'Dogs, Knights Set to Square Off

June 21, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

Both teams enter the game in second place in their respective divisions, but as legitimate contenders for an ArenaCup championship (their four combined losses all came to teams that currently own 9-1 records). Macon clinched a playoff spot last week and will play Eastern Division rival Augusta (9-1) in the first round. If the Knights can make up the half-game on the Stallions over the final six weeks of the season, Macon would host that conference quarterfinal battle.

Birmingham, which seeks its 12th consecutive home victory, also is in prime playoff position. The Steeldogs are any combination of three wins or three Pensacola losses away from securing their second straight postseason trip. Birmingham hosts Tennessee Valley (9-1) on July 13 in a game that could determine first place in the National Conference Southern Division. While a loss Saturday won't dash Birmingham's or Macon's hopes of claiming a division crown, a win certainly would keep either team in position to capitalize on any stumble by the frontrunners.

JOHN RAYBORN, just two weeks removed from league Offensive Player of the Week honors, guides a Knights attack that ranks fifth in scoring offense (53.6 ppg). After losing two of his first three starts to Tennessee Valley and Augusta, the QB has Macon on a five-game winning streak, passing for 1,984 yards and 36 touchdowns with 10 interceptions. His 248.0 passing yards per game rank fourth in af2. The balance in Macon's receiving corps is downright scary. MARTEZ WESLEY leads the pass catchers with 60 receptions for 686 yards and 13 touchdowns while both JAQUEZ RUMPH and GABE AMEY have 666 yards (on 55 and 52 catches, respectively), with Rumph scoring 13 times and Amey 14. Rumph also is dangerous on returns, taking back two kickoffs for touchdowns and owning the third-best missed field goal return average (19.3 ypr) in the league.

The Knights have seen opponents attempt the fourth-fewest rushes in the league against them this year, but that figures to change Saturday. Birmingham owns af2's third-best ground attack with 43.0 yards per game and a league-high 4.8 yards per carry. QB MONTRESSA KIRBY is the key to the Steeldogs' success, ranking third with 224 rushing yards and eight TDs. He's prolific through the air as well, throwing for 1,976 yards and 43 touchdowns against 12 INTs. Birmingham's top 'Dog is OS WAYNE THOMAS, whose 23 receiving touchdowns lead af2. (His 96 career touchdowns and 576 career points are the most-ever in the league). Thomas has 56 catches for 793 yards for an offense that scores 48.7 points per game. ANTHONY JORDAN (436 receiving yards, 10 TDs) complements Thomas in the passing game while newcomer HERMAN BELL has made a big splash on special teams recently with two runbacks for scores.

Defensively, Birmingham lost team sack leader JERRY TURNER for the season with a knee injury this week. MICHAEL FEAGIN and his team-high 33 tackles and four interceptions leads the way for af2's fourth-stingiest defense (36.1 ppg allowed). QUESAUN WIGFALL (team-high four interceptions) and ELTON DAVIS (three picks, team-leading 14 breakups and 37.5 tackles) pace the Knights' defense (42.5 ppg allowed).

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In the American Conference Southern Division, the playoff race is tight, with all four teams with a shot at the postseason. That gives Charleston (4-6) an added incentive to win Saturday against Norfolk (4-6). Only two games separate the four teams in the American South, and with co-leaders Florida and Tallahassee (both 6-4) playing each other this weekend, the Swamp Foxes are faced with the perfect opportunity to pull within one game of a playoff spot. Norfolk has to rely on either Cape Fear or Richmond to falter down the stretch to have a shot at the playoffs. However, the Nighthawks are fresh off of a confidence-boosting 55-48 victory over Richmond. Charleston's offense averages 45.0 points per game compared to Norfolk's 36.7, but the Nighthawks allow opponents 48.4 ppg while the Swamp Foxes give up 50.5 points a contest. CHRIS WALLACE was efficient against the Speed, passing for 190 yards and three scores, adding two touchdowns on the ground. Wallace rumbled in for the game-winning score with just 42 seconds on the clock. JAY CLARKE, the Built Ford Tough Man of the Week, leads Norfolk's defense with team-highs of 41.0 tackles and five interceptions. MICHAEL BROWN has a team-high eight interceptions to lead Charleston's secondary. Brown also is a two-way threat, having finished last weekend's game against Florida with six receptions for 62 yards and two touchdowns. MIKE BATH likely will start under center for the Swamp Foxes. In the 54-35 loss to Florida, the signal-caller passed for 178 yards and four touchdowns.

