Dragons Aim to Stay in Front of Pack

May 6, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release

With all three Week 6 games being played on Saturday May 10, the F.C. Barcelona Dragons (4-1) will look to extend their four-game winning streak and stay clear of the chasing pack as they play host to a Berlin Thunder (1-4) team that enjoyed its first win of the season last week.

In Germany, the Frankfurt Galaxy (3-2) will be out to halt a two-game losing slide as they play the Scottish Claymores (2-3), who will be keen to make amends for a home loss suffered at the hands of the Dragons last weekend.

In the Netherlands, the Amsterdam Admirals (2-3) will look to climb back into World Bowl contention as they take on a Rhein Fire (3-2) team just one game out of first place behind the Dragons.

It will be a case of top playing bottom in Barcelona's Mini-Estadi on Saturday as the Dragons take on the Thunder in a repeat of World Bowl IX.

The Dragons have a shot at the franchise-best 8-2 record this season and could make the World Bowl for a fifth time.

Dragons head coach JACK BICKNELL says: "We're not even thinking about World Bowl right now because you probably need to win seven games to get in and we only have four victories right now. But we have a very good team and I don't think there will ever be a game where they go out and don't give a lot of effort. But we're not there yet and Berlin scares me."

After seeing his team defeat the Admirals last week, Thunder head coach PETER VAAS will be looking to go on a World Bowl charge. He says: "I told you a week ago we would be back. We showed up and played hard. There is still the potential to go 6-4. What the future holds – I don't know. I would like to think we'll play with the same intensity and passion all year."

The Claymores head to Frankfurt in need of a morale-boosting road victory having already dropped two games at home this season. Scotland has notched two wins against Berlin but has failed to beat Frankfurt, Rhein and Barcelona.

Claymores head coach GENE DAHLQUIST says: "I'm just thinking about getting ready to play Frankfurt next week but if we don't beat them it gets a bit tougher for us to make the World Bowl."

After opening the season 3-0, the Galaxy have dropped back-to-back games against the Admirals and Fire and will be hoping another home victory (2-0 at Waldstadion this season) will get their World Bowl challenge back on track.

Head coach DOUG GRABER says: "We did not play well enough to win last week and Rhein played very well and deserve to be congratulated. There are no excuses – we were clearly beaten."

Fresh from victory in front of more than 42,000 fans in last week's Deutschland Derby meeting with Frankfurt, Rhein Fire will be plotting a victory in the Netherlands for the first time since Week 6 of the 1999 season.

Head coach PETE KUHARCHEK says: "I am very pleased with the effort of my team this season. I was very pleased with last week's victory and we made the plays we needed to make in order to win."

The Admirals have blown hot and cold throughout the first half of the 2003 campaign but will feel confident heading into this weekend's meeting with Rhein as they have won the past four games between the two teams.

Amsterdam head coach BART ANDRUS says: "By the time we woke up in Berlin last week it was too late. Penalties also hurt us last week so we need to avoid them as much as possible."

History suggests Dragons are halfway to World Bowl heaven

AFTER four straight victories, the F.C. Barcelona Dragons are top of the NFLEL standings at the season's halfway mark.

But does that mean Dragons fans should start booking their flights to World Bowl?

Well, according to the NFL Europe League history books, yes.

Every year since the league began play in 1991, a team leading their respective division after five weeks of action has gone on to appear in World Bowl.

That, of course, was easier for the Amsterdam Admirals (1995), Scottish Claymores (1996) and Barcelona Dragons (1997) as the league leaders after five games automatically qualified for World Bowl during those three years.

But in the other seven NFLEL seasons, the leading team after five weeks has also gone on to reach the championship game, indicating there could be good times ahead for the Dragons.

While history books indicate his team will make World Bowl this season, Dragons head coach JACK BICKNELL is determined to keep his side focused, as he explained: "I am very happy with the results we have been achieving but there's still a lot of football to be played this season. It's where you stand after 10 weeks that is important and we will be giving our best effort to ensure that we continue to win as many games as possible."

Further evidence suggests the Dragons will be at World Bowl XI in June as all their previous championship game appearances have been in odd-numbered years – 1991, 1997, 1999 and 2001.

Mid-season check on the NFL Europe League record books

FIVE weeks of the season gone. In the three seasons from 1995 to 1997 it would have been time to crown the first half champions and the team who would host World Bowl. Under those rules, the site of World Bowl XI would be Barcelona, Spain, not Glasgow, Scotland.

These days, the season's halfway point is a time to look at which major single season records and landmarks could be set in 2003.

· Fire running back AUTRY DENSON has rushed for 100 yards or more on 3 occasions, putting him on course to break the record of 5 100-yard rushing games in a season, set by Barcelona's Mike Green in 2001.

· Claymores running back KEN SIMONTON has scored 7 touchdowns this season, putting him on course to tie the league record of 14 set by Barcelona's Lawrence Phillips in 1999.

· Barcelona's defense has given up a league-low 52 points this year, putting them on course to break the record for fewest points conceded in a season, set when the London Monarchs allowed 121 points in 1991.

· By contrast, Berlin Thunder are on course to give up 376 points, which would surpass the 311 given up by the F.C. Barcelona Dragons in 2002. The Thunder are also on pace to concede a record 4,362 total yards (record is 4,194 given up by Barcelona Dragons in 1995) and 1,982 rushing yards (1,544 by F.C. Barcelona in 2002)

Former coaching colleagues go head to head in Week 6

THEY used to spend countless hours together locked in film rooms plotting their team's route to victory that coming weekend. But in Saturday's Week 6 action, old friends will be looking to outwit each other as former colleagues continue their rivalries as NFLEL head coaches.

