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Knights Go for Eastern Title

July 19, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MACON, Ga. – An appealing interconference matchup highlights Saturday night' s af2 action as the Birmingham Steeldogs (9-5) and Macon Knights (12-2) tee it up in a potential ArenaCup 2002 showdown. On the line for Macon is a division championship and a chance to stay in the hunt for homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, while the Steeldogs look to reach double-digit victories for the second straight year and build momentum entering the postseason.

The Knights feature one of the league's top offenses, averaging 55.8 points per game and trailing only Tulsa for the league lead in that category. Birmingham, too, has the potential to put up big numbers on offense, ranking eighth in the league with a 49.2 points-per-game average.

When these teams met back in June, offense definitely was on display as the Knights outlasted the 'Dogs 71-61 in the seventh-highest scoring game of the season. Macon's JAQUEZ RUMPH led all receivers in the game with 12 catches for 128 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 163 yards in kickoff returns, including a 55-yard touchdown scamper. Birmingham QB MONTRESSA KIRBY tossed seven scoring strikes for the Steeldogs in the losing effort.

QB JOHN RAYBORN has more than proved his worth to the Macon Knights' faithful this season. Since replacing the traded MIKE GLUSKI in Week 5, the former AFLer has netted nine wins, including eight straight victories, and has the Knights on the brink of the Eastern Division championship. He is third in af2 with a 114.3 passer rating and is nearing the 3,000-yard passing plateau (2,761 yards in 11 games). He also is among the league leaders with 56 touchdowns to his credit.

While June's meeting between these combatants demonstrated Rumph's value to Macon, several other Kinghts have big-play potential, including MARTEZ WESLEY and GABE AMEY, who have combined for 1,744 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns. Amey has caught the eye of some NFL scouts and has been invited to workouts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens next week.

Birmingham's offense will have a different look this week as the Steeldogs parted ways with veteran OS WAYNE THOMAS. In three seasons with Birmingham, Thomas appeared in 42 games and amassed 4,124 receiving yards on 276 catches and an af2-record 106 touchdown receptions. During his career, Thomas had 19 100-yard receiving games and holds team records for catches in a game, 14; receiving yards in a game, 223; and touchdown receptions in a single game, seven. HERMAN BELL, who last week returned 10 kicks for 186 yards and two TDs, will replace Thomas at the OS position.

The 'Dogs still have one of the best under center in Kirby. The mobile gunslinger leads with his rushing and passing skills, as he has accumulated 2,868 yards and 63 touchdowns passing and 247 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. While the Steeldogs may not be as potent on offense compared to the Knights, they more than make up for on the other side of the ball with af2's No. 2 ranking in total defense. They hold opponents to just 200 yards and keep them below 40 points per contest.

The June contest was the only previous meeting between these two teams. This is the first trip to Macon for the Steeldogs. The Knights are 6-1 at home, while the Steeldogs are 4-2 away from the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.

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Florida (8-6) moved a game closer to a playoff spot with a 46-40 overtime victory over Pensacola last weekend and can clinch a postseason berth with a win at Columbus (3-11) Saturday. The Wardogs suffered a 58-42 loss to Tallahassee last weekend and looks to rain on Florida's parade, with Charleston and Jacksonville in close pursuit of the Firecats. Less than two points a game separate the sides offensively, with Florida averaging 39.1 points a game compared to the Wardogs' 37.3. On defense, the Firecats have been impressive this season, holding opponents to just 36.1 points. While the "average points against" statistic may not show it, the Wardogs' defense is better than advertised, ranking sixth in the league in total defense with 213.4 yards allowed per game. BRIAN SPARACINO leads Florida's offense with 2,007 yards passing and 34 touchdowns. ANTHONY DIXON scored four times against Pensacola, including the overtime winner, to earn af2 Offensive Player of the Week honors. He currently leads Florida receivers with 71 catches for 896 yards. Against the Barracudas, FRED HARLEY led Florida's pass rush with two sacks, bringing his season total to 3.5 in seven games. For Columbus, PHIL TAYLOR has been a consistent performer on offense, catching 74 passes for a team-record 1,092 yards. BILLY LUCKIE has not seen significant time recently, but figures to play against the Firecats. Luckie leads Wardog quarterbacks with 1,711 yards and 32 touchdowns. Defensively, SHEDRIC HARRIS has registered a team-high 58.5 tackles. Harris also has picked off three passes.

