Horsemen Set for Battle of Supremacy in Atlantic East Division
May 23, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
The long-anticipated matchup for first place in the Atlantic East division is here. Last week, Lexington (6-1, 4-0) put away the Beaumont Drillers 62-52 for their sixth straight victory, while Ohio Valley (8-0, 7-0) remained undefeated on the season with a 63-12 pasting of Tennessee, setting up Saturday's game between the two hottest teams in the Atlantic Conference. The winner of this week's tilt will emerge with possession of first place in the Atlantic East division and a spot in the driver's seat as the push to the playoffs begins in earnest.. The game will be a true test for the expansion Horsemen, as the Greyhounds will continue their drive to defend their 2002 Indoor Bowl title.
This week's game also marks the Horsemen debut of former Kentucky star Craig Yeast, who replaces the injured Dougie Allen in the lineup. Yeast, who played for three years in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets, owns or shares 13 UK receiving and returning records.
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT â OHIO VALLEY GREYHOUNDS
The defending champs arrive in Lexington looking every bit as strong as they did last year, when they capped off a 15-1 season with a victory in the Indoor Bowl. Dating back to last year, the Hounds are currently on a 12-game win streak, and have won 23 of their last 24 games. Ohio Valley last lost a game on July 6, 2002 against the then-Tennessee ThunderCats. The Greyhounds are 8-0 this season, and have had only one game decided by less than ten points all year (a 48-42 victory over Fort Wayne on April 25).
The Hounds' calling card, as it was last year, is their punishing defense, which currently is allowing a mere 23.1 points per game, best in the league. DL Eddie Bynes leads the attack up front, having registered a whopping 23.0 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks on the year. The defensive backfield, who have allowed a paltry 79.5 passing yards per game on the season, is paced by DB Shawn Hackett, a rookie out of West Virginia University who has two interceptions and seven pass breakups to go with his 37.0 tackles for the year.
Offensively, the Greyhounds feature a potent ground attack, which has only gotten stronger during the season with the addition of RB Lloyd Clemons. The former Michigan State tailback has averaged 81.3 yards per game in only three games of duty, notching six rushing touchdowns along the way.
The steady Shane Franzer pilots the Greyhound passing attack, and has two rangy receivers to throw to when Ohio Valley chooses to air it out. Marshall product John Cooper, who is averaging 12.1 yards per catch on the season, stands 6'5", while his counterpart, 6'3" Steve Vagedes, has hauled in 8 touchdown catches on the season.
GREYHOUNDS SEASON TO DATE
3/27 at Tennessee W 46-21
4/5 vs. Evansville W 55-19
4/12 at Fort Wayne W 54-41
4/19 vs. Myrtle Beach W 41-15
4/25 vs. Fort Wayne W 48-42
5/4 at Evansville W 39-22
5/10 at Show Me W 23-13
5/17 vs. Tennessee W 63-12
THE TALE OF THE TAPE
Lexington-Ohio Valley statistical matchup (league rank in parentheses)
CATEGORY LEXINGTON OHIO VALLEY
Record 6-1 (T2) 8-0 (1)
Computer Ranking 10.94 (3) 15.88 (1)
Win Streak (2003) 6 (2) 8 (1)
Scoring Offense (PPG) 53.0 (3) 46.4 (10)
Scoring Defense (PPG) 35.7 (6) 23.1 (1)
Point Differential (Avg.) 17.3 (3) 23.3 (1)
Total Offense (Yds) 246.9 (7) 253.2 (6)
Pass Offense (Yds) 197.7 (5) 145.5 (11)
Rush Offense (Yds) 49.1 (18) 107.8 (2)
OTHER NEWS
Upper and lower level tickets are still available for Saturday's game. For ticket information, please call 859-233-3535. The game will also be broadcast live on WLAP 630 AM, with Jim Tirey and Jeff Gillstrap bringing fans the action.
Arena Football League Stories from May 23, 2003
- Randy Gatewood Named May's Ironman of the Month - Arizona Rattlers
- Horsemen Set for Battle of Supremacy in Atlantic East Division - Kentucky Horsemen
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