Hill on Record Pace, Again
June 17, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release
(ALBANY, NY) â Albany Conquest Offensive Specialist, Corey Hill, set the all-time professional football record with 161 receptions last season in Albany. Hill broke Darrell Mitchell's four-year record by one reception. Mitchell hauled in 160 catches playing for the Toronto Argonauts (CFL) in 1998.
Hill currently has 101 receptions through ten games this season (1st in af2), putting him eleven receptions ahead of the next closest receiver, Richmond's Damon Thompson (90). The last two weeks, Hill has caught 15 and 12 passes, versus Greensboro and Norfolk, respectively. Though sharing the scoring with many of his teammates this season, Hill continues to prove that he is the main man in the Albany offense week in and week out. Just like he did last week in the fourth quarter against Norfolk.
The Conquest was driving down the field, at home, looking for a go-ahead touchdown and their seventh straight victory. Three straight incomplete passes by Albany QB Ryan Vena brought up a fourth down and ten to go, with about twenty second to play on the clock. With no hesitation, Vena brought his team to the line, dropped back three steps, looked to his right and hit Hill right in stride for the first down. It looked as if they had been doing it their entire lives. Which isn't too far from the truth, since Vena and Hill have been playing football together since their years at Colgate University (1997-99).
So while WR/DB Phil Taylor (16 TD) may lead the team in scoring this season, there is still no doubt about who the go-to guy is for the Albany Conquest when they need the big play. Just ask his Head Coach, Pete Costanza.
"Corey knows he is my guy. He has been my guy for a long time now, since Iowa when I had him in my offense" Costanza commented, "There is nobody in this entire league I would rather have catching a fourth down conversion for me with the game on the line. Corey just continues to make plays for us, whether it's scoring touchdowns or making clutch grabs. He's been doing it his entire career. This guy is a competitor and a winner, period."
Hill, who has scored 14 touchdowns, is on pace for 166 receptions at this point in the season. He has 101 catches through ten games (10.1 per game), with six games remaining in the season. If Hill catches 10 passes per game, he will tie his record from a year ago. With five division games coming up to finish the season, four of them at home, Hill is in prime position to make history one more time. However, if you ask Corey Hill what his goal is over the next six games, it has nothing to do with receptions or records. No, one of the best receivers ever to play the game of football just wants to lead his team to the top of the league and win the 2003 ArenaCup Championship.
So in the last home game of the season against Mohegan, if Hill is sitting at 160 in the fourth quarter with the game is on the line, don't be surprised to see Vena look to his right, and for the 321st time in his af2 career, find his old college teammate, etching both their names into football history one more time.
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