Sports stats

Game Preview (Week 10): Stockton Lightning at Central Valley Coyotes (5-30-09)

May 30, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Stockton Lightning (2-6)

at Central Valley Coyotes (3-5)

Date: May 30, 2009

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT

Site: Selland Arena (5,487)

Internet: www.NiFTyTV.com/af2 (Mike Benton)

Officials: Referee - Shawn Hoculi; Umpire - Scott Campbell; Head Linesman - Ed Walker; Line Judge - Patrick Turner; Back Judge - Mike Cuttone

Series Record: Central Valley leads, 9-3

Coaches: Chad Carlson (Stockton - 11-22 overall, 2nd season)

Fred Biletnikoff Jr. (Central Valley - 45-35; 6th Season)

THE STAKES: With a battle for third place in the Pacific Division on the line, the Lightning return to a venue in Selland Arena that has presented success in the recent trips there. After the Lightning lost the first three games in the head-to-head set with the Central Valley Coyotes in Fresno, the Lightning have stormed back to claim the last two road meetings. The Lightning stand 2-6 in the 2009 regular season and must find a winning stride to keep in contention for an ArenaCup Playoff berth. Coming off a 2008 year which included a 10-6 record and advancement to the second round of the postseason, the Coyotes are experiencing a three-game losing streak on their own home turf and have not won since a 47-38 victory over Tri-Cities on March 20, the af2's "Kickoff Weekend."

If Stockton defeats Central Valley it would ...

- Put the Lightning in a tie for third place with Central Valley in the Pacific Division

- Give the Lightning a 3-6 season record

- Give the Lightning a 2-1 record this year vs. Central Valley

- Extend Stockton's winning streak to three games at Selland Arena

- Give the Lightning a 2-3 record in May

HEAD COACH PROFILES:

Chad Carlson - Stockton: Chad Carlson is the third Head Coach in Lightning history, named to the team's top post on an interim basis on May 27, 2008, succeeding Doug Murray. Carlson was appointed to the position on a full-time basis on August 13, 2008.

The 36-yead old enters his third af2 head coaching venture after serving as General Manager/Head Coach for the Hawaiian Islanders (2002) and Head Coach of the Bossier City Battle Wings (2003), compiling an overall record of 6-12 before moving on to serve as a Volunteer Coach for the Arena Football League's Colorado Crush for the remainder of the 2003 season.

Carlson, who guided Hawaii to a 4-1 finish in the 2002 season after inheriting the team in the middle of the season, helped the Islanders finish second in the league for red zone offense (83.1 percent), tied for 10th in total offense (4,126 yards) and rank as the af2's leader in rushing offense (852 yards).

After Carlson inherited the Islanders offense that averaged 38 points per game through five contests, his offense went on to score an average of 50.4 points per game and finish 13th in af2 scoring offense.

Following two separate stints in the Canadian Football League with the Edmonton Eskimos (1994) and Ottawa Rough Riders (1996), the Portland, Oregon native spent the 1997 season with the AFL's Portland Forest Dragons as a wide receiver/defensive back and quarterback and was slated to sign with the Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL in 2000, but had his career cut short with a career-ending knee injury that he sustained during an indoor football campaign in 1999.

Converted from the quarterback position, Carlson finished his college career as a standout receiver at Lewis & Clark College (NCAA) and was named an NAIA All-American as a 1993 senior, leading the nation in yards per catch while creating accolades that still shine in Pioneer lore. Carlson's 209 receiving yards amassed in a game against Central Washington was the second-best single game output in program history at the time of his exit and he ranked 13th on Lewis and Clark's all-time list for receptions at the time of his exit.

A key member of an athletic family, Chad's wife, Monica, was a contestant winner in 2008 on the television show "American Gladiators" and plays the role of "Jet" on the current season. Chad and Monica reside in Portland during the offseason with two twin daughters, Ellee Jo (8) and Emma Ray (8).

Fred Biletnikoff Jr. - Central Valley: Coyote Head Coach Fred Biletnikoff Jr. enters his seventh season in the arenafootball2 league and sixth with the Coyotes.

Biletnikoff Jr. joined the Coyotes coaching staff in 2004 as assistant head coach before becoming interim head coach midway through the season. After five games as interim-head coach, Biletnikoff earned the title of head coach, winning his final two games of the season. His first arena coaching assignment was in 2002 when he coached wide receivers for the Fresno Frenzy.

In 2005, his first full season as a head coach, the Pleasanton, Calif., native led the Coyotes to an 8-8 record and broke 32 franchise records. In 2005 Biletnikoff Jr. guided a Coyote offense that led the league in Total Offense (293.4 yards per game), scored 54.5 points a game and led the league with a 89.9 Red Zone Scoring Percentage. In 2006, Biletnikoff led Central Valley to an ArenaCup playoff berth with a 12-4 record, their best regular season finish in franchise history.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (courtesy of The Record)

"It doesn't get any better than being at home," Maurice Holmes said. "I push myself anyway, but to be on the field and look up and see your mom or your dad or your nephew or your friends, man, it's exciting."

- Lightning DB Maurice Holmes, a Stockton Stagg (Calif.) HS graduate, on his return to the area

"That's a very good team we just beat," Carlson said. "We really went after the giant tonight. The guys really believed in that story, and David took care of business."

