Knights Game Notes

May 21, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Macon Knights News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Macon Knights (5-2)
vs. Columbus Wardogs (2-4)
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2002
Kickoff: 7:00pm ET
Site: Columbus Civic Center (7,600)
Officials: Larry Mallum (R), Mike Cullin (U), Julian Mapp (HL), Greg Zimmerman (LJ), Ronnie Stewart (BJ)
Radio: US Broadcasting 92.3 FM
Series Record: Macon leads the series 2-0
Last Meeting: Macon 68; Columbus 17 (7/7/01)
Streaks: Macon – 1W; Columbus – 1W
Coaches: Macon, Kevin Porter (15-8, 2nd yr)
Columbus, Pete Costanza (2-4, 1st yr)

THE SERIES: The Knights won both meetings against the Wardogs last season. Macon dominated Columbus in the last meeting, holding them to just 105 yards total offense. The Knights won that game 68-17 in Columbus. In the first meeting of the two teams Macon defeated Columbus 49-27 at home.

THE STAKES: The Knights need a win to stay within striking distance of Augusta in the American Conference Eastern Division. Augusta is 6-0 and travels to Macon next week. Macon needs this win to distance themselves from Columbus and Carolina (both 2-4) in the division.

LAST WEEK: Macon set a franchise scoring record defeating Pensacola 80-65. Columbus defeated Louisville 34-31.

THE IFs:

If Macon defeats Columbus, it would ...
· Make the Knights 6-2 this season
· Make the Knights 3-0 vs. Columbus
· Make the Knights 3-1 vs. divisional opponents

HEAD COACHES: Macon's Kevin Porter enters his second season as the Knights head coach. Last season the team finished 10-6 and was the only expansion team to make the ArenaCup Playoffs. This season Porter is 5-2. Porter was head coach of the Pensacola Barracudas in 2000, leading them to an 8-8 record and an appearance in the ArenaCup Playoffs.

Pete Costanza is 2-4 in his first year as head coach of Columbus. Costanza served as the offensive coordinator for the Iowa Barnstormers in 2001.

LAST SERIES MEETING: The Knights defeated the Wardogs in the last meeting 68-17 in Columbus. The Knights held the Wardogs to just 105 yards total offense. The Knights forced six fumbles and sacked Columbus four times. Gabe Amey had one catch for 18 yards. Elton Davis recorded four tackles, Denario Smalls had three tackles and Gabe Amey had two tackles.

FAMILIAR FACES: From the 2001 af2 Expansion Team of the Year: FB/LB Byron Douzart, WR/LB Gabe Amey, WR/DB Denario Smalls, OL/DL Jarrett Jones.

The Knights' Cory Smith and Jason Perry played for the Wardogs last season.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES:
Date Action Player
5/17 Traded OL/DL Mike Foushee
4/30 Released OL/DL Casey Gamble
4/24 Assigned QB John Rayborn
4/24 Traded QB Michael Gluski

KNIGHTS 2-WEEK INJURED RESERVE:

• OL/DL Chris Smith

MILESTONES:

•The Knights were named the 2001 af2 Expansion Team of the Year.
•Knights OS Jaquez Rumph has 51 receptions this season
•Knights QB John Rayborn needs 71 passing yards to reach the 1,000 yard mark this season.
•Knights QB John Rayborn tied a franchise record with six passing TDs last week vs. Pensacola

DROPBACK: (5/17/02, Macon, Ga.) The Macon Knights didn't need a lot of plays to beat the Pensacola Barracudas last week. Led by game MVP, QB John Rayborn, the Knights offense made the most of 29 plays to defeat the Barracudas 80-65.

Rayborn completed 15 of 20 passes for 238 yards, six touchdowns and gave up one interception. Six of Rayborn's completions were to OS Jaquez Rumph for 122 yards and two touchdowns. WR/LB Gabe Amey caught three passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns, and WR/LB Tremaine Neal caught two passes for 51 yards and one touchdown.

"We were efficient with the ball, and spread it around," said Knights offensive coordinator Tres Sullivan. "We didn't have to run a lot of plays because we made a lot of big plays after we caught the ball."

Many of the Knights' big plays came from Rumph. "I'm real comfortable with John (Rayborn)," said Rumph. "I know exactly where he's going to throw the ball, and he knows exactly where I'm going to be."

The Knights defense also made several big plays. FB/LB Byron Douzart was named Ironman of the Game and ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Douzart blocked a 52-yard field goal attempt that bounced through the back of Pensacola's end zone for a safety. Adding to the Knights defense was DS Elton Davis. Davis had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown that pushed Macon's lead to 74-51 late in the fourth quarter. "I'm really proud of our guys," said head coach Kevin Porter. "They hung in there... and if you keep playing hard, good things are going to happen."

The Barracudas (2-4) dominated the Knights (5-2) statistically. The Knights only ran 29 plays for 259 yards while the Barracudas ran 52 plays for 323 yards.

The Knights finished the game strong by scoring 41 points in the second half and holding the Barracudas to 27. The Knights scored on all but two possessions in the second half, and one of those came by running the clock out at the end of the game.

Pensacola was led by OS Nick Iano (six receptions for 77 yards) and QB Charlie Peterson (26 of 50 for 328 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception). WR/LB Robert Stromas caught five passes for 41 yards and three touchdowns, and WR/DB caught five passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns.

FORWARD MOTION:

Home vs. Augusta, May 31. This game is huge for the Knights as they try to climb back to first place. The two teams just played each other on May 10th. Augusta escaped with a one-point victory and control of the division. This game will have all the hype and intensity you could ask for. Home vs. Columbus, June 8. The two teams will meet again just two weeks after playing each other. Revenge will be on the mind of whoever losses this week's game.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS: Point War: The Knights average 52.0 points per game while the Wardogs average only 30.2. However, the two teams give up nearly the same amount of points. Macon's opponents average 43.3 points per game while Columbus' opponents average 43.5 points per game.

Halftime Jinx: The Knights have won every game in which they have lead at halftime; however, they have lost both games in which they trailed at halftime.

Win Streak: Both teams are coming off wins last week. Columbus snapped a three-game skid, while Macon lost the last two out of three after starting the season with three wins.

Schedule Strength: Macon's two losses this season were to teams that are both currently undefeated at 6-0 (Tennessee Valley and Augusta). Columbus' two wins this season were against teams that are 0-6 (Louisville) and 2-4 (Jacksonville).

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Knights' OS Jaquez Rumph: Rumph needs just 24 receptions to tie the franchise record of 75 receptions in a season. Rumph is averaging over seven receptions per game this season.

Knights' Defensive Specialists: The Knights' defense has gotten a lift from DS Quesuan Wigfall, who has intercepted four passes, returning one for a touchdown. Last week DS Elton Davis returned a 50-yard interception for a touchdown.

Rayborn vs. Wardogs' Defense: The Wardogs' defense is ranked second in pass defense. Knights QB John Rayborn has been extremely accurate this season and is coming off a game in which he completed 15 of 20 passes.

Knights' K Wesley Wilson: Wilson is ranked ninth in scoring (kick) with 42 points (36 extra points and two field goals).



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