Sports stats



Florida Firecats game notes

July 26, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (12-2)
@ Birmingham Steeldogs (2-13)
Date: Saturday July 30, 2005
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Site: BJ Complex
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Referee: Marc Curles
Umpire: Marc Baynes
Head Linesman: David Smith
Line Judge: Victor Pettus Back Judge: Rob Skelton

Radio: WGUF 98.9FM & WJGO 102.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record: 3-3
Last Meeting: Florida Won @ home 56-40
Streaks: Firecats W-3; Steeldogs L-2
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (13-2; First Season as HC)
Bobby Humphrey (51-48 6th year)

THE SERIES: The Firecats are now tied 3-3 with the Steeldogs. The teams split their series last year with the home team winning each game. Florida won at home this year 56-40 back in week 10.

THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Birmingham, it would ...
- Give Florida a 14-2 record, best in team history
- Give Florida a 7-1 road record in 2005
- Give Florida a 8-0 record against the South Division
- Give Kevin Bouis a 14-2 record as an af2 head coach
- Make Florida just the 4th team to go 14-2


Florida (13-2, Won 4)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/1 @ Macon 7:40 WIN 32-35
4/8 @ Manchester 7:40 WIN 26-32 OT
4/16 Rio Grande Valley 7:30 WIN 63-30
4/22 South Georgia 7:30 WIN 42-37
4/30 @ Arkansas 8:00 WIN 50-68
5/14 @ Bossier-Shreveport 8:00 LOSS 28-22
5/21 @ Louisville 7:30 WIN 43-47
5/28 Amarillo 7:30 WIN 69-63
6/4 Birmingham 7:30 WIN 56-40
6/11 @ South Georgia 7:30 WIN 45-40
6/18 Manchester 8:00 LOSS 52-29
6/25 Macon 8:00 WIN 36-40
7/9 Arkansas 7:30 WIN 51-40
7/16 WB/Scranton 7:30 WIN 47-48 OT
7/23 @ Green Bay 8:00 WIN 48-47
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
7/30 @ Birmingham 8:00 3-3

Birmingham (2-13, Lost 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/1 BYE
4/9 San Diego 8:00 LOSS 58-57
4/14 @ Macon 8:00 LOSS 50-67
4/23 Memphis 7:30 LOSS 60-24
4/30 @ Louisville 8:00 LOSS 46-48
5/7 South Georgia 8:00 LOSS 69-49
5/14 @ San Diego 8:00 LOSS 44-77
5/21 @ Arkansas 8:00 LOSS 60-61
5/28 Green Bay 8:00 WIN 26-55
6/4 @ Florida 7:00 LOSS 40-56
6/11 Louisville 7:30 LOSS 69-61
6/18 @ Memphis 7:30 LOSS 32-62
6/24 @ Green Bay 8:00 LOSS 41-69
7/9 Macon 7:30 LOSS 68-51
7/16 @ South Georgia 7:30 WIN 23-20
7/23 Arkansas 8:00 LOSS 55-42
Date Time Streak Series
7/30 FLORIDA 8:00 - 3-3

HEAD COACH: Kevin Bouis is set to embark on his first year as head coach for the Florida Firecats. Kevin is in his fourth year with this team. As the defensive coordinator for the Firecats last season, Bouis helped coach the team to an Arena Cup Championship in 2004. Last year Kevin's Defense was ranked #1 in total defense, #1 in pass defense & #2 in scoring defense. He has served as the defensive coordinator for the Firecats for the past three years and is a former player for the National Indoor Football League's Mississippi Firedogs. He helped his team win two NIFL championships, winning All-NIFL honors. In his first season with the Firedogs, Bouis led the team in tackles and interceptions. He had eight interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. He also added 81 tackles and three fumble recoveries. He also won the honor of being the IPFL defensive player of the week in 2000. In 1999, Bouis helped the Firedogs qualify for the first round of the playoffs in their inaugural season (9-7).
As a player at the University of Texas El Paso, Bouis was furnished with a full scholarship and two-year varsity letterman in Football at UTEP, and started as a true freshman and sophomore. He then transferred and completed college his football career at University of Kentucky.

ASSISTANT HEAD COACH OL/DL & FB/LB: Victor Hall "Sack Man" coached with the Firecats in 2003 before returning to the field last year. The Auburn grad was All-SEC 1st Team his junior yea and set a Peach Bowl record by catching nine passes against Indiana. He was played with the Minnesota Vikings from 1991-1993 and the Indianapolis Colts for the 93-94 season. Led the NFL Europe's Barcelona Dragons in tackles and sacks in 1995. He has an Orlando Predators Arena Bowl ring to go along with the hardware he received last year and has the distinction as being the only player to win both an AFL and AF2 championship. Still ranks#9 all-time in sacks with the AFL. Hall is also an ex-police officer and became the youngest Chief of Police in Alabama at the age of 23.

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ken Mastrole is in his 1st year as coordinator after leading the Firecats to the championship as QB. Coach Bouis' 1st choice for the job played his college ball at Maryland & Rhode Island also had stints with the Chicago Bears in the NFL, The Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe & the Detroit Fury in the AFL.









LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match up who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Chris Wallace 7 TD Passes 79
Chris Wallace 7 Pass Rating 111.9
Magic Benton 9 Scoring 194 pts
Steve Gorrie 2 Rush Attempts 81
Steve Gorrie 1 Rushing 345 yrds
Steve Gorrie 6 Yards Per Rush 4.3
Kelly Snell 5 Tackles 97.0
Kelly Snell T-3 Passes Defended 31
Steeldogs
Player Rank Category Stat
Ray Nelson 4 Yards Per Rush 4.5
Thomas Ricks 7 Yards Per Rush 4.1
Ray Nelson 4 Pass Yds Per Catch 13.3
Detronn Harris 9 Receptions 100
Detronn Harris 5 Kick Return Yards 1235
Detronn Harris T-3 Kick Return TDs 4

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the ‘Cats & Steeldogs
Statistical Firecats Steeldogs
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 15 46.3 16 45.0
Scoring Defense 2 40.7 20 57.4
Total Offense 13 255.5 11 258.1
Total Defense 12 265.7 8 257.4
Pass Offense 17 218.8 15 228.5
Pass Defense 14 253.2 8 240.7
Rushing Offense 1 550 yrds 4 443 yrds
Rushing Defense 2 187 yrds 6 250 yrds
Scoring (Non-Kick) 15 694 pts 16 675 pts
Scoring (Kicking) 18 78 13 85
Pass Rating 7 111.4 20 78.5
Pass Def. Rating 5 95.0 16 109.2
Kickoff Returns 16 17.7 18 17.4
MFG Returns 20 7.7 4 21.2
Turnover Margin T-9 +1 20 -19
Field Goals 19 2-19 10 8-24
PAT Kicking 9 72-90 14 61-81
Sacks By 17 13-43 16 14-42
Sacks Against 3 11-57 20 35-170
First Downs T-8 282 13 271
Opp. First Downs 10 272 8 269
Penalties 1 109-660 10 127-806
Opp 3rd Down % 15 48.8 10 44.9
Time of Possession 11 30:12 8 30:23


LAST TIME:
The Firecats improved to a franchise best 8-1 with a 56-40 win over the 1-8 Birmingham Steeldogs.

The game had all the makings of a run away affair when Florida went up 28-13 before QB Rodger Linn, who went 20 of 38 for 225yards, hooked up with Dre Fulgham on a 10yrd pass to cut it to 11. Florida's next drive fizzled out at their own 17 and Brandon Kornblue had a FG attempt blocked for the 2nd straight week which Birmingham recovered for a safety to make it 28-21.

Birmingham opened the 2nd half scoring to make it 28 all with Herman Bell capping off an 8 play drive with a 1 yard run for 6pts. The teams then traded scores including Detronn Harris' electrifying 56 yard kickoff return for a touchdown before Magic Benton caught 2 scores to give Florida a 49-34 advantage. Birmingham would threaten once more however as Harris caught his 2nd TD of the night to make it 49-40 before a pair of late turnovers by the Steeldogs sealed the deal. Harris led all receivers with 12 catches for 169 yards.

Florida swept the MVP honors with OS Magic Benton receiving the Offensive player of the game award with 5 TD receptions. DS Kelly Snell who led the team in tackles with 4 plus a fumble recovery and an interception received the ADT Defensive player of the game nod. And OL/DL Comone Fisher won the U.S Army Iron Man of the game award thanks in part to a huge blocked kick early in the 4th quarter.

MILESTONES:

K- Brandon Kornblue currently has made 38 career field goals, tied with James Thomas who kicked 38 with Greensboro from 2000-2003. He needs just 1 more to become the leading kicker in 4 different career categories.

WR/LB- Cainon Lamb has 121 combined (receiving, rushing, and kick returns) TD's in his career 2nd most in the league behind Mitch Allner's 126. He has 111 TD's receiving just 2 behind Allner's mark of 113.

DS- Kelly Snell has 97 tackles this year, 2nd highest single season mark in team history behind Quincy Sorrell's 100.5 last year. The league record is 121 in 1 year.

DROPBACK:

Last Week the Firecats clinched home field advantage in the playoffs with a dramatic come from behind win over Green Bay on the final play of the game and converted a 2pt. conversion with no time left to grab a 48-47 win on the road. Both Chris Wallace and Magic Benton broke individual team records in the win.


PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Firecats D and Special Teams vs Detronn Harris:
Harris had a kick return for a TD back in week 10 to go along with 2 TD receptions against the ‘Cats. Harris is an amazing athlete with the ability to break one from anywhere on the field. Florida's special teams and secondary will have to contain him to head to the playoffs on a 5 game win streak.


OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
10 BIR Magic Benton 5 TD Receptions
11 SGA Magic Benton & Chris Wallace
13 MAC Chris Wallace
14 ARK Chris Wallace
15 WBS Chris Wallace

IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
10 BIR Comone Fisher
11 SGA Cainon Lamb
12 MAN Brent Burnside
13 MAC Cainon Lamb
14 ARK Chris Morant
15 WBS Cainon Lamb

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
10 BIR KellySnell
11 SGA Kelly Snell
13 MAC Comone Fisher
15 WBS Roy Stabler

• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...

arenafootball2 Stories from July 26, 2005


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.

Other Recent Florida Firecats Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central