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Fresh off of a bye week, Peoria (9-5) hopes to regroup and put a three-game losing streak behind it and go into the playoffs on a two-game high. Louisville (2-12) is out of playoff contention, but could use a good showing in its final two games before heading into next year. The Pirates will be without injured WR/LB JERMAINE SHEFFIELD, who has been an offensive and defensive workhorse all season long, but with WR/DB/KR LINCOLN DUPREE and OS CORNELL CRAIG in the lineup, Peoria is not short of options. Peoria's offense matches up favorably against a Fire defense allowing 50.6 points a game. The Pirates' offense averages 51.1 points a game. Defensively, the Pirates hold opponents to 39.1 points while Louisville's offense scores an average of 32.6 points per contest. Dupree enters Saturday's game with a league-high seven kickoff returns for touchdowns and is fourth in af2 with 921 return yards. Dupree needs just one more kick return TD to equal ADLAI TRONE's season record of eight, set last season with Louisville. Dupree also headlines the Pirates' defense with 12 interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. KEVIN BOUIE and ERIC JOHNSON each have recorded 12.0 sacks this season to lead a formidable Peoria pass rush. Louisville relies on OS ANTHONY PAYTON for much of its offensive output. The receiver has 1,250 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. MIKE SUMMERS leads the Fire defense with 42.5 tackles and three interceptions. MATT HICKS threw two touchdown passes in Louisville's loss to Quad City last week. Peoria beat Louisville 72-20 in Week 9.

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Norfolk's 68-33 victory over Roanoke last weekend gave the Nighthawks a 7-1 record at home this season. The Nighthawks (8-6) have been unable to duplicate the same form on the road, where they are 1-5 heading into Saturday's game at New Haven (4-10). However, Norfolk has won five straight games and seven of its last eight. New Haven has lost three straight games, but still can factor into the Northeast Division playoff race as a spoiler. The Ninjas and Nighthawks are relatively comparable on offense and defense. Norfolk has the edge on offense, scoring 40.4 points a game to New Haven's 38.6. On defense, the Nighthawks also edge the Ninjas, with 45.6 points against compared to New Haven's 46.2. QB CHRIS WALLACE leads the Nighthawks offense, passing for 2,184 yards and 45 touchdowns in just nine games at the helm. With Wallace as a starter, Norfolk is 7-2. GARY BRIGGS has a team-high 65 receptions for 782 yards and 16 touchdowns and TRAVIS BURNS has 965 receiving yards and 20 scores for Norfolk. On defense, JAY CLARKE has a team-high 48.5 tackles and has intercepted five passes. For New Haven, ANTHONY COMER has recorded 48.5 tackles and six interceptions on defense and 813 receiving yards and 16 scores on offense. DAMON RICHARDSON also has picked off six passes for New Haven. Ninjas QB CHRIS BODEN has thrown for 1,186 yards and 25 touchdowns in just six games.

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An uncharacteristic Augusta performance last weekend doomed the Stallions (11-3) to a 36-34 loss at Charleston, their second defeat in two weeks. The Stallions look to rebound this week against a Tallahassee team (9-5) that has won two straight games and that can clinch the American Conference Southern Division title with a win. Augusta leads the all-time series 2-0 and defeated the Thunder 41-30 earlier this season. The Thunder scores 49.1 points a game compared to Augusta's 51.6. On defense, the Stallions also have the edge, with 42.4 points against to Tallahassee's 43.6. Augusta QB GLEN GAUNTT is second in the league with 72 touchdown passes and needs 14 scores in the last two games to tie MATT SAUK's single-season league mark of 86. TIM DUMAS has 103 receptions for 1,235 yards to lead Augusta's offense. LAVAR RAINEY leads the Stallions' secondary with 10 interceptions and 61.5 tackles. FB/LB MESIAH PORTER leads the Thunder on offense and defense and ranks among the league's leading rushers. Porter's 20 rushing touchdowns are the third-most in af2. Porter also has amassed 242 yards rushing and 535 receiving. Defensively, Porter leads Tallahassee with 48.5 tackles and six takeaways (three interceptions, three fumble recoveries). QB VIC PENN has played four games for the Thunder, passing for 690 yards and 10 scores.

