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Florida Firecats game notes

June 20, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (8-2, 7-1) @
Birmingham Steeldogs (6-5, 4-2)
Date: Saturday, June 24, 2006
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. EST
Site: Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (16,000)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Referee
Officials:
Referee: Todd Dunaway
Umpire: Tyrone Blanks
Head Linesman: Lark Jones
Line Judge: Chris Jamison
Back Judge: Brad Freeman
Radio: WGUF 98.9FM (Dave Parks)
TV: None
Series Record: 5-3 Florida
Last Meeting: Florida 62, Birmingham 44 05/13/06
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: With Memphis losing last week, Florida sits atop the American South division alone. The Cats need a win against Birmingham to remain in the division lead.

THE SERIES: Florida holds the upper hand with a 5-3 record, winning the last 4 in a row.

THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Birmingham, it would ...
- Give Florida a 9-2 record for 2006
- Give Florida a four game winning streak
- Give Florida an 8-1 record in the South Division
- Give Coach Bouis his 23rd victory in the af2
- Drop Birmingham to a .500 overall record

Florida Firecats (8-2; 7-1; 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 W 76-37
5/13 Birmingham 8:00 W 44-62
5/20 @ Manchester 7:30 L 62-79
5/27 South Georgia 7:30 W 28-64
6/3 Tennessee Valley 7:30 W 33-74
6/17 Macon 7:30 W 54-66
Date Opponent Record Score
6/24 @ Birmingham 8:00 6-5
7/1 Green Bay 7:30 6-5
7/8 @ W.B. / Scranton 7:00 8-3
7/15 Albany 7:30 5-6
7/22 Louisville 7:30 6-5
8/29 @ South Georgia 7:30 1-10


Birmingham Steeldogs (6-5; 4-2; 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 L 44-62
5/20 @ Tennessee Valley 8:30 L 17-21
5/27 Macon 8:00 W 30-71
6/3 @ Everett 10:30 L 31-40
6/10 South Georgia 8:00 W 35-42
6/17 @ Memphis 8:00 W 43-42
Date Opponent Record Score
6/24 Florida 8:00 8-2
7/8 @ Rio Grande 8:30 5-6
7/15 @ Macon 7:30 4-7
7/22 Memphis 8:00 8-3
7/29 Tennessee Valley 8:00 2-9

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:
Firecats OS Magic Benton, en route to becoming the most prolific receiver in af2 history, helped lead the Firecats to their 5th straight win, 62-44, over the Birmingham Steeldogs in front of 5,492 fans at Germain Arena.

With 14:11 remaining in the 1st half Magic caught his 2nd TD of the night moving past Mitch Allner for 1st place all-time with his 114th career score. Magic finished the night with 11 receptions for 133 yards and 5 scores (117) also becoming the af2's all time receptions leader with 406. Magic was awarded the Schutt offensive player of the game.

Steeldogs QB Ryan Hawk finished the night 27 of 46 for 262 yards and 5 TD's. Mareno Philyaw and Lawrence Story each caught 2 TD's and Kerry Wright led the 'Dogs with 11 catches for 79 yards and a score.

Firecats QB Chris Wallace lit up the scoreboard throwing for 7 touchdowns while completing 18 of 29 for 254 yards. US Army Ironman of the game Brittney Tellis caught 3 passes for 77 yards and 1 TD and also returned the final kick of the 1st half for a touchdown, giving Florida a 42-35 halftime lead.

Cory Bailey completed the Firecats sweep of the game awards racking up 7.0 tackles and earning the ADT Defensive Player of the game.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match up who rank among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Chris Wallace 5 Total Offense 261.8 ypg
Chris Wallace 6 Tot. Offense TD 65
Magic Benton 4 Scoring 18.2 ppg
Chris Wallace 10 Tot. Offense yds 2618
Magic Benton 4 Scoring (TD's) 29
Clent Crossley 1 Rushing 23.7 ypg
Clent Crossley 3 Rushing TD's 13
Chris Morant 6 Yards per rush 4.3 ypr
Clent Crossley 8 Yards per rush 4.0 ypr
Clent Crossley 1 Rush yards 237 yds
Chris Wallace 19 Pass comp. Pct 61.8 %
Chris Wallace 6 Passing TD's 62
Chris Wallace 7 Pass Efficiency 113.5
Chris Wallace 8 Pass Interceptions 10
Magic Benton 6 Reception yds 1073
Brittney Tellis 5 Yards per catch 17.5 ypc
Brandon Kornblue T7 PAT attempts 71
Brittney Tellis 9 Kick ret. Avg 21.3 ypr
Levy Brown 10 Interceptions 4
Quincy Sorrel 6 Tackles 6.7 tpg
Cory Bailey 9 Tackles 6.3 tpg

