Frankfurt Galaxy Game Notes

June 4, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Frankfurt Galaxy News Release


With World Bowl XI just two weeks away, the Frankfurt Galaxy must remain focused against the Berlin Thunder in the season finale. The temptation is clearly to look past the struggling Thunder towards Glasgow, but Head Coach Doug Graber is determined that this team will not suffer a mental letdown. The Thunder, at 2-7 have suffered through a disappointing season, especially after claiming back-toback World Bowl titles in 2001 and 2002. But the team remains highly dangerous. The offense is a high-octane group, specializing in big pass plays and long runs. RB David Allen is a do-everything back. He has been spotted rushing, receiving and returning punts and kickoffs. Allen leads the league in combined yardage with 1848 total yards this season. In Week Nine, the Thunder posted 43 points against the Amsterdam Admirals. They have scored 30+ points in three games this season. Frankfurt has eclipsed 30 points four times, including a 41-21 victory over Berlin at Waldstadion in Week Three. DE-Lamanzer Williams has spent several weeks atop the leader board with 8.5 sacks.

LAST WEEK'S GALAXY ACTION

The Galaxy produced possibly its biggest win of the 21st century in Week Nine, crushing archrival Rhein Fire 38-7 in front of 25,539 fans at Waldstadion to end a seven-game Rhein losing streak and become the first team in NFLE history to qualify for five World Bowls. The win pushed the Galaxy to 4-1 at home this season, the best home record in team history.

Despite the 38 points, the key to the game was Frankfurt's stifling defense. Rhein could manage only 24 rushing yards for the game, despite having the league's second leading rusher in Autry Denson. The defense held Rhein to 4-14 third down conversions, 206 total yards, forced three turnovers and shut out the Fire until late in the fourth quarter.

The Galaxy offense rackerd up 438 total yards, including 113 and 111 yards from WRs Marc Lester and Robert Baker, respectively. Baker added two touchdowns and Lester one, giving the duo six each on 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 owns a new club record with 7 rushing touchdowns on the season, and is third in the league with 623 rushing yards. The receiving corps. consists of Robert Baker (NFL/Dolphins), Marc Lester (NFL/Ravens) and Galaxy veterans Brian McDonald and Marc Soumah. Lester and Baker are tied with 6 touchdowns each. Josh Whitman is a proven clutch player at tight end. 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 proven itself all season as a top-tier defense. Frankfurt is No. 1 in the league in total defense, run defense and 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), John Schlecht, Luis Almanzar (NFL/Seahawks) and Buck Gurley (NFL/Buccaneers). Evans earned Week One Defensive Player of the Week honors after a 3 sack, 8 tackle, 1 FF performance. The linebacking unit consists of team-leading tackler Fred Jones, Idris Price (NFL/Buccaneers), and Dustin Cohen. The defensive backfield has its share of playmakers, including the safety tandem of Rashidi Barnes and Calvin Spears. Jeremy Unertl (NFL/Packers) and Chris Pointer (NFL/Panthers) man the corner positions. Barnes is currently No. 1 in NFL Europe with 4 interceptions. Spears is second with 3 takeaways.

FLASHBACK: April 19, 2003

The first meeting of the season between the Galaxy and the Thunder was one Berlin would probably like to forget. The first quarter however, will live in the minds of Galaxy fans for many years. Frankfurt set a new NFL Europe record for points in a quarter, overwhelming a shocked Berlin squad with 35 unanswered points in the first quarter. Despite a desperate Berlin comeback attempt, Frankfurt went on to win the game 41-21. The first quarter was nothing short of nightmarish for Berlin. K-Jon Hilbert opened the game with an onside kick, which was recovered by FSCalvin Spears. QB-James Brown plunged into the end zone six plays later.

Frankfurt's defense took advantage of a charged crowd early, with Spears intercepting Berlin on its first offensive play. Four plays later, RB-Jonas Lewis bulled his way into the end zone. Berlin's second offensive play also resulted in an interception, this time by CB-Chris Pointer. After Lewis' second touchdown, the Galaxy was up 21-0 and the game was spiraling away from Berlin's grasp. The problems only compounded themselves when NT-Buck Gurley stripped Berlin RB-Sedrick Irvin on their third possession. LB-Fred Jones recovered the fumble, leading to Lewis' third touchdown of the quarter. Berlin fumbled again on the ensuing kickoff, their fourth turnover of the quarter. LBIdris Price picked up the loose football and ran 26 yards into the end zone. With a 35-0 lead, the Galaxy chose to coast for the rest of the game.

The defense was strong all game. CB-Jeremy Unertl took two interceptions, bringing the total count to four on the day. Frankfurt also forced five Berlin fumbles, recovering two. Four sacks completed the defensive showcase, as DE-Joey Evans, DT-Luis Almanzar, Jones and CB-Chris Cummings each brought down Berlin's quarterbacks. The Galaxy took home three Player of the Week awards for Week Three. Lewis won Offensive honors for his 137 yard, 3 TD day. Spears took home the Defensive award after recording six tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and the onside recovery. Price won Special Teams honors for his 26-yard fumble recovery touchdown.

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's focus has been consistent improvement from week to week. The final goal as always is the World Bowl, and for the first time in his NFL Europe career, he has the opportunity to battle for the ultimate prize. With one game left in the 2003 regular season, Graber's record sits at 15-13. He is currently 2-3 against the Berlin Thunder.

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.

PETER VAAS

Peter Vaas concludes his fourth season as head coach of the Berlin Thunder, where he has claimed the past two World Bowl titles. Vaas and his team bounced back from a season-opening three game losing streak to compile a 6-4 record and qualify for World Bowl X. Prior to defeating the hometown Rhein Fire 26-20 in World Bowl X, Vaas was named NFL Europe League Coach of the Year. Vaas was appointed as Berlin's head coach just two weeks prior to training camp of the 2000 season. A former college quarterback, Vaas joined the league in 1998 as an offensive assistant for the Barcelona Dragons. In 1999, he helped the Dragons to a league-best 7-3 record.

Vaas started his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant coach at Alleghany College and from 1979-85 worked as offensive coordinator at the University of New Hampshire. In 1986, Vaas returned to Allegheny as their head coach, guiding them to two North Coast Athletic Conference championships. After compiling a 29-11-1 record in four seasons at Allegheny, Vaas became the running backs coach and then quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. From 1992 to 1995, Vaas was head coach at Holy Cross before spending a season as the offensive coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Vaas was a quarterback at Holy Cross and set nine individual school passing records in his senior season. In 1992, he was inducted into his High School's Hall of Fame as a football player and in 1999 Allegheny College inducted him into their Hall of Fame as a Football Coach.

The 50-year-old is married to Rosann. They have two daughters, Katelyn and Kelly and reside in Hampton, New Hampshire.



National Football League Europa Stories from June 4, 2003


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