GLIFL Week Four Preview

Published on April 28, 2006 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) News Release

The GLIFL continues its inaugural season with each of the league's six teams playing its third game. The league also sees its final matchup of unbeaten teams, as the two GLIFL unbeaten teams (Lehigh Valley @ Port Huron) face off on April 29. GLIFL fans also get to see some new faces on the field, as Battle Creek signed former Michigan State WR Herb Haygood to further bolster their receiving corps, while the Raiders will be without QB Omar Baker for a few weeks as he recovers from a broken jaw suffered late in the Port Huron game. 6'7" Matt Cottongim will take the reigns from Baker as he recovers. Yellowbook.com Offensive Player of the Week Rayshawn Askew (RB/WR, Port Huron) and CreativelySain Defensive Player of the Week Doug Folger (LB/DB, Lehigh Valley) also meet up in Week Four.

BATTLE CREEK CRUNCH @ ROCHESTER RAIDERS

April 28, 2006, 7:05 P.M.

ESL Sports Centre, Rochester, NY

RADIO: www.battlecreekcrunch.com, on web-cast

TELEVISION: UPN 18, Rochester, on tape delay

COACHES: Bob Kubiak, Battle Creek; Dennis Greco, Rochester

RECORDS: Battle Creek (0-2); Rochester (1-1)

KEY PLAYERS: Battle Creek: WR/DB Eric Gardner, WR Chesaurae Rhodes, DL Harry Petaway

Rochester: QB Matt Cottongim, TE/DL Mike Kallfelz, WR Noah Fehrenbach, DL Mark Tisdale

WEB SITES:

www.battlecreekcrunch.com - Battle Creek

www.rochesterraiders.com - Rochester

www.glifl.com - GLIFL

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: None.

LAST MEETING: None.

PRE-GAME NOTES

BAKER WAS THE STAR, BUT THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE DO: Omar Baker is still the face of the Rochester Raiders, but a broken jaw suffered near the end of the Port Huron game forces coach Dennis Greco to go with the backup. Cottongim, a menacing 6'7" quarterback with a cannon of an arm, has played in both games, completing 7 of 10 passes for 66 yards and a touchdown, and nearly a game-winning score at the end of the Port Huron game. The styles are completely different, with Baker a master of improvisation, and Cottongim a drop-back passer. Battle Creek's ability to defend the deep ball will be tested.

CAN THEY GET THESE GUYS THE BALL? Eric Gardner has five receiving touchdowns on the year. Chesaurae Rhodes is the best "little" receiver in the GLIFL. Now, the Crunch have added former Michigan State star Herb Haygood to their receiving corps, but can either of the brothers Kubiak get them the ball with any consistency? If the two weeks off gave other brother Bob enough time to teach them the indoor game, the scoreboard at the ESL could light up.

WE HARDLY KNEW YOU: Both teams are bringing in new kickers for their Week Four matchup. Battle Creek has brought in an AFL veteran, Brad Selent, who was 27/31 on PATs for the Detroit Fury in 2002. Rochester counters with untested kicker Greg Glaser, who has reportedly scored high marks during practice. Selent has the early advantage; both should get ample opportunities during this game to show their wares.

MVP? It's early, and Battle Creek is 0-2, but Eric Gardner is doing everything he can to earn an MVP award on both sides of the ball. In addition to 10 receptions (one behind GLIFL leaders Jafar Williams and Billy Parker), Gardner leads all receivers with five touchdowns caught. He remains the only player in GLIFL history to score a touchdown on a kickoff return. His two interceptions put him one behind Pirates DB Ernie Smith for best in the GLIFL. He is the key player for the Crunch this week.

PREVIEW: It all comes down to the quarterbacking. Battle Creek has proven to have a solid defense, and the receivers and offensive line are fine. Can Tim or Ken Kubiak prove to be efficient GLIFL quarterbacks? Even one of them? Cottongim proved that nerves were no concern when he came in for the last drive of the game in Port Huron with Rochester down 32-29. One more yard by the lineman that caught Noah Fehrenbach's lateral, and he would have been the winning quarterback. Now we get to see what he can do with a full four quarters' work. Both teams will be hungry for wins after tough losses in their second games. These teams meet again in Battle Creek on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14.

NY/NJ REVOLUTION @ MARION MAYHEM

Saturday, April 29, 7:05 P.M.

Marion County Fairgrounds Coliseum, Marion, OH

RADIO: WDIF FM, 94.3 FM, Marion.

TELEVISION: None.

COACHES: Al Alston, NY/NJ; Tracy Smith, Marion

RECORDS: NY/NJ (0-2); Marion (1-1)

KEY PLAYERS: NY/NJ: WR/DB Zikoma Richards, LB Ed Chan, RB/LB Nick Vitagliano, WR/DB Collis Martin

Marion: WR/DB Jeremy Werner, K Andy Cline, LB/DB Matt Friesner, WR/DB Codi Lindsay

WEB SITES:

www.nynjrevolution.com - NY/NJ

www.marionmayhem.com - Marion

www.glifl.com - GLIFL

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: None.