- Head Coach Chad Carlson on the Lightning 83-56 victory over Rio Grande Valley

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD:

CHAD CAVENDER (QB): Collins set a Lightning record in a Week 4 loss to Central Valley, rushing for four touchdowns against the Coyotes. Through 3 games, Collins leads the af2 in rushing touchdowns (9) and actually broke his own franchise record he originally set, with 3 rushing touchdowns in a Week 1 victory at Central Valley.

NDY COLLINS (QB): Collins set a Lightning record in a Week 4 loss to Central Valley, rushing for four touchdowns against the Coyotes. Through 3 games, Collins leads the af2 in rushing touchdowns (9) and actually broke his own franchise record he originally set, with 3 rushing touchdowns in a Week 1 victory at Central Valley.

JUSTIN TAPLIN (WR): Taplin's assault on the Lightning record books continued with a 7-touchdown catch effort against Rio Grande Valley in Week 7, one off the af2 single-game record, following a Lightning single-game record with 216 receiving yards in Week 5 against the Spokane Shock, additionally hauling in three touchdown receptions and 14 catches, which was one off the Lightning record (Phil Goodman, 2006).

STEPHEN IRVINE (K): In just his second game this season and his first returning from non-active status, Australian-bred Stephen Irvine connected on 11-of-12 point-after kicks against Rio Grande Valley on 5/16, setting a new Lightning single-game record. Irvine's feat finished two successful kicks shy of the af2 all-time record, held by Rich Ehmke (San Diego, 2004).

PARTY TIME: The Lightning are encouraging fans to attend the brand-new pre-game party at the newly-opened "Kings Room" of Stockton Arena to meet and greet select Lightning players, front office and broadcast personalities and take advantage of discounted food and beverages.

The new "Kings Room" is located adjacent to the North Entry of Stockton Arena and will be opening 90 minutes before kick-off. All fans in attendance must have a ticket to the game to enter and space is limited.

SALUTING THE TROOPS: On June 6, the Lightning face the Tri-Cities Fever at Stockton Arena as part of "Military Appreciation Night" presented by the United States Marine Corps. To promote a greater spirit of patriotism, proceeds for select Upper Premium and Lower End Zone tickets for the game will be donated to "Packed With Pride," a non-profit organization specializing in supplying goods to United States troops serving overseas. In addition, $10 discounted tickets are available to individuals (when presenting military identification) when purchased at Stockton Arena's Alpine Meats Ticket Office. The first 2,000 fans in attendance will receive mini American flags and an array of military-themed in-game presentations will dot Saturday's game.

PLAYING "TAPS" FOR DEFENSIVE SCHEMES:

WR Justin Taplin's 156-yard performance against Rio Grande Valley marked the fifth time in six games of this season that the second-year receiver has surpassed the 100-yard receiving yard plateau in a game (Taplin missed the Week 7 contest at Tri-Cities due to injury). Taplin's has actually collected a 100-yard performance in seven of the last eight overall games, when he caught 8 passes for 112 receiving yards in the season finale against Tri-Cities last year.

HANGING (AROUND) CHAD:

Once a backup to begin the af2 season, Chad Cavender has been thrust into the af2 spotlight with the injury of Andy Collins and has taken the reigns at full grip. Cavender, a product of the University of Sioux Falls, threw five touchdowns in his Lightning debut against the Spokane Shock on April 25 - tied for the third best output in a Lightning QB debut:

MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES - LIGHTNING DEBUT

Evan Gray (vs. Spokane, 4/28) 7

Chad Elliott (at Tri-Cities, 3/28) 6

Chad Cavender (vs. Spokane, 4/25) 5

Derrick Crudup (at Spokane 5/31) 5

Andy Collins (at Spokane, 5/31) 4

COLLINS HAULS IN THE WEEK 1 HONORS:

Lightning QB Andy Collins was named Russell Athletic af2 Offensive Player of the Week for Week 1. Collins (6-2, 215, Occidental College) led the Lightning to a 68-54 Week 1 road victory at West Division rival Central Valley. The 25-year old signal caller completed 24-of-28 passes (85.7 percent) in the contest for 287 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. He also scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns to lead the Lightning to their biggest offensive output to open a season in team history. This is the first af2 weekly award of Collins' career.

DYNAMIC DUO TAKE WEEK 8 HONORS:

The offensive pair of QB Chad Cavender and WR Justin Taplin were named Russell Athletic af2 Co-Offensive Players of the Week for Week 8, becoming the first duo to share the award in seven years (Russell Copeland and Tim Lester, Memphis - Week 3 of 2002). Cavender, in his first af2 campaign and Taplin, in his third af2 season, both had career nights in Stockton's 83-56 upset win at home in Week 8 against Rio Grande Valley. The 6-foot, 190-pound Cavender, in his third career start, set a team record with 10 touchdown passes and Taplin set a Lightning single-game record with seven touchdown catches. He finished the night with nine receptions for a game-high 172 yards.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?: Three members of the Lightning share the honor of winning a championship or advancing to the Finals stage at the professional football level. OL/DL Manuel Wright was in uniform in Glendale, Ariz. for the New York Giants Super Bowl championship team in 2007, who upset the New England Patriots 17-14. WR Justin Taplin helped guide the Arizona Rattlers to an Arena Bowl playoff berth in 2006 and previously, was part of a 2004 Rattlers team that advanced to Arena Bowl XVIII. WR Etu Molden helped guide the Chicago Rush to an ArenaBowl championship in 2006, catching two TD passes in the title game at Las Vegas.



arenafootball2 Stories from May 30, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Stockton Lightning Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central