
Fire Game Notes
July 5, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Louisville Fire News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Louisville Fire (6-6) vs. Mahoning Valley Thunder (5-7)
Date: Saturday, July 7, 2007
Kickoff: 7:00 P.M.
Site: Freedom Hall (12,500)
Officials: Referee:; Umpire:; Head Linesman:; Line Judge:; Back Judge:
Radio: 1570-AM The Zone; louisvillefirefootball.com; Play-by-play Paul Wilman
Series Record: Fire lead 1-0
Streaks: Fire lost 1, Mahoning Valley
Coach: Tommy Johnson - Fire (42-36; 4-2 playoffs, Fourth Season)
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Fire: Matt Heitzmann, (502) 368-0009; (502) 593-9910
THE STAKES: The Fire ignites into Freedom Hall this week after a tough loss on the road. This week they are looking to bounce back with a win over Mahoning Valley to give them a record of 7-6.
THE SERIES: This is the 2nd meeting between the Fire and the Thunder.
THE IFs:
If Louisville defeats Mahoning Valley it would ...
- Give the Fire a 7-6 record
- Give the Fire an 11-12 record in July
- Give the Fire a 39-48 record all-time on Saturdays
- Give the Fire a 31-23 record all-time at home
LOUISVILLE (6-6), Lost 1
Date Opponent Result Score
3/30 Boise L 52-57
4/7 @ South Georgia L 53-77
4/13 Cincinnati W 61-54
4/21 @Alabama L 47-63
5/5 @ Mahoning Valley W 52-34
5/11 @ Ft. Wayne W 48-42
5/19 Alabama W 53-35
5/25 @ Quad City L 53-59
6/2 Green Bay W 39-33
6/16 Ft. Wayne L 34-52
6/23 @ Cincinnati W 58-35
6/30 @ Albany L 53-44
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
7/7 Mahoning Valley 7:00 W 1 Fire 1 - 0
7/14 Quad City 7:00 W 1 QC 8 - 4
7/20 @ Green Bay 8:30 W 1 Fire 5 - 4
7/28 Tennessee Valley 7:00 W 1 TV 2 - 1
Mahoning Valley Thunder
Date Opponent Result Score
3/31 Tri-Cities Fever W 48-40
4/6 @ Albany W 64-59
4/21 Cincinnati W 54-20
4/28 @ Manchester L 67-49
5/5 Louisville L 34-52
5/12 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton L 26-56
5/19 @ Florida L 26-62
5/25 Manchester L 40-50
6/2 @ Cincinnait W 57-20
6/8 @ Green Bay L 39-54
6/16 Quad City W 63-34
6/30 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton L 40-51
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
7/7 @ Louisville 7:00
7/13 Albany 7:05
7/21 @ Tennessee 8:30
7/28 Green Bay 7:05
HEAD COACH:
TOMMY JOHNSON, FIRE
Louisville Fire head coach Tommy Johnson, was born in Rome, Ga., and raised in Niceville, Fla. Johnson attended the University of Alabama, where he played defensive back. In 1992, he played on the Crimson Tide squad that defeated Miami for the National Championship. Johnson then continued his football career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and played in NFL Europe. He started his Arena football career with the Albany Firebirds, and moved on to the Carolina Cobras. Johnson presently holds the record for the longest interception return for a touchdown in AFL history. In 2001, Johnson began his coaching career with the Fire as defensive coordinator. Johnson, who was named head coach of the Fire in 2003, led the Fire to the ArenaCup championship game in 2005 and is the Fire's all-time leader in wins with 37. Off the field Johnson is active in the community staying busy with various speaking engagements and volunteering his time a Kentucky Country Day with their football team. Johnson is also a member of Southeast Christian Church.
SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(Selected by media)
Week Opp. Player Team
1 Boise Bart Hendricks BOI
2 @ S. Georgia D. Bryant SGA
3 Cincinnati Tiger Jones LOU
4 @ Alabama Markeith Cooper MVT
6 @ Mahoning Valley Tiger Jones LOU
7 @ Ft. Wayne Cody Hodges FWF
8 Alabama Tony Stallings LOU
9 @ Quad City Tom Anthony QCS
10 Green Bay Demetrius Forney LOU
12 Ft. Wayne Cesare Manning FTW
13 @ Cincinnati Tiger Jones LOU
14 @ Albany Ryan Hart ALY
US ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME
(Selected by media)
Week Opp. Player Team
1 Boise Lee Marks BOI
2 @ S. Georgia James Harris SGA
3 Cincinnati Demetrius Forney LOU
4 @ Alabama Demetrius Forney LOU
6 @ Mahoning Valley Eddie Yauch LOU
7 @Ft. Wayne Tony Stallings LOU
8 Alabama Eddie Yauch LOU
9 @ Quad City Jeff Macrea QCS
10 Green Bay L. Matthews LOU
12 Ft. Wayne Demetrius Forney LOU
13 @ Cincinnati Joel Steele LOU
14 @ Albany Chris Curd ALY
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(Selected by media)
Week Opp. Player Team
1 Boise Brandon Hazenburg BOI
2 @ S. Georgia Daryon Brutley SGA
3 Cincinnati Jerome Jones LOU
4 @ Alabama Willie Smith MVT
6 @ Mahoning Valley Nate Green LOU
7 @ Ft. Wayne Derek Brown FWF
8 Alabama Jerome Walker LOU
9 @ Quad City Jack Walker, Jr. QCS
10 Green Bay Nate Green LOU
12 Ft. Wayne Barry Drakeford FTW
13 @ Cincinnati Jerome Jones LOU
14 @ Albany Durrand Roundtree ALY
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME
(Selected by media)
Week Opp. Player Team
1 Boise Lonnell Dewalt LOU
2 @ S. Georgia James Harris SGA
3 Cincinnati Quorey Payne LOU
4 @ Alabama Not Named --
6 @ Mahoning Valley Chris Archie MVT
7 @ Ft. Wayne Tiger Jones LOU
8 Alabama Tony Stallings LOU
9 @ Quad City Tom Anthony QCS
10 Green Bay Tiger Jones LOU
12 Ft. Wayne Cesare Manning FTW
13 @ Cincinnati D. Washington CIN
14 @ Albany Chris Curd ALY
FORWARD MOTION: The Fire will stay home to face the Quad City Steemwheelers on July 14 before going back on the road to play Green Bay on July 20.
