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Friday Night Matchups

June 7, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


Albany conquest (3-5) AT MANCHESTER WOLVES (4-5)

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007 - Verizon Wireless Arena (9,650) 7:00 P.M. ET

The Albany Conquest travel to New Hampshire this week to take on the Wolves Friday night in an East Division matchup. This week's game is the 17th all-time affair between these two teams. Manchester leads the series, 9-7. The Wolves and Conquest have met once in 2007 a month ago, also in Manchester. The Wolves won that contest in a closely-contested affair, 53-48. Albany's most recent result was a decisive 77-33 home win over Fort Wayne last Saturday, ending a three-game losing streak. QB RYAN HART completed 22-of-27 passes for 227 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Conquest past the Fusion. Hart is in the midst of a solid rookie campaign, ranking among the league's best in touchdown passes and passer rating. WR BAKARI BROWN caught 13 passes for a total of 99 yards and two TDs, and recorded a three-yard run for a score. Brown leads the league in receptions with 91. K JEFF GLAS, who booted a 21-yard field goal, currently ranks first in the league in percent field goal percentage (.750 - 6-of-8). Defensively, the Conquest held Fort Wayne to just two touchdowns in the first half. OL/DL MICHAEL LEWIS led the team with 6.0 tackles and one sack. DB CALVIN WASHINGTON leads the team overall in tackles (37.0) and interceptions (3). Manchester is coming off a 75-50 home loss to Tulsa. The loss to Tulsa snapped the Wolves six-game home win streak. Six Manchester miscues and six touchdown passes by Tulsa QB JUSTIN ALLGOOD contibuted to the defeat. WR PATRICK ROUZARD had a career night in the loss with eight catches for 111 yards and five touchdowns. QB MARK RADLINSKI, who played with Tulsa in 2006, had a sub par showing against his former team. Radlinski completed 26-of-42 passes for 252 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. One bright spot in the loss was veteran DB ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN. Sebastien became the af2's all-time leader in INTs with 30 overall. He finished the night with 5.0 total tackles and two interceptions. Sebastien currently leads the squad in interceptions with five and ranks ninth in the league with 55.0 tackles. DL MAURICE FOUNTAIN is another major player for Manchester's defense. Fountain, a rookie from Clemson, is tied at second for in the af2 in sacks with 8.0. In addition to Sebastien and Fountain, the Wolves defense should also benefit this week from the addition of veteran DB DEON GIDDENS. Giddens is a two-year league standout who played for the Memphis Xplorers from 2005-06. Offensively, Radlinski should feel good about his chances to rebound this week with Rouzard, JARRAIL JACKSON and ARI CONFESOR to throw to. All three standout wideouts average at least 56 catches, 575 receiving yards and 13 TDs. Versatile WR/DB DAVID BAILEY also returns to the lineup after sitting out last week. Expect another back-and-forth affair.

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (6-3) AT FORT WAYNE FUSION (3-6)

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007 - Memorial Coliseum (12,500) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Quad City Steamwheelers (No. 11 in Coaches Poll) head to Fort Wayne for the first time Friday night for a fight against the Fusion, their new Midwest Division foe. Quad City comes into this week's contest on a bit of a hot streak with three straight wins (all home games). The Steamwheelers, however, have had recent troubles away from home, dropping their last three road games. Last week Quad City looked strong in a 45-22 win against Tennessee Valley. Quad City QB J.J. RATERINK didn't have his best showing of the season, but still threw five touchdowns in the decision. WRs KRIS PETERS and JACK WALKER, JR. each had two touchdown catches. The Steamwheelers offense also received some help from the running game. FB/LB JEFF MACREA had a game-high 30 yards rushing and one score. The Quad City defense was also strong, allowing the Vipers just 22 points. DB JORDAN DAVIS led the team with 4.0 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble and the ensuing recovery as the Steamwheelers held on to their big lead despite scoring only seven points in the second half. Peters leads the team in receiving with 64 catches for 830 yards and 18 TDs. On the defensive side, DB KEVIN ADAMS is Quad City's top talent with 51.5 total tackles, six interceptions and 12 pass breakups. FB/LB JERMAINE PETTY is also an intimidating two-way player. He leads the team in rushing touchdowns (7) and sacks (6.0). Fort Wayne will look to right the ship defensively this week after allowing Albany 77 points last Saturday in a 77-33 road loss. The Fusion didn't force a single turnover or record a sack. Fort Wayne had a tough time offensively as well. Things got worse late in the fourth quarter when starting QB CODY HODGES suffered his second concussion of the season. He will likely miss this week's game. WR/LB JERMAINE JACKSON caught 11 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns and WR/DB TYRONE WALKER caught seven passes for 50 yards and one touchdown. Jackson leads the team in receiving with 61 catches for 611 yards and nine TDs. DB DEREK BROWN leads the Fusion defense with 47.0 total tackles and three fumble recoveries. If Hodges isn't able to play, either JOE MICCO or BLAYNE BAGGETT will get the starting nod. Micco completed all three of his passes last week after replacing Hodges, while Baggett was added to the mix this week. The former Indiana State standout was recently waived by the New York Dragons of the AFL. Both teams have opposite records and appear to be headed in opposite directions. The Fusion, however, hope a return home will inspire the squad. If Fort Wayne keeps things close through three quarters, expect the fourth quarter to be quite a show.