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Mohegan (3-8) could use a victory against Richmond Saturday as the Wolves try to rally for the Northeast's lone remaining playoff spot. However, the 8-2 Speed will be no easy task for the Wolves, and will be keen to make up for a Week 12 loss to Norfolk. Mohegan's offense is among the league leaders in yardage, but has been unable to convert field position into points, scoring just 38.2 points per game. For Richmond, offense has come easily most of the season, with the Speed ranked third in scoring with 55.6 ppg. Defensively, Richmond is second in the league with an average of 31.6 points against. The Wolves' third-ranked pass defense (176.7 yards per game) and Richmond's sixth-ranked pass offense (283.3 ypg) square off in an intriguing matchup. BOB BEES leads the Speed's air attack, throwing for 2,275 yards and 45 touchdowns. CABLE DAVIS has been just as effective for Mohegan, passing for 2,565 yards and 36 scores. BRANDON BURNSIDE leads Mohegan with 1,145 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. Burnside has added 861 kickoff return yards to rank among the league leaders in all-purpose yardage. KEVIN HARVEY and JEFF TOWNSEY are due to return to the Speed's offense after missing last week, offering Bees more options downfield. Townsley has a team-high 806 receiving yards while Harvey is Richmond's leading rusher with 107 yards. CARLOS McLAURIN has recorded 59.5 tackles this season.

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American South co-leaders Tallahassee and Florida square off in a pivotal division contest. Both 6-4 teams need the victory to help their playoff chances, and neither can afford to lose with Jacksonville and Charleston hot on their heels. Florida has regained its form recently, winning its last three games, while Tallahassee has lost two straight, albeit to a tough Pensacola team and playoff-bound Augusta. While Tallahassee's offense is more powerful than Florida's (48.4 ppg compared to 38.8 ppg), the Firecats' defense holds opponents to just 37.2 ppg while the Thunder gives up 44.4 ppg. BRIAN SPARACINO has led the Firecats' resurgence, and has thrown for 1,105 yards and 17 scores this season. ROY STABLER leads Florida's defense with a team-high of 54.0 tackles and five interceptions. Tallahassee features a powerful pass rush that is led by TYRONN JOHNSON's 10.5 sacks. SYDNEY MADISON and COMONE FISHER have added 8.0 and 7.0 sacks, respectively, for the league's top-ranked pass rush. On offense, JAMES DICKERSON has pulled in 62 passes for 812 yards while recently establishing himself as a two-way threat. CHRIS PERKINS and VIC PENN give Tallahassee two solid signal-callers.

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The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (4-7) look to continue their drive for the postseason on Saturday when they head to New Haven (3-6) for a divisional battle with the Ninjas. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton comes in having won four of its last five games and, with Rochester falling on Thursday, the Pioneers can grab a share of second place with a win. New Haven has postseason visions as well and currently sits one game behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the Northeast. The Pioneers' midseason turnaround can be attributed to improved play on offense, with QB BRYAN SNYDER posting a 4-2 mark since taking over as the Pioneers' signal-caller. With Snyder, the Pioneers have averaged 46.8 points per game compared to 28.6 in the five games without him. An injury to QB JARROD ROUANZOIN has CHRIS BODEN in the driver's seat of the Ninjas' offense. Despite New Haven's back-to-back defeats to division champion Albany over the past two weeks, Boden has looked sharp. Since replacing Rouanzoin in the second half two games ago, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound field general has thrown for 349 yards and nine TDs, including a team-record six-TD performance last week. WR/DB ANTHONY COMER leads the Ninjas with 47 catches for 627 yards and 13 TDs. Defensively, he has a team-high 43.0 tackles, five interceptions and seven pass breakups. This is the second meeting between these teams with one more scheduled for July 6. The Pioneers won 47-43 on May 18.