In Barcelona, Spain, it will be a classic case of teacher against pupil as Berlin Thunder head coach PETER VAAS takes on his former mentor in F.C. Barcelona Dragons head coach JACK BICKNELL.

From 1998-99, Vaas served as offensive assistant for Bicknell's Dragons and helped guide the Spanish club to a World Bowl appearance in 1999 on the back of outstanding running back LAWRENCE PHILLIPS.

Since becoming head coach of the Thunder in 2000, Vaas has gone 3-3 against the Dragons in the regular season and won the biggest game of all in 2001 when he led Berlin to a 24-17 victory over much-fancied Barcelona in World Bowl IX in Amsterdam.

Vaas says: "It's always tough playing a Jack Bicknell-coached team. Jack and I are great friends. I would prefer that we didn't have to play each other because that means one of us is going to have to lose. However, when it comes to those 60 minutes on the field, we are going to do everything we can to come out on top."

Bicknell, who is looking to snap a three-game losing streak against Vaas, says: "I'm always very happy to see Peter succeed because he is a great coach and a great friend. He has a Berlin team that scares me and we will have to be on top of our game this week."

Facing off in the Netherlands on Saturday are Rhein Fire head coach PETE KUHARCHEK and BART ANDRUS, of the Amsterdam Admirals.

In 2000, the close friends combined to lead the Rhein Fire to World Bowl glory with Andrus serving as offensive coordinator and Kuharchek taking charge of the defense under head coach Galen Hall.

Both Andrus and Kuharchek became head coaches in 2001 and coached against each other in their first games in charge of the Admirals and Fire.

Kuharchek and the Fire emerged victorious in that Week 1 encounter but Andrus has gained ample revenge since then, winning the last four games between the two teams, including a 17-15 victory in Gelsenkirchen in Week 1 of the 2003 season.

Kuharchek says: "It's always tough coaching against a close friend and lately Bart and the Admirals have had our number. I hope that changes and the recent streak turns in our favour. But I always wish Bart the best, especially when we don't play them."

Galaxy passer Brown comes close to achieving rare feat

IN passing for 290 yards during Frankfurt's Week 5 loss to the Rhein Fire, Galaxy quarterback JAMES BROWN came within 10 yards of joining an increasingly-rare group in NFL Europe – the 300-yard passers.

Due to the emergence of teams playing two quarterbacks, strong running games and tough defenses, there has only been one 300-yard passer in each of the past two seasons.

Berlin Thunder can lay claim to both those quarterbacks as TODD HUSAK threw for 352 yards at Frankfurt Galaxy in Week 1 of the 2002 season, while JONATHAN QUINN racked up 305 passing yards at Rhein Fire in Week 8 of the 2001 campaign.

By contrast, the F.C. Barcelona Dragons have had the longest wait for a 300-yard passer as the last player to top that mark for the Spanish club was JON KITNA in 1997.

NFLEL FACT: Winners outgained

ALL three winning teams in Week 5 came out on top despite being outgained in terms of total yards by the opposition. Rhein Fire gained 209 yards compared to Frankfurt's 348 but emerged victorious, F.C. Barcelona (247 yards) defeated the Scottish Claymores (380 yards) and the Berlin Thunder (363 yards) won their first game against the Amsterdam Admirals (424 yards).

NFLEL FACT: Three yards shy

SCOTTISH Claymores running back KEN SIMONTON came within 3 yards of becoming the first player in league history to have 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game during his team's loss to the F.C. Barcelona Dragons on Sunday. Simonton rushed for 108 yards and added 97 receiving yards to his tally. He also returned 5 punts for 66 yards, giving him a total of 271 all-purpose yards – second in the record books to running back Curtis Alexander (Frankfurt 2002), who gained 279 all-purpose yards (192 rushing, 68 receiving, 19 returns) in Week 2 of the 2002 season, also against the Dragons. Nationals chasing milestones

AS the 2003 season enters its second half, a host of national players are not only aiming to help their respective teams secure a berth in World Bowl XI – they are also eyeing a host of personal landmarks.

Leading the landmark chase is Scottish Claymores safety ROWELLE BLENMAN, who needs to play in two more games this year to become the first player in league history to appear in 75 regular season games.

Claymores teammate SCOTT COUPER has 98 career receptions and needs to catch two passes to become the seventh player in league history with 100 receptions.

Despite combining to miss five field goals in Week 5, Scotland's ROB HART and Frankfurt's RALF KLEINMANN will aim to bounce back as they continue their pursuit of personal landmarks. Hart has 284 career points and Kleinmann has 264 as they battle to become the third and fourth players to top 300 career points in NFLEL, joining F.C. Barcelona Dragons kicker JESUS ANGOY (322 points) and former Rhein Fire kicker Manfred Burgsmüller (304 points).

Angoy and Hart enjoyed differing fortunes in Week 5. After kicking 16 field goals in a row, Hart missed three consecutive kicks against the Dragons, while Angoy finally kicked his first field goal of the 2003 campaign – from 20 yards out.

Also chasing a personal milestone is Amsterdam Admirals Dutch kicker SILVIO DILIBERTO, who has 238 points and is closing in on becoming the fifth player in league history to reach 250 points.

Not many happy returns against Marco's Dragons

UNDER the guidance of national coach MARCO GUIRLES the F.C. Barcelona Dragons have made a dramatic turnaround on special teams and boast the league's top kickoff coverage unit.

The Dragons rank number one after allowing an average of just 15.9 yards per return. Last season, they ranked last in NFLEL after allowing 23.4 yards per return and 1 touchdown. This season, the Dragons have allowed only two returns past the opponent's 30-yard line. After returning the Dragons 19 kickoffs this season, opponents have found themselves starting, on average, at their own 23.9-yard line.