LAST MEETING: None.

PRE-GAME NOTES

QB CONTROVERSY? The Revolution come in with a bit of a dilemma at the quarterback spot. Kevin Hanratty injured his throwing hand in the Week Three loss at Lehigh Valley, and has thrown eight interceptions on the season (at least a couple due to the injured hand). Backup Julio Ramirez came in for his first-ever indoor action, and ignited the offense to the tune of 107 passing yards, three scores, but he also threw two interceptions. The Revolution offense appeared to be close to breaking out in Pennsylvania, before injuries derailed their comeback chances. Look for the Revs to go with the hot hand during their third game. Either way, the Mayhem need to prove they can stop a passing game, something they have had trouble doing thus far, giving up seven touchdowns to one interception.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING BATTLE: Marion's biggest offensive weakness is timing on deep patterns. NY/NJ's biggest weakness (due to preseason injury) is the defensive backfield. Timing may be a problem, as the Revolution have proven able to get pressure on a quarterback and force him into bad throws. The winner of this battle likely has the upper hand in the game.

QB CONTROVERSY, PART DEUX? Marion has played two games with two quarterbacks, with Ted Sauder and Bobby Coorlew fighting for the rights to start. The starter is likely a game time decision for the third straight week, as neither has definitively put himself ahead of the other. Coorlew probably has the advantage, as his start resulted in a win (though the momentum shifted on a fumble return for a touchdown). Both players may get playing time.

PREVIEW: Marion is 1-1 despite giving up four receiving touchdowns to Eric Gardner in a 37-34 win. The Mayhem are hungry to win for the hometown faithful, while the Revolution are hungry to win, period. The team has played above its "traveling team" status, and is a contender to win any game if they can get a couple breaks. Both teams have kinks to work out, and this will be a good gauge as to how the rest of both seasons will go. These teams meet again on June 10 in Marion.

LEHIGH VALLEY OUTLAWZ @ PORT HURON PIRATES

April 29, 2006, 7:05 P.M.

McMorran Place Arena, Port Huron, MI

RADIO: None

TELEVISION: None

COACHES: Jim DePaul, Lehigh Valley; Brian Hug, Port Huron

RECORDS: Lehigh Valley (2-0); Port Huron (2-0)

KEY PLAYERS: Lehigh Valley: QB Chad Schwenk, WR Billy Parker, DB James Spence, DE Mike Ramos, DL Sean McGinley

Port Huron: RB Rayshawn Askew, DB Shawn Hackett, DB Ernie Smith, DL Ed Bynes

WEB SITES:

www.lv2006.com - Lehigh Valley

www.porthuronpirates.com - Port Huron

www.glifl.com - GLIFL

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: None.

LAST MEETING: None.

PRE-GAME NOTES

IT WILL BE HARD TO BEAT LAST WEEK'S GAME...but more people will probably be at McMorran to see it. Ticket sales are up dramatically over the first Pirates home game, with the possibility of a sellout at 3200-seat McMorran Arena. Last week's crowd of 2,430 produced one of the rowdiest atmospheres in the history of indoor football, which was helped by some very hard hitting. This game might be bigger. The Outlawz have passed expectations so far, and look to move to 3-0 with a big win at Port Huron.

STRENGTH VERSUS STRENGTH: Lehigh Valley's strength is on the offensive side of the ball. Port Huron's strength is easily their defense (despite some gaudy statistics, the Pirates offense has been its weakness thus far). Chad Schwenk has had success throwing the ball against Marion and NY/NJ, but can he do it against this Port Huron defense, which has created six turnovers and numerous other stops? Lehigh Valley has two players with 11 catches to lead the GLIFL (Jafar Williams and Billy Parker), and a combined six rushing touchdowns. If they can continue to be effective against the Pirates, they will be the team that leaves McMorran 3-0.

DOES THIS ONE COME DOWN TO KICKING? Last week could have, as former Rochester kicker Will Bean missed two short field goals and some PAT kicks. Outlawz kicker Chris Reed may be the best in the GLIFL, and he won't cost Lehigh Valley the game. Reed is 10/12 on PATs this year, including a 7/7 performance in his second game. In addition, he was 20/28 in Sioux City for the NIFL's Bandits in 2004, and has ample experience kicking in very close quarters.

PREVIEW: Port Huron's defense is swarming and hard-hitting, with a number of players on both sides last week finding their ways into the laps of unassuming fans. The fans will be ready and waiting for that this week, as the Pirates get another huge home game. This could rival Week Three's game for GLIFL "Game of the Year" status, as everyone knows how big this game is. The winner on Saturday becomes the GLIFL's only candidate to match the 2000 Peoria Pirates and 2003 Ohio Valley Greyhounds (a team four Pirates played on) as the only undefeated teams in Indoor Football history. These teams meet again on June 24 to end the season at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, PA.

Continental Indoor Football League Stories from April 28, 2006

• GLIFL Week Four Preview - CIFL

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