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The Carolina Rhinos (2-8) head to Roanoke (5-6) Saturday for their final meeting of the season with the Steam. Roanoke won the teams' first-ever meeting 45-14 back on June 7. CALEB SLOVER leads the Rhino offense, having passed for 1,441 yards and 28 scores this season. He also leads the club in rushing with 149 yards and 10 TDs, helping the Rhinos rank sixth overall with the rush. MAL LAWYER has been the main target for Slover this season, hauling in 37 balls for 514 yards and 11 TDs. Defensively, ARKEE THOMPSON patrols the secondary and he has tallied five interceptions and 13 pass breakups this season. The Steam still has postseason dreams, but needs to win and get some help within the division to make it a reality. MICHAEL THOMAS or SEAN PETERSON will be under center for the Steam. Thomas became the fifth QB to take snaps for the Steam this season when he replaced a struggling Peterson last week. He tossed 10 completions for 94 yards and two scores in his debut. On defense, 11 players have recorded 24 sacks for the Steam this season, which is the fifth-best in the league.

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Arkansas (5-5) hosts Tulsa (9-1) looking to top the Central Division's first-place team. The Twisters need a victory to end a three-game losing streak and keep their playoff hopes alive while the Talons can clinch their first division championship and a first-round home game with a win combined with a Bossier City loss. When Tulsa and Arkansas met May 11, the Talons wound up 85-42 victors. Tulsa plays five of its remaining six games on the road and would like to start that stretch off on the right foot. Tulsa's offense is the most potent in the league, scoring 56.7 points a game. Tulsa also boasts one of the league's stingiest defenses, holding opponents to just an average of 36.7 points. Arkansas averages 47.2 points and 263.3 yards of total offense a game while giving up 41.1 points and 247.6 yards on defense. The Twisters' secondary of LENNIE JOHNSON, ED SQUARE and GERALD GRIFFIN will have to keep a close eye on MITCH ALLNER, who is the league's second-leading scorer with 26 touchdowns. Allner also is af2's leading return man, racking up an average of 28.3 yards on kickoff returns. Johnson is one of the leading Ironmen in the league, with 647 receiving yards and 15 TDs on offense and a team-leading four interceptions on defense. However, LARRY HOLLINQUEST will be looking to keep Johnson and Twister QB RICKY HEBERT in check. The Talons' ballhawk has six interceptions on the year and ranks second in passes defended with 29. ANTHONY BUICH and JOE PHEARS have combined at quarterback for Tulsa to produce a 119.0 passer rating. This is the teams' final meeting of the season.

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Wichita (4-7) and Bossier City (6-5) meet Saturday at the CenturyTel Center with both teams hoping to keep a hold on their current playoff position. The Stealth has won two straight and is 3-1 with RON LOPEZ under center, with the lone loss being against 9-1 Tulsa. Bossier City lost last weekend to the Talons, and needs to rebound with a win Saturday to keep Arkansas at bay in the Central Division. SHERARD POTEETE has the Battle Wings scoring 49.2 points a game while Bossier City's defense holds opponents to an average of 39.5. The Stealth's offense has averaged 50.0 points a game under Lopez's guidance while Wichita's defense also has played better during his tenure, giving up 42.0 points a contest. In his four games as Wichita's signal-caller, Lopez has thrown for 1,066 yards and 19 touchdowns, helping him breathe new life to the Stealth's offense. WILLIE GRISSOM has emerged as Wichita's new go-to-guy with 67 receptions for 715 yards and seven scores. For Bossier City, Poteete is among the league leaders in rushing with 19.9 yards a game and 15 scores on the ground. The QB has amassed 2,624 yards of total offense, ranking him third in af2. KEVIN STEVENSON has been the Battle Wings' leading receiver with 83 receptions, 1,069 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also is a dangerous return man with 1,734 all-purpose yards. Defensively, Bossier City is led by CEDRIC ROBINSON, who has six interceptions and 24 passes defended. Wichita's BRYAN HENDERSON is second in the league with 12.0 sacks.

