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Knights take on Blizzard in titletown tilt

April 20, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


Okay, so a 2-1 Macon Knights team against a 1-1 Green Bay Blizzard team may not look like a true game of the week matchup.

But often early in a season it is difficult to tell the premier teams from the middle level teams. If you start to look at both of these teams there is reason to believe they are better than preseason predictions.

First, lets look at the Macon Knights. Last season's 3-13 record was a disappointment in every sense of the word for Macon.

Especially after advancing to the ArenaCup in 2003.

Last season Macon scored the second fewest points in af2, averaging only 37.4 points per game. This season they are improved, averaging 50.3 points through three games.

The credit for this improvement needs to be put on the shoulders of LIONEL HAYNES. Out of Grambling State, Haynes has completed 53 of 85 passes for 712 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Most importantly, Haynes has thrown zero interceptions.

Haynes has moved the ball around too, completing touchdown passes to six different receivers already. His three rushing touchdowns shows he isn't afraid to move his feet.

The two-way star for the Knights is MATT JACKSON. The former Florida Gator has taken to the WR/DB position after being switched from receiver to cornerback in his senior season at Florida. In just three games Jackson has three receiving touchdowns, two interceptions and one forced fumble. He's also returned four kicks for 114 yards and one touchdown. Green Bay better be aware anytime Jackson is on the field.

Also, Macon has played well in all three of their ball games.

They opened the season with a close 35-32 loss to the defending champions Florida Firecats.

But Florida needed a touchdown with seven seconds left to pull out the win.

Macon's two victories, a 52-41 win over South Georgia and a 67-50 victory over Birmingham came over two of af2's historically better teams.

Now the Knights turn their attention to Green Bay.

Green Bay won their opener against Albany 49-41 but lost last week to Manchester on the road, 41- 59. Green Bay was in the game against Manchester but JOHNNY TURMAN's three interceptions ended up being too much for the Blizzard to recover from.

With that said, Turman is the reason Green Bay has hope. The af2 Rookie of the Year in 2003 brings AFL and significant af2 experience to the Blizzard.

Against Albany, Turman's main receiver was TROY MASON, who caught eight passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns. Last week against Manchester Turman looked to TORREY DAY, who caught five passes for 106 yards and three touchdowns.

If Turman can combine these two weapons with ROBERT GARTH, who caught 78 passes for 956 yards and 26 touchdowns last season, then the Blizzard could have one of the most explosive offenses in af2.

On defense Green Bay is led by RYAN BOWERS who leads the team in tackles (12.0) and interceptions (2).

NICK ANDERSON has recorded two sacks already for the Blizzard.

So while we may not yet know a lot about how good these teams are, we certainly will after this contest.

Wildcats best winless team?

Here are four reasons why the South Georgia Wildcats may be af2's best team without a victory.

1. BOBBY PESAVENTO - After spending time in the AFL, the former Colorado Buffalos quarterback returned to the af2 last week.

Pesavento completed 29 of 49 passes for 271 yards and seven touchdowns with one interception against the Fire.

His arena football experience will help South Georgia regain focus on the playoffs.

2. ADRIAN COCKFIELD - One of af2's best receivers is now playing in his hometown. In just two games Cockfield has caught 25 passes for 270 yards and seven touchdowns. He is on pace to catch 200 passes. This would obliterate the current record of receptions in a season. Currently Albany's COREY HILL holds that crown, catching 161 passes in both 2002 and 2003.

3. CHRIS SIEGFRIED - One of af2's best head coaches, Siegfriend holds a 23-11 all-time record. He has taken the Wildcats to the playoffs in the three previous years of their existence and won't lower those expectations.

4. THE FANS - The Wildcats drew a crowd of 7,214 to their first ever home game two weeks ago. Loud crowds can be the difference in close games and if Albany, Georgia keeps packing them in they will make a difference this season.

Battle Wings acquire Hicks

TIM HICKS, last season's top quarterback in the American Conference with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, was traded from the Pioneers to the Bossier- Shreveport Battle Wings for future considerations last Wednesday.

The former West Liberty standout is fresh off his first full season in the league, in which he threw for an impressive 3,679 passing yards and a staggering 82 touchdowns and just eight interceptions.

Hicks availability came about as part of a typical numbers crunch. He attended training camp with the Nashville Kats and returned to Wilkes- Barre/Scranton where new Pioneer KYLE ROWLEY had also joined the club.

Hicks couldn't replace Rowley, who has thrown for 761 yards (2nd best in the league) and a league-leading 20 touchdown passes with a pass rating of 128.3.

Bossier-Shreveport will look to get their season on track as they host af2's newest team, the Amarillo Dusters, this week.

af2 in the AFL watch

• After spending the entire season as the backup for the Orlando Predators, QB CHRIS SANDERS got his chance last week. Starting quarterback JOE HAMILTON separated his left shoulder just before halftime against the New York Dragons. Sanders, who starred last season for the Manchester Wolves, came in for the second half and completed 12 of 17 passes for 130 yards and no interceptions. He threw two touchdown passes and rushed for two more while leading the Predators to a 72-60 victory. The Predators move to 8-4, second place in the Southern Division behind Georgia Force.

• The Predators have another former af2 player in E.J. BURT. When Burt was with the Cape Fear Wildcats in 2002 he registered 27.5 sacks, a record for any level of professional football. This season Burt has seven sacks, tied for third in the league with another former af2 guy, SILAS DEMARY of the Los Angeles Avengers. Tops in the AFL in sacks is Las Vegas' FRANK CARTER, a former member of the Quad City Steamwheelers, with nine.

• Continuing this theme, Orlando signed former Pioneers' FB/LB KEVIN NAGLE off their practice squad this week. Look for Nagle, Burt and Sanders in action for the Predators against Georgia this weekend.

Getting to know Asi Faoa

Professional Career: Faoa is an af2 rookie this season ... Signed with the Los Angeles Avengers in December of 2004 before being released on March 16, 2005.

College: Faoa finished a five-year career at the University of California at Los Angeles with 42 tackles, 5.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and two quarterback sacks for the Bruins ... Started at linebacker in the 1999 season opener as a true freshman ... Played in the next two contests, before being sidelined with back problems for which he was granted a medical hardship year ... In 2000, he made the switch from linebacker to defensive end ... As a junior in 2002, Faoa played in all 13 games and finished with 24 tackles, three for losses and two sacks ... As a senior in 2003, he played both end and tackle, and was the co-winner of UCLA's Jerry Long "Heart" Award.

This Season: In San Diego's first two games Faoa has recorded two sacks for a loss of 14 yards and one tackle for a loss ... His two sacks leads the team.

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arenafootball2 Stories from April 20, 2005


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