Destroyers Game Notes
May 14, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Buffalo Destroyers (2-2)
Vs. Toronto Phantoms (3-1)
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2002
Kickoff: 7:00 PM
Site: HSBC Arena (18,457)
Officials: Bill LeMonnier (Referee), Dan Ferrell (Umpire), Allen Baynes (Head Linesman), David Meslow (Line Judge), Billy Beckett (Back Judge)
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM (Buffalo), WJTN 1240 AM (Jamestown) (Jim Brinson, Bob Trimble, Bremante Bryant)
TV: None
Series Record: Series tied 1-1
Last Meeting: Toronto 61 Buffalo 26
HSBC Arena, July 6, 2001
Coaches: Ray Bentley (13-15, 3rd Year)
Mark Stoute (11-7, 2nd Year)
THE SERIES: The series is tied 1-1. Buffalo won the first meeting vs. Toronto 61-58 in the first international game played in the Arena Football League. The Phantoms were the New England Sea Wolves from 1999-2000. The Destroyers were 0-4 all-time vs. New England. 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.
Toronto's Mark Stoute enters his 8th season in the AFL, second as head coach and general manager in Toronto. He led the Phantoms to an 8-6 regular season record and the Eastern Division Championship in 2000.
Stoute a four-year letterman as a kicker with Kentucky State, played for the New Jersey Generals and the Boston Breakers of the USFL. He made his coaching debut in 1992 with the special teams staff at Southern Connecticut State University. He made the jump to the AFL with the Connecticut Coyotes as the assistant defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach (1995), also working with the Charlotte Rage (1996) and the Florida Bobcats (1997-1998) before returning to his native state to oversee player personnel decisions with the New England Sea Wolves (1999-2000). Stoute moved with the team from Hartford to Toronto earning a promotion to his current position.
LAST SERIES MEETING: Toronto 61 Buffalo 26 July 6, 2001 HSBC Arena
After a bye in week twelve, the Buffalo Destroyers were blanked in the second and third quarters en route to a 61-26 defeat. Buffalo opened the game with a Jim Kubiak to Hassan Probherbs 12-yard pass while Kubiak added another TD strike to Eddie Brown. Toronto matched the points and went on to score seven straight touchdowns including two interception returns, one a 43-yarder from Kerry Brown and a 48-yarder from Anthony Derricks. Kubiak finished the night 16 of 33 for 215 yards and three touchdowns. Brown led Buffalo receivers with five catches for 74 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Phantoms QB Chad Salisbury completed 13 of 22 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns bringing home Game MVP honors. Kerry Brown tallied 31 yards on two catches and a touchdown and returned an interception for a 43 yard touchdown notching the "Ironman of the Game" award.
DESTROYERS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
OL/DL Eric Miller Leg Out
OL/DL Sam Mavrick Leg Out
RECENT TRANSACTIONS:
Thursday, 5/10/02ACTIVATED FROM INJURED RESERVE: OS Jarrail Jackson 5'8 185 OklahomaPLACED ON INJURED RESERVE: OL/DL Eric Miller 6-4 285 Miami FLWednesday, 5/9/01SIGNED TO PRACTICE SQUAD: FB/LB Aaron Woloszyn 6-2 265 Buffalo St.Monday, 5/6/02WAIVED FROM PRACTICE SQUAD: OS Derek Baker 5'11 165 Buffalo StFriday, 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 Tech
DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: The Destroyers hit the road to meet ArenaBowl XV Champion the Grand Rapids Rampage Saturday, May 25 at 7:30PM. The game will be televised on the Empire Sports Network.
TEAM NOTES: Coop on the mend: OS Lamont Cooper was released from the hospital on Monday. Coop was admitted into the hospital with an ulcer late last Friday night. Even though he missed last week's game with Detroit, Coop still is second in the AFL in all-purpose yards.
Big Time D: The Destroyers defense had a breakout game last week vs. Detroit. Going into last week, the defense was ranked last in the AFL giving up 56.7 points per game and gave up over 300 yards per game. Against Detroit, the Destroyers "D" gave up a team record low 21 points (previous record was 23 vs. Portland in 1999) and 183 total yards.
Ground Attack: The Destroyers gained 65 yards on the ground last week, the second highest this season in the AFL. Their 16 rushing attempts is third highest this season. Seven players had at least one carry last week.
Play Maker Mason: WR/LB Kevin Mason's 34 yard run at the end of the first half last week was the longest run from scrimmage in team history. He went out of bounds at the one yard line. Also, two of Mason's three receptions went for touchdowns.
Young Gun: DS Dwaine Carpenter led the Destroyers with 7.5 tackles last week (7 solo). The rookie also had an interception and 2 pass defenses. He made his AFL debut two weeks ago in Detroit and was the team's second leading tackler with 4.5. He also broke up a pass. In only two games, Carpenter is third on the team in tackles with 12.
Familiar Faces: OL/DL Hardy Mitchell played for the Phantoms last season appearing in nine games. OL/DL Jerry Sharp was with the New England Sea Wolves in 1999 recording nine tackles.
Familiar Faces 2: Phantoms QB Chad Salisbury is a 1999 University at Buffalo graduate and set UB records for competitions, attempts and passing yards. Phantoms special teams coordinator and FB/LB coach Mike Custer is also a UB grad.
2 for 2: WR/DB Carlos James is second on the team in receiving with 13 catches for 124 yards and four touchdowns. James is also the team's second leading tackler with 12.5.
The Run Stops Here: The Destroyers are second in the league in rushing defense giving up 9.8 yards per game. Only Dallas is better at stopping the run at 8.8 yards per game.
Stand In: Rookie OS Jarrail Jackson did a good job filling in for Lamont Cooper last week. In his first AFL game, Jackson tied for the team high with four receptions and 63 yards (second on the team) and a touchdown. He also returned a kick for 20 yards. He led the team with 85 all-purpose yards.
On The Money: QB Fred McNair is 33 of 50 passing on first down with six touchdowns. 20 of those 33 completions have been for another first down.
I'll Take One: K Steve McLaughlin has the highest PAT percentage in the AFL at 92.6% connecting on 25 of 27 PAT's.
Home Cooking: The Destroyers are 3-0 at home this season including pre-season. They are 0-3 on the road including pre-season. Three of the next four are at HSBC.
BUILT FORD TOUGH AWARD (selected by coaches) The Built Ford Tough Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on both sides of the ball. The honored players receive a helmet sticker that recognizes the Built Ford Tough Player of the Game.
Week Opp. Player
4 Detroit David Caldwell
4 Detroit Corey Johnson
4 Detroit Juan Long
4 Detroit Dwaine Carpenter
GAME MVP AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 New Jersey Fred McNair
3 Detroit Lamont Cooper
4 Detroit Fred McNair
GAME IRONMAN AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 New Jersey Eddie Brown
4 Detroit Juan Long
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