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Knights' Turn for Revenge?

May 30, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MACON, Ga. - A possible first-round playoff preview highlights Friday night's af2 action, as the 6-2 Macon Knights host the undefeated Augusta Stallions (7-0) at the Macon Coliseum. Kickoff for this intrastate matchup is 7:30 p.m. ET.

Even though this is only the fourth meeting between these clubs, the rivalry already has a rich history. Augusta took a 2-1 series advantage back on May 10, withstanding a second-half charge from the Knights and escaping with a 48-47 win. After trailing 27-13 in the first half, the Knights outscored the Stallions 34-21 in the rest of the way, but couldn't convert a two-point conversion at the end of the game.

The Knights may have only one win in this series, but it was arguably the biggest win in team history. On July 14, 2001, the Knights came to Augusta and stole the Stallions' playoff spot with a 56-32 win, becoming the only 2001 expansion team to make the postseason. The 24-point margin of victory was the largest in the series. The first-ever game was decided by four points while the latest installment, as mentioned above, was determined by a point.

With both teams currently on track for postseason play, the series takes another twist as the clubs battle for the Eastern Division crown. A step in that direction for the Knights would be to hand Augusta its first loss of the year. The Knights have two losses, but play like a team with none. If it weren't for a missed field goal and failed two-point conversion, the Knights would be 8-0.

Macon and Augusta both boast top-rated offenses, ranking No. 4 and 5 in af2, respectively. JOHN RAYBORN commands the Knights' offense. The former AFL field general joined the Knights in Week 5 and has shown improvement in just about every game since, despite being 2-2 as their starter. Last week in Columbus, he engineered a record-setting offensive night for Macon, throwing for 311 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions. WR/LB MARTEZ WESLEY and WR/LB GABE AMEY both eclipsed 100 yards receiving in the contest, with Wesley setting a team record in receptions (12) and receiving yards (152).

The Stallions' offense is guided by the arm of QB GLEN GAUNT, who has been masterful this season, throwing for more than 1,700 yards and 38 touchdowns. When Gaunt steps back to throw, he relies on a trio of capable receivers in TIM DUMAS, UNDRE WILLIAMS and CHRIS JOHNSON. Dumas leads the club with 53 receptions for 645 yards and 13 scores, but Williams and Johnson both are over 400 yards receiving and have 21 touchdowns between them.

Along with well-matched offenses, these clubs are fairly even on the other side of the ball, too. The Stallions have the league's 13th-best defense, allowing 40.3 points per game. The Knights rank 17th, with opponents putting up an average of 43.6 per contest. Both defenses also feature league award winners. The Knights' RENDELL JACKSON took home Ironman of the Week honors for his heroics in Macon's win over Jacksonville in Week 6 while LAVAR RAINEY of the Stallions garnered ADT Defensive Player of the Week accolades for his efforts in last week's win over Charleston.

This will be the last time these teams meet in the regular season. Both teams play all but one of their games outside the division in the second half of the season.

Charleston and Florida meet for the first time Friday at TECO Arena, with both teams desperate for a win to get their playoff hopes back on track. Since opening the season 3-0, Florida has dropped its last four contests and now sits at the bottom of the American Conference Southern Division. The Swamp Foxes enter Friday's game coming off of a 69-41 loss at the hands of undefeated Augusta. The Firecats have struggled offensively this season, scoring just 34.6 points per game, but on defense Florida holds opponents to just 36.4. Charleston has had more luck offensively, scoring 47.1 points a game, but allowing 51.7. Since taking over as Florida's starting quarterback two weeks ago, BRYAN SPARACINO has passed for 354 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception. RAY ISAAC has assumed the starting role for the Swamp Foxes, passing for 834 yards and 16 scores. Defensively for Charleston, MIKE BROWN has picked off a team-high five passes. Florida's MAGIC BENTON ranks second in the league with three fumble recoveries on the season. Charleston host Florida June 15 in the final meeting between the two teams this season.

Mobile rolls into Tallahassee Friday looking for revenge after the Thunder upended the Wizards 58-39 last weekend. Tallahassee has opened up a two-game advantage atop the American South, while Mobile is still searching for its first victory of the season. The Thunder's ninth-ranked offense (50.3 PPG) will try to emulate last weekend's success against a Wizards' defense that allows 61 points per game. The Wizards' offense founds its rhythm last week, recording its highest point total of the season with 39. The Thunder boasts the sixth-ranked pass defense in the league and holds opponents' quarterbacks to just 186 yards passing a game. TYRONN JOHNSON leads a Tallahassee pass rush that has recorded 22 sacks on the season - Johnson has 8.5. T.J. PERRY leads the Wizards' defense with three forced and three recovered fumbles. Perry also is Mobile's leading tackler with 37. Last week, MESIAH PORTER scored four touchdowns for the Thunder. Porter is Tallahassee's leading rusher with five scores. Newly-acquired MELVIN HILL makes his first start at quarterback for Mobile. Hill joined the Wizards this week, but is no stranger to the af2. Last season, Hill passed for 1,420 yards, 28 scores and four interceptions for current Mobile head coach ALAN RISHER when both were with Baton Rouge.

