Florida Firecats game notes
April 4, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Florida Firecats (1-0, 0-0) @
Texas Copperheads (0-0, 0-0)
Date: Friday April 6th 2007
Kickoff: 8 p.m. EST
Site: Berry Center (8,231)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss: Referee
Officials:
Referee: Mike Defee
Umpire: Eric Griffin
Head Linesman: Otis Cliatt
Line Judge: Keith Garmond
Back Judge: Joe Machol
Internet: www.FloridaFirecats.com, www.ABC-7.com & www.NBC-2.com
TV: None
Series Record: 1st Ever Meeting
Last Meeting:
Streaks:
Coaches: Kevin Bouis (28-5) 3rd Season
Bryan Blake (0-0) 1st Season
THE STAKES: The Firecats are looking to pickup their 2nd win in 2007 against a National Conference opponent.
THE SERIES: this will be the 1st match up between the Firecats and Copperheads. Florida has never traveled to Texas for a game.
THE IFs:
If Florida defeats Texas, it would ...
- Give Florida its' 2nd National Conference Win.
- Give the Firecats their 1st win over the Copperheads.
- Improve the Firecats record to 2-0.
Florida Firecats (1-0, 0-0; WON 1)
Date Opponent Result Score
3/31 Oklahoma City 7:30 WIN 55-22
4/06 @ Texas 8:00
4/13 @ Tennessee 8:30
4/21 WB Scranton 7:30
4/28 Tennessee 7:30
5/05 @ Albany 4:00
5/12 @ South Georgia 7:30
5/19 Mahoney Valley 7:30
6/02 Alabama 7:30
6/09 @ Tennessee 8:30
6/16 Manchester 7:30
6/23 Albany 7:30
6/30 @ Oklahoma City 8:00
7/07 South Georgia 7:30
7/14 @ Alabama 8:00
7/28 @ Manchester 7:00
Texas Copperheads (0-0, 0-0; WON -)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/6 Florida 8:00
4/14 @ Bossier-Shreveport 8:00
4/21 Corpus Christi 8:00
4/29 @ Lubbock 4:00
5/3 Alabama 8:00
5/13 Laredo 4:00
5/19 Corpus Christi 8:00
5/26 @ Tri-City 8:00
6/02 Bossier-Shreveport 8:00
6/09 @ Rio Grande 8:30
6/16 @ Laredo 8:00
6/30 Lubbock 8:00
7/7 @ Corpus Christi 8:00
7/14 @ South Georgia 7:30
7/21 Tulsa 8:00
7/28 Rio Grande 8:00
HEAD COACH:
Kevin Bouis is set to begin his 3rd year as head coach and 6th year overall with the Florida Firecats. In his 1st 2 seasons at the helm he guided the team to a 27-5 regular season record going 13-3 in 2006 & 14-2 in 2005 (the af2's best record that year). Last year the Firecats captured their 3rd straight South Divisional Championship. 2006 also marked the 2nd straight season that Florida had home field advantage in the playoffs. 2006 also saw the Firecats play in their 3rd straight American Conference Championship game. As the defensive coordinator, Bouis helped coach the Firecats 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 1st 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".
LAST SERIES MEETING: This is the 1st meeting between the Firecats and Copperheads.
Firecats with Texas Ties:
#96 OL/DL Comone Fisher: Fisher is a Houston native playing in his 1st af2 game in his home state. A tight end, Fisher attended St. Pius X High School and played his college ball at Old Miss.
#56 OL Raymond James: James played for Thomas Jefferson High School in Port Arthur Texas. He then played collegiality at Texas A&M Kingsville. James spent the 2004 season with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados before joining the Firecats in 2005. James makes his off season home in South Texas.
LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match up who ranked among af2's statistical leaders:
Firecats
Player Rank Category Stat
Chris Wallace 5 Passing Yards 268 yds.
Andy Eminger 6 Scoring (kick) 7 pts.