Guirles says: "Our kickoff coverage unit plays as a team. They play for each other, possess great discipline and have a lot of fun out on the field." TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES

AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (2-3)
Head Coach: Bart Andrus (10-15 in NFLEL)
Colours: Orange and blue
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jeff Lewis (3rd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Larry Owens (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 44-41

LAST GAME: Lost 30-34 at Berlin (5/4/03)
OFFENSE: 18.2 pts/game; 331 yds/game (rank 2); 73.4 yds rush/game (rank 6); 257.6 yds pass/game (rank 1)
Passing: Shaun Hill, 1,024 yds
Rushing: Raymonn Adams, 130 yards
Receiving: Matthew Hatchette 31 rec, 320 yards
DEFENSE: 22.0 pts/game; 293 yds/game (rank 3); 132.8 rush yds/game (rank 4); 160.2 pass yds/game (rank 1)
Sacks: Jonathan Brown, 4.5
Interceptions: Jordan Younger, Fred Booker, 1

· THIS WEEK: vs RHEIN FIRE ·

Admirals play host to Rhein Fire in Week 6 needing a victory to climb back to .500 after loss to Berlin last week. Head coach BART ANDRUS says: "We didn't play very well in the first half last week and by the time we woke up it was too late. Penalties also hurt us, on offense in the first half and defensively late in the game."... Quarterback SHAUN HILL (Minnesota Vikings) leads the NFLEL in pass attempts and completions (see table) but is struggling to be fit in time for Saturday's game due to knee and ankle injuries. Threw for 128 yards in Week 1 victory over the Fire... Quarterback DAVID PRIESTLEY is the back-up quarterback after being reassigned from the Scottish Claymores prior to Week 4. Completed 10 of 14 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns last week (131.5 QB rating)....Running back TELLIS REDMON (Baltimore Ravens) rushed for 21 yards on 5 carries last week. Also scored on a 2-yard reception.... Running back RAYMONN ADAMS (New York Jets) has rushed for 20 yards in past two weeks (see table). Gained 16 yards in previous meeting between the teams and caught a 5-yard pass.... Receiver JUSTIN SKAGGS (Washington Redskins) had 7 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown last week, and has 23 receptions for 261 yards and 4 touchdowns on the season. Caught 3 passes for 31 yards in Week 1 vs. Fire.... Free agent receiver MATTHEW HATCHETTE leads the league in receptions (see table). Caught 4 passes for 53 yards in Week 1 meeting with Fire and scored on a 27-yard pass from David Rivers.... Tight end KIRK McMULLEN (Carolina Panthers) caught 2 passes for 13 yards and a touchdown last week for a total of 19 receptions on the season. Led Admirals with 7 receptions for 47 yards in previous meeting with Fire... Mexican wide receiver CARLOS ROSADO had 3 catches for 32 yards last week and has 10 catches in the last three weeks.... Tight end RYAN COLLINS had 2 catches for 23 yards last week. week. Did not play in Week 1 meeting in Gelsenkirchen but caught 5 passes for 63 yards in two games against Rhein in 2002... Defensive end JONATHAN BROWN recorded 2 tackles and added 1 sack last week against his old team and ranks joint-second in NFLEL with 4.5 sacks... DE MIKE CECERE (Washington Redskins)made 5 tackles and 2 sacks last week and has recorded 19 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season... Defensive end DAMONTE McKENZIE played for the Rhein Fire in 2002 and recorded 14 tackles and 1 sack. Made 3 tackles last week.... Linebacker LOUIS GREEN (Denver Broncos) posted 5 tackles last week and has a team-leading 22 for the season. Record 4 tackles in season opener against Fire.... Linebacker MAWUKO TUGBENYOH recorded 2 tackles and 1 sack last week... Linebacker DWAN EPPS recorded 2 tackles last week. Recorded 1 sack in Week 1 vs. Fire.... Japanese linebacker MASAFUMI KAWAGUCHI is in his seventh season with the Admirals and has a career total of 131 tackles and 23 special teams tackles after adding 5 last week... Linebacker TERRELL WASHINGTON (Houston Texans) recorded 5 tackles last week and has 14 stops on the season... Cornerback KEON MOORE made 7 tackles on his Admirals debut last week... Cornerback FRED BOOKER recorded 5 tackles last week. Had 1 tackle last time vs. Fire.... Safety GLENN SUMTER (Houston Texans) recorded a team-leading 12 tackles last week... Dutch kicker SILVIO DILIBERTO kicked 1 field goals and 1 PAT last week. Kicked game-winning field goal as time expired in Week 1 to lead Admirals past the Fire. Achieved the same feat in this game in 2001, kicking a 30-yard field goal on the final play of overtime.

TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2003, Week 6 - Page 6

F.C. BARCELONA DRAGONS (4-1)
Head Coach: Jack Bicknell (58-47 inNFLEL, plus 2-4 postseason)
Colours: Green, scarlet, yellow, white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Vince Martino (5th season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Daniel (2nd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 58-47

LAST GAME: Won 17-10 at Scotland (5/4/03)
OFFENSE: 15.4 pts/game; 244.8 yds/game (rank 6); 136.4 rush yds/game (rank 3); 108.4 pass yds/game (rank 6)
Passing: Seth Burford, 431 yards
Rushing: Jeff Chaney, 242 yards
Receiving: Sean Morey, 16 rec 182 yards
DEFENSE: 10.4 pts/game; 330.6 yds/game (rank 5); 113.0 rush yds/game (rank 3); 217.6 pass yds/game (rank 5)
Sacks: Kevin DeRonde, 3
Interceptions: Jason Waters, 3