Jacksonville returns home to the friendly confines of Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum to face Columbus Friday. On April 20, the Wardogs edged Jacksonville 19-14 in the second-lowest scoring game in league history. A lot has changed since then, and the Tomcats' offense has turned around in recent weeks, scoring 42.4 points a game. Both defenses are evenly matched, with Jacksonville giving up 40.0 points per game and the Wardogs 43.5. MARCUS OUTZEN recorded his first win last week as the Tomcats defeated Florida 40-33. Outzen threw for 214 yards and five touchdowns. LAWRENCE PULLEN is the Tomcats' leading receiver with 20 catches for 358 yards and eight touchdowns. Pullen also is a threat on kickoff returns, averaging 21.8 yards per runback and scoring twice. The Wardogs' BILLY LUCKIE is fresh off of his finest start of the season in Columbus' 63-46 loss to Macon. The 46 points scored by the Wardogs was a team record for most points in a game. Luckie passed for 285 yards and five touchdowns. Friday's game is the final meeting of the season between Columbus and Jacksonville.

Carolina (2-6) travels to Louisville (0-7) Friday in a matchup of two teams that need to start stringing together wins in a hurry if they hope to contend for playoff berths. Despite its winless start, the Fire currently is just 1½ games out of the second spot in the Midwest Division. The Rhinos, who sit 3½ games behind second-place Macon in the Eastern Division, earned their two victories in back-to-back weeks against Greensboro. Their current two-game skid includes last week's 39-34 loss at Norfolk that saw the Nighthawks score the winning TD with 29 seconds left. Louisville endured a rough one in Peoria last week, going down 65-0 and eventually losing 72-20. The Fire may have found a new threat, though, in WR/DB MIKE LEAKS. The two-way player led the team with seven catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns in his fourth appearance of the year. Carolina QB CALEB SLOVER is the Rhinos' main playmaker. Slover is sixth in the league with 128 rushing yards. His nine rushing TDs rank second behind Bossier City's SHERARD POTEETE. This game pits the league's fifth-best rush offense (Carolina - 38.6 ypg, 4.1 yards per carry) against its 11th-best rush defense (Louisville allows just 20.7 ypg).

Mohegan hosts New Haven Friday in a rematch of last week's thrilling overtime contest that the Wolves won 36-30. With homefield advantage, Mohegan looks to string together a win streak as playoff races heat up. New Haven is one game behind the Wolves and will be looking to avenge last weekend's loss. Fans should expect another close game, with both teams evenly matched on offense and defense. Mohegan has scored 40.6 points a game and allowed 42.3, while New Haven puts 34.9 points on the board and concedes 44.3. DAMON RICHARDSON leads the Ninjas' defense with five interceptions. Richardson also is second on the team with 28.0 tackles behind ANTHONY COMER's 31.5. Comer has developed into both an offensive and defensive threat for New Haven and not only leads the team in tackling, but also in receiving with 28 catches for 386 yards and eight scores. BRANDON BURNSIDE leads the Wolves in six offensive categories, including scoring (116), receptions (52), touchdowns (19) and all-purpose yards (1,741). Mohegan's CARLOS McLAURIN is the league's fourth leading tackler with 45.0 on the season.

Week 10 Schedule (all times EST)
Friday, May 31
Mobile at Tallahassee, 7:00 p.m.
Charleston at Florida, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.
Carolina at Louisville, 7:30 p.m.
Augusta at Macon, 7:30 p.m.
New Haven at Mohegan, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Greensboro at Norfolk, 7:00 p.m.
Albany at Richmond, 7:00 p.m.
Roanoke at Cape Fear, 7:30 p.m.
Rochester at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 7:30 p.m.
Peoria at Quad City, 8:00 p.m.
Bossier City at Birmingham, 8:30 p.m.
Arkansas at Memphis, 8:30 p.m.
Pensacola at Tennessee Valley, 8:30 p.m.
Wichita at Tulsa, 8:30 p.m.
Fresno at Bakersfield, 10:00 p.m.
Hawaii at San Diego, 10:00 p.m.

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