Nighthawks Game Notes

Published on May 7, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Norfolk Nighthawks (1-3) at Roanoke Steam (3-2)
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30pm
Site: Roanoke Civic Center
National Anthem:
Coin Toss:
Officials: Ed Ardito (Referee), Wayne Mackie (Umpire), James Czajkowski (Head Linesman), James DeBell (Line Judge), James Quirk (Back Judge)
Radio: 7:15pm on WTJZ AM 1270 w/ Andy Mashaw (Play-by-Play) and Mike McCaffrey (Color Analyst)
Series Record: 4-0
Last Meeting: 7/20/01 Norfolk, 49-21
Streaks: Norfolk (Won 1), Roanoke (Won 3)
Coaches: NOR: Tony Missick (1st Year, 1-3)
ROA: Steve Jerry (2nd Year, 10-11)

THE STAKES: This game will be an early season divisional match-up with implications that could be felt later on down the road for either team. The Roanoke Steam (3-2) come into the game in second place and riding a three-game winning streak. The only two losses for the Steam came in back-to-back losses to Richmond to open up the season. The Nighthawks (1-3) felt the taste of victory for the first time last week and cannot afford to drop another division game. If Norfolk can defeat the Steam, they would be within a game of second place in the American-Atlantic division. Atlantic Division; Richmond (6-0), Roanoke (3-2), Cape Fear (2-2), Greensboro (2-3), Norfolk (1-3)

THE SERIES: The Norfolk Nighthawks have defeated the Roanoke Steam every time the two teams have played, holding a four games to none advantage heading into this first match-up of 2002. The Nighthawks have outscored Roanoke 214-137 in four regular season games. Both teams were a part of the inaugural af2 season in 2000. May 20, 2000, The Nighthawks defeat the Steam, 59-39, in Norfolk in their first ever meeting behind eight touchdown passes from Nighthawks quarterbacks...June 24, 2000, Nighthawks win at Roanoke, 67-48...QB Damone Scott sets team record with nine touchdown passes, four to Anthony Stringfield who has 13 catches for 172 yards...May 4, 2001, Norfolk gets first win of 2001 with 39-29 win at Roanoke...July 20, 2001, Norfolk knocks the Steam out of playoff contention with a 49-21 win behind Jason Waters record-setting 36-yard touchdown run.

THE IFs:

If NORFOLK defeats ROANOKE, it would ...
· Give NORFOLK 5-0 series record with ROANOKE
· Give NORFOLK 1-2 road record in 2002
· End ROANOKE's 3-game winning streak
· Give NORFOLK a 2-game winning streak
· Give NORFOLK first division win of 2002
· Give NORFOLK third consecutive win at Roanoke

HEAD COACHES: Tony Missick was named the Nighthawks head coach on November 5, 2001. Missick held the position of defensive coordinator for the team in 2001 and led them to #4 in total defense in af2. Prior to coming to the Nighthawks, Missick held coaching positions with the Richmond Speed (2000), Virginia Union University and University of Kentucky. Missick played three years in the Arena Football League after spending the 1993 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Steven Jerry enters his second season as head coach of the Steam. Last season he compiled a 7-9 record in his first season as a head coach. Jerry spent the 2000 season with Norfolk as offensive coordinator, helping lead the team to an 11-7 record and playoff appearance. Jerry played in the Arena Football League for five years as a wide receiver/defensive back with the New England SeaWolves and Albany Firebirds.