· THIS WEEK: vs BERLIN THUNDER ·

Dragons go into back-to-back games against the Thunder on the back of a four-game winning streak in which defense has allowed only 37 points... Won in Scotland last week despite being outgained by 380 yards to 247, but did not commit turnover for third straight game... Dragons have league-best plus-9 turnover ratio and Dragons head coach JACK BICKNELL says: "We don't want to turn the ball over and we have been good at that. (Quarterback) Seth Burford has been making good decisions and not forcing things".... Dragons are 14-0 all-time when they have a 100-yard rusher, but have not had one since 2001.... SETH BURFORD (San Diego Chargers) was the team's leading rusher last week with 63 yards and 8 carries. Bicknell says: "You wouldn't think to look at him that he was a scrambler but he is a big, strong guy and players bounce off him." Burford has still to throw an interception in 82 pass attempts this season (see table)... Quarterback KYLE McCANN completed 2 of 4 passes for 15 yards last week.... Running back DAMEON HUNTER (Baltimore Ravens) has not scored in the last two games after scoring in the first three. Last week he gained 3 yards on 1 carry.... Running back JEFF CHANEY (Atlanta Falcons) is the team's leading rusher with 242 yards after adding 40 on 17 carries, including a TD, last week. He led the team with 5 catches for 27 yards .... Wide receiver ZEK PARKER (Arizona Cardinals) caught 1 pass for 4 yards last week.... Receiver KERWIN COOK (New Orleans Saints) ranks second on the team with 14 catches after 3 receptions for 25 yards last week... Wide receiver SEAN MOREY (Philadelphia Eagles) leads the team in receptions and receiving yards (see table).... Tight end GABE CRECION has 11 receptions for 105 yards and 1 TD on the season.... Tight end MATT CERCONE caught a 7-yard TD pass last week, his first score of the season.... Mexican wide receiver MARCO MARTOS had his first catch of his seventh season with the Dragons last week. Caught 9 TD passes in first three seasons of NFLEL career but none in the last four ....Defensive tackle JABARI ISSA posted 4 tackles last week... Linebacker DWAYNE LEVELS (Cincinnati Bengals) had 5 tackles last week and leads team with 27 this season.... Linebacker RASHAD HARRIS recorded 5 tackles last week.... Cornerback MARCUS SMITH had his first 2 sacks of the season last week and also posted a team-high 8 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.... Linebacker TITO RODRIGUEZ (Cincinnati Bengals) recorded 5 tackles and his first interception of the season last week.... Cornerback JASON WATERS (Atlanta Falcons) had his league-leading third interception last week and added 3 tackles... Defensive tackle TOBY GOLLIDAY posted 5 tackles last week.... Cornerback LARRY AUSTIN recorded 5 tackles last week.... French safety SAMYR HAMOUDI is the all-time leader among national players with 9 career interceptions but is still looking for his first this season... Veteran national kicker and former F.C. Barcelona Dragons goalkeeper JESUS ANGOY added to his all-time leading points tally by kicking 2 PATs and a 20-yard FG last week, taking his total to 321. His FG attempt in Scotland was his first of the season.... Punter NICK MURPHY (Minnesota Vikings) earned Player of the Week honours for Week 5 after averaging 45.5 yards on 6 punts against Scotland.

TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2003, Week 6 - Page 7

BERLIN THUNDER (1-4)
Head Coach: Peter Vaas (17-18 inNFLEL, plus 2-0 in World Bowl)
Colours: Black, green and gold
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bob Bicknell (4th season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: David Duggan (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 20-25

LAST GAME: Won 34-30 vs. Amsterdam (5/4/03)
OFFENSE: 22.6 pts/game; 326 yds/game (rank 4); 102.4 rush yds/game (rank 5); 223.6 pass yds/game (rank 3)
Passing: Phil Stambaugh, 714 yds
Rushing: David Allen, 222 yds
Receiving: Sedrick Irvin 19 rec, 202 yds
DEFENSE: 37.6 pts/game; 436.2 yds/game (rank 6); 198.2 rush yds/game (rank 6); 238 pass yds/game (rank 6)
Sacks: Reggie Grimes, 3
Interceptions: Travis Coleman, Jamal White, Jeff Harris, 1

· THIS WEEK: at F.C. BARCELONA DRAGONS ·

Thunder head to Spain buoyed by first win of the season against Amsterdam Admirals last week. Head coach PETER VAAS says: "The key to our win was not turning the ball over and being more aggressive on defense. I don't know what the future holds but I would like to think we will continue to play with a tremendous amount of intensity and passion. I thought we did that last week."... Quarterbacks HENRY BURRIS (Chicago Bears) and PHIL STAMBAUGH both threw 2 touchdown passes last week (see tables) and posted QB ratings of 104.4 and 137.5 respectively... Running Back SEDRICK IRVIN (Miami Dolphins) leads the team in yards from scrimmage (see table). Rushed for 82 but did not catch a pass last week... Running back DAVID ALLEN (Jacksonville Jaguars) rushed for 29 yards last week and added a 14-yard reception... Wide receiver PIERRE BROWN (Detroit Lions) missed last week's game with an ankle injury. Has 13 catches for 184 yards and 1 touchdown this season.... Wide receiver ELIJAH THURMON (Chicago Bears), born in Heidelberg, Germany, led team with 7 receptions for 42 yards and 1 touchdown last week.... National wide receiver JOERG HECKENBACH caught 3 passes for 57 yards last week and earned National Player of the Week honours. Missed both games against the Dragons last season through injury... Receiver KIRK ROGERS (Kansas City Chiefs) caught 5 passes for 42 yards last week... Receiver SEAN SCOTT (Philadelphia Eagles) caught 6 passes for 52 yards last week... Tight end BRYAN FLETCHER (Chicago Bears) totalled just 3 yards on 2 receptions last week but both went for touchdowns... Tight end RYAN PRINCE (Oakland Raiders) caught 2 passes for 35 yards and 1 touchdown last week... Defensive end REGGIE GRIMES recorded 2 tackles and added his third sack of the season last week... Defensive end LAMANZER WILLIAMS returned from injury last week to record 2 tackles and 1 sack... Defensive end TETO SIMPSON recorded 4 tackles last week. Played for the Dragons in 2001 and ended season with 7 tackles... Linebacker JAMAL WHITE (Oakland Raiders) ranks second on the Thunder with 29 tackles this season after adding 3 tackles vs. Admirals... Linebacker CHRIS BALL made 5 tackles last week... Linebacker BYRON THWEATT had 6 tackles last week and ranks third on team with 28 tackles for the season... Cornerback TRAVIS COLEMAN (Chicago Bears) recorded 4 tackles and 3 pass defenses last week... Cornerback CALVIN COLEMAN led Thunder with 9 tackles last week and knocked down 4 passes... Safety CLINT FINLEY recorded 7 tackles last weekend and leads team with 30 tackles this season... German safety LELAN BRICKUS posted a career-high 7 tackles last week... German kicker AXEL KRUSE is in his fifth season and is the Thunder's all-time leading scorer with 143 points, after adding 4 PATs last week. Saw NFLEL's second longest PAT streak end at 84 last week when his first attempt of the game struck the right upright. Missed both games against Dragons last year through injury.

TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2003, Week 6 - Page 8

FRANKFURT GALAXY (3-2)
Head Coach: Doug Graber (12-13 inNFLEL)
Colours: Purple, orange, red and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dwain Painter (3rd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bob Valesente (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 55-50

LAST GAME: Lost 7-14 at Rhein (5/3/03)
OFFENSE: 19.2 pts/game; 329.2 yds/game (rank 3); 128.8 rush yds/game (rank 4); 200.4 pass yds/game (rank 4)
Passing: James Brown, 932 yds
Rushing: Jonas Lewis, 383 yds
Receiving: Robert Baker, 20 rec, 342 yards
DEFENSE: 16.2 pts/game; 266.4 yds/game (rank 1); 69 rush yds/game (rank 1); 197.4 pass yds/game (rank 4)
Sacks: Joey Evans, 5
Ints: Rashidi Barnes, Calvin Spears, Jeremy Unertl , 2

· THIS WEEK: vs. SCOTTISH CLAYMORES ·

Galaxy will be keen to get back to winning ways as they take on the Claymores following back-to-back losses to Amsterdam and Rhein. Head coach DOUG GRABER says: "The red zone has been a problem area for us on offense and that was the case again last week. They made two field goals, we missed three field goals and didn't make enough plays to win.".... Free agent and former Scottish Claymores quarterback JAMES BROWN faces his old team in Week 6 and will look to add to his season passing numbers (see table). Threw for 110 yards and 2 touchdown in Week 2 defeat of Claymores... Quarterback QUINN GRAY (Jacksonville Jaguars) did not play last week ... Running back JONAS LEWIS leads the Galaxy in rushing yards (see table). Gained 78 yards and scored 1 touchdown on 21 carries in Week 2 defeat of Claymores.... Running back ADAM TATE rushed for 3 yards last week and caught 2 passes for 33 yards... Wide receiver ROBERT BAKER (Miami Dolphins) leads the league in receiving yards but has yet to score a touchdown this season (see table). Caught 7 passes last week. Led Galaxy with 94 yards on 4 catches in previous meeting in Scotland... Wide receiver MARC LESTER (Baltimore Ravens) caught 3 passes for 34 yards last week. Scored on a 25-yard reception in first game against Claymores... French wide receiver MARC SOUMAH caught 4 passes for 68 yards last week and has career numbers of 4 receptions for 42 yards and 1 touchdown vs. Scotland.... Receiver BRIAN McDONALD has caught 5 passes for 98 yards and 1 touchdown in three career games vs. Claymores. Last week he caught 2 passes for 45 yards....Tight end JOSH WHITMAN caught 1 pass for 6 yards last week and has 4 receptions on the year... German tight end WERNER HIPPLER has a career record of 16 catches for 156 yards against the Claymores, including 18-yard reception in Week 2 – his only catch of the year to date. Ranks second all-time among nationals with 76 receptions for 830 yards and 2 touchdowns ... Defensive end JOEY EVANS (Seattle Seahawks) leads league with 5 sacks. Recorded 3 tackles and 2 pass defenses last week. Made 4 tackles and added 1 sack in first meeting between the teams... German defensive end DANIEL BENETKA posted 2 tackles last week. Knocked down 2 passes in first meeting with Claymores.... Linebacker IDRIS PRICE (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) recorded 7 tackles last week. Had a 9-yard sack against Scotland in Week 2... Linebacker FRED JONES did not record a tackle last week and led Galaxy with 7 tackles last time in Scotland... Safety RASHIDI BARNES posted 5 tackles last week and intercepted 2 passes in Week 2 defeat of Claymores.... Veteran defensive back CHRIS CUMMINGS is in his fourth NFLEL season and recorded 4 tackles last week... Cornerback CALVIN SPEARS knocked down 2 passes last week. Registered 7 tackles, 1 interception and 3 pass defenses in first game vs. Scotland... Cornerback CHRIS POINTER (Carolina Panthers) recorded 1 tackle and 1 pass defense last week... Veteran national kicker RALF KLEINMANN was 0 of 2 on FGs last week but did kick an extra point. Missed a 28-yard field goal attempt in Week 2 vs. Claymores – his only field goal miss of the season prior to last week's game vs. Rhein.

TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2003, Week 6 - Page 9

RHEIN FIRE (3-2)
Head Coach: Pete Kuharchek (15-10 in NFLEL)
Colours: Burgundy, black and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Mike Jones (2nd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ed O'Neil (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 48-36

LAST GAME: Won 14-7 vs. Frankfurt (5/3/03)
OFFENSE: 17.4 pts/game; 299.8 yds/game (rank 5); 151.8 rush yds/game (rank 2); 148 pass yds/game (rank 5)
Passing: Nick Rolovich, 405 yards
Rushing: Autry Denson, 473 yards
Receiving: Charlie Adams, 15 rec, Kendall Newson, 214 yards
DEFENSE: 12.4 pts/game; 283 yds/game (rank 2); 98.4 rush yds/game (rank 2); 184.6 pass yds/game (rank 2)
Sacks: Derrick Ham, 3.0
Interceptions: Abdual Howard, Tony Lukins, 2

· THIS WEEK: at AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS ·

Fire takes to the road in Week 6 to face an Amsterdam Admirals team that has beaten Rhein in each of the last four meetings. Head coach PETE KUHARCHEK says: "I was very pleased with our effort last week. The Admirals have had our number but we hope to turn that streak in our favour.".... Quarterbacks NICK ROLOVICH (Denver Broncos) and CHRIS GREISEN will continue to share time (see table). Pair struggled in Week 1 loss to Admirals, combining to throw for just 88 yards... Running back AUTRY DENSON (Detroit Lions) saw his streak of 100-yard rushing days end at three last week (see table). Gained 72 yards in first meeting with Admirals (his only other sub-100-yard day this year)... Running back FRANK MOREAU gained 23 yards last week and has rushed for 210 yards on the season... Wide receiver KENDALL NEWSON (Miami Dolphins) caught 3 passes for 55 yards last week. Caught 2 passes for 23 yards vs. Amsterdam in season opener... Wide receiver EMMETT JOHNSON (Seattle Seahawks) caught 3 passes for 24 yards last week. Caught 2 passes for 26 yards in first meeting with Admirals... Wide receiver CHARLIE ADAMS (Denver Broncos) caught a 22-yard touchdown last week and has 15 catches this season.... Tight end DWAYNE BLAKEY (Kansas City Chiefs) caught 1 pass for 9 yards in Week 5. Led Fire with 3 receptions for 18 yards in Week 1 game... Tight end CHAD MUSTARD (Cleveland Browns) caught 2 passes for 34 yards last week... Defensive tackle JOSH McKIBBEN (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) has 2.5 sacks this season and made 2 tackles last week... Defensive end DERRICK HAM recorded 1 tackle and 1 sack last week. Has 12 career sacks, 0.5 behind the club record of 12.5 held by Dunstan Anderson. Registered 2 sacks in first game with Admirals this season... Defensive tackle BRAD HARRIS (New York Giants) recorded 1 tackle last week and has 12 stops on the season... Linebacker JASON JOHNSON posted a team-high 10 tackles last week... Linebacker JAMEL SMITH made 5 tackles last week and has 32 on the season... Fellow Linebacker CHARLES BURTON (Arizona Cardinals) was named Defensive Player of the Week after recording 10 tackles and 3 sacks against the Galaxy. Registered 7 tackles in previous meeting with Admirals... German defensive lineman BASTIAN LANO recorded 2 stops last week and has 7 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season... Strong safety ABDUAL HOWARD (Jacksonville Jaguars) recorded 8 tackles last week and also added a game-sealing fourth quarter interception and 2 pass defenses... Cornerback TONY LUKINS (Oakland Raiders) recorded 7 tackles and 1 interception last week. Leads Fire with 9 passes knocked down this season... Cornerback TEDDY GAINES (Chicago Bears) recorded 5 tackles and 3 pass defenses last week... Veteran safety GREG BROWN recorded 8 tackles last week. Has 9 career tackles in 3 games vs Admirals, including 5 stops in Week 1.... Former German soccer star INGO ANDERBRÜGGE kicked his second field goal of the season last week and has 14 points in his debut NFLEL campaign.

TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2003, Week 6 - Page 10

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (2-3)
Head Coach: GeneDahlquist (11-14 in NFLEL)
Colours: Navy, white and silver
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ken Margerum (1st season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ray Woodard (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 37-48

LAST GAME: Lost 10-17 vs Barcelona (5/4/03)
OFFENSE: 27.2 pts/game; 403.2 yds/game (rank 1); 154.2 rush yds/game(rank 1); 249 pass yds/game (rank 2)
Passing: Craig Nall, 1,059 yds
Rushing: Ken Simonton, 385 yds
Receiving: Ken Simonton 20 rec, Scott McCready, 237 yds
DEFENSE: 23.2 pts/game; 324.8 yds/game (rank 4); 135.6 rush yds/game (rank 5); 189.2 pass yds/game (rank 3)
Sacks: Radell Lockhart 4.0
Interceptions: Robbie Robinson 2

