Florida Firecats game notes
Published on April 12, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (1-0) at Memphis Xplorers (0-1)
Date: Saturday, April 17, 2004
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: DeSoto Civic Center
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: "Head Referee"
Officials: (Referee) (Umpire) (Head Linesman) (Line Judge) (Back Judge)
Radio: ESPN 770 AM (Dave Leval)
TV: None
Series Record: Florida 3-1
Last Meeting: Florida 52 Memphis 30
Streaks: Florida W1, Memphis L1
Coaches: Florida/ Ben Bennett (11-6; 0-1 playoffs, Second season)
Xplorers/ Danton Barto
THE STAKES: The Firecats are sitting in sole possession of first place in the South Division. A win would secure their spot on top for another week. Memphis is in search of their first win of the season. They are currently in last place in the Mid-South Division.
THE SERIES: Florida is currently ahead in this series 3-1. Florida swept Memphis last year, taking two wins from the Xplorers.
THE IFs:
If Florida beats Memphis:
· Give Florida a 4-1 series record with Memphis
· Give Florida a 1-0 road record in 2004
· Give Ben Bennett a 12-7 record as a head coach
· Give Florida a 2-0 record for the season.
· Give Florida a 2-0 record against the American Conference.
FLORIDA (1-0, Won 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/10 BOSSIER-SHREV 7:30 W 46-31
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/17 @ MEMPHIS 7:30 L1 FLA 3-1
4/24 CAPE FEAR 7:30
5/1 @ MACON 7:30
5/8 @ COLUMBUS 7:30
5/14 @ BIRMINGHAM 7:30
5/22 @ TENNESSEE VALLEY 7:30
5/29 MEMPHIS 7:30
6/4 @ MACON 7:30
6/12 COLUMBUS 7:30
6/19 @ CAPE FEAR 7:30
6/26 MACON 7:30
7/3 BYE
7/10 BIRMINGHAM 7:30
7/17 LAREDO 7:30
7/26 @ COLUMBUS 7:30
7/31 TENNESSEE VALLEY 7:30
MEMPHIS (0-1, Lost 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/10 @BIRMINGHAM L 44-27
Date Opponent Streak Series
4/17 FLORIDA W1 FLA 3-1
4/23 @BOSSIER-SHREV
5/1 @TENN. VALLEY
5/8 LOUISVILLE
5/15 ARKANSAS
5/21 @BAKERSFIELD
5/29 @FLORIDA
6/5 BOSSIER-SHREV
6/11 BAKERSFIELD
6/18 @MANCHESTER
7/2 TENN. VALLEY
7/9 CAPE FEAR
7/16 @ARKANSAS
7/24 MACON
7/31 @COLUMBUS
HEAD COACHES: In his first season as head coach, Ben Bennett was able to finish the 2003 season coaching the Firecats to winning seven of their last eight regular season games and a playoff birth.
LAST SERIES MEETING: Florida hosted the Xplorers, and they edged the Xplorers 34-32.
SERIES NOTABLES: Florida swept Memphis last year, and they lead the series 3-1.
FAMILIAR FACES: Victor Hall, a.k.a. the AFL Sack Man, spent the 2003 season coaching the Firecats' OL/DL. This year, he put the pads back on, returning from retirement for the Firecats.
LEAGUE TOP 10s:
FIRECATS
Player Rank Category Stat
Cainon Lamb 5 Scoring 32 pts.
Cainon Lamb 5 Rec. TD 5
Ken Mastrole 5 Passer Rating 121.7
Cainon Lamb 8 Receptions 12
Ken Mastrole 3 Passing Yards 301
Ken Mastrole 10 Total Offense 312
Chris Morant T-3 Forced Fumbles 1
Chris Morant T-2 Fumble Recov. 1
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Florida Firecats and Memphis Xplorers stack up:
Statistical FIRECATS BATTLE WINGS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 12 46 pts. 23 27 pts.
Scoring Defense 3 31 pts. 14 44 pts.
Total Offense 1 333 yds. 21 170 yds.
Total Defense 1 134 yds. 5 176 yds.
Pass Offense 3 291 yds. 21 174 yds.
Pass Defense 1 91 yds. 2 129 yds.
Rushing Offense 7 42 yds. 26 (-4) yds.
Rushing Defense 22 43 yds. 24 47 yds.
Scoring (Non-Kick) 17 44 pts. 22 24 yds.
Scoring (Kicking) 24 2 pts. 23 3 pts.
Pass Rating 5 121.7 26 54.3
Pass Def. Rating 12 89.9 15 91.5
Kickoff Returns 10 20.0 yds. 7 22.8 yds.
MFG Returns 12 8.0 yds. 3 23.0 yds.
Turnover Margin 11 +1 19 -1
Field Goals 19 0 26 0
PAT Kicking 22 .400 1 1.000
Sacks By 18 1 15 1
Sacks Against 12 1 21 3
First Downs 10 25 20 14
Opp. First Downs 4 11 8 14
Penalties 25 125 yds. 8 55 yds.
FIRECATS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
OL/DL B. Greenaway Knee Doubtful
FB/LB J. Davis Knee Doubtful
THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:
QB KEN MASTROLE: "The puzzle is incomplete, and we have the pieces to put it together."
WR/LB CAINON LAMB "We have a lot of growing to do. Once we establish a team personality, we will really take our game to the next level."
OS MAGIC BENTON "Last week, the defense was spectacular. The offense was good enough to get it done, but we missed some easy scores. Once we get everybody clicking, it will be a whole new game."
FORWARD MOTION: The Firecats will host conference rivals, the Cape Fear Wildcats at TECO Arena.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
Firecats Start Strong: The Firecats looked impressive at home last week, defeating Bossier Shreveport 46-31. Ken Mastrole threw 7 touchdowns for 301 yards and no interceptions. Cainon Lamb caught 12 balls for 109 yards and five touchdowns.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Ken Mastrole: Ken Mastrole left a backup job in the AFL to come back as the Firecats starter. Mastrole picked up where he left off last season in the Firecat season opener, throwing for 301 yards and seven TDs.
WR/LB Cainon Lamb: Cainon returns to the Firecats after being the number one receiver last year. He caught 110 passes for 1,297 yards and 32 touchdowns last year. Lamb caught 12 passes last week for 109 yards and five touchdowns.
WR/DB Anthony Snead: Snead comes to the Firecats after spending 2003 with the Macon Knights. At Macon, he caught 90 passes for 1,140 yards and 17 touchdowns.
DS Quincy Sorrell Sorrell returns to the Firecats after a solid 2003 season. Sorrell had 54 tackles, 2 interceptions, and two forced fumbles last year.
OS Magic Benton Benton caught 77 passes for 821 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2003.
OL/DL Dunstan Anderson Anderson is a former Super Bowl winner with the Dallas Cowboys. He has an extensive professional resume.
OL/DL Comone Fisher Fisher had 23 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 fumble recoveries in 2003 for the Firecats.
OL/DL Victor Hall Hall is #9 all-time in sacks in AFL history. He was the OL/DL coach for the Firecats last year. Hall recently decided to come out of retirement to return the game.
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN AWARD
The U.S. Army Ironman Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the best two or three-way player of the game.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS (BOSSIER SHREVEPORT AT FLORIDA)
Week Opp. Player
2 BOSSIER- SHREVEPORT 12- QB KEN MASTROLE
BABY RUTH REAL DEAL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
2 BOSSIER- SHREVEPORT 4- WR/LB CAINON LAMB
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
2 BOSSIER- SHREVEPORT 9- DS QUINCY SORRELL
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