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Frankfurt Galaxy Game Notes

May 27, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Frankfurt Galaxy News Release


It is only appropriate that in a game with everything on the line, the Frankfurt Galaxy should meet the opponent who has stood in its path so many times in the past. The Galaxy play host to arch-rival Rhein Fire on Sunday, June 1 in a game that could decide at least half of the World Bowl XI picture. Frankfurt could lock in its bowl invitation with a win over the Fire, but the going will not be easy. Rhein has history on its side in this matchup. The Fire have won the past seven meetings between the two bitter enemies, including a 14-7 encounter in Dusseldorf just over one month ago.

Frankfurt and Rhein each posted victories in Week Eight, setting up the dramatic meeting in Waldstadion. Both teams sit at 5-3 and each can guarantee a World Bowl bid by taking at least one of its final two games. The road is fiercely contested, however. Rhein's final game comes against the F.C. Barcelona Dragons, who will be fighting savagely to maintain their own World Bowl dreams. The Galaxy face a dangerous Berlin squad in its season finale.

LAST WEEK'S GALAXY ACTION

Frankfurt presented its fans with an almost perfect game last weekend against the F.C. Barcelona Dragons. Behind an awe-inspiring offense performance and shut-down defense, the Galaxy rolled to a 47-13 thrashing of the top team in the league. The 47 points is the second highest offensive production total in team history. QB-Quinn Gray picked apart the Dragons defense, tossing two touchdown passes to WR-Robert Baker and one to WR-Marc Lester. The running game was overwhelming, as Frankfurt claimed 244 yards on the ground behind the elusiveness of Robert Gillespie (15 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD) and the power running of Adam Tate (12 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD). The Galaxy finished with a season-high 500 offensive yards. The defense allowed only 53 yards rushing and were relentless against the pass, with SS-Rashidi Barnes picking off his league-leading fourth interception of the season.

MEET THE OFFENSE

The Galaxy offensive unit is headed by offensive coordinator Dwain Painter. In his third year with the team, Painter has established one of the most balanced offensive philosophies in NFL Europe. The Galaxy regularly employ two-back formations, a rarity in the league. But Painter will also utilize three and four wide receivers in his formations, giving quarterbacks James Brown and Quinn Gray (NFL/Jaguars) ample targets down the field. Brown and Gray have alternated under center most of the season, a trend which will continue against Rhein. Joining them in the backfield are Jonas Lewis and Corey McIntyre (NFL/Eagles). Lewis has tied a club record with 6 rushing touchdowns on the season, and is third in the league with 566 rushing yards. The receiving corps. consists of Robert Baker (NFL/Dolphins), Marc Lester (NFL/Ravens) and Galaxy veterans Brian McDonald and Marc Soumah. Lester leads all receivers with 5 touchdowns. Josh Whitman has 1 touchdown on the season and is a proven clutch player. A stout front line, consists of David Pruce, Kendrick Rogers (NFL/Cardinals), Michael "Mookie" Moore (NFL/Broncos), Corey Mitchell and Joe Jackson.

MEET THE DEFENSE

The defense has officially earned its reputation as a unit to fear. Frankfurt is currently second in the league in total defense, No. 1 against the run and No. 1 in interceptions. Defensive coordinator Bob Valesente has brought in players who live to create chaos for offenses. An active front four includes Joey Evans (NFL/Seahawks), Luis Almanzar (NFL/Seahawks), Buck Gurley (NFL/Buccaneers) and John Schlecht. Evans is currently third in the league with 6 sacks and earned Week One Defensive Player of the Week honors. The linebacking unit consists of Idris Price (NFL/Buccaneers), Fred Jones and Dustin Cohen. The defensive backfield has its share of playmakers, with the oustanding safety tandem of Rashidi Barnes and Calvin Spears. Jeremy Unertl (NFL/Packers) and Chris Cummings man the corner positions. Barnes is currently No. 1 in NFL Europe with 4 interceptions. Spears is second with 3 thefts.

