Firebirds Prepare For Critical Contest
July 8, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
The Stakes
The Firebirds play their biggest game of the year this week against the division rival-Manchester Wolves. Both clubs will head into the contest with identical 6-7 records during the 2009 campaign. Albany holds the head-to-head match-up tiebreaker over the Wolves for the eighth and final playoff spot in the American Conference by virtue of their two wins in three match-ups this season. A Manchester win would knot the season series at 2-2 and the Wolves would hold the next tiebreaker: point-differential in head-to-head match-ups. In the first three games this season, the Wolves have outscored the Firebirds by 17 points (171-154).
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Stephen Wasil threw for a season high 368 yards in Week 14 against Peoria and tied an Albany record with eight passing touchdowns. The performance marked the seventh straight game in which Wasil has thrown for at least 300 yards and five touchdowns. In eight starts this season, the second-year pro has a 116.25 passer rating (eighth in the league) with 2,609 passing yards and 53 passing touchdowns against only eight interceptions. His 289.9 passing yards per game rank third in the league.
WR Anthony Rodriguez filled in as Wasil's top deep-threat against Peoria with leading receiver Christian Wise on Injured Reserve. Rodriguez stretched the field well for Albany, posting season highs in receiving yards (154) and touchdowns (3) on just seven catches in Week 14. His touchdowns came from 36, 44 and 39 yards out. On the year the rookie wide-out has 70 catches for 765 yards with 10 touchdowns.
WR/LB Alvin Ray Jackson posted his fourth three-touchdown game of the season in Week 14. Jackson also posted his third 100-yard receiving game of the year, hauling in seven catches for 105 yards. The two-time af2 Ironman of the week leads all Firebirds with 23 touchdowns on the year (20 receiving) and ranks second on the team with 793 receiving yards. On defense Jackson leads the team with seven interceptions and ranks second on the team with 43 tackles.
DB Kenneth Williams and DB EJ Whitley tied for the team lead against Peoria with 5.5 tackles each. Williams also knocked down a would-be go-ahead Pirates score with under a minute to play in the Firebirds victory. In eight games this season, Williams has a team-high 47 tackles with one interception, three fumble recoveries and a team-high nine pass break-ups. In just four games this year Whitley has recorded 17.5 tackles, three interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Week 16 Schedule:
All games are broadcast LIVE on af2TV free streaming video at www.albanyfirebirds.com
Saturday, July 11th - 7:00 pm - Times Union Center - Albany, NY
vs. Manchester Wolves (6-7)
- This is the 26th all-time meeting between Albany and Manchester and their final match-up of the 2009 season. The Wolves lead the all-time series 15-10, but Albany has taken two-of-three contests this season. The Wolves won the first meeting of the year in Manchester 74-53 on April 18 in Week 3. Albany evened the score in Week 8 with a come-from-behind 53-51 win at home on May 16 and then the Firebirds pulled out a 48-46 road win on June 5th.
- Leading Passers: QB - Mike Potts - (106-160-7, 1,134yds, 20TD)
- Leading Rusher: FB - Paul Jefferson - (52att-216yds-5TD)
- Leading Receivers: Steve Savoy - (81rec-988yds-28TD), Emery Sammons - (76rec-1086yds-21TD), Deyon Williams - (50rec-524yds-8TD)
Firebirds Pecks:
- Injury Report: Jamel Ramsay returned to action in practice this week and is expected to start at DB after being sidelined for Albany's last game. Irani D'Araujo and Lawrence Wade both began jogging this week, but neither is expected to make a return for the 2009 regular season.
- QB Watch - Manchester: Wolves Quarterback Mike Potts is expected to make his fifth consecutive start for Manchester after the club cut-ties with veteran James Pinkney. Potts' first af2 start came against the Firebirds in week 11 (June 5th). The rookie is coming off of the best start of his career, a six touchdown performance against Quad City in Week 14. Potts was a final cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 training camp.
- Firebirds Dine-To-Donate for Leukemia And Lymphoma Society Next Friday: Players will host a Dine-To-Donate event on July 10, 2009 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Five Guys Burgers and Fries of East Greenbush to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The whole team will be on hand to not only mingle at dinner with fans and sign autographs, but also to help the Five Guys staff members serve-up the best burgers and fries in the region. A portion of all proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...
arenafootball2 Stories from July 8, 2009
- Blizzard Headed For 5th Straight Playoff Appearance - Green Bay Blizzard
- Shock Top Coaches Poll for the 17th Straight Week - af2
- Updated Yard Dawgz Playoff Picture - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz
- Firebirds Prepare For Critical Contest - Albany Firebirds
- Wildcats Invite Fans to "Get in the Game" - South Georgia Wildcats
- Shock Top Coaches Poll For 17th Straight Week - Spokane Shock
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.