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Charleston (7-7) still is in the playoff picture after defeating Augusta 36-34 last weekend, and the Swamp Foxes are poised to make Florida pay for any mistakes down the stretch. Carolina (3-11) is the first hurdle the Swamp Foxes must clear. When the two teams meet Saturday at the BI-LO Center, the Rhinos will be looking to rebound from a tough 36-18 loss to Cape Fear. The Rhinos' offense scores just 35.8 points a game compared to Charleston's 44.6. On defense, Carolina has a slight edge with 45.1 points allowed per game compared to Charleston's 46.0 average. NICK JOHNSON leads Rhinos receivers with 61 receptions for 710 yards and 10 touchdowns. Defensively, ARKEE THOMPSON has seven interceptions in eight games to lead the Rhinos' secondary. CALEB SLOVER has passed for 2,058 yards and 39 touchdowns for Carolina. WR/DB MICHAEL BROWN and quarterback MIKE BATH are injury concerns for Charleston heading into Saturday's contest, but both are listed as probable. Brown is third in the league with 11 interceptions and also leads the team with 55.0 tackles. Brown figures predominantly in the Swamp Foxes' offense with 45 catches for 723 yards and 14 touchdowns. DWAYNE WILMOT continues to be the Swamp Foxes' most dangerous threat with 990 receiving yards and 20 scores. Bath has amassed 1,732 passing yards and 30 touchdowns as Charleston's starter for the majority of the season.

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For Greensboro (3-12) and Roanoke (7-8), Saturday's game is the final one of the 2002 season. The Prowlers hosted the Steam in April in one of the most exciting games of the season, with Roanoke walking away with a 59-56 overtime win. The Prowlers average 6.6 more points a game more than Roanoke, but surrender 10.1 more on defense. Greensboro QB CHRIS WEIBEL has thrown for 1,953 yards and 31 touchdowns to lead the Prowlers' offense. ANTOINE CALLOWAY has caught 106 passes for 1,372 yards and 19 scores. JERMAINE TONEY has recorded a team-high 89.0 tackles to lead Greensboro's defense. CRANSTON JOHNSON has five interceptions in the Prowlers' secondary. Roanoke QB MICHAEL THOMAS completed 11-of-24 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another score in limited action in last week's loss at Norfolk. KENAN MCWHORTER leads Roanoke receivers with 65 catches for 644 yards and five touchdowns. MARIO KELSO leads the Steam's secondary with four interceptions while COREY CLARK has recorded a team-high 51.5 tackles.

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Albany (11-3) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (6-9) potentially could meet in the first round of the playoffs depending on how Rochester finishes the season. The Pioneers need a victory Saturday to end the season on a three-game win streak and to have their best hope of qualifying for the playoffs. Even if the Pioneers win, Rochester would need to lose its remaining two games in order for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to advance. Albany leads the series against the Pioneers 2-0, but only scraped by with a 37-35 win in May. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's offense outscores the Conquest's by a little over a point a game, but Albany's defense yields a meager 36.0 points a game compared to the Pioneer's 45.5. BRANDON TINSON leads the Conquest defense with 67.0 tackles while ALEX HOUSTON is the team's top pass rusher with 10.5 sacks. QB RYAN VENA and OS COREY HILL headline Albany's offense. The two have hooked up 131 times for 1,523 yards and 28 touchdowns. Vena has totaled 2,594 yards and 46 touchdowns while completing 61.8 percent of his passes this season. Pioneers QB BRYAN SNYDER has thrown for 2,115 yards and 45 touchdowns. In nine games as a receiver, former QB JOHN KNUST has 18 touchdown catches and 698 yards. AMAM ABYE is another receiving threat for the Pioneers, having caught 62 passes for 72 yards. Defensively for the Pioneers, RODRICK PRAYER has 82.0 tackles and three interceptions.

