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Friday Night Matchups

July 16, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MAHONING VALLEY THUNDER (1-13) AT MANCHESTER WOLVES (7-7)

FRIDAY, July 17, 2009 - Verizon Wireless Arena (9,650) 7:30 P.M. ET

Week 17 gets started with the Mahoning Valley Thunder traveling to New Hampshire for an East Division affair against the Manchester Wolves. The Thunder are searching for first victory against the Wolves in the all-time series, as Manchester leads 7-0. Mahoning Valley continued to struggle last week as the club dropped its 13th straight game, 76-34, at Peoria. The Thunder have failed to win a game since the season opener. Mahoning Valley rookie QB TOM ZETTS, in his first start, completed 19-of-36 passes for 256 yards and two TDs (3 INTs). WR C.J. BREWER led the Thunder receiving corps with 10 catches for 187 yards and one TD. He also had a game-high three rushing TDs. Mahoning Valley's leading receiver QUOREY PAYNE (86-1,299-26 TDs) did not play last week. This week he was placed on injured reserve and will miss the team's final two games. Brewer also took over Payne's kick return duties and finished with 79 yards in returns (27 mfg, 52 ko). DB RYAN GREISER led the Thunder's defensive effort with 6.0 tackles and a fumble recovery. However, the defense couldn't find an answer to Peoria QB LUKE DRONE who found the end zone easily, scoring 6 TDs on 19 passes for 212 yards. The Wolves improved to .500 last week with a win at Albany (59-45). Manchester, currently ranked No. 14 in the latest league coaches poll, is fighting for one of the final playoff spots in the American Conference. The Wolves offense was stellar against the Firebirds last week as rookie QB MIKE POTTS completed 17-of-24 passes for 246 yards, and four TDs while adding two rushing TDs. Potts found WR EMERY SAMMONS seven times for 127 yards and two TDs, including a 42-yard bomb to start the fourth quarter. The Manchester defense also continued to play well, coming up with three turnovers in the game. They were led by DB ERICK HARRIS who recorded 9.0 solo tackles and a 26-yard INT return for a TD. DB BRANDON ISAAC also added another strong performance to his season's resume, tallying seven solo tackles and three pass breakups. Isaac is currently second on the team in tackles with 64.0 and has a team-best eight INTs. If the Thunder want a chance at a win Friday night, Zetts will need an improved effort in his second outing. But with the Wolves hungry for a chance to get to the playoffs, Mahoning Valley will have its hands full no matter how well the rookie signal caller performs.

MILWAUKEE IRON (5-9) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (8-6)

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009 - The Resch Center (7,695) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Milwaukee Iron travel to Green Bay for the third and final meeting against the Blizzard, their in-state and division rivals. This is the Iron's first trip to the Resch Center. The first two affairs were held at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee. After dropping two home games to the Blizzard earlier this season, the expansion Iron will certainly be hoping to return the favor this Friday night. That could be a tall order, however, as the last time these two teams met the Blizzard offense put on a record-setting performance, scoring a franchise-high 86 points in the game. Over these two teams' first two matchups, the score has been a combined 142-70 in favor of the Blizzard. Last week, the Iron lost on the road at Iowa, 69-37. Veteran QB TODD HAMMEL had mixed results, completing 25-of-40 passes for 336 yards and five TDs, but also threw three INTs, bringing his total interceptions to nine over six games played. Hammel, after joining the Iron midseason, went 3-1 in his first four games, but has now dropped down to 3-3. The two Burns - WRs ANTOINE BURNS and SCOTT BURNOSKI - continued their tandem performance for the Iron; Burns grabbed 10 passes for 91 yards and one TD while Burnoski had nine grabs for 111 yards and a score. They are the team's top two receivers. The offense, which started to show some life with the addition of Hammel, has begun to struggle again, scoring 79 points over the last two games to an opponent total of 155. Despite their losing record, the Iron maintain a frugal defense, which has allowed an average of just 253.7 yards per game (3rd in af2). The stingy defense is led by LB BLUE ALDRIDGE who has 72.0 tackles as well as three fumble recoveries on the season. The Blizzard are coming off a tough loss as well, dropping a road game last week at Quad City, 62-44. Green Bay QB GINO GUIDUGLI completed 18-of-26 passes for 306 yards and 5 TDs with one interception. He connected with WR NATE FORSE eight times for 122 yards and one TD. Forse continues to add to his record-setting season with each catch. He now has 116 receptions for 1,654 yards, a team record. With 23 TD receptions, he has a chance to also surpass the team record for most TD catches in a season (26). Kickoff return man DB TERRY LOVE had a great game for the Blizzard as well. He returned six kickoffs for 183 yards, including a 56-yard TD runback that tied the game at 14 in the first quarter. K BOB FORSTROM added a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. Forstrom leads the league with 19 field goals made on 34 tries. On the defensive side of the ball, the Blizzard were led by DB TRACY BELTON who tallied 12.0 tackles (11 solo, 2 assisted). Belton has team-leading 83.0 tackles on the season, as well as eight INTs and 15 pass breakups. His 83 solo tackles tie him for sixth in the league. Redemption will be a big motivator for the Iron on Friday as the team tries to keep its fragile postseason hopes alive. Green Bay, however, has a lot to play for as well as a victory this week officially books the Blizzard their fifth straight trip to the af2 playoffs.



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