Florida Firecats game notes
May 9, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Birmingham Steeldogs (3-2, 1-0) @
Florida Firecats (4-1,3-1)
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. EST
Site: Germain Arena (7,128)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Referee
Officials:
Referee: Matt Austin
Umpire: Conrad Carney
Head Linesman: Folayan Kindred
Line Judge: Tommy Walsh
Back Judge: Todd Ransom
Radio: WGUF 98.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record: 4-3
Last Meeting: Florida 28, Birmingham 27 7/30/05
Streaks: Florida is riding a 4-game winning streak.
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (18-3) Second Season
Ron Selesky (22-15) Third Season (2001-2002)
THE STAKES: 2nd place within the South Division is on the line. The Firecats need a win to keep pace with Memphis (5-1) while the Steeldogs are looking to pull even with the 'Cats in the standings.
THE SERIES: Florida holds the upper hand with 4 wins to the Steeldogs 3. Florida has won 4 of the last 5 games.
THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Birmingham, it would ...
- Give Florida a 5-1 record for 2006
- Give Florida a five game winning streak
- Give Florida a 2-0 record at home
- Give Florida a 4-1 divisional record
- Give Birmingham their first divisional loss
Florida (4-1; 3-1; WON 4)
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 W 76-37
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
Birmingham (3-2; 1-0; Won 2)
Date Opponent W/L Score
4/8 Everett 8:00 W 41-36
4/14 Rio Grande 8:00 L 43-44
4/21 @ Louisville 7:30 L 40-62
4/29 @ South Georgia 7:30 W 40-34
5/5 Louisville 8:00 W 63-60
5/13 @ Florida 8:00
5/20 @ Tennessee Valley 8:30
5/27 Macon 8:00
6/3 @ Everett 10:30
6/10 South Georgia 8:00
6/17 @ Memphis 8:00
6/24 Florida 8:00
7/8 @ Rio Grande 8:30
7/15 @ Macon 7:30
7/22 Memphis 8:00
7/29 Tennessee Valley 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: 7/30/05. In front of series record attendance of 5,834, Florida edged Birmingham in a 28-27 thriller. Florida holds the series lead at 4-3, winning four of the last five.
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match up who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Chris Wallace 8 Total Offense 259.6 pg
Chris Wallace 5 Tot. Offense TD 33
Magic Benton 1 Scoring 20 ppg
Chris Wallace 10 Tot. Offense yds 1298
Magic Benton 1 Scoring (TD's) 16
Clent Crossley 1 Rushing 26.2 ypg
Clent Crossley 3 Rushing TD's 7
Clent Crossley 1 Rush yards 131 yds
Chris Wallace 4 Passing TD's 31
Chris Wallace 8 Pass Efficiency 115.3
Magic Benton 4 Reception yds 560
Cory Bailey 9 Tackles 6.2 tpg
Comone Fisher 5 Sacks 4
Cory Bailey 6 Fumbles Forced 3
Quincy Sorrell 10 Pass. Defended 10
Steeldogs
Player Rank Category Stat
Ryan Hawk 5 Total Offense 263 ypg
Kerry Wright 5 Scoring 15.6
Robert Kent 1 Off. Avg/play 11.2 ypp
Ryan Hawk 7 Tot. Offense yds 1315
Kerry Wright 2 All Purpose yds 922
Kerry Wright 5 Scoring (TD's) 13
Theo Sanders 10 Rushing 12.6 ypg
Terrel Browden 4 Rush yards 67
Ryan Hawk 8 Passing Yards 1303
Kerry Wright 2 Yards per catch 18.3
Kerry Wright 6 Reception TD's 12
Kerry Wright 2 Reception yards 605
Alex Walls 5 FG attempted 7
Kerry Wright 5 Kick Returns 19
Jord Brumbaugh 8 Tackles for loss 4
Eric Thomas 3 Fumbles Rcvd .5 pg
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Vipers stack up:
Statistical Steeldogs Firecats
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 15 45.4 pg 3 56.4 pg
Scoring Defense T9 47.2 pg T9 47.2 pg
Total Offense 3 306.8 pg 8 292.2 pg
Total Defense 10 260.8 pg 9 253.6 pg
Pass Offense 5 273.4 pg 11 252.2 pg
Pass Defense 9 233.6 pg 8 232.6 pg
Rushing Offense 3 33.4 pg 5 30.0 pg
Rushing Defense 18 27.2 pg 15 21.0 pg
Scoring (kicking) 18 23 pts 19 22 pts
Pass Rating 11 95.7 6 114.1
Pass Def. Rating 9 94.2 14 98.4
Kickoff returns 21 12.5 pg 12 18.8 pg
MFG Returns 12 2 21 0
Turnover Margin 4 +4 3 +6
Field Goals 12 .286 20 .000
PAT Kicking 15 .680 19 .667
Sacks By 10 7 13 6
Sacks Against 7 5 7 5
First Downs 12 89 7 102
Opp. First Downs 13 91 3 83
Penalties 7 50.6 pg 8 53.0 pg
Opp. Penalties 22 43.8 pg 8 64.2 pg
MILESTONES: Magic Benton needs just 6 catches and 2 touchdowns to be the leagues top receiver in career td's, receptions and yards.
DROPBACK: Last week Florida racked up 73 points on the road against Tennessee. The 37-point loss marked the greatest loss in Viper history. The Firecats capitalized on a franchise record setting 6 turnovers by the Vipers.
FORWARD MOTION: Four of the next five games are against divisional opponents.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Magic Benton: With every catch Magic makes, he inches his way closer to the top spot in the af2 record books in the following categories: scoring, touchdowns, receptions and yards gained.
Cory Bailey: The former Florida Gator is making his name known in his first year in the league. Last week he totaled 7.5 tackles, 2 pass breakups, 1 forced fumble and 1 recovery. He also leads the team in tackles with 31.
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
6 TennValley Magic Benton
IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
6 TennValley Brittney Tellis
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
3 Macon Quincy Sorrel
5 Bos-Shv Ethenic Sands (co-player)
6 TennValley Levy Brown
Cutters Catch of the Game Award
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
5 Bos-Shv Ethenic Sands
6 TennValley Magic Benton
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