Levy Brown T1 Interceptions 2
Chris Wallace 2 Pass Rating 140.5
Ethnic Sands T1 Scoring (TD) 4
Tony Stubbs
Levi Brown T1 INT/game 2
Ethenic Sands T1 Scoring 24
Quincy Sorrel T7 Tackles 8
Levi Brown T5 Tackles 9
Copperheads
Player Rank Category Stat
TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Firecats and Copperheads stack up:
Statistical Copperheads Firecats
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 4 55
Scoring Defense 2 22
Total Offense 8 261
Total Defense 8 213
Pass Offense 6 251
Pass Defense 7 187
Rushing Offense 12 10
Rushing Defense 11 26
Scoring (kicking) 5 7
Pass Rating 2 140.5
Pass Def. Rating 1 32.3
Kickoff returns 12 13.3
MFG Returns 6 16
Turnover Margin 2 4
Field Goals
PAT Kicking 2 .875
Sacks By
Sacks Against 12 1
First Downs T6 16
Opp. First Downs 5 16
Penalties 4 30
Opp. Penalties 10 50
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
SOUTH DIVISION
Florida 1-0 (0-0)
Alabama 1-0 (0-0)
South Georgia 1-0 (0-0)
Tennessee Valley 0-1 (0-1)
SOUTHWEST DIVISION
Bossier-Shreveport 0-0 (0-0)
Corpus Christi 0-0 (0-0)
Laredo 0-1 (0-0)
Rio Grande Valley 0-0 (0-0)
Texas 0-0 (0-0)
CENTRAL DIVISION
Tulsa 1-0 (0-0)
Amarillo 0-0 (0-0)
Lubbock 0-0 (0-0)
Oklahoma City 0-1 (0-0)
Arkansas 0-1 (0-0)
SCHUTT OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 OKC Ethenic Sands - FLA
U.S. ARMY IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 OKC Brent Burnside - FLA
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 OKC Levy Brown - FLA
CUTTERS CATCH OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 OKC Magic Benton - FLA
Drop Back: 6,537 fans were on hand to watch the Florida Firecats begin the 2007 season at home with a convincing 55-22 win over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.
The Firecats defense set the tone early as US Army Ironman of the Game Brent Burnside came up with an interception on the Dawgz opening drive. Oklahoma however would take the early 2-0 lead sacking QB Chris Wallace for a safety just seconds later.
Florida got in it's groove on the next two possessions taking a 14-2 lead with 4 minutes to go in the 1st quarter. The teams would trade scores to start the 2nd as the Yard Dawgs were able to pull within 5, trailing 21-16 with just 5 minutes to go until halftime.
Chris Wallace then hooked up with Magic Benton, who would later be awarded with the Cutters Catch of the Game, and the Schutt Offensive Player of the Game Ethenic Sands to take a commanding 42-16 lead late in the 3rd quarter.
QB Jared Romo came into replace starter Stan Hill to try and spark some offense for the Dawgz. Both QB's had 1 yard touchdown runs in the game but coupled with just one other touchdown and simply couldn't keep up with the Firecats high powered offense. The duo combined to complete 22 of 41 attempts for 187 yards, but also threw 5 interceptions and went 0 for 9 on 3rd downs.
Wallace threw 2 more TD's in the 4th finishing the night with 8, going 21 of 29 for 268 yards.
ADT Defensive Player of the Game Levy Brown, who came up big and had 2 interceptions and almost caught a 3rd, had to share some of the spotlight with rookie Tony Stubbs who picked off a pair of errant passes in the 4th quarter. Brown also led the game with 9 tackles while linebacker Alfred Peterson wreaked havoc on 4th down blocking a pair of field goal attempts.
Florida heads out on the road next week to take on the Texas Copperheads while the Yard Dawgz also travel to the lone star state to battle the Corpus Christi Sharks.
Look Ahead: Next week the Firecats travel to Huntsville Alabama to play their 1st divisional game of 2007 against the Tennessee Valley Vipers.
Firecats QB Wallace Named the af2 Schutt Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1
Florida Firecats veteran Quarterback Chris Wallace picked up where he left off last season by throwing eight touchdowns in the 'Cats 55-22 win over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawg; an effort that has earned him league wide recognition as the Schutt Offensive Player of the Week
In 2006 Wallace became the 1st player in af2 history to throw 100 TD's in a season. On Saturday threw scores to 4 different receivers including 4 touchdowns to Ethenic Sands. Wallace finished the night with a 154.09 passer rating completing 21 of 29 attempts for 268 yards and no interceptions.
This is Wallace's third weekly af2 award of his career, but his first since the 2000 season when he played for the now defunct Carolina Rhinos. He has thrown for 12,187 yards and 283 touchdowns in 61 regular season games in the deuce.
Florida Firecats Retain Top Spot in Week 2 Poll
The Florida Firecats received 435 points and 19 first place votes to remain in first place in the Week 2 Coaches Poll, the arenafootball2 (af2) league office announced today. The high-powered Firecats defeated the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz at home this past weekend, 55-22, to solidify their claim to the top spot for the second straight week.
The Spokane Shock topped the Stockton Lightning, 51-35, in Week 1 to remain in second place. The Quad City Steamwheelers vaulted into the third spot after a convincing road win against the Cincinnati Jungle Kats, 81-21. The Tulsa Talons slipped one spot to fourth despite their strong, 61-30, Week 1 home win against Everett. W-B/Scranton moved up from No. 6 to No. 5 after its home win against preseason No. 4 Manchester.
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