards/Game: Jared Jones (134.0)
-Long: Antwun Williams (45)
Rushing
-Attempts: Dan Cole (16)
-Yards: Dan Cole (87)
-Touchdowns: Dan Cole & Joe DeLuise (3)
-Yards/Carry: Norman Bauer (7.4)
-Yards/Game: Dan Cole (17.2)
-Long: Dan Cole (40)
Kick Returns
-Attempts: Chris Bocage (15)
-Yards: Chris Bocage (383)
-Touchdowns: Chris Bocage & Jared Jones (1)
-Yards/Return: Chris Bocage (25.5)
-Yards/Game: Chris Bocage (95.8)
-Long: Jared Jones (55)
Field Goals
-Attempts: Jason Fralicker (2)
-Kicks Made: Jason Fralicker (1)
-Percentage: Jason Fralicker (50.0%)
-Long: Jason Fralicker (19)
Kickoffs
-Attempts: Jason Fralicker (46)
-Yards: Jason Fralicker (2,427)
-Yards/Kick: Jason Fralicker (52.8)
-Touchbacks: Jason Fralicker (12)
Defense
-Tackles: Brandon Taylor (26.0)
-Solo Tackles: Brandon Taylor (19)
-Sacks: Kevin Marchant (3.0)
-Tackles For Loss: Kevin Marchant (4.0-21 yards)
-Interceptions: Brandon Taylor (2)
-Pass Breakups: Aharon Kiett & Matt Millard (3)
-Forced Fumbles: Four tied with (1)
-Blocked Kicks: Damion DeRosia (1)
-Defensive Touchdowns: Brenton Brady & Brandon Taylor (1)
The Conquest will have to endure the short week as they travel to Florida for their first even game against the expansion Daytona Beach Thunderbirds on Thursday, May 8th at 7:00 pm. Albany's next home game will come in Week 9 as they host the Manchester Wolves on Friday, May 23rd at 7:00 pm at the Times Union Center.
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.
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