Dixon Works Overtime for Honor

July 16, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

Dixon scored four touchdowns in Florida's 46-40 victory over Pensacola Saturday, including the game-winning six-yard touchdown run in overtime. The Marshall University product also scored the TD that put the Firecats in position to win in OT; his 30-yard catch turned a 33-32 deficit into a 40-33 lead after the two-point conversion with 40 seconds remaining in regulation. Dixon scored Florida's first two touchdowns on a 21-yard reception and a fumble recovery in the Barracudas' end zone. Overall, he totaled 79 yards on four catches and nine yards on three rushing attempts.

Other Week 16 award winners, announced by the af2 league office today, are Tulsa DS LARRY HOLLINQUEST (ADT Defensive Player of the Week), Hawaii WR/DB/KR NIAN TAYLOR (Ironman of the Week) and Charleston DS/KR BILLY COOK (Built Ford Tough Man of the Week).

Hollinquest capped an explosive defensive performance by the Talons in the second quarter of their 69-44 victory over Fresno. With the Frenzy threatening at the Tulsa six-yard line, the defensive specialist intercepted a KENNY ROSE pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown and a 57-24 lead as time expired in the first half. Hollinquest tallied a game-high 7.5 tackles and broke up two other passes.

In Hawaii's 83-73 loss at Arkansas, the third highest-scoring game in af2 history, Taylor racked up a Week 16-high 347 all-purpose yards, tied for the eighth-best performance all-time. Taylor was Hawaii's leading receiver with eight catches for 150 yards and three touchdowns on offense, totaling 187 more yards on nine kickoff returns. On defense, he added another touchdown on a 14-yard interception return, also making two tackles and breaking up two passes. Taylor, who is just the fourth player this season to win a weekly award in a losing cause, was af2's Built Ford Tough Man for Week 14.

Charleston kept its playoff hopes alive with a 36-34 upset of Augusta Saturday, spurred by 286 all-purpose yards by Cook. He returned seven kickoffs for 230 yards and a pair of 57-yard touchdowns, the last giving the Swamp Foxes a 27-9 first-half lead. He also totaled 56 yards on three missed field goal returns and recorded a pair of tackles on defense.

Following each game, each team's coaching staff selects one to five players who display a "get it done" attitude as their "Built Ford Tough Men" for that week. At season's end, the league will honor the Built Ford Tough Man of the Year, a player who will win a Ford truck. Other candidates for the league's Offensive, Defensive and Ironman players of the week – chosen by the working media at each af2 game – follow in the Week 16 Results section.

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QUOTES FROM AROUND af2

"ONE HOUR OUT OF MOBILE ... OUR BUS LOST AIR-CONDITIONING AND WE WAITED FOUR HOURS FOR ANOTHER ONE. THE REPLACEMENT BUS HAD TO HAVE FOUR NEW BATTERIES INSTALLED SATURDAY (THE 13TH). I STAYED IN ROOM 911 AT OUR HOTEL AND OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS STAYED IN ROOM 1313. WE WIN THE COIN TOSS, ELECT TO RECEIVE, AND FUMBLE THE CENTER-QUARTERBACK EXCHANGE ON OUR FIRST OFFENSIVE PLAY. I GOT THE FEELING WE WERE IN TROUBLE." – Mobile Head Coach ALAN RISHER on the events preceding his team's 64-41 loss at Jacksonville.

"WHEN YOU LOSE GAMES LIKE THAT, THEY ARE OFTEN HARD TO TAKE IN. OUR GUYS GAVE EVERYTHING THEY'VE GOT." – Hawaii Head Coach CHAD CARLSON after Hawaii fell to Arkansas in an 83-73 shootout.

"WE DIDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE GAME, HAVING TO SETTLE FOR TWO FIELD GOALS. THEY STRUGGLED AGAINST OUR DEFENSE EARLY, BUT MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS AT THE HALF THAT HURT US." – New Haven Head Coach RICK BUFFINGTON after his team suffered a 41-33 loss at Albany.

"WE WERE STILL A LITTLE BOTHERED BY THOSE TWO LOSSES AND IT SHOWED IN THE FIRST-HALF. BUT WE WENT IN AND REGROUPED IN THE LOCKER ROOM AND PICKED IT UP IN THE SECOND HALF. WE WERE A BIT FLAT AND THEY CHANGED UP THEIR DEFENSE SO GIVE THEM A LITTLE CREDIT. BUT WE MADE THE ADJUSTMENTS WE HAD TO MAKE AND PLAYED SOME SOUND FOOTBALL." – Albany QB RYAN VENA on defeating New Haven 41-33.

"THE BIGGEST THING IS TO GET BACK TO BASICS AND PLAY GOOD, HARD, PASSIONATE FOOTBALL. IF YOU CAN GET GUYS TO FOCUS ON THAT, THAT'S WHAT WINS TOUGH GAMES." – Albany Head Coach RON SELESKY on how the Conquest snapped a two-game losing skid by defeating New Haven.

"THAT WAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST GAMES WE HAVE BEEN IN. WE WERE IN A DOGFIGHT. WE WERE TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE AND THEY WERE TRYING TO TAKE THAT FROM US. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT GAMES IN FIRECATS HISTORY." – Florida WR/DB ANTHONY DIXON after scoring the game-winning touchdown in the Firecats' 46-40 OT win over Pensacola.

