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Game Preview (week 8): Stockton Lightning Vs. Rio Grande Valley Dorados

May 16, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Stockton Lightning (1-5)

vs. Rio Grande Valley Dorados (5-1)

Date: May 16, 2009

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT

Site: Stockton Arena (9,919)

Internet: www.NiFTyTV.com/af2 (Mike Benton, J.J. Stokes, Steve McElroy)

Officials: Referee - Shawn Hochuli; Umpire - Scott Campbell; Head Linesman - Ed Walker; Line Judge - Jim Wharrie; Back Judge - Mike Cuttone

Series Record: First meeting

Public Address Announcer: John Taylor

National Anthem: Lathrop High School Choir, Marching Band

Color Guard: VFW Post 52

Coin Toss: J.J. Stokes (Stockton Lightning, San Francisco 49ers)

Coaches: Chad Carlson (Stockton - 10-21 overall, 2nd season)

Marty Hammond (Rio Grande Valley - 35-21, 4th season)

THE STAKES: Stockton's quest to end a losing skid, now reaching five games after a last-minute 43-42 defeat at Tri-Cities, reaches home turf on Saturday with the first lifetime matchup against the Rio Grande Valley Dorados, a member of the National Conference's Southwest Division. The Lightning's door of opportunity is also based at home where the next four of five Lightning games will be played at Stockton Arena. The Lightning do not branch out of the state of California for the ensuing month, when their next out-of-state road game is June 20 at Boise. Rio Grande Valley is streaking out of the gates, winning five of its first six games and needs a victory to keep at least a 0.5 game pace ahead of the Arkansas Twisters in the Southwest Division.

If Stockton defeats Rio Grande Valley it would ...

- Give the Lightning a 2-5 season record

- End a five-game losing streak for Stockton

- Give the Lightning a 1-0 head-to-head record vs. Rio Grande Valley

- Give the Lightning a 1-2 home record for 2009

- Give the Lightning a 1-2 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.

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).

Marty Hammond - Rio Grand Valley: Marty Hammond is in his fourth season as Head Coach of the Dorados. His record with the Dorados entering 2009 is an impressive 29-19 in the regular season. He coached the team to a 15-1 regular season and Southwest Division title in 2007 after a 7-9 rookie campaign in 2006.

He joined the Dorados after serving as the Offensive Coordinator/Receivers Coach for Tennessee Valley from 2003-04 and receivers coach in 2002. He played wide receiver at the University of West Alabama from 1992-95 and was a teammate of former Dorados coach Kevin Guy. Hammond graduated in 1996 with a degree in computer science.

As a freshman, he was named the Gulf Coast Conference Rookie of the Year after catching 39 passes for 339 and two touchdowns. A native of Lexington, Ala., he was an All-State pick and MVP for Lexington High School. Hammond is familiar with the Dorados, having served as a training camp coach for the Dorados during the 2005 preseason.

In 1998 he served as an Assistant Coach at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton, Fla., then moved on as an Assistant Offensive Coordinator at Santaluces High School in Lantana, Fla., in 1999.

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING (courtesy of The Record)

"He's got the feet of a linebacker in a big man's body," Vavao said. "It's great to have someone with that much talent at this level. He has the power. He has the agility. He has everything you would want."

- Lightning assistant coach Mathias Vavao on OL/DL Manuel Wright, a former member of the New York Giants in 2007

"He's a diehard football coach and he wants the best out of his team," he said. "He will push you to the very end and if you hadn't had a coach like that before it takes time to get used to, but he's on you for the best reasons."

- QB Andy Collins on Lightning head coach Chad Carlson

LIKE A BROKEN RECORD:

ANDY 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 broke 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). Taplin's total for receiving yards against Spokane marked the second-highest total in the af2 for 2009, finishing 17 yards off Jesse Schmidt's mark set against Peoria in Week 1.

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.

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

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.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

(A look at the Lightning vs. Dorados)

Statistical LIGHTNING DORADOS

Category Rank Stat Rank Stat

Scoring Offense 17 46.3 5 63.2

Scoring Defense 23 60.0 13 51.2

Total Offense 7 304.8 4 315.3

Total Defense T-16 280.0 21 300.5

Pass Offense 8 269.0 4 287.7

Pass Defense 20 268.7 21 369.5

Rushing Offense 6 35.8 T-9 27.7

Rushing Defense 2 11.3 21 31.0

Pass Rating 14 99.1 7 118.0

Pass Def. Rating 19 114.2 9 98.9

Kickoff Returns 12 17.6 2 22.2

Turnover Margin 20 -1.33 T-5 .83

Field Goals T-23 .000 T-2 1.000

PAT Kicking 23 .692 25 .578

Sacks By T-23 22 T-15 26

Sacks Against 23 18 T-3 4

First Downs 11 121 12 120

Opp. First Downs T-8 113 5 107

Penalties 17 68.2 23 72.5

Opp. Penalties 22 38.3 25 28.5

Onside kick success T-8 40.0 T-1 100.0

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from the Lightning and Dorados who rank among the af2's statistical leaders:

LIGHTNING

Player Rank Category Stat

Collins, Andy 1 Rushing 38.8

Collins, Andy 8 Total offense 271.5

Taplin, Andy 4 Receptions/G 11.20

Taplin, Justin 4 Receiving Yds/G 136.8

Taplin, Justin 8 Scoring 17.6

DORADOS

Player Rank Category Stat

Hill, Nick 4 Passing Avg/G 291.3

Hill, Nick 8 Pass Efficiency 118.5

Windsor, Rod 2 Receptions/G 13.33

Turner, Craig 1 Kick Return/Avg 29.7

Windsor, Rod 1 Receive Yds/G 155.8

Windsor, Rod 10 All Purpose 155.8

Windsor, Rod 2 Scoring 22.3

Turner. Craig 2 Tackles 0.0

Chude, Valentin 8 Tackles for Loss 1.20

Chude, Valentin 6 Fumbles Forced .40

Turner, Craig 7 Passes Defended 1.83

DROPBACK: Chris Hemphill's 13-yard touchdown reception with 47.4 seconds left in regulation capped off a 20-0 rally by the Tri-Cities Fever, who garnered their first victory of the 2009 season and sent the Stockton Lightning (1-5) to a 43-42 defeat before a crowd of 3,066 at Toyota on Saturday, in Week 7 of arenafootball2 play.

The Lightning, who dropped their fifth consecutive loss, fell to 3-3 in the lifetime series against the Fever despite posting 312 yards of total offense to 199 for the Fever, were led by QB Chad Cavender's 27-for-40 performance, throwing for 318 yards and five touchdowns. The Lightning were flagged for 12 penalties in the game for 81 yards.

His counterpart, Ryan Porter, who threw the game-winning score to Hemphill, completed 21-of-45 passes for 200 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Making his return to the Lightning lineup, former AFL all-Ironman selection Etu Molden caught a game-high 12 passes for 131 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions.

FIRST THING'S FIRST - LIGHTNING VS. DORADOS: This week's matchup against Rio Grande Valley is the first ever between both teams and marks one of three games the Lightning will play against opponents outside of the West Division. Rio Grande Valley is a member of the National Conference's Southwest Division. The Lightning have two more inter-divisional games this season (at Amarillo on 7/18 and vs. Peoria on 7/24).

The Lightning are 2-0 in the last two interdivisional games, including a 47-41 overtime victory at Tennessee Valley last season, who eventually won the 2008 ArenaCup championship.

Below is a look at past Lightning games in an interdivisional format:

All-time Interdivision Stockton games (5-5)

Score Date Site

Oklahoma City 60, Lightning 50 4/22/06 Oklahoma City

Lightning 60, Quad City 4/22/06 Quad City

Memphis 73, Lightning 54 6/3/06 Stockton Arena

Lightning 68, Green Bay 62 (OT) 6/10/06 Stockton Arena

Lightning 51, Bossier-Shreveport 41 6/24/06 Stockton Arena

Amarillo 66, Lightning 53 6/15/07 Amarillo

Corpus Christi 57, Lightning 50 7/28/07 Stockton Arena

Iowa 47, Lightning 24 4/26/08 Iowa

Lightning 40, Amarillo 31 5/17/08 Stockton Arena

Lightning 47, Tennessee Valley 41 (OT) 6/27/08 Tennessee Valley

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

CHAD CAVENDER (QB) - Stepping in for injured QB Andy Collins three weeks ago in his first taste of af2 action, Chad Cavender posted a 13-for-19 effort with 209 yards and five touchdown passes in just two quarters-plus alone, despite the Lightning taking a 71-50 defeat at the hands of Spokane. Even though he did not play the full game, Cavender's pass rating of 144.52 shattered the Lightning single-game best, previously held by Evan Gray in 2007 (129.69 vs. Everett).

Cavender came back last week to post a stellar performance despite Stockton dropping a 43-42 defeat at Tri-Cities. Cavender was named the Offensive Player of the Game, throwing for a 27-for-40 rate along with a career-best 318 passing yards and career-high tying five touchdown tosses.

JUSTIN TAPLIN (WR) - A former four-year veteran of the Arena Football League with Arizona, Utah and Georgia, Justin Taplin made a big splash after a mid-season arrival to Stockton last year. Taplin caught 61 passes for 795 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 9 games, leading the Lightning in all receiving categories.

Currently ranking third in the league for receptions per game (11.2), Taplin leads all Lightning receivers with 14 touchdown catches this year. In Week 1, his monster game of 5 touchdown receptions, 13 catches and 168 yards broke career-high marks and surpassed the career-highs in catches (14) and reception yards (216) last week vs. Spokane.

Taplin played for four years (2004-07) of his Arena Football League career with the Arizona Rattlers, Utah Blaze and Georgia Force, registering 31 receptions, 377 career receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions. In 2006, Taplin recorded a career-high 29 tackles and three pass breakups with Utah and helped guide the team to an Arena Bowl playoff berth. Additionally, Taplin was part of a 2004 Rattlers team that advanced to Arena Bowl XVIII.

ETU MOLDEN (WR) - Etu Molden made his Lightning season debut last week with a game-high 12 catches, 130 receiving yards and two TD catches vs. Tri-Cities, returning to the team following a four-game stint in the af2 last year with Stockton and Spokane, which proceeded four years in the Arena Football League with Chicago and Las Vegas. Molden was named to the AFL's all-rookie team in 2004, all-ironman team in 2004 and helped guide Chicago to an Arena Bowl championship in 2006 and caught two touchdown passes in the game. Molden, nicknamed the "Sacramento State Killer" for his clutch performances in college at the University of Montana (NCAA), attended nearby Jesuit High School in Carmichael.

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