Florida Firecats game notes
April 18, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Memphis Xplorers (3-0) @ Florida Firecats (1-1)
Date: Saturday Aprill 22nd
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Site: Germain Arena (7,128)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Head Referee
Officials: Referee: Mike Pavese
Umpire: Mark Baynes
Head Linesman: Folayan Kindred
Line Judge: Rich Martinez
Back Judge: Barry Hendon
Radio: WGUF 98.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record: 5-3 against Memphis
Last Meeting: Florida 46, Memphis 78 4/8/06
Streaks: Firecats W-1; Memphis W-3
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (15-3; Second Season as HC)
Dan Barto (37-30; Fifth Season as HC)
THE STAKES: The Firecats look to avenge their blow out loss two weeks ago and see how much they've improved against the defending champs.
THE SERIES: This mark's the 8th meeting between the two top rated franchises. Florida has the upper hand with 5 wins against 3 losses.
THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Memphis, it would ...
- Give Florida a 2-1 record for 2006
- Give Memphis their first loss of 2006
- Give Florida a two game winning streak
- Get Florida to 2 wins in the American conference
Florida (1-1, WON 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/8 @ Memphis 8:00 L 78-46
4/15 @ Macon 7:30 W 53-40
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 (3-0, WON 3)
Date Opponent W/L Score
Sat, 4/1 @ Tenn Valley 7:30 W 47-25
Sat, 4/8 Florida 7:00 W 78-46
Sat, 4/15 Tenn Valley 7:00 W 56-21
Sat, 4/22 @ Florida 7:30
Fri, 4/28 Macon 8:00
Sat, 5/6 Manchester 8:00
Sat, 5/13 @ South Georgia 7:30
Sat, 5/20 Bossier-Shreveport 8:00
Sun, 5/28 @ Amarillo 4:00
Sat, 6/3 @ Stockton 10:30
Sat, 6/17 Birmingham 8:00
Sat, 6/24 South Georgia 8:00
Fri, 6/30 @ Macon 7:30
Sat, 7/8 @ Louisville 7:00
Sat, 7/15 Amarillo 8:00
Sat, 7/22 @ Birmingham 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: Memphis QB Brian Jones threw for 279 yards and 7 TD's to help the Xplorers out-score the Firecats 41-14 in the second half and win going away, 78-46. Jones also scored 2 rushing TD's and earned Schutt Offensive Player of the Game honors. Memphis WR/DB Terrance Quattlebaum, had five catches for 65 yards and a score in addition to an onside kick return for a touchdown in the second half, earned US Army Ironman of the Game honors. Florida was led by QB Chris Wallace, who threw for 251 yards and 7 TD passes. OS Magic Benton matched Higgins had an impressive 2006 debut in defeat as well, recording 10 receptions for 137 yards and 4 TD's.
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match up who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Chris Wallace 3 Total Offense 301 ypg
Chris Wallace 8 Offense TD's 14
Magic Benton 2 Scoring 18 pg
Magic Benton Pass Rec. 21
Magic Benton 4 All purpose yds 156.5 pg
Clenton Crossley 1 Rush yds total 60 yds
Quincy Sorrel 5 Pass Defended 3 pg
Xplorers
Player Rank Category Stat
Brian Jones 5 Total Offense 290.3/gm
Brian Jones 1 Total Off. TDs 24
Brian Jones 2 Passer Rating 133.4
Kenny Higgins 1 Pass Rec. 23
Kenny Higgins 1 Rec. Yards 405
Joseph Crear 2-t Sacks 3
Deon Giddens 1 Tackles 25.5
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Knights stack up:
Statistical Firecats Xplorers
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 8 49.5 2-t 60.3
Scoring Defense 20 59 1 30.7
Total Offense 1 338.5 5 300
Total Defense 20 323.5 9 239
Pass Offense 1 303.5 8 270
Pass Defense 22 307 8 212.3
Rushing Offense 3 35 4 30
Rushing Defense 12 16.5 21 26.7
Scoring (Non-Kick) 12 15 td 1-t 26 TD
Scoring (Kicking) 19 7 1 23
Pass Rating 3 125.4 2 133.0
Pass Def. Rating 22 127.1 4 76.2
Kickoff Returns 14 17.4 8 18.8
MFG Returns 16 0 2 32.3
Turnover Margin 12 +0 3 +3
Field Goals 15 0 15-t 0
PAT Kicking 21 .583 4 .885
Sacks By 15 1 4-t 6
Sacks Against 6 2 6-t 2
First Downs 11 44 4 58
Opp. First Downs 10 39 12 42
Penalties 17 67.5 16 61.3
Opp. Penalties 8 61 2 81
MILESTONES:
OS Magic Benton - has scored 630 career points 5th all-time, needs 13 more to move to #4
Has 102 Career TD receptions 4th all-time, needs 2 more to move up to #3
Has 377 career receptions #3 all-time, needs 6 to pass former teammate Cainon Lamb into #2 and needs just 25 more to become #1
Has 4728 yards gained #2 all-time, needs just 102 yards to become #1 all-time
OL/DL Comone Fisher - has 10 sacks with the Firecats, he needs just one more to become the teams all time sack leader.
DROPBACK: The Firecats got their 1st win of the season last week 53-40 over the Macon Knights. Chris Wallace continued his solid play throwing for 344 yards and 6 TD's. FB/LB Clenton Crossley followed up his af2 debut with another 8 yr per carry average to lead the league and the defense got back to typical Firecat form coming up with 6 defensive stops and forcing 4 turnovers.
FORWARD MOTION: The Firecats will head out on the road next week to tackle the Bossier City Battle Wings, one of only two teams to defeat the Firecats in the regular season last year.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Chris Wallace vs. Brian Jones: The two top rated quarterbacks look to put on a show in what should be a high-scoring fast paced game.
DS Quincy Sorrel: Quincy will be the key to slowing down the Memphis offense. Last week he had 9 tackles and a pick from his corner position. Last week he was named defensive player of the game.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
3 Macon Chris Wallace
IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
3 Mac Quincy Sorrel
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