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At 6-8, the Pensacola Barracudas aim to finish .500 after recovering from a slow start to the season. Bossier City (9-5) and Arkansas currently are tied in the Central Division and will square off in Bossier City for the division 's final playoff spot on the final day of the regular season regardless of what happens to either team this weekend. The Battle Wings can ill afford to look ahead to its clash with Arkansas and first will have to focus its attention on a dangerous Pensacola team. Both the Barracudas and Wings score just over 47 points a game. Defensively, Bossier City has fared slightly better, allowing 40.9 points compared to Pensacola's 45.1. CHARLIE PETERSON has 2,550 yards and 50 touchdown passes to his credit as the Barracudas' quarterback. JACK WALKER leads Pensacola's air attack with 855 receiving yards and 21 scores. WILL PETTIS has nine interceptions and 34 passes defended in the Barracudas' secondary. PATRICK DYSON has recorded 52.5 tackles on defense. Bossier City QB SHERARD POTEETE looks to break his own Battle Wings record of 23 rushing touchdowns scored in a season. Last season 's 23 scores were an af2 record until Hawaii's DARNELL ARCENEAUX set a new standard of 24 rushing touchdowns last weekend. KEVIN STEVENSON has 102 receptions for 1,301 yards and 22 touchdowns this season to lead the Battle Wings pass-catching corps. On defense, CEDRIC ROBINSON has team highs of 63.5 tackles and seven interceptions.

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Tennessee Valley (12-2) hosts Memphis (5-9) Saturday looking to earn homefield advantage throughout the playoffs with victories in its remaining two games. As it stands, Tulsa and the Vipers both share 12-2 records, but Tennessee Valley holds the tiebreaker with a better record against common opponents. Memphis has nothing to lose and is fresh off of its bye week. Xplorers QB TIM LESTER was knocked out of his last game with a neck injury, but, with a week's rest, is listed as probable. The Vipers score 48.1 points a game and hold opponents to 37.9 points, largely in part to KELLY SNELL's ballhawking abilities. Snell set the new af2 mark for interceptions last week and has 15 headed into Saturday's game. Fellow DS KENNY BAILEY makes things even harder for opponents as he has picked off seven passes for the Vipers. Memphis scores 44.8 points a game behind Lester's leadership. With star receiver RUSSELL COPELAND out for the season, CARLOS MCNEARY is the Xplorers' main threat. McNeary has 932 yards receiving and 23 scores. On defense, Memphis relies on BILL BORCHERS for its pass rush. Borchers has seven of the Xplorers' 18 sacks. Tennessee Valley QB JERMAINE ALFRED has settled in since taking over for the injured WES COUNTS. Alfred has totaled 719 yards and 13 touchdown passes in four games. Top receiver KELLY FIELDS eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark last week, but could miss this game due to injury.

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Tulsa (12-2) has long since clinched a playoff berth and first-round homefield advantage, but now looks at the big picture and hopes to secure home dates for the entirety of the playoffs. Tulsa needs to defeat Wichita (6-9) Saturday and Bakersfield the following week and hope Tennessee Valley slips up once in the final two weeks for the Talons to earn the homefield edge come playoff time. Wichita also is trying to build momentum heading into the postseason. Under QB RON LOPEZ, the Stealth has improved by leaps and bounds and is 5-3 in his tenure. The Wichita signal caller leads the league with 285.5 yards a game and a 116.8 passer rating. In eight games, the former AFL veteran has thrown for 2,286 yards and 40 touchdowns. XAVIER PATTERSON, COREY McCOY and WILLIE GRISSOM each have more than 700 yards receiving and combine for 38 scores. On defense, BRYAN HENDERSON is second in af2 with 16.0 sacks. Tulsa QB ANTHONY BUICH has completed 64.5 percent of his passes for 2,438 yards and 51 touchdowns. OS/KR MITCH ALLNER has scored an af2-high 234 points and is among the league leaders in kick return yardage, receiving yards, all-purpose yards and touchdowns. LARRY HOLLINQUEST was crowned af2 ADT Defensive Player of the Week last week for his part in the Talons' 69-44 victory over Fresno. Hollinquest has 78.5 tackles and nine interceptions to his credit this season.

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Arkansas (9-5) has won four straight games, averaging 74.5 points a game during that streak. The Twisters head to playoff-bound San Diego (7-7) Saturday looking to extend its streak and go into the final week showdown at Bossier City with momentum. San Diego still can finish atop the Western Division, but the Riptide needs to win out and needs Bakersfield to lose its two remaining games. The Twisters' offense averages 55.0 points a game on offense for the season, whereas San Diego scores 45.9. On defense, the teams are virtually identical, allowing around 44 points per game. RICKY HEBERT leads the Arkansas offense with 3,446 passing yards and 75 touchdowns. Hebert needs 11 touchdown passes in the final two regular season games to break MATT SAUK's record of 86, established in 2001. LENNIE JOHNSON has 56 catches for 1,013 yards to lead the Twisters. Johnson also is a leader on defense for Arkansas, having amassed five interceptions and 45.5 tackles. San Diego's RICO CURTIS is the league's leading tackler with 110.5. Curtis also has picked off two passes, forced four fumbles and recovered three. Offensively, KANE CLAUNCH has tossed 55 touchdown passes and accumulated 2,840 yards. MARTY GRAHAM is San Diego's leading receiver with 40 receptions for 673 yards.

