Florida Firecats game notes

May 16, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (5-1,4-1) @
Manchester Wolves (2-4, 2-3)
Date: Saturday, May 120, 2006
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: Verizon Wireless Arena (9,650)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Referee
Officials: Referee: Reggie Smith
Umpire: Jeffery Akers
Head Linesman: Rich Santilli
Line Judge: Ryan Flynn
Back Judge: Bryan Platt
Radio: WGUF 98.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record: 1-1
Last Meeting: Florida 29, Manchester 52 6/18/2005
Streaks: Florida: W5 - Manchester: L3
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (19-3, .863) Second Season
Ben Bennet (33-21, .611) Fourth Season

THE STAKES: With WB Scranton losing last week, the Firecats are now the hottest team in the league winning 5 in a row.

THE SERIES: The teams have played each other twice, with the road teams winning each game in 2005.

THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Birmingham, it would ...
- Give Florida a 6-1 record for 2006
- Give Florida a six game winning streak
- Give Kevin Bouis his 20th win in the league
- Extend Manchester's losing streak to 4
- Give Coach Bouis a 2-1 advantage against Ben Bennett
- Give the Firecats a 2-0 record in Manchester

Florida (5-1; 4-1; WON 5)
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 W 62-44
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


Manchester Wolves (2-4, 2-3; LOSS 3)
Date Opponent W/L Score
4/7 Green Bay 7:30 L 48-34
4/14 @ Louisville 7:30 W 39-34
4/22 Albany 7:30 W 45-59
4/29 WB Scranton 7:30 L 62-47
5/6 @ Memphis 8:00 L 52-58
5/13 @ Albany 7:00 L 61-63
5/20 Florida 7:30
5/27 @ WB Scranton 7:00
6/3 Tulsa 7:30
6/10 @ Quad City 8:15
6/17 @ Tulsa 8:00
6/23 Louisville 7:30
7/7 @ Green Bay 8:30
7/14 WB Scranton 7:30
7/22 @ Albany 7:00
7/28 Quad City 7:30


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.

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.
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.

LAST SERIES MEETING: 6/18/05 Both teams entered the game at 9-1. Manchester scored on 9-11 drives, while Florida turned the ball over 4 times in a 52-29 Wolves win. 6,034 were on hand as Florida posted their worst loss in franchise history, until this years opener at Memphis where Florida took a 78-46 loss.

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 258.7 pg
Chris Wallace 2 Tot. Off. TD's 40
Magic Benton 1 Scoring 22 pg
Chris Wallace 8 Tot. Off. Yards 1552 yds
Magic Benton 1 Scoring TD's 21
Clent Crossley 1 Rushing 24.3 pg
Clent Crossley 3 Rushing TD's 7
Clent Crossley 1 Rush yards 146
Chris Wallace 9 Pass comp. % 62.3
Chris Wallace 2 Passing TD's 38
Magic Benton 4 Recepts/game 8.5 pg
Magic Benton 2 Recept yards 693 tot
Magic Benton 3 Receptions 51
Quincy Sorrell 5 Tackles 6.6 pg
Cory Bailey 7 Tackles 6.3 pg
Comone Fisher 5 Sacks 4 tot
Cory Bailey 4 Fumles Forced .5 pg

Wolves
Player Rank Category Stat
Steve Gonzalez 2 Scoring 19.7 pg
Steve Gonzalez 1 All Purpose 182 ypg
Steve Gonzalez 2 Scoring TD's 19
Demetri Forney 3 Yards per Rush 4.8 ypr
Steve Gonzalez 1 Recepts/game 9.5 pg
Steve Gonzalez 7 Recept yards 605
Steve Gonzalez 1 Receptions 57
Steve Gonzalez 4 Kick ret. Yards 483
Alli Sebastien 5 Interception ret. 3-15 yds
Alli Sebastien 3 Passes Def 17

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Wolves stack up:
Statistical Wolves Firecats
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 10 48.7 1 57.3 pg
Scoring Defense 19 51.7 pg 11 46.7 pg
Total Offense 7 277 pg 6 280.7 pg
Total Defense 17 267.7 pg 11 256.7 pg
Pass Offense 6 254.5 pg 8 252.5 pg
Pass Defense 16 247.8 pg 13 237.5 pg
Rushing Offense 8 22.5 pg 3 28.2 pg
Rushing Defense 10 19.8 pg 8 19.2 pg
Scoring (kicking) 23 18 tot 17 28 tot
Pass Rating 9 114.1 8 114.3
Pass Def. Rating 9 97.0 13 99.1
Kickoff returns 15 16.5 pg 3 20.3 pg
MFG Returns 20 0.0 20 0.0
Turnover Margin 11 +0 3 +7
Field Goals 21 .000 21 .000
PAT Kicking 23 .545 16 .683
Sacks By 18 5 14 6
Sacks Against 1 1 5 5
First Downs 3 132 6 119
Opp. First Downs 21 122 6 104
Penalties 4 48.8 pg 18 66.0 pg
Opp. Penalties 6 67.0 pg 4 72.0 pg

MILESTONES: Magic Benton became the af2's all-time leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns last week at home against Birmingham. He was already the all-time leader in reception yards.

Quincy Sorrell is fast approaching the leagues all-time leader in career tackles. Quincy finished the 2005 season with 287.5 tackles. In six games this year, he has totaled 39.5 tackles, putting him 7.5 tackles shy of former Firecat Roy Stabler's mark of 334.5.

DROPBACK: Florida won it's second home game last week in front of 5,400 fans. The win propelled them into the top spot in the American South division.

FORWARD MOTION: The Firecats, playing 5 of their first 7 games on the road, will finally end their hectic first half schedule spending the next 4 weeks at home.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Magic Benton vs Steve Gonzalez: Both wide outs are 1-2 in nearly every receiving statistic this year, including scoring, touchdowns and receptions.

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
7 Birmingham Magic Benton

IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
6 TennValley Brittney Tellis
7 Birmingham 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
7 Birmingham Cory Bailey

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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