Florida Firecats game notes

April 12, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (0-1) @
Macon Knights (0-1)
Date: Saturday April 15, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Site: Macon Coliseum (7,182)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Referee: Larry Mallam
Umpire: Chris Hughes
Head Linesman: Abdullah Salaam
Line Judge: Andy Britton
Back Judge: Wayne Gautney
Radio: WGUF 98.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record: 7-4 against Macon
Last Meeting: Florida 40, Macon 34 6/25/05
Streaks: Firecats L-1; Knights L-1
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (14-3; Second Season as HC)
Derek Stingey (6-5; Second Season as HC)

THE STAKES: The Firecats and Knights are both fighting to get the first win of the season.

THE SERIES: This will be the 12th meeting between the two franchises, dating back 5 years. Florida holds the upper hand with a 7-4 series record.

THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Macon, it would ...
- Give Florida a 1-1 record for 2006
- Give Florida their first win of the season
- Give Kevin Bouis his 15th win as an af2 coach
- Get Florida to .500 in the American conference


Florida (0-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 @ Memphis 8:00 L 78-46
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


Macon (0-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 Albany Conquest 7:30 L 54-25
4/15 Florida Firecats 7:30
4/22 @Tennessee Valley 8:30
4/28 @ Memphis 8:00
5/6 South Georgia 7:30
5/13 @ Green Bay 8:30
5/20 W.B. / Scranton 7:30
5/27 @ Birmingham 8:00
6/3 @ South Georgia 7:30
6/10 Arkansas 7:30
6/17 @ Florida 7:30
6/30 Memphis 7:30
7/8 @ Albany 7:00
7/15 Birmingham 7:30
7/22 Tennessee Valley 7:30
7/29 @ Arkansas 8:00

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 as a player in 2004. Hall returned to the sideline in 2005 as the Assistant Head Coach. 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. Vic can be seen as an extra through out the Adam Sandler film "The Waterboy".

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ken Mastrole is in his 2nd year as coordinator after leading the Firecats to the championship as QB in 2004. 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.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Florida 40, Macon 34 6/25/05
The win clinched the South Division for the 2nd straight year for the Firecats and gave the team the season sweep. The game was a see-saw match up until the Firecats broke a 27-27 tie with 7:35 to go in the game. QB Chris Wallace was named Offensive Player of the game tossing 5TD's. OL/DL Comone Fisher was named the games Defensive MVP.

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LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match up who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Chris Wallace 9 Pass yds/catch 12
Chris Wallace 8 Yards/play 7.5 yds/g
Chris Wallace 4 Pass Rating 148.4
Clent Crossley 3 Total Rushing 32 yds
Clent Crossley 1 Yards/rush 8.0 ypr
Quincy Sorrel 5 Passes Def. 5
Twisters
Player Rank Category Stat
Jamaal Garman 1 Fumb Rec. 2
Chad Elliot 2 Pass Int 4
Damien Purse 10 Pass Def. 4
Hosea Laney 14 Tackles 8

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Knights stack up:
Statistical Firecats Twisters
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 10 46 22 25
Scoring Defense 23 78 17 54
Total Offense 4 300 18 230
Total Defense 20 305 21 334
Pass Offense 6 253 16 237
Pass Defense 17 274 21 336
Rushing Offense 1 37 22 -7
Rushing Defense 21 31 3 -2
Scoring (Non-Kick) 14 46 22 25
Scoring (Kicking) 22 2 23 1
Pass Rating 4 147.8 15 102.1
Pass Def. Rating 23 156 16 111.3
Kickoff Returns 15 16.5 20 14.2
MFG Returns T12 0 T12 0
Turnover Margin 20 -2 21 -2
Field Goals T5 0 T5 0
PAT Kicking 22 .400 23 .250
Sacks By 15 1 17 1
Sacks Against 16 2 20 4
First Downs 15 19 20 16
Opp. First Downs 10 20 6 18
Penalties 11 64 1 10
Opp. Penalties 16 57 23 35

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:


MILESTONES: Magic Benton hauled in 4 TD's in the Firecats loss to Memphis last week with #4 registering as the 100th of his career for Floirda.

DROPBACK: Chris Wallace went 21-32 for 251 and 7 touchdowns in a losing effort. OS Magic Benton is off to a promising season with 10 receptions, 137 yards and 4 touchdowns in the opener for Florida.

FORWARD MOTION: The Firecats have one more week away before hosting defending champion Memphis who gave them their first loss of the season, in convincing fashion.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Chris Wallace vs. Macon Secondary: Chris Wallace and Magic Benton are off to a solid start, teaming up to be #6 in total pass offense. We'll see if this week's match up against Macon can lead to Florida's first victory.

FB/LB Clenton Crossley: Crossley had a breakout first game, leading the league with 32 yards per game. He is also the team leader in tackles with 6.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player




IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player



DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player



YOUR TEAM INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status


AMERICAN CONFERENCE

SOUTH DIVISION

Memphis 2-0
Birmingham 1-0
Tennessee Valley 1-1
Florida 0-1
Macon 0-1
South Georgia 0-1



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