Florida Firecats game notes
Published on April 5, 2006 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (0-0)
at Memphis Xplorers (1-0)
Date: Saturday April 8, 2005
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. ET
Site: DeSoto Civic Center (10,000)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Fred Wiedower (Referee)
Chad Walker (Umpire)
Karl Lane (Head Linesman)
Chris Jamison (Line Judge)
Brad Freeman (Back Judge)
Radio: WGUF 98.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record:
Last Meeting: 2004 Playoffs: 35-33 FLA
Streaks: Xplorers 1 win
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (14-2; 1-1 playoffs, 2nd Season)
Danton Barto (34-30; 3-1 playoffs, 5th Season)
THE STAKES: The Firecats look to the start the season strong with a win against a divisional foe. Four of the first five games are against American South opponents.
THE SERIES: The Firecats won the last match up 35-33 in the 1st round of the 2004 playoffs on their way to the arena cup. It was the Firecats 1st ever home playoff win. Memphis missed a game winning FG on the final play of the game.
THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Memphis, it would ...
- Give Florida the first win of the season
- Give Florida a 1-0 away record in 2005
- Improve Florida to 1-0 in the American Conference
Florida (0-0)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 @ Memphis 8:00
4/15 @ Macon 7:30
4/22 Memphis 7:30
4/29 @ Bossier-Shreveport 8:00
5/6 @ Tennessee Valley 8:30
5/13 Birmingham 8:00
5/20 @ Manchester 7:30
5/27 South Georgia 7:30
6/3 Tennessee Valley 7:30
6/17 Macon 7:30
6/24 @ Birmingham 8:00
7/1 Green Bay 7:30
7/8 @ W.B. / Scranton 7:00
7/15 Albany 7:30
7/22 Louisville 7:30
4/29 @ South Georgia 7:30
MEMPHIS (1-0, WON 1)
Date Opponent W/L Score
Sat, 4/1 @ Tenn Valley 7:30 W 47-25
Sat, 4/8 Florida 7:00
Sat, 4/15 Tenn Valley 7:00
Sat, 4/22 @ Florida 6:30
Fri, 4/28 Macon 7:00
Sat, 5/6 Manchester 7:00
Sat, 5/13 @ South Georgia 6:30
Sat, 5/20 Bossier-Shreveport 7:00
Sun, 5/28 @ Amarillo 3:00
Sat, 6/3 @ Stockton 9:00
Sat, 6/17 Birmingham 7:00
Sat, 6/24 South Georgia 7:00
Fri, 6/30 @ Macon 6:30
Sat, 7/8 @ Louisville 6:00
Sat, 7/15 Amarillo 7:00
Sat, 7/22 @ Birmingham 7:00
HEAD COACH: Kevin Bouis is set to embark on his 2nd year as head coach and 5th year overall with the Florida Firecats. In his 1st season at the helm he guided the team to a franchise best 15-3 record, the best 05' regular season league record at 14-2, a 2nd straight South Divisional Championship, home field advantage in the playoffs and a berth in the American Conference Championship. As the defensive coordinator, Bouis helped coach the team to an Arena Cup Championship in 2004. That year Kevin's Defense was ranked #1 in total defense, #1 in pass defense, #3 in rush defense & #2 in scoring defense(38.2 pts/g).
Stifling defense has been a signature of the Firecats since Bouis arrived in 2002 when the Firecats finished 5th in scoring defense (38.1 pts/g), 5th in rushing defense and 7th in pass def rating on their way to their 1st arena cup appearance and the American Conference Championship. In 2003 his defense to finished 2nd in scoring defense (39.2 pts/g), 7th total defense and 4th in pass def rating.
He is a former player for the National Indoor Football League's Mississippi Firedogs. He helped his team win two League championships, 2000 and 2001, winning All-NIFL honors. In three seasons with the Firedogs (99-01), Bouis totaled 30 defensive turnovers, 23 interceptions and 7 fumble recoveries. In 2000 and 2001 Bouis led the team in tackles and interceptions. He 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). During his tenure with the Firedogs he registered 189 tackles including 81 in 2000.
As a player at the University of Texas El Paso/University of Kentucky, Bouis was furnished with a full scholarship and was a two-year varsity letterman in Football at UTEP, who started as a true freshman and sophomore. He then transferred and completed his college football career at the University of Kentucky.
Bouis holds a B.A. in Education from UK and has an M.B.A. from William Carey College.
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 who was in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings from 1991-1993 and the Indianapolis Colts for the 93-94 season 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. 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.
FAMILIAR FACES: Firecats Receiver Elgin Hicks played for Memphis in 2005
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Xplorers
Player Rank Category Stat
Brian Jones 2 Total Offense 320 ypg
Kenny Higgins 6 Scoring 18 ppg
Deon Giddins 1 Tackles 14
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Wildcats stack up:
Statistical Firecats Xplorers
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 6 47
Scoring Defense 12 25
Total Offense 3 324
Total Defense 16 242
Pass Offense 3 295
Pass Defense 15 212
Rushing Offense 6 29
Rushing Defense 19 30
Scoring (Non-Kick) 6 18
Scoring (Kicking) 7 5
Pass Rating 7 109.7
Pass Def. Rating 16 109
Kickoff Returns 7 15
MFG Returns 2 26
Turnover Margin 5 +0
Field Goals 3 0
PAT Kicking 6 .714
Sacks By 7 0
Sacks Against 1 0
First Downs 4 18
Opp. First Downs 14 14
Penalties 21 67
Opp. Penalties 9 49
THIS WEEK'S QUOTES: WR/DB Elgin Hicks, who played for Memphis last year, talked about playing against his former team: "I'm looking forward to getting back where we won the championship last year and seeing those guys again. Just happy to get back into it, just happened Memphis is our first game."
Hicks on Coach Barto: "He runs a tough practice, expects you to know your assignments. You have to get after it, they play hard nosed football."
Firecats QB Chris Wallace on the importance of the first game: "It's going to a big task. It's our first game, their second, so we have to go out on all cylinders. They got a lot of guys returning, so it's going to be a great test to open up the season."
FORWARD MOTION: The Florida Firecats will be hosting the Memphis Xplorers in two weeks for their home opener on the 22nd.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Brian Jones & Kenny Higgins vs. Firecat Defense:
Jones and Higgins lit it up last game with Jones totaling 320 yards of offense, 7 TD's and Higgins scoring 18 points. The Firecat defense will try to stop that powerful duo in this weeks match up.
arenafootball2 Stories from April 5, 2006
- af2 and OurSports Central Radio team up to launch weekly online radio show "Off the Net" - af2
- Xplorers defensive back Deon Giddens had record-breaking Saturday - Memphis Xplorers
- Wildcats announce field naming rights partnership with Cooper Tire - South Georgia Wildcats
- Memphis remains on top in week two coaches poll - af2
- Florida Firecats game notes - Florida Firecats
- Conquest goin' down to Georgia - Albany Firebirds
- Outback Steakhouse Fifth Annual Blitz Bowl April 7 - Bakersfield Blitz
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.
