Florida Firecats game notes
April 27, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (1-2) at Macon Knights (1-2)
Date: Saturday, May 1, 2004
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: Macon Coliseum
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: 3-3
Last Meeting: Macon 42 Florida 35
Streaks: Florida L2, Macon W1
Coaches: Florida/ Ben Bennett (11-9; 0-1 playoffs, Second season)
Knights/ Mike Hold (1-2, First Season)
THE STAKES: The Firecats are currently 1.5 games out of first place in the South Division. They are currently on a two game losing streak, and they are in danger of digging themselves into a big hole. A win would bring the team back to .500 and get the Firecats back on the right path.
THE SERIES: The series is currently tied at three wins apiece. The last time that the two teams played, Macon won 42-35 and knocked the Firecats out of the playoffs. In 2002 the Firecats defeated Macon 44-28 to knock the Knights out of the playoffs.
THE IFs:
If Florida beats Macon:
· Give Florida a 4-3 series record with Macon
· Give Florida their first road win in 2004
· Give Ben Bennett a 12-9 record as a head coach
· Give Florida a 2-2 record for the season.
· Give Florida a 2-2 record against the American Conference.
· Give Florida a 1-0 record in the South Division
FLORIDA (1-1, Lost 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/104/174/24 BOSSIER-SHREV@MEMPHISCAPE FEAR 7:308:007:30 WLL 46-3154-5155-35
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
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 @ MACON 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
MACON KNIGHTS (1-2, Won 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/104/174/24 TULSA@LOUISVILLEMANCHESTER LOSTLOSTWON 49-4078-4257-34
Date Opponent Streak Series
5/1 FLORIDA
5/8 @BIRMINGHAM
5/15 COLUMBUS
5/22 @ALBANY
5/29 @CAPE FEAR
6/4 FLORIDA
6/12 TENN. VALLEY
6/19 @COLUMBUS
6/26 @FLORIDA
7/10 CAPE FEAR
7/16 @TENN. VALLEY
7/24 @MEMPHIS
7/31 BIRMINGHAM
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: Macon won the last meeting 42-35 in Macon, Georgia. The game was the first round of the playoffs. Macon went on to play for the ArenaCup.
SERIES NOTABLES: The series is currently tied at three wins each. In 2002 the Firecats defeated Macon 44-28 to knock Macon out of the playoffs. The Firecats went on to win the American Conference championship. Macon knocked Florida out of the playoffs last year en route to winning the American Conference championship.
FAMILIAR FACES
Anthony Snead returns to Macon for the first time, health permitting. Snead caught 90 passes for 1,140 yards and 17 touchdowns last year for the Knights.
LAMB CATCHING RECORD
Firecat receiver Cainon Lamb caught three touchdown receptions last week against Cape Fear. The three touchdown receptions take his Firecat career total to 41, leaving him only one short of former Firecat Anthony Dixon's team career record 42 touchdown receptions.
FORWARD MOTION: The Firecats continue on their four-game road trip, taking off for Columbus, Georgia.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
Flag Days: Every time the Firecats have stepped on the field this year, it has been raining yellow flags. The Firecats have already been penalized 376 yards in three games, an average of 125.3 yards a game. The closest team to them is Manchester, who averages 63 yards a game.
LEAGUE TOP 10s:
FIRECATS
Player Rank Category Stat
Cainon Lamb T-3 Scoring 60 pts.
Cainon Lamb 5 Scoring TD 9
Cainon Lamb 4 Receptions 28
Ken Mastrole 10 Passing Yards 245/g
Steve Gorrie 2 Rushing Off. 70 yds.
Dante Booker 3 Tackles for Loss 3.5
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Florida Firecats and Macon Knights stack up:
Statistical FIRECATS KNIGHTS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 19 44.0 pts. 18 46.3 pts.
Scoring Defense 12 46.7 pts. 21 53.7 pts.
Total Offense 7 282.7 yds 6 283.0 yds
Total Defense 1 166.3 yds. 13 242.7 yds.
Pass Offense 13 241.3 yds. 8 254.0 yds.
Pass Defense 1 132.3 yds. 13 224.7 yds.
Rushing Offense 1 41.3 yd/g 8 29 y/g
Rushing Defense 23 34 y/g 15 18 y/g
Scoring (Non-Kick) 18 122 pts. 17 126 pts.
Scoring (Kicking) 23 10 pts. 19 13 pts.
Pass Rating 10 105.8 21 91.3
Pass Def. Rating 12 100.6 7 92.3
Kickoff Returns 2 27.1 yds 19 17.7 yds.
MFG Returns 22 8.0 yds. 26 0.0 yds.
Turnover Margin 22 -1 24 -2
Field Goals 24 .000 12 .333
PAT Kicking 16 .714 21 .625
Sacks By 19 2 20 2
Sacks Against 5 2 3 1
First Downs 5 56 4 62
Opp. First Downs 5 36 6 38
Penalties 26 125.3 y/g 13 58.7 y/g
Opp. Penalties 8 51.0 y/g 16 63.7 y/g
FIRECATS INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Status
OL/DL B. Greenaway Out
WR/DS A.Snead Doubtful
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Ken Mastrole: Ken Mastrole left a backup job in the AFL to come back as the Firecats starter. Mastrole threw for 2,284 yards and 55 touchdowns last year in only 11 games.
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.
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.
FB/LB Chris Morant: Morant has been a beast on defense this season. He has six tackles, a sack, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, two pass breakups, and a blocked field goal.
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.
FB/LB Steve Gorrie Gorrie spent a few years with the AFL's Florida Bobcats. He is a former Division II Player of the Year, and he began his pro career with the Cincinnati Bengals.
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.
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