Florida Firecats game notes
May 2, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (3-1- 2-1) @
Tennessee Valley Vipers (1-4, 1-3)
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2006
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. EST
Site: Von Braun Center, Huntsville
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Referee
Officials:
Referee: Rusty Wynn
Umpire: Chris Hughes
Head Linesman: Rod Holloway
Line Judge: Mike Shirey
Back Judge: Rod Skelton
Radio: WGUF 98.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record:
Last Meeting:
Streaks: Florida is riding a 3-game winning streak.
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (17-3) Second Season
THE STAKES: The Firecats need to pick up a win against the Vipers to keep pace with Memphis within the South Division. The Xplorers have already defeated the Vipers twice this season.
THE SERIES: 2-3 in favor of Tennessee Valley
THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Memphis, it would ...
- Give Florida a 4-1 record for 2006
- Give Florida a four game winning streak
- Give Florida a share of the division lead
- Give Florida 2 straight wins over T-Valley
Florida (3-1; 2-1; WON 3)
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 W 60-55
4/29 @ Bossier-Shreveport 8:00 W 47-26
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
Tennessee Valley (1-4; 1-3; Loss 3)
Date Opponent W/L Score
4/1 Memphis 8:30 L 47-25
4/8 @ South Georgia 7:30 W 58-50
4/15 @ Memphis 8:00 L 21-56
4/22 Macon 8:30 L 58-55
4/29 @ Arkansas 8:00 L 56-62
5/6 Florida 8:30
5/20 Birmingham 8:30
5/27 Louisville 8:30
6/3 @ Florida 7:30
6/10 Bakersfield 8:30
6/17 @Bossier-Shreveport 8:00
6/24 Quad City 8:30
7/8 @ Quad City 8:15
7/15 South Georgia 8:30
7/22 @ Macon 7:30
7/29 @ 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: 8/13/04 2004 Playoffs; Florida and Tennessee Valley met for the 3rd time in '04 in a 2nd round playoff match up in the Snake Pit. While the rest of Southwest Florida was battling hurricane Charley, the Firecats jumped out to a big 1st half lead before the Vipers came storming back. The 'Cats defense came up with a big goal line stop on the final play of the game to propel Florida to a 62-58 win and into the Conference Championship game at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match up who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Chris Wallace 6 Total Offense 281.8
Chris Wallace 6 Total Off. TD's 27
Chris Wallace 5 Passing TD's 25
Chris Wallace 5 Passing avg. 278
Chris Wallace 8 Completions 90
Chris Wallace 10 Off. avg/ play 7.5
Chris Wallace 6 Total off. Yards 1127
Magic Benton 3 Scoring (pts) 76 pts.
Magic Benton 3 Scoring (td's) 12
Magic Benton 8 Receptions 33
Magic Benton 4 Receiving yards 454
Clent Crossley 1 Rushing 22.2 ypg
Clent Crossley 9 Rushing Td's 3
Clent Crossley 1 Rushing yards 89 total
Quincy Sorrel 10 Tackles 25.0
Brittney Tellis 10 Kick return avg 23.5 avg
Vipers
Player Rank Category Stat
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Vipers stack up:
Statistical Vipers Firecats
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 7 51.5
Scoring Defense 25 49.8
Total Offense 5 299.5
Total Defense 15 272
Pass Offense 6 272.5
Pass Defense 16 255.5
Rushing Offense 4 27
Rushing Defense 9 17.5
Scoring (kicking) 21 3.5
Pass Rating 5 117.4
Pass Def. Rating 18 117.6
Kickoff returns 10 19
MFG Returns T17 0.0
Turnover Margin 9 +2
Field Goals T18 0
PAT Kicking 16 ,636
Sacks By 13 4
Sacks Against 9 5
First Downs 6 89
Opp. First Downs 6 70
Penalties 8 28/213
Opp. Penalties 8 41/280
MILESTONES: Firecats OS Magic Benton became the af2's all-time leading receiver in terms of receiving yards last week when he caught a 28-yard pass. The catch moved Benton past James Scott, the Firecat veteran is now the af2's all-time leader with 4,882 career receiving yards
DROPBACK: Led by Ethenic Sands 4 TD receptions and Clenton Crossley's 2 rushing TD's the Firecats avenged their only road loss of 2005 with a 47-26 win over the Bossier City Battlewings.
FORWARD MOTION: The Firecats, having played 4 of their first 5 games on the road, return home next week to face the Birmingham Steeldogs. It will be the Firecats 5th game against a divisional opponent in the first 6 weeks.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Chris Wallace: Wallace has thrown for 25 TD's in just 4 games and is on pace to break the Firecats single season TD passing record (80) he set last season. Wallace currently sits at #3 in league history 252 career TD passes.
OS Magic Benton: Magic had his lowest offensive output of the season last week and still managed to catch 5 passes and 1 TD. He has already caught 12 TD's in just 4 games.
FB/LB Clenton Crossley: In just his 1st year in the af2 Crossley is leading the league in rushing with 91 yards on the ground. In a league not known for rushing the Firecats have found a way to pound the rock consistently year after year.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
3 Macon Chris Wallace
4 Memphis Magic Benton
5 Bos-Shv Ethenic Sands
IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
5 Bos-Shv Ethenic Sands (co-player)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
3 Macon Quincy Sorrel
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