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Destroyers Game Notes

February 19, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Buffalo Destroyers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Buffalo Destroyers vs. Georgia Force
Date: Saturday, February 22, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Site: Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,200)
Officials: Darrell Leftwich (Referee), Jeff Carr (Umpire), Bill Ward (Head Linesman), Jim Hatfield (Line Judge), Tony Lombardo (Back Judge)
TV: Empire Sports Network Jim Brinson and Bob Trimble
Radio: WNSA 107.7 FM
Series Record: Georgia leads 1-0
Coaches: Buffalo, Ron Selesky (2-1, 1st season) Georgia, Marty Lowe (7-5, 2nd season)

HEAD COACH: Ron Selesky (1st season, 0-1) Ron Selesky earned 2002 af2 Coach of the Year honors guiding the expansion Albany Conquest to a regular season mark of 13-3 and the Northeast Division championship. The Conquest also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2002 Arena Cup playoffs. Selesky compiled an overall record of 19-13 in two seasons in the af2 during the regular season with a 1-1 playoff mark.

Selesky joined the Conquest after leading the expansion Louisville Fire to a 6-10 mark in 2001. Prior to his stint in Louisville, Selesky spent one season as the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Carolina Cobras. He was the director of player personnel and assistant coach for the Tampa Bay Storm from 1997 to 1999. While Selesky was in Tampa Bay, the Storm compiled a 31-11 regular-season record and earned a berth in ArenaBowl XII in 1998.

Selesky played college football at North Central College (Division III) in Naperville, Illinois, where he was a four-year starter at left offensive tackle. Following his college career, he played in the National Football League for the Minnesota Vikings in 1987 and attended NFL camps in San Diego (1988), Miami (1990) and Detroit (1992).

GAME PREVIEW: Two teams that finished 6-8 last season are both off to 2-1 starts and each has a win over an ArenaBowl XVI participant. Last week, Buffalo beat the ArenaBowl runner up Arizona 49-45 in what is arguably the biggest win in the Destroyers five year history. Georgia beat the defending champion San Jose Sabercats 51-49. QB Tim Carey will get his first start for the Destroyers replacing Jeff Loots who is on IR with a separated shoulder.

DESTROYERS NEXT WEEK: The Fleet return home to meet the Chicago Rush Saturday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the HBSC Arena. This will be the first ever meeting between these two teams.

DESTROYERS RADIO NETWORK: The Buffalo Destroyers will have 13 of 16 games broadcast on radio this season. WNSA 107.7 FM in Buffalo will serve as the flagship station for the second consecutive season. WJTN 1240 AM in Jamestown, NY and WSPQ 1330 AM in Springville, NY will pick up all 13 games this season as well.

LAST WEEK: Buffalo 49 Arizona 45

The Destroyers and Arizona Rattlers battled it out on Valentine's Day as the Destroyers defense came up big in the end as Buffalo won 49-45 in front of 5,086 fans Friday night at the HSBC Arena. Buffalo got off to a fast start as DS Dwaine Carpenter intercepted a QB Chris Hixson pass on the game's first possession. On the very next play, QB Jeff Loots hit WR/LB Cornelius White for a 40 yard touchdown. Buffalo OS Jarrail Jackson took a kickoff back 55 yards to the one yard line on the team's second drive. After a penalty, FB/LB Juan Long ran it in from five yards out. Although Buffalo had only three offensive plays in the quarter, they led after the first, 13-7.

Buffalo went up 20-14 with a Loots 26 yard touchdown pass to OS Gunnard Twyner. Arizona WR/DB Hunkie Cooper scored on a four yard run as Arizona led at halftime, 21-20.

Buffalo tied the game at 28 with 7:48 left in the third when Loots hit White for a 20 yard touchdown and they connected again on the two point conversion. The tie lasted only 88 seconds, Hixson hooked up with Tom Pace for a 30 yard score. Arizona led after three, 35-28.

Loots ran in a one yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth as the game was tied again at 35. Arizona would score the next ten points to go up 45-35 and looked as if they would put the Destroyers away.

Buffalo charged back as Loots threw his fourth touchdown of the game this one to Jackson as Buffalo pulled within three at 45-42. On Arizona's next drive, Carpenter picked off his second pass of the game. On the ensuing drive, Loots was knocked out of the game with a separated shoulder. Backup QB Tim Carey came in and threw a clutch 25 yard pass to Twyner to set up FB/LB Anthony Hicks one yard touchdown to put Buffalo up 49-45. Arizona had 28 seconds left to try and win the game. On a second and goal from the three, Arizona's Hunkie Cooper fumbled the ball and Buffalo's Bret Cooper recovered the ball with two seconds left. Buffalo then ran out the clock to pick up the win.

Loots was named Game MVP passing 15 of 25 for 227 yards four touchdowns and one interception. He also ran in another score. White was named Ironman of the Game, his second in as many weeks, with three receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns. He added 4.5 tackles and one for a loss.

Twyner led the receiving corps with five catches for 112 yards and one touchdown. Carpenter led the defense with a game high six tackles and two interceptions.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Georgia 54 Buffalo 33 The Destroyers hit a bump in the road as they failed to gain any ground in the AFL playoff hunt dropping a 54-33 decision to the Georgia Force in front of 6,034 fans Saturday night in Atlanta's Philips Arena.

