Greensboro Prowlers Game Notes

April 14, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Greensboro Prowlers News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Greensboro Prowlers (1-1) at Florida Firecats (1-1)
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. EST
Site: TECO Center (7,128)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss:
Head Referee
Officials: TBA
Radio: www.greensboroprowlers.com (TBD; Jon Cole)
TV: None
Series Record: Florida leads series 2-0
Last Meeting: 07/14/01 Greensboro 24-Florida 48
Streaks: Firecats have won the last two meetings
Coaches: Ben Bennett (1-1) Steven Jerry (1-1)

THE STAKES: Greensboro has the opportunity to earn its first ever victory over the Firecats, as well as defeat a playoff-proven opponent. Greensboro will be searching for momentum and offensive consistency that can be carried throughout the remainder of the season.

THE SERIES: Florida has won both games over the Prowlers, the first of which came in Greensboro. The only losses to the Firecats came in the 2001 season, proving to be the last time that the two teams met.

THE IFs:

If Greensboro defeats Florida, it would ...
· Give Greensboro its first ever victory over the Firecats
· Give Greensboro its second road victory in franchise history, and provide momentum for the remainder of the season
· Give Greensboro a 2-1 record, maintaining a one game advantage over Cape Fear early in the season. HEAD COACHES: Each Head Coach enters their first season with the respective franchise. Steven Jerry joins the Prowlers from the Roanoke Steam where he finished (8-8) in 2002. Coach Jerry begins his first season in Greensboro after playing appearing at North Carolina as well as playing in the Arena Football League.

LAST SERIES MEETING: FLORIDA 48, Greensboro 24 (7/21/01) – With Florida leading 21-10 after three quarters, Greensboro was unable to overcome an offensive explosion in the fourth. The Firecats scored 27 fourth quarter points, as Cleveland Pratt scored two of his three touchdowns in the game, finishing the game with six attempts for 39 yards, and making five receptions for 67 yards. QB Chris Weibel, playing for the Firecats, also appeared in the game, completing 7 of 11 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns...Greensboro's Sigmund Platt also made a significant impact on the game, rushing for two touchdowns.

SERIES NOTABLES: OL/DL Thaddeus Bullard played at the University of Florida, and will be making his first homecoming on the gridiron since leaving the Gators...Greensboro will be matched up against former QB Chris Weibel who they traded back to Florida during the offseason...This is the first of two games between Florida and Greensboro, with the second matchup coming on June 21st in the Greensboro Coliseum.

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:

THADDEUS BULLARD, on returning to Florida: "I am excited about having the opportunity to go back home and play in front of a bunch of family and friends. We am preparing ourselves as a team to go into a hostile environment and get a critical victory."

LOOKING BACK: The Prowlers held Macon to a 7-0 lead ending the first quarter, as Jacques Rumph took advantage of his blocking up front to score a 6-yard touchdown. Rumph scored again in the second, on a 16-yard pass from Sean Peterson, giving the Knights (2-0) a 13-0 at that point. To close first half scoring, the Prowlers Clifton Shavers pulled down a 14-yard pass from quarterback Kenton Evans in the end zone to cut the deficit to 13-7. The Prowlers (1-1) defense would then stop Macon on four consecutive attempts to get into the end zone ending the first half.

The third quarter proved to be the momentum shift, as Macon scored at the 13:48 mark, capping a two play drive to start the third, pushing ahead 20-7. It was at that point that the Knights defense stepped up and made a key safety on Kenton Evans, and rattling the Prowlers. To end third quarter scoring for Macon, Rumph again scored to push the Knights ahead 29-7. Greensboro however did answer, with their final score of the night on a Kenton Evans 1-yard TD, capping the Prowlers scoring. Rumph, the game Most Valuable Player, would make the final tally 36-13 with a 3-yard dash into the end zone, with just under seven minutes remaining in the fourth.

FORWARD MOTION:

Former New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens tight end Ben Coates will be appearing when the Greensboro Prowlers face the Mohegan Wolves on April 26th. Coates was the prime target for Drew Bledsoe in the Patriots offense during the Bill Parcells regime in Foxboro.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

Posey makes big impact: The biggest surprise early on for the Prowlers is the improved play of Defensive Specialist Michael Posey. Appearing in just six games in 2002, Posey stepped up his prowess in the opening game leading the team with six solo tackles, 6.5 for the game, as well as deflecting two passes. Joining fourth year player Cranston Johnson in the defensive backfield, proved beneficial for the team, which did not allow a scoring strike of longer than 14 yards in the game. Posey continued his impressive play with an eight tackle performance, six unassisted, against Macon. He also had two interceptions totaling eight yards against the Knights, despite the loss.