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (7-2) AT ALABAMA STEELDOGS (5-4)

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007 - Birmingham Jefferson Civic Complex (16,000) 8:00 P.M. ET

Two National Conference teams will face off at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Complex on Friday when the Battle Wings face the Steeldogs. Bossier-Shreveport, despite missing QB QUINCY CARTER for the past three weeks, are currently ranked No. 5 in the Coaches Poll and in second place in the Southwest Division. The Battle Wings are coming off of a dominating performance against division foe Texas (64-21). Over the team's last three games, the play of RB JASON SCHULE has been invaluable. Schule has scored six rushing touchdowns in that span, solidifying his spot as maybe the top fullback in the league. His stats show that statement to be true with a league-leading 250 rushing yards and 13 rushing TDs. With his help, the Battle Wings offense has not faltered despite the absence of Carter and has scored over 60 points in their last two victories. Schule's strong play has helped rookie QB GARY COOPER come in and enjoy some success in his recent call to duty. Last week Cooper completed 15-of-28 passes for 210 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. Cooper's top targets are WRs JAMAAL PERRY (65-787; 13 TDs) and P.J. WINSTON (40-696; 13 TDs). DE ELEX REED (league-high 16.5 TFLs, 12.0 sacks) and DB KENNETH WILLIAMS (4th in af2 with 59.5 tackles; 4 INTs) are the team's top two defenders. The Steeldogs (No. 13 in Coaches Poll), after three straight road games, return home this week. Last week Alabama suffered a tough 29-21 road loss to South Division foe Florida. QB MITCH TANNEY was responsible for all three of the Steeldogs scores as well as what proved to be the game-ending interception late in the fourth quarter. WR JON OLINGER had 11 catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Olinger also leads the team in receiving on the season with 61 catches for 649 yards and 13 TDs. Defensively, FB/LB CLIFF BROWNING stood out for the Steeldogs against Florida with 2.5 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. DB RONALD DILLON leads the team in tackles (43.5) and interceptions (2). LB ERIC SCOTT is the team's best pass rusher with 6.5 sacks. Alabama will need to focus on winning the turnover battle this week as they face a solid ball possession Bossier-Shreveport offense and a formidable defense that allows just 41.0 points per game. If Tanney and the Steeldogs start out strong, expect a battle as the team is currently 4-0 at home in 2007.

MAHONING VALLEY THUNDER (4-5) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (4-4)

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2007 - The Resch Center (7,995) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Thunder storm into Green Bay this week to face the Blizzard in the first-ever matchup between these two teams. Mahoning Valley is tied for second place in the East Division at 4-5 overall. Mahoning Valley continues on the road after getting a win against Cincinnati last week, snapping a five-game losing streak. Thunder QB MIKE SCHNEIDER came right out of the gates on fire, tossing three TDs in the first quarter and from there, the Thunder offense would never look back. The running game also contributed as FB TIM MURPHY gained 35 yards and scored three times. Equally impressive, however, was the Thunder pass defense, which disrupted the timing and execution of the Jungle Kat offense all game long. Cincinnati could only muster 20 points and one TD pass. The Mahoning Valley defense racked up one interception, one sack, one fumble recovery, and a total of nine pass breakups. It marked only the second time this season that the Thunder held an opponent under 50 points, the first of which also occurred against the Jungle Kats (Week 3). Murphy ranks among the league leaders in rushing with nearly 200 yards (198). WR CHRIS ARCHIE is the team's leading receiver with 67 catches for 767 yards and 16 TDs. Last week it was WR DEMARCUS MATHES who stood out with seven catches for 105 yards and three TDs. The Thunder's defensive leaders are DB MAURICE TAYLOR (46.5 tackles, 4 INTs) and LB BRANDON BROWN (7.0 TFLs, 2.0 sacks). Green Bay, currently No. 12 in the latest Coaches Poll, is right in the thick of things in the Midwest Division. Green Bay is no stranger to suffocating performances defensively. The Blizzard are No. 1 in pass defense in the af2 and are tied for the top spot in scoring defense, allowing their opponents just 34.8 points per game. Last week Green Bay lost a tough six-point overtime decision to division rival Louisville. After the Blizzard took the lead late in the fourth quarter, the Fire were able to tie the game on a 19-yard field goal. At the outset of the extra session, Louisville marched 44 yards on nine plays to punch it in on the ground for the winning score. The Blizzard seemed to be in control of the seesaw battle but could not hold on to the lead late. Green Bay QB ZEKE DIXON had three TD passes and two INTs in the loss. WR KELLEN ALLEN led the team in receiving with six catches for 74 yards and two TDs. Defensively, the Blizzard had three interceptions, including one by DL KORY LOTHE, who returned his pick four yards for six points. Green Bay boasts a group of solid defensive backs, led by STEPHEN CASON (46.5 tackles, 3 INTs, 10 PBUs) and RONNIE AMADI (5 INTs, 19 PBUs). DL JASON HARDEE leads the big boys up front with 5.0 sacks. The Thunder looked good last Saturday, but this week's contest will be a big test. The Blizzard have been unbeatable at home this year (4-0) thanks largely to the team's defense which has limited its visiting opponents to just 25.5 points per game.



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