TEAM TRENDS
RECORD'S BROKEN: The Fire set an af2 record and a team record in the Fire's opening game against Boise. Fire defensive back Matt Forbes set the af2's all-time interception record with his third quarter interception. Forbes now has 30 career interceptions.
Also against Boise, the Fire's Demetrius "The Freight Train" Forney set the team record for yards per rush averaging 2.5 yards per carry on his 10 carries. On June 2 against Green Bay, Forney set the single season rushing record.
On May 25, against Quad City, Eddie Yauch set the single season sack record for the Fire with 6.5 sacks on the season.
THE CENTURY MARK: Fire rookie wide receiver Tiger Jones has been a standout in his first five games recording 100 yards receiving in each game. Jones had a career high 169 yards in the Fire's win over Mahoning Valley. Jones is currently tied for sixth in receptions per game at 8.3, fifth in receiving yards with 1026, fourth in receiving yards a game with 114.0 and tied for sixth in receptions with 75.
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from the Fire who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
FIRE
Player Rank Category Stat
FORNEY, Demetrius 6 Rushing/G 22.6
FORNEY, Demetrius 4 Rushing Attempts 57
FORNEY, Demetrius 3 Rushing TD's 12
FORNEY, Demetrius 3 Rushing Yards 226
STALLINGS, Tony 6 MFG Returns 4
JONES, Tiger T-6 Receptions/G 8.30
JONES, Tiger 5 Receiving Yards 1026
JONES, Tiger 5 Receiving Yards/G 111.2
JONES, Tiger 2 Yards/Reception 13.7
JONES, Tiger T-6 Receptions 75
JONES, Jerome T-3 Forced Fumbles 4
JONES, Jerome T-1 Fumbles Recovered 4
WALKER, Jerome T-6 Fumbles Recovered 3
HENDRIX, Dave 5 Field Goal Pct 40.0
HENDRIX, Dave 10 Scoring (kick) 7.1
HENDRIX, Dave T-8 Field Goals 6
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Fire and Ft. Wayne stack up:
Statistical LOUISVILLE MAHONING VALLEY
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense
Scoring Defense
Total Offense
Total Defense
Pass Offense
Pass Defense
Rushing Offense
Rushing Defense
Pass Efficiency
Pass Def. Efficiency
Turnover Margin
Field Goals
PAT Kicking
Sacks By
Sacks Against
First Downs
Opp. First Downs
Penalties
Opp. Penalties
Time of Possession
Single Season Records:
FIRE
Category Name Stat
Scoring MAGER, Rob, 2005 278
Passing Yards SAUK, Matt, 2005 5071
Passing TDs SAUK, Matt, 2005 112
Receptions MAGER, Rob, 2005 147
Receiving Yards MAGER, Rob, 2005 1721
Receiving TDs MAGER, Rob, 2005 46
Rushing Yards FORNEY, Demetrius, 2007 196
Rushing TDs STALLINGS, Tony, 2004 14
Interceptions THOMPSON, Arkee, 2003 10
Sacks YAUCH, Eddie, 2007 6.5
Tackles GREEN, Rob, 2005 69.0
MFG Return Yards MCDONALD, Brian, 2001 325
Kickoff Return Yards MCDONALD, Brian, 2001 1879
Combined Return Yds MCDONALD, Brian, 2001 2204
Field Goals Made SAMUEL, Marc, 2003 12
Single Game Records:
FIRE
Category Name Stat
Scoring MANNING, Cesare, 6/24/05 42
Passing Yards SAUK, Matt, 6/16/05 396
Passing TDs SAUK, Matt, 5/8/04 10
Receptions MAGER, Rob, 6/16/05 17
Receiving Yards SCOTT, James, 5/8/04 201
Receiving TDs MANNING, Cesare, 6/24/05 7
Rushing Yards JONES, Pookie, 7/19/03 70
Rushing TDs FORNEY, Demetrius, 5/27/05 5
Interceptions THOMPSON, Arkee, 4/19/03 3
Sacks TIPPINS, Aaron, 7/23/05 3.5
Tackles Three Players Tied 10.5
Field Goals Made Two Players Tied 3
Longest Field Goal KNIGHT, Danny, 6/24/05 61
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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