Steeldogs
Player Rank Category Stat
Ryan Hawk T9 Tot. Off. Plays 366
Kerry Wright 6 All Purpose 162.6 ypg
Terrel Browden 8 Rush Yards 115 yds
Theo Sanders 9 Rush Yards 114 yds
Kerry Wright 8 Yards per catch 15.3 ypc
Kerry Wright 4 Recepts yds/game 11.7 ypg
Alex Walls 2 Field Goals .82 fg/pg
Alex Walls 4 FG attempts 23
Alex Walls 5 FG pct. 39.1 %
Alex Walls 2 FG made 9
Kerry Wright 10 MFG Return yds 63 yds
Bobby Keyes 4 Interceptions 7
Kerry Wright 7 MFG returns 4

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Vipers stack up:
Statistical Steeldogs Firecats
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 16 43.2 ppg 1 61.0 ppg
Scoring Defense 3 42.4 ppg 11 47.4 ppg
Total Offense 10 270.7 ypg 5 286.0 ypg
Total Defense 5 242.0 ypg 9 254.0 ypg
Pass Offense 13 238.9 ypg 8 255.7 ypg
Pass Defense 4 222.8 ypg 8 232.7 ypg
Rushing Offense 3 31.8 ypg 4 30.3 ypg
Rushing Defense 7 19.2 ypg 12 21.3 ypg
Scoring (kicking) T9 6.3 ppg 19 5.4 ppg
Pass Rating 16 92.4 6 112.7
Pass Def. Rating 8 96.3 7 94.6
Kickoff returns 23 12.5 ypg 7 18.7 ypg
MFG Returns 18 11.4 ypg 23 0.0 ypg
Turnover Margin 4 +1.00 2 +1.10
Field Goals 6 .391 5 .400
PAT Kicking 14 .737 21 .676
Sacks By T8 17 T17 11
Sacks Against 9 12 T4 7
First Downs 12 192 18 187
Opp. First Downs 6 176 3 172
Penalties 11 53.4 ypg 18 66.8 ypg
Opp. Penalties 12 56.5 ypg 8 59.6 ypg

MILESTONES: OS Magic Benton - the af2's current top receiver in yards, receptions and TD receptions has found the endzone 127 times in his career, which leaves him 1 shy of current Arkansas Twisters receiver Kevin Williams' all-time mark of 128. Magic has also scored 772 career points and trails Williams' record of 784 by just 12.

DROPBACK: 5,007 were on hand at Germain Arena to see the Florida Firecats beat the Macon Knights 66-54 in a game that wasn't decided until late into the 4th qtr.

Ethenic Sands, the Ironman winner, scored on the opening possession on a fumble recovery. The Knights kept pace with Florida throughout the game with a huge game by McCollister, who caught 14 balls for 197 yards and 3 TD's.

Cory Bailey once again led the defense in tackles with 9.5 tackles and an INT. He was named the ADT defensive player of the game.

FORWARD MOTION: The Firecats return home next week to host the Green Bay Blizzard, and follow it up with a road contest against the East Division leading Wilke/Barre Scranton Pioneers. Of the 5 remaining games on Florida schedule 4 come from the East division (Lou & Albany).

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Firecats Offense vs. Steeldogs Defense: The 'Cats top ranked offense will put it's 60+ pts a game average against the leagues 3rd stingiest defense with the 'Dogs surrendering just over 42 pts a game.

Firecats Secondary against Steeldogs Receivers: In their last meeting QB Ryan Hawk threw for 262 yards and 5 TD's. Rookie WR's Marino Philyaw and Lawrence Story (6'3" & 6'5" respectively) each caught a pair of scores and make for large targets against a Firecats secondary that averages just about 6' but features 2 of the leagues top 10 tacklers in Bailey and Sorrell.

'Cats and 'Dogs Ground Game: The game features Birmingham's 3rd ranked ground attack (31.8 yards per game) against Florida's 4th ranked running game (30.3 per game). The last time these teams played however they combined for just 29 rushing yards.

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
9 So. Georgia Chris Wallace
10 Tenn. Valley Chris Wallace


IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
6 TennValley Brittney Tellis
7 Birmingham Brittney Tellis
9 So. Georgia Clenton Crossley
10 Tenn. Valley Comone Fisher
12 Macon Ethenic Sands

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
3 Macon Quincy Sorrell
5 Bos-Shv Ethenic Sands (co-player)
6 TennValley Levy Brown
7 Birmingham Cory Bailey
9 So. Georgia Quincy Sorrell
10 Tenn. Valley Cory Bailey
12 Macon Cory Bailey

Cutters Catch of the Game Award
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
5 Bos-Shv Ethenic Sands
6 TennValley Magic Benton
9 So. Georgia Brittney Tellis
10 Tenn. Valley Magic Benton
12 Macon Magic Benton

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