Florida Firecats Prepare For a Big Saturday Knight
Published on June 25, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Florida Firecats News Release
Estero, FL- The Florida Firecats (7-4) look for the season sweep over division rivals, the Macon Knights (2-9), this Saturday at Germain Arena.
"We have to stay strong," Roy Stabler, Firecats' defensive specialist, said. "We must stay within the game plan and go out there and believe in one another."
Stabler is a key member of an aggressive and dependable Firecat secondary. Along with Quincy Sorrell and Desmond Washington, the selfish Firecat secondary has only allowed 193.7 passing yards a game, best in the arenafootball2. Sorrell currently leads the entire af2 with 65.0 tackles. He is 23 tackles away from entering the af2 all-time top ten list for tackles in a season.
The Firecat defense is also best in the league in terms of yardage (211.5/ game) and points allowed (38.3).
In the middle for the Firecats will be Chris Morant, Cainon Lamb, and Steve Gorrie. Morant is currently fifth in the league in tackles for a loss. Starting on the defensive front will be Comone Fisher, Rashieem Reed, and Anthony McKenzie. McKenzie was just assigned to the Firecats today. McKenzie has played with the Firecats during the past two seasons, including the 2002 American Conference championship season.
On the offensive side of the ball, Ken Mastrole will go under center only 52 yards away from breaking former Firecat Bryan Sparacino's single season passing record of 2,428 yards in 2002. Mastrole is also one touchdown short of catching his own single season touchdown record off 55 touchdowns from last season. Mastrole has completed 197 of his 328 pass attempts for 2,377 yards and 54 touchdowns this season.
Heading up the deep receiving corps will be Cainon Lamb and Magic Benton, who are both on pace to surpass 1,000 receiving yards. Lamb has caught 74 balls for 758 yards and 20 touchdowns. He has also ran in a score and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. Benton, who is in the midst of his best of four seasons with the Firecats, has caught 61 passes for 872 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has also returned a pick for a touchdown. The able hands of Anthony Snead have pulled in an additional 27 catches for 429 yards and 11 scores. With Brent Burnside sidelined with an injury, Miami alumnus Ethenic Sands will make his arena football debut on Saturday.
The starting fullback for the Firecats will be the af2 leader, Steve Gorrie. Gorrie has already amassed an inconceivable 354 yards in only 11 games, best in the af2 and the sixth best single season performance in league history. Gorrie has hit paydirt ten times this season as well. Sharing the responsibilities with Gorrie will be Chris Morant, who is also in the af2 top ten with 137 yards on the ground to go with his six scores. Starting up front will be Comone Fisher, Joe Fantigrassi, and Brian Devine. The Firecats offensive line has only allowed three sacks all season, best in the league.
Handling the kicking duties will be Brandon Kornblue, who was redeclared the Firecat place kicker this past week. Holding will be the versatile Cainon Lamb. The return men for the Firecats will be Lamb and Magic Benton.
Some seats still remain for tomorrow's crucial match up against the defending American Conference champions. Call the Firecats' office now at (239) 390-2287. When the sun sets in southwest Florida, the Firecats will be bringing the heat in Germain Arena.
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