· THIS WEEK: at FRANKFURT GALAXY ·

Claymores are 1-1 on the road in Germany this year and complete their schedule in that country on the back of a home loss to the Dragons.... Coming off a game in which they outgained their opponents 380 yards to 247 but scored only 1 TD and 1 FG on five trips to the red zone and committed 12 penalties.... Claymores have scored only 47 points in last 4 games after scoring 62 in the season opener.... Head coach GENE DAHLQUIST says: "It is frustrating because we are competitive with every team in this league but we have not made the plays we need to make to win the close games. There is no reason to think we can't win every game on our schedule.".... Quarterback CRAIG NALL (Green Bay Packers) leads the league in passing yards and touchdowns (see table), but threw 2 interceptions in a game for the first time last week... Running back KEN SIMONTON (Buffalo Bills) came within 3 receiving yards of becoming the first player in NFLEL history to gain 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game last week (see table) and earned his second Offensive Player of the Week award. His 66 yards on 5 punt returns gave him a total of 271 combined yards for the game, second highest in league history (279, Curtis Alexander, Frankfurt at Barcelona, 2002). He now leads the team in rushing and receptions. Bids for his third straight 100-yard rushing game this week, which would tie the league record shared by Lawrence Phillips (Barcelona 1999) and Autry Denson (Rhein 2003).... Running back MAURICE HICKS (Chicago Bears) rushed for 25 yards on 3 carries last week and has gained 292 yards on the season at a 7.12 average... Fullback MIKE MALAN (New England Patriots) caught his 14th pass of the season last week... English wide receiver SCOTT McCREADY (New England Patriots) leads the Claymores in receiving yardage with 237 on 13 receptions but was held without a catch last week... Wide receiver EDELL SHEPHERD (Chicago Bears) is second on the team in receptions (see table)... Wide receiver JOHN MINARDI (Houston Texans) caught 2 passes for 18 yards last week... Veteran Scottish wide receiver SCOTT COUPER caught 2 passes for 17 yards last week, including an 8-yard TD, extending his NFLEL career record for national players to 11. With 4 receptions this year and 98 all-time, he needs only 2 more receptions to become the seventh player in league history to record more than 100 catches in a career... Wide receiver ANTHONY BRIGHT (Houston Texans) caught 2 passes for 46 yards last week.... Tight end ROD TRAFFORD (New England Patriots) caught 3 passes for 32 yards last week.... Tight end RASHOD KENT (Houston Texans) caught 2 passes for 14 yards last week.... English defensive end ROBERT FLICKINGER recorded 4 tackles last week.... Defensive end RADELL LOCKHART leads the Claymores with 4 sacks but was held at bay by Barcelona last week.... Defensive end T.J. BINGHAM (Kansas City Chiefs) had the Claymores' only sack last week, his second of the year, and posted 4 tackles... Defensive tackle DEVONTE PETERSON led the team with 7 tackles last week and has 20 on the year... Defensive end MICHAEL LANDRY (Kansas City Chiefs) recorded 4 tackles last week... Linebacker DARNELL ROBINSON recorded 2 tackles last week and ranks third on the team with 25 stops... Linebacker YUBRENAL ISABELLE recorded 7 tackles last week for 26 on the season, including 15 in the last two games... Veteran safety JAMES ROOTHS (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) recorded 4 tackles last week. Has also made 6 special teams tackles this season... Cornerback BOBBY JACKSON (Green Bay Packers) recorded 6 tackles in Week 5 and leads the team with 27 ... English kicker ROB HART has not missed an extra point in his career after making his 136th straight attempt last week. His streak of 16 consecutive successful FG attempts (second longest in NFLEL history) ended last week when he missed three straight from 32, 35 and 28 yards. Added a 31-yarder to take his career points total to 284. Needs 16 to become third player in NFLEL history to score 300 points and 21 to overtake former Rhein kicker Manfred Burgsmüller (304) for second on the all-time scoring list.

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS NFL Europe 2003, Week 6 - Page 11

BERLIN THUNDER (1-4) at F.C. BARCELONA DRAGONS (4-1)
Mini-Estadi, Saturday May 10, 5:30 p.m.

SERIES NOTES
Overall: Series tied 4-4 (Berlin leads 1-0 in postseason)
At Barcelona: Series tied 2-2
At Berlin: Series tied 2-2
Streak: Berlin 2
Last season: Barcelona 14 at Berlin 24; Berlin 24 at Barcelona 17

TELEVISION
Germany: LIVE/DSF (6:15 p.m. CET)
US: DELAY/FOX Sports Net (1:00 p.m. ET)
Play-by-play announcer BRIAN SEXTON is joined in the booth by former Buffalo Bills All-Pro wide receiver ANDRE REED.

COACHES
Dragons head coach JACK BICKNELL faces his former offensive assistant in Thunder head coach PETER VAAS, with the head-to-head series between the two coaches tied at 3-3. Bicknell has won more games (58) than any other coach in league history, while Vaas has guided Berlin to victory in the last two World Bowls. Clash between the past two NFLEL Coach of the Year winners (Bicknell, 2001 vs. Vaas, 2002).

GAME NOTES
First of back-to-back games between the teams takes place at Barcelona's Mini-Estadi, where the Dragons have a 2-0 record this season... Thunder have won last two meetings between the teams – both in 2002 – but Dragons are on a roll having won four straight games since losing the season opener on a last-second field goal in Frankfurt... In winning four games in a row, Dragons have conceded just 37 points and have allowed a league-low 52 points this season, keeping them on course to break the London Monarchs' record for fewest points allowed (121 in 1991)... By contrast, the Thunder have conceded 188 points in five games this season and are currently on pace to give up a league record 376 points, surpassing the 311 allowed by the F.C. Barcelona Dragons last season... After posting an 0-4 record in April, Berlin began the month of May with a victory against Amsterdam last week. The Thunder have gone 1-8 in April over the past three seasons but have a record of 14-4 in May and June, including victories in World Bowls IX and X. Berlin opened the 2002 campaign with three losses before getting their first win of the year – against Amsterdam... Dragons continue to enjoy success in odd-numbered years (37-18 record in odd years, 21-29 in even years). Made previous World Bowl appearances in 1991, 1997, 1999 and 2001... Dragons have not turned the ball over in the last three games and lead the league with a plus-10 turnover ratio... Thunder rank last in the turnover battle with a minus-8 turnover ratio... Dragons have the best red zone offense and defense in the league, scoring on 90.9 percent of trips inside the opposing 20, while allowing opponents to score only 53.3 percent of the time on 15 trips into the Barcelona red zone... In this game last year, Thunder WR DANE LOOKER scored 2 touchdowns to help Berlin record a 24-17 victory, while RB WALTER JAMES became the first 100-yard rusher in Thunder history when he gained 109 yards on 13 carries. RHEIN FIRE (3-2) at AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (2-3)
Amsterdam ArenA, Saturday May 10, 7:00 p.m.

