Firecats Ready for Season Opener

Published on April 8, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release


Estero, FL- Anticipation continues to build as the Florida Firecats edge closer to kicking off the 2004 season.

"I feel like we have some unfinished business," Ken Mastrole, Firecats' starting quarterback said. "The puzzle is incomplete, and we have the pieces to put it together."

The Firecats open the season at home against the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30. Bossier-Shreveport takes a 1-0 record into TECO Arena after defeating Firecat division rivals, the Birmingham Steeldogs, 63-41 two weeks ago.

"I think that it will be a good test for us. Bossier City is a good opponent," Firecat President Chris Vallozzi said. "This will be a huge stepping stone in determining what kind of team we will have this year."

Head Coach Ben Bennett returns for his second season as head coach with a solid team. Mastrole returns to the Firecats after compiling 57 touchdowns in only 11 regular season games last year. Cainon Lamb, Mastole's favorite target in 2003, returns to head a deep receiving corps. Lamb caught 110 passes for 1,297 yards and 32 touchdowns last year. Also returning to the Firecats for the fourth season will be arena football veteran Magic Benton. Benton caught 77 passes for 821 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2003. Brent Burnside will be another familiar target of Mastrole. Burnside caught 23 passes for 320 yards and 8 touchdowns last year. A new target for Mastrole will be the speedy Anthony Snead, who caught 90 passes for 1,140 yards and 17 touchdowns last year with the Macon Knights. Sharing the running duties will be Chris Morant and Steve Gorrie. Morant is a former All-America from James Madison University who ran in four touchdowns for the Norfolk Nighthawks last year. Gorrie, a two-time All-America and Division II Player of the Year at Presbyterian College, is an arena football veteran that spent three seasons with the AFL's Florida Bobcats. Up front for Line Coach Jimmy Magas will be Dunstan Anderson, T.J. Gholston, and Comone Fisher.

Quincy Sorrell heads up an impressive defensive corps for Kevin Bouis, Firecats' defensive coordinator. Sorrell had 54 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles last year for the Firecats. Another solid defensive back returning to the Firecats is Brent Burnside. Burnside led the team last year with five interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also led the team with ten pass breakups, and he added 32.5 tackles. Desmond Washington looks to get the other starting nod in the Firecats' defensive backfield. Washington spent last season with the Columbus Wardogs where he led them with 74 tackles, four interceptions, and 23 pass breakups. Steve Gorrie and Cainon Lamb will be the starting linebackers for the Firecats. Lamb had two interceptions and a fumble recovery last year for the Firecats. Comone Fisher and Dante Booker will get the nod at defensive end. Fisher led the Firecats last year with nine quarterback hurries. He added three sacks, recovered two fumbles, and forced another fumble in 2003. T.J. Gholston will get the likely nod at nose tackle.

Brandon Kornblue returns to the Firecats to handle the kicking duties this season. Kornblue kicked 11 field goals last year, and he kicked a Firecat record of 22 field goals in 2002, a season that saw the Firecats go to the ArenaCup championship game. Cainon Lamb and Magic Benton will be the main return men for the Firecats.

Tickets are available for the season opener this weekend against the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. Call the Firecats' office at (239) 390-2287 to reserve your seat before it's too late!

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