Nighthawks Add Experienced QB Heading Into Matchup With Cape Fear
May 17, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release
Norfolk, VA (May 17, 2002) - The Norfolk Nighthawks announced today that they have been assigned QB Chris Wallace by the league office of arenafootball2. He is expected to start this Saturday against the Cape Fear Wildcats in Fayetteville, NC.
Wallace played with the Orlando Predators in 2001 after guiding the Carolina Rhinos to the inaugural af2 playoffs in 2000. While with Orlando, Wallace saw action in 14 games, throwing for 350 yards and four touchdowns. Wallace also ran for 52 yards and was the Predators number two quarterback for the entire season.
After Orlando head coach Jay Gruden decided to take the field again, and return to his quarterback position, Wallace was dropped a notch on the depth chart and eventually got released last week by the team.
"Basically, I'm almost starting all over, which isn't a bad thing", Wallace commented on being back in af2, "It's kind of good to come back. It was a positive influence on my career the first time, so it's possible to do it again."
Playing in Carolina in 2000, Chris finished second in the league in rushing (236 yards on 51 carries) and average per rush (4.6 yards/rush). He was one of only four players to earn af2 Player of the Week honors more than once and led the Rhinos to a 9-7 record in his first year as starting quarterback. Wallace finished the season with 2,469 yards and 52 touchdown passes.
Wallace was an All-MAC quarterback at the University of Toledo in 1997, breaking single season school records for passing yards (2,955), attempts (433), total offense (3,181), touchdown passes (27), touchdowns responsible for (29), and total offensive plays (531). In 1998, his senior year, he threw for 2,476 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Wallace will be looked to lead the Nighthawks from a (1-4) start and back into contention in the American-Atlantic division, starting with (3-2) Cape Fear this week.
"He's a guy who can put a team on his shoulders and say, 'Follow Me'", Nighthawks offensive coordinator Ron Hill said. "There's nothing on the field he can't do."
Norfolk hopes that they can get some help for Wallace and not make him do it all on his own. Also playing for the first time this week are WR/DB Lorenzo Ferguson (Western Carolina), OL/DL James Tyler (Virginia Union) and FB/LB John Duginski (Northern Michigan).
Ferguson was a two-year starter at Western Carolina and totaled 109 tackles in his final season. He has been with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (CFL) for the last year as a practice team player. Tyler played with the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Pioneers at the beginning of this season before coming to Norfolk this week and Duginski was trying out for the Columbus Wardogs prior to the Nighthawks.
The Nighthawks return home next week to face the Carolina Rhinos on Saturday, May 25th. Game time is set for 7:00pm and tickets are available at the Scope box office or by calling 626-0500.
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