Angel in uniform: For the first time all season, Demeco Archangel will be cleared to take off against an af2 opponent. Greensboro will have the services of Archangel, and he will make his impact known from the start. In his career, Archangel ranks first in Prowlers history with 1,815 All-Purpose yards....Spent part of the 2002 season, prior to joining the Prowlers, with the CFL's Montreal Allouettes...In his first game with the Prowlers in 2002, "Angel" returned a 54-yard kickoff for a touchdown.

Making the return: The Prowlers tied the AF2 record that was set by the Birmingham Steeldogs (2001) with six consecutive games with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Over that span the players with kickoff returns for Greensboro were: Walter Ford (at Norfolk); Walter Ford (vs. Cape Fear); Tom Starck (vs. Rochester); Walter Ford (at Cape Fear); Demeco Archangel (at Charleston); Walter Ford (vs. Norfolk).

Senor Gibson looking at fourth year: Jason Gibson, WR/DB, and Antoine Calloway became the first receivers in Prowler history to each have 100-yards receiving in the same game. Calloway contributed with (9 receptions, 110 yards) while Gibson added (3 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TDs).

New Faces & Key Returnees: The influx of new players brought on board by Head Coach Steven Jerry will make for each fan to bring a roster to the game. Longtime Prowler backup quarterback Travis Pender is no longer here, FB/LB Rafik Thorossian that spent the last two seasons with Greensboro is gone as well. Coming along with Coach Jerry to play with the Prowlers is kicker Josh Jones. In his last meeting with the Prowlers at the Greensboro Coliseum, Jones managed to convert the game-winning field goal to defeat the Prowlers 59-56 in overtime. Jones played at Ragsdale High School near Greensboro, and appeared on the field in collegiate level at Western Carolina. He has spent the last two seasons with the Steam. Abdullah Wiggins, OL/DL, also joins Coach Jerry from the Roanoke Steam, after playing all of 2002 under his direction. Wiggins recorded 36 tackles, nine for a loss of 49 yards, and 7.5 sacks. Among the key departures were last season's leading tackler Jermaine Toney who recorded 99.5 tackles, as well as kick return specialist Walter Ford. Ford is serving in the Army with the on-going war with Iraq and may not be playing in the arenafootball2 this season. While with Greensboro, Ford made 26 returns for 5 TDs and currently ranks third on the all-time yardage for kick returns in Prowlers history. For the newcomers, Prowler faithful will have plenty to follow, mostly on the defensive side of the ball where the Prowlers have brought in Thaddeus Bullard, OL/DL, who played on the college gridiron at the University of Florida. The Prowlers will also have 2002 members Demeco Archangel, Marco McGee, Cranston Johnson, Jason Gibson, and Antoine Calloway returning for the upcoming campaign.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Prowlers OL/DL Thaddeus Bullard: Bullard is appearing in his first game in the arenafootball2 after playing the first four games of the Arena Football season while with the Carolina Cobras. The former Florida Gator joins the Prowlers after amassing 56 tackles and 6.5 career sacks.

Prowlers FB/LB Abdullah Wiggins: Playing on the opposite end of Thaddeus Bullard, Wiggins has made the tandem a significant threat to get into the backfield and cause havoc at any time. One of three current Prowler players that played under Head Coach Steven Jerry while with the Roanoke Steam...Played with the two time Division II National Champions, Grand Valley State. While in college he was a 2001 All-American, and 2001 All-GLIAC performer. While with the Steam in 2002 made 7.5 sacks for a loss of 50 yards, and made nine tackles for a loss of 49 yards.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

Former New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens tight end Ben Coates will be appearing when the Greensboro Prowlers face the Mohegan Wolves on April 26th. Coates was the prime target for Drew Bledsoe in the Patriots offense during the Bill Parcells regime in Foxboro. The Prowlers are also having a Community Night for Greensboro area businesses to bring out their employees to show appreciation for a well done effort.



arenafootball2 Stories from April 14, 2003


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.

OurSports Central