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Guaranteed victories are common this year, and, for the second time this season, Memphis Head Coach DANTON BARTO stepped up to the plate this week, assuring fans of a Saturday win over Louisville (1-9). The Xplorers (4-7) beat Bossier City in Week 4 after another Barto guarantee, part of a season-starting three-game win streak that began with a 60-46 triumph at Louisville. The Fire desperately needs to win this rematch to stay within striking distance of Wichita (4-7) for the final playoff spot in the Midwest Division. Memphis also finds itself in a virtual must-win situation, needing to climb past Bossier (6-5) and Arkansas (5-5) to grab a berth from the Central Division. TIM LESTER's 53 touchdown passes and league-best 2,845 yards have kept the Xplorers competitive. CARLOS McNEARY (704 receiving yards, 17 TDs) has been a bright spot in the six-game absence of former NFL receiver RUSSELL COPELAND, who remains out with an ankle injury. A pair of Anthonys lead the Fire. ANTHONY STALLINGS is a threat on the ground and via return – he has five rushing touchdowns in just four games and averages 21 yards per kick return. ANTHONY PAYTON is Louisville's top receiver with 789 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.

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Tennessee Valley (9-1) and Quad City (6-4) meet for the second time in three weeks after the Vipers pulled off a 60-40 victory in Moline June 8. Both teams will be without their opening-day starting quarterbacks. The Steamwheelers lost TONY ZIMMERMAN earlier in the season with a broken leg, and the same injury last week shelved WES COUNTS for the remainder of the year. MIKE CAWLEY made an impressive debut for Quad City last weekend, throwing four touchdown passes and rushing for two more scores in the Steamwheelers' 57-47 win at Memphis. TRACY KENDALL switched to QB from WR/LB last week to lead the Vipers to a 39-35 win over Roanoke, but newcomer JERMAINE ALFRED joined the team this week and brings impressive credentials from a stint in Augusta last year. The duo of KELLY SNELL and KENNY BAILEY have combined for 95.5 tackles, 15 interceptions and 26 pass breakups, giving Tennessee Valley a formidable secondary. OS KELLY FIELDS (671 yards, seven touchdowns) should return to action against Quad City, giving the Vipers an additional element on offense. The Steamwheelers' IRA GOOCH is third in the league in scoring with 158 points. He also has accumulated a league-high 2,382 all-purpose yards. Defensively for Quad City, FRANK TRENTADUE is sixth in af2 with 8.5 sacks and HIAWATHA PHIFER third with 66.5 tackles.

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The Western Division race has tightened over the past two weeks as consecutive losses have dropped frontrunner Bakersfield to 6-4. With a win over San Diego last week, Hawaii (2-9) put itself in position to make a late-season run at a playoff berth. The Islanders travel to Bakersfield in the first of back-to-back games with the Blitz. Bakersfield also claimed a 52-32 win at Hawaii in Week 2. Injuries have plagued the Islanders in recent weeks, with offensive leaders DARNELL ARCENEAUX, DARRELL JONES and ISAAC WHITE all nursing injuries. Despite nagging ailments to his shoulder and shin, Arceneaux has a league-high 230 rushing yards to lead an Islanders offense that scores 43.0 points a game. Another league-leading QB, Bakersfield's CHAD ELLIOTT averages a league-best 259.1 passing yards per game at the helm of the league's fourth-ranked offense. Elliott also has accumulated 2,606 yards of total offense. Defensively, the Blitz has been effective, holding opponents to 39.8 points a game, while Hawaii gives up 53.7 points per contest. J'SHARLON JONES has established himself in Bakersfield's defense with six interceptions, 27 passes defended and 51.0 tackles. On offense, injured OS STEVE WOFFORD will be out again for Bakersfield, but replacement GERRICK BIVINS had game highs of 12 receptions, 132 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 56-49 loss at Peoria.

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Peoria (9-2) takes a seven-game winning streak to San Diego (5-6) Saturday with the Riptide, which lost 53-34 at Hawaii last week, needing a bounceback win to avoid falling back toward idle Fresno (4-7) in the battle for one of the Western Division's playoff spots. Peoria clinched a postseason berth last week and looks to knock off another possible second-round opponent after coming from behind to edge Western leader Bakersfield 56-49 in Week 12. The Pirates boast a Who's Who of individual league leaders, paced by LINCOLN DUPREE (af2-best 10 interceptions to go with five return TDs this year) and CORNELL CRAIG, af2's third-leading receiver (1,141 yards) and fourth-leading scorer (148 points). Defensively, teammates ERIC JOHNSON and KEN BOUIE both rank third in the league with 11.5 sacks apiece. San Diego QB KANE CLAUNCH can be deadly when he has time in the pocket. The league's fourth-rated passer has thrown for 2,460 yards and 47 TDs against just nine interceptions this year. Due to injuries, there's been a bit of a revolving door at offensive specialist. MARK BUTLER (349 yards, seven touchdowns) currently carries the torch. WR/LB RICO CURTIS, the league's top tackler (86.5), should return from a hip pointer to try to shut down one of the league's most potent offenses (55.8 ppg – second in af2). San Diego averages 46.5 ppg.