The Destroyers got off to a rough start as QB Fred McNair was intercepted on the team's first two offensive possessions. The Force converted one of those turnovers for a touchdown. On the Destroyers third drive, they turned it over on downs on their own 12 yard line. The Force scored again after the turnover going up 14-0. The Fleet's fourth drive was stalled on a blocked field goal attempt resulting in a safety.

McNair was picked off for the third time early in the second quarter and Georgia only needed one play to add another seven points, going up 23-0. The Destroyers got on the board on the ensuing drive on a McNair 38 yard pass to OS Lamont Cooper. After Georgia tacked on another 10 points, McNair hit WR/DB Bret Cooper for a 32 yard score and K Steve McLaughlin added a field goal as the Destroyers went into the break down 33-16.

The Destroyers began their comeback attempt with two touchdowns in the third. McNair hit WR/DB Carlos James on a 10 yard score, but they failed on the two point conversion. With 26 seconds remaining in the period, McNair ran it in from two yards out and Lamont Cooper ran in the two point conversion as the Fleet were down 10 heading into the fourth 40-30.

The Force opened the fourth with QB Donnie Davis' fourth touchdown pass to extend their lead to 47-30. McLaughlin tacked on a 29 yard field goal to pull within two possessions at 47-33. The Fleet recovered the onsides kick with three and a half minutes left, but could not score any points.

Lamont Cooper finished with 284 all-purpose yards (126 kick returns, 116 receiving, 39 missed FG returns and three rushing). McNair finished 15 of 40 for 198 yards three touchdowns and four interceptions.

DS Corey Johnson led the defense with seven tackles (5 solo) and one tackle for a loss. DS Dwaine Carpenter tallied 6.5 tackles and a forced fumble.

FAMILIAR FACES:

· Force K Steve McLaughlin earned second team All-Arena honors last season for the Destroyers. He also set team records for PAT's (75) and PAT Attempts(79) in a season and career.

· Force OL/DL Kerwin Hairston played two seasons (2001-02) with Buffalo and is the Destroyers all-time sack leader with 6.5. He also earned all-rookie honors in 2001.

TEAM NOTES:

I'll Carey The Load: Backup QB Tim Carey will get the start in place of Jeff Loots who separated his shoulder last week. Carey started New England's final seven games in 2000 after beginning his first AFL campaign as the third-string quarterback. In those seven starts, Carey was 126 of 211 for 1,716 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Not In My House: The Destroyers allowed only 16 points week two against Carolina. That is the fewest points by an opponent in team history. The previous record was set last season (May 11, 2002) when the Destroyers held the Detroit Fury to 21 points.

Getting Defensive: Destroyers DS Dwaine Carpenter was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in week two's 44-16 victory over the Carolina Cobras. This is the second time in his career that he was won this award. Carpenter was named Game MVP on Sunday finishing with 3.5 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups. His total of five passes defended ties his own Destroyers single game record, which he set last season vs. Toronto.

Dialing Long Distance: Buffalo QB Jeff Loots hit OS Gunnard Twyner on a 49 yard touchdown pass as time expired in the first half against Carolina. That touchdown is the longest pass play in team history. The previous mark was 46 yards, which was done twice (Jim Kubiak to Kevin Mason vs. Carolina on May 18, 2001 and Browning Nagle to Chris Perry vs. Los Angeles on July 14, 2000).

Ironman: Buffalo WR/LB Cornelius White was selected Ironman of the Game week two vs. Carolina and week three vs. Arizona. White missed the season opener with a pulled hamstring. In his two games with the Destroyers, White has caught seven passes for 146 yards and four touchdowns. He has added eight tackles on defense including 1.5 for loss.

Long and Short: FB/LB Juan Long has rushed for two touchdowns this season. In his previous four seasons in the AFL, Long had two rushing touchdowns.

JJ is Dy-No-Mite: OS Jarrail Jackson leads the AFL in kick return average at 31.6 yards per return. He has taken one back for a touchdown and last week took another down to the one yard line. Both returns were 55 yards.

Definitely Demary: OL/DL Silas Demary has recorded a sack in each of the first two games. He has also forced a fumble in each of the first two games.

Now that's Sharp: OL/DL Jerry Sharp is very active in the off season. After the 2002 season, Jerry finished second in the North American SUMO Wrestling Championships in Toronto. He was featured as "McKenna" in the Oliver Stone movie "Any Given Sunday" and he also appeared on the Jerry Springer Spring Break show.

Don't Call It a Comeback: On July 15, 2000, DS JoJo Polk, playing cornerback for the af2 Tulsa Talons against the Charleston SwampFoxes, deflected a pass and crashed headfirst into the padded wall that surrounded the 50-yard field. He blacked out. When he came to, doctors told him he would never walk again. Polk had a broken bone in his neck, and doctors said he would probably be paralyzed from the waist down for the rest of his life. Polk returned to the field the very next season and led the Grand Rapids Rampage in tackles helping them win the ArenaBowl Championship. The Replacements: Head Coach Ron Selesky achieved his dream of playing professional football in 1987 when he played part of the season with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings as a replacement player.

Destroyers Diversity: Three of the four assistant coaches for the Destroyers are minorities. The Destroyers have the most minorities on staff than any other team in the AFL.

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