"WE'D BEEN TALKING THE LAST FOUR OR FIVE DAYS ABOUT WHEN WE GET A TEAM DOWN, GO AHEAD AND PUT THE DAGGER IN. TONIGHT WE FINALLY TURNED IT ON." – Norfolk WR/DB ANTWON ROBINSON on the Nighthawks' 68-33 victory over Roanoke.

"BILLY WAS THE DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME. IF YOU CALLED UP SEARS AND ORDERED UP A KICK RETURNER, HE'S WHAT THEY'D SEND OVER. HE'S WHAT YOU WANT IN A KICK RETURNER." – Charleston Head Coach JIMMY DUNN on kick returner BILLY COOK, who had 286 all-purpose yards and two 57-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns in the Swamp Foxes' 36-34 upset win over Augusta.

"WITHOUT QUESTION IT WAS (THE SPEED'S) DEFENSIVE LINE. THEY WERE ALL OVER US. (CAPE FEAR'S) E.J. BURT MAY BE THE BEST INDIVIDUAL DEFENSIVE LINEMAN IN THE LEAGUE, BUT THERE'S NO DOUBT THE BEST LINE FROM END TO END THAT I'VE SEEN WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BALL TONIGHT." – Greensboro Head Coach JOHNNY SMITH on the difference the Richmond line made in the Prowlers' 46-21 loss Saturday.

"THEY'RE STILL GOLIATH AND WE ARE STILL DAVID." – Cape Fear Head Coach CHRIS SIEGFRIED on the Wildcats' Week 17 showdown against rival Richmond.

"WE WANT TO DO WHATEVER WE HAVE TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS. THE KEY ELEMENT IS TO GET IN, BUT I WANT TO WIN THE REMAINDER OF THE SEASON AND FINISH .500 SO WE'RE GOING IN WITH MOMENTUM. I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE CHALLENGE AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN MEET IT." – Rochester Head Coach MARK SAUNDERS on his desire for the 6-8 Brigade to make the playoffs.

"IT IS IMPORTANT TO US TO HAVE HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE IN THE PLAYOFFS. WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE FILM AND CORRECT THE MISTAKES BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE IN THE NEXT TWO. WE NEED TO STAY TIED WITH TULSA." – Tennessee Valley Head Coach KEVIN GUY on looking to keep the Vipers on track for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

"DOES THIS TEAM NEED A KICK IN THE REAR OR A HUG? I THINK IT PROBABLY NEEDS BOTH. WE HAVE VETERANS LIKE KEN BOUIE, ERIC JOHNSON, TABARI WALLACE WHO NEED TO GRAB THIS THING RIGHT NOW AND SAY, ‘LET'S GO.' WE'RE YOUNG, DON'T HAVE A LOT OF BATTLE-TESTED GUYS." – Peoria assistant coach DICK ADAMS on the Pirates' need to shake off a three-game losing streak as the playoffs approach.

"WE STILL HAVE A LOT TO PLAY FOR. OUR GUYS WON'T GIVE UP JUST BECAUSE WE ARE NOT IN THE POSTSEASON, THEY HAVE A LOT OF PRIDE IN THEMSELVES." – Pensacola assistant coach TONY WELLS on how the Barracudas will treat the final two weeks of the season.

"RECORDS ARE NICE, BUT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE COMING ALONG TO BREAK THEM. I'D SWAP THE RECORD FOR A SHOT AT THE PLAYOFFS IN A HEARTBEAT." – Pensacola QB CHARLIE PETERSON on tying the team record of 50 touchdowns in one season.

"WITHOUT DEFEAT, THERE'S NO LOSS, WITHOUT LOSS THERE'S NO CHANCE TO LEARN." – Louisville OS ANTHONY PAYTON on the Fire's 2-12 season.

"WATCHING YOUR CHILD BEING BORN IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME THING. I WASN'T GOING TO MISS THAT FOR ANYTHING. FOOTBALL IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THERE." – Bakersfield QB CHAD ELLIOTT on missing the Blitz's Week 16 game at Quad City to be with his wife for their child's birth.

"WE STARTED COMING HERE BECAUSE THIS WAS SOMETHING NEW TO THE AREA. WE'RE STILL DOING IT BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN DO AND HAVE A LITTLE FUN." – Augusta fan BOBBY THOMAS on the appeal of the Stallions and the game of Arena Football.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 17

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Tallahassee.

BAKERSFIELD: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Western Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Fresno OR San Diego loss vs. Arkansas.

BIRMINGHAM: Clinched playoff berth.

CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Atlantic Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Richmond. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Richmond OR Albany loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

FLORIDA: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Columbus OR Charleston loss at Carolina AND Jacksonville loss at Mobile.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round). Can clinch Eastern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Macon OR Augusta loss vs. Tallahassee.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch Midwest Division title with win at Louisville AND Quad City loss at Hawaii. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Louisville OR Bakersfield loss at Fresno AND San Diego loss vs. Arkansas.

RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Cape Fear AND Albany loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

ROCHESTER: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mohegan OR Wilkes-Barre/Scranton loss vs. Albany AND New Haven loss vs. Norfolk.

SAN DIEGO: Clinched playoff berth.

TALLAHASSEE: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Augusta OR Florida loss at Columbus.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched National Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout National Conference playoffs (if victorious in first two rounds) with win vs. Memphis AND Tulsa loss at Wichita.

TULSA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Central Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

WICHITA: Clinched playoff berth.

arenafootball2 Stories from July 16, 2002

• Dixon Works Overtime for Honor - af2
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• Carolina Rhinos To Hold Season Ticket Holder Exchange Saturday - Carolina Rhinos

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