LAST SERIES MEETING: In their final game of the 2001 season, the Norfolk Nighthawks(7-9) went out on a winning note by defeating their in-state rival Roanoke Steam(7-9), 49-21. The game was highlighted by key performances from the Nighthawks best weapons. Norfolk's Offensive Player of the Year, Anthony Stringfield, finished the game with 71 yards receiving on six catches and a touchdown. He also returned the opening kickoff of the second half 51 yards for a score. DS Chris Pointer led the defense with 8 tackles, five breakups and two critical interceptions. Pointer was named the team's 2001 Defensive Player of the Year. The Ironman of the Game was WR/DB Jason Waters. It was the third time this season Waters has been recognized. His all-around performance was a key component in the victory. He caught four passes for 32 yards, ran the ball three times for 39 yards and two touchdowns, and defensively tallied four tackles and two breakups. Waters set a team record with his 36-yard TD run in the 4th quarter. OL/DL Marvin Davis grabbed 1.5 sacks to give him a team high total of 11.5 for the season. The total is good enough for 8th in af2. Davis also had five tackles(one for a loss) and a pass deflection. QB Mickey Fein had a solid performance to close out the season. He was 14-for-23 for 177 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Ben Christopher and Gary Briggs each caught TD passes and Jojo Oliphant ran in his fourth TD of the season. The win gave Norfolk a 4-0 all-time record against the Steam. Roanoke finished the season losing three consecutive games.

SERIES NOTABLES/FAMILIAR FACES: NOR: DS Desmond Washington has recorded stats for each team in this series. He has twelve career tackles, one forced fumble, two breakups, one reception for 35 yards and four returns for 79 yards while playing two games with the Nighthawks against Roanoke in the 2000 season. With Roanoke in 2001 against the Nighthawks, he had 43 yards receiving on three catches and five solo tackles...QB Roy Johnson played the 2001, and part of the 2002 seasons with Roanoke and threw three touchdowns against the Nighthawks in the first game on May 4, 2001...WR/LB Jay Clarke recorded 9.0 tackles and one receiving TD in the first meeting in 2001...OS Gary Briggs has caught four passes for 48 yards, totaled five tackles and scored one touchdown in two games versus Roanoke.

MILESTONES:

· WR/LB Jay Clarke and DS Desmond Washington are in a two-man race to try and become the Nighthawks all-time leading tackler. Clarke has been with the team for portions of all three seasons and Washington led the Nighthawks in 2000, but played with Roanoke in 2001.
Clarke 88.5 tackles
Washington 88.0 tackles

DROPBACK: Gary Briggs tied two af2 records, accumulated 268 total yards and had four touchdowns, leading the Nighthawks (1-3) to a 58-51 overtime victory over the Mohegan Wolves (2-3). The win, in front of 4,882 fans, marked the first for Head Coach Tony Missick and avenged an earlier loss to the Wolves back in week three in Mohegan. Briggs returned a kickoff and a missed field goal, each for 57 yards and caught eight passes for 85 yards while proving to be too much for the Wolves to handle in Norfolk Saturday night. WR/LB Travis Burns also scored three touchdowns (two receiving and one rushing), including the game-winning score in overtime to propel the Nighthawks to their first win of 2002. All of Burns touchdowns came from the fourth quarter and beyond, making Wolves defenders miss frequently when it counted most. Norfolk jumped out to a 30-12 advantage in the second quarter, but Mohegan came back and tied the game 30-30 heading into halftime on a 39-yard Charles Eger field goal. Eger had a chance to win the game with no time on the clock at the end of regulation, but missed a kick from 28 yards to send the game into overtime. In overtime, quarterback Roy Johnson flipped an end-around to Burns, who scampered nine yards for the go ahead score, making it 58-51 in favor of the Nighthawks. On the ensuing kickoff, K Matt McNew and OL/DL Abdul Shabazz-Wiggins combined to put a hit on Mohegan OS Brandon Burnside and force a game-winning fumble, which was recovered by WR/LB Jay Clarke to seal the victory. The game featured Briggs and Burnside trading big plays throughout the game. Burnside finished with 142 yards on eight catches and three touchdowns, but it was Burns who scored the final two touchdowns of the game, one to tie and one to get the lead, while finishing with four receptions for 73 yards and rushing for nine yards.

ADT Defensive player of the game, Shabazz-Wiggins, totaled four tackles, one sack and one very timely forced fumble in OT, while applying pressure all night long to the Mohegan signal callers. Briggs earned MVP for his performance and newly signed DS Antwon Robinson returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown to go along with three break ups and three tackles. WR/DB Dominic Banks finished the game with 2.5 tackles, one big interception in the fourth quarter and 49 yards receiving on six catches.