SERIES NOTES
Overall: Amsterdam leads 11-6
At Amsterdam: Amsterdam leads 7-1
At Rhein: Rhein leads 5-4
Streak: Amsterdam 4
This season: Amsterdam 17 at Rhein 15 (Week 1)

TELEVISION
Netherlands: HIGHLIGHTS/NOS Studio Sport (Sunday p.m.); SBS6 (Sunday 1:00 p.m.)
US: LIVE/DirecTV (1:00 p.m. ET)
Joining play-by-play announcer ARI WOLFE in the booth is San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman DANA STUBBLEFIELD.

COACHES
Former coordinators of the 2000 World Bowl-winning Rhein Fire go head to head as PETE KUHARCHEK takes his Fire to the Netherlands to take on an Admirals team led by BART ANDRUS. Andrus has had better of meeting between close friends, going 4-1 against Kuharchek, who won two World Bowls as defensive coordinator for Rhein in 1998 and 2000.

GAME NOTES
Fire head to Amsterdam looking to snap a four-game losing streak at the hands of the Admirals... Rhein has won just one game in the Amsterdam ArenA, with that victory coming in Week 6 of the 1999 season... Fire has come close to grabbing more wins in Netherlands over the years. Of seven road losses suffered against the Admirals, four have been by 4 points or less... Teams met in Week 1 of the 2003 season with Admirals emerging as 17-15 winners in first game to played at Gelsenkirchen's Arena Auf Schalke – new home of the Fire. With the Admirals trailing 15-13, Dutch kicker SILVIO DILIBERTO landed a game-winning 23-yard field goal as time expired... Wide receiver MATTHEW HATCHETTE scored Amsterdam's only touchdown of the game, while running back FRANK MOREAU and quarterback CHRIS GREISEN found the end zone for Rhein... Amsterdam had better of both meetings in 2002 season, winning 27-10 at home in Week 1 and 28-10 in the last regular season game to be played in Düsseldorf's Rheinstadion in Week 10... Fire defense is a tough unit to crack and Kuharchek's team has not allowed an opponent to score more than 20 points in a game this season. Admirals were the last team to score more than 20 in a game against the Fire when they racked up 28 during a victory in Week 10 of the 2002 season. Fire have heled opponents to fewer than 20 points in 18 of their last 22 games... Admirals have been generous defensively inside the red zone, allowing opponents to score 100 percent of the time. Opposing teams have ventured into the Admirals' 20-yard line on 16 occasions and come away with 12 touchdowns and 4 field goals.

THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS / RECAP OF WEEK 5 NFL Europe 2003, Week 6 - Page 12

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (2-3) at FRANKFURT GALAXY (3-2)
Waldstadion, Frankfurt, Saturday, May 10, 7:00 p.m.

SERIES NOTES
Overall: Frankfurt leads 9-8 (Scotland leads 1-0 in postseason)
At Frankfurt: Series tied 4-4
At Scotland: Frankfurt leads 5-4
Streak: Frankfurt 5
This season: Frankfurt 17 at Scotland 13

TELEVISION
United Kingdom: DELAY/Sky Sports 3 (11:00 p.m. BST)
Germany: DELAY/Premiere (Sunday 1:00 a.m. CET)
US: LIVE/DirecTV (1:00 p.m. ET)
Play-by-play commentator NICK HALLING is alongside former Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots quarterback HUGH MILLEN in the booth.

COACHES
Claymores head coach GENE DAHLQUIST has never beaten the Galaxy in five attempts but guided Scotland to first road win in Germany under his leadership vs. Berlin in Week 4... Galaxy head coach DOUG GRABER is in his third season with Frankfurt and boasts an 8-4 record in home games.

GAME NOTES
Galaxy have had best of series in recent times, winning last five contests, including Week 2 victory at Glasgow's Hampden Park this season... Running back JONAS LEWIS and wide receiver MARC LESTER scored touchdowns for the Galaxy during their 17-13 win... Claymores have won just one road game in Germany under head coach GENE DAHLQUIST but that victory did come on their most recent road trip – against Berlin in Week 4... Claymores have seen offensive production falter in recent weeks. Opened the season with a record 62 points against the Thunder but have scored just 47 points in the last four games. Claymores are following a similar pattern to 2002 season when they opened the year with 45 points in Week 1 before scoring just 45 in their next four games... Claymores lead the league in rushing with 771 yards but face a formidable Frankfurt defense ranked number one in the league in total yards allowed (266.4 yards per game) and against the run (69 yards given up per game)... Galaxy have suffered two straight defeats after opening the season with a 3-0 record. In 2002, Frankfurt opened with a 4-0 record before losing four of their final six games to miss out on a berth in World Bowl X... Game between Claymores and Galaxy is a rematch of World Bowl '96, which the Claymores won 36-32 at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh... In this game last year, Frankfurt held the Claymores to just 4 pass completions, while RB CURTIS ALEXANDER scored the game's only touchdown on a 1-yard run and Swedish K OLA KIMRIN added 3 field goals. The Claymores could only manage three field goals, 2 from LAWRENCE TYNES and a 32-yard effort from ROB HART.

• Discuss this story on the National Football League Europa message board...

National Football League Europa Stories from May 6, 2003

• F.C. Barcelona Dragons Game Notes - F.C. Barcelona Dragons
• Fire start two-game road swing with visit to Amsterdam - Rhein Fire
• Dragons Aim to Stay in Front of Pack - NFLE
• Simonton Honored Again - NFLE

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