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Destroyers Game Notes

May 7, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Buffalo Destroyers (1-2)
Vs. Detroit Fury (1-2)
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 PM
Site: HSBC Arena (18,457)
Officials: Wes Fritz (Referee), Tony Payne (Umpire), Rich Grube (Head Linesman), Kent Payne (Line Judge), Tony Lombardo (Back Judge)
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM (Buffalo), WJTN 1240 AM (Jamestown)
(Jim Brinson, Bob Trimble, Bremante Bryant)
TV: None
Series Record: Detroit leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Detroit 50 Buffalo 48 The Palace of Auburn Hills, May 4, 2002
Coaches: Ray Bentley (12-15, 3rd Year)
Mouse Davis (8-9, 2nd Year)

THE SERIES: Detroit won last week 50-48. The Fury also beat the Destroyers 32-27 in the pre-season. HEAD COACHES: Buffalo’s Ray Bentley begins his second full season as head coach, his third overall. Bentley a native of Grand Rapids, MI earned All-MAC honors as a linebacker in 1981-82 at Central Michigan. Bentley's 10 year pro football career began in 1983 with the Michigan Panthers where he was part of the inaugural USFL Championship team. Bentley played for the Buffalo Bills from 1986-91, playing in two Super Bowls. Outside of coaching football, Bentley continues to work as an NFL play-by-play broadcaster for the FOX Sports Network.

Detroit’s Mouse Davis guided the 2001 squad to a 7-7 regular season record and an appearance in the 2001 Arena Bowl Playoffs. Davis is no stranger to Detroit or the Arena Football League, having spent time with the Lions (NFL) in the early nineties and also serving as the AFL's director of football operations from 1986-88. He brings over 40 years of football coaching experience to the Fury, having coached in four other professional leagues (NFL, CFL, USFL, WLAF) as well as the NCAA…known best for his innovative offensive tactics, the "Father of the Run 'N' Shoot". Davis' first professional coaching position was as the offensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL, in just two short years, he lifted the Argonauts from the basement of the CFL to consecutive Grey Cup Championship appearances, culminating with a title in 1983.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Detroit 50 Buffalo 48
The Palace of Auburn Hills, May 4, 2002 The Buffalo Destroyers gave up a 12 point second half lead as they drop a 50-48 decision to the Detroit Fury Saturday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. K Steve McLaughlin missed a kick with 5.4 seconds left to play, which would have given the Destroyers a win. Lamont Cooper, the two-time Don’t Blink Player of the Year, was named game MVP amassing 415 all-purpose yards, breaking or tying seven Destroyers single game records. Cooper had 11 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns, eight kick returns for 202 yards and two touchdowns and one missed FG return for 11 yards. QB Fred McNair was 18 of 29 for 276 yards five touchdowns and two interceptions. McNair’s five touchdowns moves him into seventh place all-time on the Arena Football League’s career touchdown passes list with 304 moving ahead of Mike Pawlawski who stands at 303.

RECENT TRANSACTIONS:

Monday, 5/6/02WAIVED FROM PRACTICE SQUAD: OS Derek Baker 5’11 165 Buffalo St Friday, 4/26/02SIGNED TO PRACTICE SQUAD: OL/DL Jeremy Johnson 6’4” 275 Western MichiganWAIVED FROM PRACTICE SQUAD: OL/DL Joe Rumolo 6’4 280 AkronTuesday, 4/23/02SIGNED: OL/DL Silas Demary 6'3" 285 Virginia St.Wednesday, 4/17/02:SIGNED TO PRACTICE SQUAD: OL/DL Joe Rumolo 6’4 280 AkronTuesday, 4/16/02:SIGNED TO PRACTICE SQUAD: OS Derek Baker 5’11 165 Buffalo St, QB Dan Boland 6’3 215 Holy Cross, WR/DB Teddy McDuffie 5’10 200 TempleMonday, 4/15/02:WAIVED: OL/DL Desmon Baker 6’5 305 Valdosta StSaturday 4/13/02:WAIVED: OS Derek Baker 5’ 11” 165 Buffalo St., QB Jim Ballard 6’ 4” 220 Mt. Union, WR/DB Mike Chandler 6’ 0” 200 Kansas, DS Tyrone Laster 6’ 0” 195 Virginia Union, OL/DL Jeremy Johnson 6’4” 275 Western Michigan INJURED RESERVE: OL/DL Sam Mavrick 6’3 290 West Virginia TechMonday 4/8/02: SIGNED: WR/DB Aleric Clark 5’10” 185 Texas A&M KingsvilleINJURED RESERVE: WR/DB Jarrail Jackson 5’8” 180 Oklahoma

