Kats Season Opener to be on AFL NET on Arenafootball.com
February 28, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Nashville Kats News Release
The 2007 AFL season opener between the Nashville Kats and Columbus Destroyers will kickoff Thursday, March 1st at 7:00 p.m. at the Gaylord Entertainment Center. The game will be broadcasted live on AFLnet on Arena Football.com and on 104.5's Kats on TitansRadio with Mike Keith anchoring the play-by-play and former Kats receiver Darryl Hammond as the color analyst.
The Kats enter the March 1st matchup with a 2-0 series record over the Destroyers and a 33-18 all-time home record. The Kats have combined to beat the Destroyers by an average of 17.5 points in each of the two contests.
Kats QB Clint Stoerner will again be at the helm for the Kats having helped the club set franchise records for touchdowns in a season (113), most passing yards in a season (3,847) and most total offense in a season (4,357 yards) in 2006. Stoerner will be reunited with WR Jason Shelley of whom the duo played together while with the Dallas Desperados in 2005. With Stoerner quarterbacking, Shelley garnered team-highs in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,267) and a career-high 28 receiving touchdowns. Kats FB Dan Alexander will shoulder the Kats' running attack, having rushed for 170 yards on 44 attempts in 2006.
On defense, the Kats return AFL great DL James Baron who registered three sacks for the Kats in 2006, DL Joe Minucci who has led the Kats in sacks the past two seasons and DB Monty Montgomery who led the team in tackles (79.5) and interceptions (9) in 2006.
The Kats will have some new players take the field in 2007 including, starters DB Waine Bacon who last played with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, OL/DL Tim McGill and Thal Woods who were acquired in an offseason trade with the Utah Blaze, OL Julius Franklin, former Middle Tennessee State star Keon Raymond and LB Liam Ezekial who last played with the Buffalo Bills. The Kats also acquired WR/KR/LB Carlos Wright from the Chicago Rush who is expected to play a large role in the return game in 2007.
The Destroyers offense will be placed in the hands of fifth-year quarterback Matt Nagy and David Saunders and Damien Groce at wide receiver. Reigning AFL Defensive Player of the Year DB Jerald Brown will anchor the Destroyers' defense, having posted 11 interceptions in 2006.
The Kats vs. Destroyers contest will benefit Nashville's Charles Davis Foundation. A foundation that provides services to inner-city youth to help them reach their full potential through positive, educational, athletic and cultural programs.
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