Norfolk quarterback Roy Johnson had an efficient game, completing 20-of-35 pass attempts for 226 yards and four touchdowns in his first full start of the season. McNew proved to be a valuable asset as he hit on all eight of his extra point attempts, including a 28-yarder due to a penalty, to tie the game and send it into overtime, then forcing a game-winning fumble on the Wolves first overtime possession. The Nighthawks special teams, or the "Bruise Squad" as named by the Norfolk fans, scored two touchdowns and won the game with a turnover in overtime, while also containing the highly explosive Mohegan return team to limited yardage all night long.

FORWARD MOTION: Next week the Nighthawks continue their divisional road trip, as they head to Fayetteville, NC to take on the Cape Fear Wildcats (2-2). The Wildcats stunned the Nighthawks 69-19 in their home opener back on April 6th, so Norfolk will be looking to exact a little revenge and gain some ground in the American-Atlantic division. TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

"Special" Teams help Offense: The Nighthawks are ranked in the af2 top-ten in two categories, kick return average (21.4) and missed field goal return average (29.0). Thanks in large part to OS Gary Briggs, who returned one of each 57 yards for a score against Mohegan, the Nighthawks offense has began with very good field position almost every time. Briggs tied two af2 records with his returns against Mohegan.

Flag Fever: Last week versus Mohegan, there were yellow flags on the field for what seemed like the entire game. The two teams combined for over 300 yards in penalties between them, an unofficial af2 record. Norfolk tied a previous league record with 22 penalties against, while the Nighthawks (149) and Wolves (153) now rank in the top ten all-time in penalty yards per game.

First Drive Turnover Terror: In all four of the Nighthawks games thus far in 2002, they have managed to fumble the ball away to the other team on all of their first drives on offense. Four different players are responsible for the fumbles, but the Nighthawks have to worry that their –7 turnover ratio can come back to haunt them down the line. Each time they have coughed it up to begin a game, the opposing team has taken the ball and scored a touchdown.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Nighthawks WR/LB Travis Burns: Burns became one of the Nighthawks top targets, and a very nice complement to OS Gary Briggs, over the past two games. Last week versus Mohegan, Burns caught two straight 5-yard hook patterns and turned them into scores from 20 and 13 yards. He is averaging 14.4 yards per reception and also ran for a 9-yard score against the Wolves. Norfolk has needed a receiver that can get yards after the catch and Burns seems to be the one that can do it.

Roanoke QB Chris Sanders vs. DS's Desmond Washington and Antwon Robinson: Roanoke QB Chris Sanders comes into this week as one of the hottest signal callers in all of af2. In three games with the Steam Sanders has yet to throw an interception, while connecting for 641 yards and ten touchdowns. Norfolk DS Antwon Robinson saw his first action last week vs. Mohegan and wasted no time getting involved as he took an interception back 31 yards for a touchdown. Norfolk will need to rattle Sanders early and force him into some mistakes to have a chance against the Steam.

Norfolk QB Roy Johnson vs. Old Teammates: Nighthawks QB Roy Johnson may have graduated form Hampton University, but he has played more professional football games in the Roanoke Civic Center than anywhere else. Johnson played 12 games with the Steam in 2001 and the second game of 2002 versus Richmond. Johnson played QB/WR/LB/DB in his time with Roanoke. Now he comes back to Roanoke in an opposing uniform, but as the starting quarterback, a spot he is much more comfortable and used to.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

May 12, 2001 – In the Nighthawks 50-23 win over the Greensboro Prowlers, OL/DL Spencer Conley ties an af2 record with 4.5 sacks and DS Michael Blount ties another af2 record with his three interceptions.

May 12, 2001 – Quad City loses their first ever game, 49-47 to Tulsa ending their 24-game winning streak, the longest win streak in pro football history.

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