FLASHBACK: MAY 3, 2002

Little has changed since the Galaxy and Fire first met this season, May 3 in the Aufschalke Arena. Rhein held the top defense in the league. Frankfurt stood at No. 2. Rhein's offensive philosophy centered around RBAutry Denson and the Galaxy were determined to shut him down with the leagues best run defense. The same themes are present in the re-match. Although Rhein took the first game 14-7, it was in many ways a dominating performance by the Galaxy. Denson and Rhein's vaunted ground attack were stopped in their tracks. Denson managed only 17 rushing yards and the team could grind out just 44, their season low. The pass defense was similarly stout, holding Rhein to 165 yards through the air. Only one Fire possession breached the Frankfurt red zone, and no points were conceded on that drive. It was special teams that pulled out the win for the Fire. A four-point field goal by Rhein gave them the 14-7 lead in the second quarter, and their bend-but-dont-break defense managed to maintain the advantage for the rest of the game. On the other side, Frankfurt's inability to convert field goals played a crucial role in the loss. Galaxy kickers missed three field goal attempts that would have spelled the difference in the game.

Offensively, Frankfurt appeared in control. Unfortunately, only one of four trips inside the Rhein red zone ended in a touchdown, a 1-yard plunge by RB-Jonas Lewis. QB-James Brown played the entire game, gunning for 290 yards on 24-42 passing. WR-Marc Soumah led all receivers with 68 yards on 4 catches and WR-Brian McDonald wowed the fans with a slashing 60-yard kickoff return and a game-high 36-yard pass reception. Unfortunately, the offensive firepower only led to 7 points, and Rhein was able to slip away with the win. Like in the other two losses of the season, penalties and missed opportunities cost the Galaxy the victory.

MEET THE COACHES

DOUG GRABER

Doug Graber became the fourth head coach in Frankfurt Galaxy history on September 18, 2000, taking the torch from Dick Curl. In his first season at the helm, Graber's team suffered through a 3-7 record. The squad entered 2002 much improved. With lessons learned, the team jumped out to a league-best 4-1 record.

Unfortunately, the team was decimated by injuries and limped to 6-4 finish. In his third season, Graber is looking for continued growth, improvement and success. The goal in 2003 is the World Bowl, and the goal is close at hand. With two games left in the 2003 season, Graber's record sits at 14-13. He has never beaten the Fire, going 0-5 in his three years in Frankfurt.

Graber was the head coach at Rutgers University from 1990 to 1995, after serving two years as head of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. The 1998 Bucs posted the best rushing defense in the NFL. Graber also made a mark while defensive backs coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to ‘86. His secondary during those four years recorded an NFL record 120 interceptions. He was head coach at Montana State University in 1982 after spending three years as defensive coordinator at Wisconsin. Graber began his coaching career at St. Francis Cahrini High School, where he was head coach from 1967-68. The school was unbeaten in those two years and won two championships.

Graber, a native of Detroit, MI., is married to Brenda and has two sons, Joe and Jerome. the Grabers currently reside in Tampa, FL., where he hosts a weekly NFL television show and does color commentary of Tampa Bay Buccaneers preseason football.

PETE KUHARCHEK

Coach Pete Kuharchek enters his third season as head coach after leading the Fire to a 7-3 mark in 2002 and a World Bowl appearance. Coach Kuharchek was promoted to head coach in 2000 after five seasons as Fire defensive coordinator.

Under Kuharchek, the Fire's defense ranked No. 1 overall in NFL Europe in 1999 and No. 1 against the run in 1996, ‘98 and ‘99. As a player, Kuharchek started at linebacker for two years at George Washington University and a further two years at the University of Tampa. He also began his coaching career at the University of Tampa, serving as linebackers coach in 1970.

From 1972-75, Kuharchek was defensive coordinator at Tampa Catholic High School before returning to the college ranks as a defensive assistant at the University of Kentucky in 1976. He served for two years as defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire before stints at Holy Cross (defensive assistant) and East Tennessee State University (defensive coordinator).

His first venture into pro football came in the USFL, where he served as linebackers coach for the Tampa Bay Bandits from 1983-85. He was defensive coordinator at Memphis State University from 1986-89 and spent a year with the CFL's British Columbia Lions.

In 1992, his first season in the NFLEL, Kuharchek's Orlando Thunder were beaten in the World Bowl by the Sacramento Surge. From 1993- 95 he returned to UTEP before teaming up with Galen Hall and the Fire in 1996. Kuharchek won World Bowl rings with the Fire in 1998 and 2000. He has led Rhein to a record four consecutive winning seasons.

RISING STAR

Backup RB-Robert Gillespie has been impressive since returning from injury. The Redskins-allocated player tore through the F.C. Barcelona defense in Week Eight, earning 89 yards rushing and his first professional touchdown in the contest. Explosive and elusive, Gillispie is equally dangerous running or catching the ball out of the backfield. Few tacklers can challenge him one-on-one in the open field.

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