MILESTONES:

Player: Milestone: Needs:
Bret Cooper 5,000 receiving yards 219 yards
Lamont Cooper 5,000 receiving yards 73 yards
Jason Bratton 500 rushing yards 29 yards
Derrick Chachere 500 rushing yards 42 yards
Eddie Brown 400 tackles 20 tackles
Carlos James 400 tackles 39 tackles
Steve McLaughlin 300 PAT’s 25 PAT’s

DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: The Destroyers host Eastern Division rival the Toronto Phantoms next Saturday, May 18 at the HSBC Arena. Kickoff is set for 7:00PM.

TEAM NOTES:

Super Coop: Two-time “Don’t Blink” Player of the Year OS Lamont Cooper is already making his mark with the Destroyers. In his third game with Buffalo, “Coop” broke seven single game team records. His 415 all-purpose yards last week at Detroit is second highest in AFL history. Barry Wagner had 434 all-purpose yards for Orlando June 21, 1996 vs. Iowa.

Below is a list of Cooper’s new team records:

Most receiving yards, Game:
202, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
194, Kevin Mason, May 4, 2001 vs. Carolina

Most kickoff returns, Game:
8, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
8, Darrick Branch, June 12, 1999 vs. Iowa

Most kickoff return yards, Game:
202, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
201, Reggie Allen, April 27, 2001 vs. New York

Longest Kickoff Return, Game:
56, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002
4 others tied with 56, most recent Willie Latta, May 4, 2001 vs. Carolina

Combined kick return yards, Game:
213, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
201, Reggie Allen, April 27, 2001 vs. New York

Most combined kick returns for touchdowns, Game:
2, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
Many tied at 1, most recent Lamont Cooper, April 28, 2002 vs. New York

All-purpose yards, Game:
415, Lamont Cooper, May 4, 2002 vs. Detroit
366, Reggie Allen, April 27, 2001 vs. New York

Super Coop 2: With only 73 yards to go to reach the 5,000 career receiving yards mark, Lamont Cooper will become the sixth player in AFL history to amass 5,000 career receiving yards and 5,000 career return yards. “Coop” has 4,927 career receiving yards and 5,871 career return yards.

“Indoor Air” McNair: It seems every week QB Fred McNair is moving ahead of someone in the AFL’s all-time career lists for quarterbacks. Last week, McNair’s five touchdown passes moved him into seventh place all-time with 304 career touchdowns. He passed Mike Pawlawski who is now in eighth place with 303.

Welcome to the Club: QB Fred McNair joined an exclusive club last week after he threw his 300th career touchdown. McNair became the eighth AFL quarterback to reach the 15,000 (passing yards)-300 (touchdown) club. McNair currently has 17,381 yards and 304 touchdowns.

Happy Anniversary: May 8th marked the two year anniversary for head coach and general manager Ray Bentley with the Destroyers. The former Buffalo Bill was hired to take over a team who started 1-13 in their first season and 0-4 to start their sophomore campaign. Bentley led the Destroyers to the playoffs his first year.

Welcome to the Show: DS Dwaine Carpenter made his AFL debut last week in Detroit and was the team’s second leading tackler with 4.5. He also broke up a pass.

Deuces Wild: WR/LB Thomas Bailey had two touchdowns and 2.5 tackles last week in Detroit. Bailey’s jersey is #2.

Welcome Home: The Destroyers are 2-0 at home this season including the pre-season. They are 0-3 on the road including the pre-season.

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