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Bakersfield (8-6) looks to seal first place in the Western Division with a victory over Fresno (4-10) Saturday at Selland Arena. The Blitz defeated San Diego two out of three games this season and therefore holds the tiebreaker over the 7-7 Riptide. Should the Blitz lose it last two remaining games and San Diego win out, the two teams would meet at the San Diego Sports Arena instead of Centennial Garden. Having lost to Bakersfield twice this season, Fresno hopes to take one game in the three-game series dubbed the "Battle of Highway 99." Bakersfield boasts the eighth-ranked scoring defense and holds opponents to 40.1 points a game. The Frenzy's defense allows 57.9 points a game and its offense posts 42.6 points. STEVE WOFFORD leads the Blitz offense with 95 receptions for 1,111 yards in the team's inaugural year. CHAD ELLIOTT is second in the league in passing yards per game with an average of 257.5. Elliott has passed for 3,348 yards and 62 touchdowns. J' SHARLON JONES picked off his 10th pass of the season in last week's 52-39 win against Wichita. Jones also leads the team with 62.0 tackles. LAMONT WEBB has scored 190 points this season to lead the Frenzy offense. The speedy receiver ranks fourth in af2 with 2,537 all-purpose yards. KENNY ROSE lines up under center for Fresno and has 79-of-147 passes for 910 yards and 13 scores. Defensively, CHRIS BAYNE has registered 60.0 tackles for the Frenzy.

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Though Hawaii (3-11) harbors no postseason hopes, DARNELL ARCENEAUX is creating a buzz in the islands with his record-breaking year. The Islanders' quarterback heads into Saturday's game against Quad City (9-5) with two af2 records to his credit. With 88 yards and three rushing scores at Arkansas last weekend, Arceneaux set new records for yards in a season (403) and rushing touchdowns in a season (24). Despite Arceneaux's performance in a team-record 73-point effort, the Islanders dropped the game by 10 points to the explosive Twisters. QB MIKE CAWLEY has spurred the Steamwheelers' second-half resurgence. Quad City is 4-1 record since Cawley joined the team in mid-June. In five games, the QB has passed for 1,186 yards and 26 touchdowns. Quad City's offense averages 50.3 points a game largely because of the performances of receivers CHRIS ANTHONY and IRA GOOCH. Both are 1,000-yard receivers and have combined for 55 touchdowns. Quad City's defense has picked up steam in recent weeks, allowing just 34.3 points a game in its last four outings. BRENT BROWNER has picked off eight passes in just six games for the Steamwheelers and HIAWATHA PHIFER has recorded 80.0 tackles. For Hawaii, ROBERT KEMFORT has 41 receptions for 603 yards and 10 scores to lead Islander receivers. NIAN TAYLOR has been an asset for Hawaii since joining the team three weeks ago. In three games, Taylor has intercepted two passes, caught 16 passes for 325 yards and scored seven times.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 17

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Tallahassee.

BAKERSFIELD: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Western Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Fresno OR San Diego loss vs. Arkansas.

BIRMINGHAM: Clinched playoff berth.

CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Atlantic Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Richmond. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Richmond OR Albany loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

FLORIDA: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Columbus OR Charleston loss at Carolina AND Jacksonville loss at Mobile.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round). Can clinch Eastern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Macon OR Augusta loss vs. Tallahassee.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch Midwest Division title with win at Louisville AND Quad City loss at Hawaii. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Louisville OR Bakersfield loss at Fresno AND San Diego loss vs. Arkansas.

RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Cape Fear AND Albany loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

ROCHESTER: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mohegan OR Wilkes-Barre/Scranton loss vs. Albany AND New Haven loss vs. Norfolk.

SAN DIEGO: Clinched playoff berth.

TALLAHASSEE: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Augusta OR Florida loss at Columbus.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched National Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout National Conference playoffs (if victorious in first two rounds) with win vs. Memphis AND Tulsa loss at Wichita.

TULSA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Central Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

WICHITA: Clinched playoff berth.

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