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THURSDAY NIGHT RECAP Albany Conquest (10-1) 54, Rochester Brigade (5-7) 42

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The expansion Albany Conquest captured the Northeast Division championship with a 54-42 win over the Rochester Brigade Thursday night before 6,882 fans at the Blue Cross Arena. By winning the division, the Conquest is assured of homefield advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Albany also became the first team to win 10 games this season.

Rochester led 15-6 after the first quarter, but it was all Albany the rest of the way. The Conquest held the Brigade to 13 points through quarters two and three, while scoring 35 of its own. Rochester got within one score late in the fourth frame, but RYAN VENA found COREY HILL for a 28-yard strike with one minute left to seal the win for the Conquest.

For Albany, Vena completed 22-of-35 passes for 280 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed the ball five times for 19 yards and a score. His main passing target was Hill, who had a season-high 16 catches for 226 yards and five touchdowns, earning MVP honors in the process. JOHN STUART was named Ironman of the Game, totaling three catches for 30 yards and one score. He also registered four tackles and two passes defended. The ADT Defensive Player of the Game award went to FB/LB MATT VITTENGL, who registered seven tackles (three solo), one tackle for loss and one pass breakup.

For the Brigade, QB MATT D'ORAZIO completed 24-of-37 passes for 256 yards and four scores while rushing the ball six times for 45 yards and a TD. League reception leader MARTINO THEUS caught 12 passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns to give him 130 receptions on the season. Defensively, the Brigade was led by AARON FIX with six tackles (five solo), one forced fumble and one pass breakup.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 13

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship with Thursday's win at Rochester.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth.

CAPE FEAR: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Greensboro AND loss by Norfolk vs. Charleston AND loss by Roanoke vs. Carolina.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

RICHMOND: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Mohegan AND loss by Norfolk vs. Charleston AND loss by Roanoke vs. Carolina.

TULSA: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Arkansas. Can clinch Central Division championship with win at Arkansas AND loss by Bossier City vs. Wichita.

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Week 13 SCHEDULE (all times EST)

Thursday, June 20
Albany 54, Rochester 42
Friday, June 21
Columbus at Augusta, 7:30 p.m.
Greensboro at Cape Fear, 7:30 p.m.
Pensacola at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 22
Charleston at Norfolk, 7:00 p.m.
Mohegan at Richmond, 7:00 p.m.
Tallahassee at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at New Haven, 7:30 p.m.
Carolina at Roanoke, 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa at Arkansas, 8:00 p.m.
Macon at Birmingham, 8:30 p.m.
Wichita at Bossier City, 8:30 p.m.
Louisville at Memphis, 8:30 p.m.
Quad City at Tennessee Valley, 8:30 p.m.
Hawaii at Bakersfield, 10:00 p.m.
Peoria at San Diego, 10:00 p.m.
Fresno bye
Mobile bye

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A LOOK AHEAD TO WEEK 14

Friday, June 28 (all times ET)
Tallahassee at Macon, 7:30 p.m.
Cape Fear at Mohegan, 7:30 p.m.
Jacksonville at Pensacola, 8:00 p.m.
Arkansas at Birmingham, 8:30 p.m.
Tennessee Valley at Mobile, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 29
Greensboro at Charleston, 7:00 p.m.
Carolina at Columbus, 7:00 p.m.
Wichita at Louisville, 7:00 p.m.
New Haven at Norfolk, 7:00 p.m.
Richmond at Albany, 7:30 p.m.
Memphis at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Augusta at Roanoke, 7:30 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Rochester, 7:30 p.m.
Tulsa at Peoria, 8:00 p.m.
Quad City at Bossier City, 8:30 p.m.
Fresno at San Diego, 10:00 p.m.
Bakersfield at Hawaii, 1:00 a.m. (7:00 p.m. local)

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