Nighthawks News & Notes
April 8, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Norfolk Nighthawks (0-1)
vs. Mohegan Wolves (0-1)
Date: Friday April 12, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30pm
Site: Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino
National Anthem:
Coin Toss:
Officials: William Gosselin (Referee), John Salmon (Umpire), Karl Swanke (Head Linesman), Stephen Toal (Line Judge), Derwin Williams (Back Judge)
Radio: WTJZ AM 1270 Andy Mashaw (Play-by-Play)
Series Record: First Meeting
Last Meeting: N/A
Streaks: Norfolk (Lost 1), Mohegan (Lost 1)
Coaches: NOR: Tony Missick (1st Year)
MOH: Gary Porter (1st Year, 2nd af2)
THE STAKES: The Nighthawks come into this week's game with a (0-1) record. This is the third consecutive season Norfolk has opened their season with a loss. With Richmond (2-0) defeating Roanoke (0-2) two weeks in a row, Cape Fear winning (1-0) and Greensboro losing (0-1), the Nighthawks find themselves two games out of first place. Norfolk will be playing two games in a row on the road, where they are 4-13 lifetime. Two out of their next three games are against the same Mohegan Wolves with a road trip to Richmond sandwiched in between. The Nighthawks cannot afford to lose many games early. Two road wins would help boost the team back into the top of the division.
THE SERIES: First Meeting
THE IFs:
If NORFOLK defeats MOHEGAN, it would ...
· Give NORFOLK 1-0 series record with Mohegan
· Give NORFOLK 1-0 road record in 2002
· Give Tony Missick his first win as a head coach
· Give NORFOLK 5 wins in 17 career road games
· Begin Mohegan 0-2 in their first season of play
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.
Gary Porter takes over as head coach of the Wolves after spending the 2001 season as head coach of the Peoria Pirates (af2). Porter led the team to a fourth place finish and 7-9 record. The Pirates had the top-rated run defense in af2. He played college football at Oklahoma State and started as a true freshman in 1993.
MILESTONES:
· QB Will Burch needs five TD passes to give him 100 for his af2 career. He has 5,129 passing yards in two seasons.
· WR/LB Jay Clarke needs 7 tackles to move to #1 all-time in Nighthawks team history. He has amassed 81 tackles just over two seasons.
· DS Desmond Washington needs 11 tackles to become #1 in Nighthawks history. He led the team with 76 tackles in 2000. He also needs just five tackles to give him 100 for his af2 career (18 with Roanoke in 2001). Offensively, Washington surpassed the 1,500-yard mark in all-purpose yards with 29 return yards against Cape Fear.
· OL/DL Adrian Wideman recorded the first sack of 2002 last week. DROPBACK: In their first home game of the season, The Nighthawks committed seven turnovers and managed only 57 yards of total offense, while losing to the expansion Cape Fear Wildcats 69-19 in front of 6,550 fans at the Norfolk Scope. Cape Fear scored three times on defense (two safeties, one fumble recovery for TD) in the first half and took a 38-13 lead at halftime. Norfolk QB Will Burch was injured on the third play of the game and was not able to return. His replacement, Jimmy Edmonds, had a tough time staying in the pocket, as he was pressured by the Wildcats defensive line all game. Cape Fear got steady quarterback play and three sacks from EJ Burt to earn their first victory in franchise history. Cape Fear WR/DB Norman Mason earned Ironman honors for his performance (6 catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns, 4 returns for 94 yards, 2.5 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for a touchdown). Nighthawks OS Mercury Hayes had a good arena football debut, catching 8 passes for 76 yards and two touchdowns, and returning two kicks for 50 yards. Edmonds finished the game 17-of-30 for 118 yards and two TD passes. Cape Fear OS Lavel Bailey and FB Charles Gunnings scored two touchdowns apiece. Wildcats QB Vic Penn completed 14-of-24 for 190 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions to earn game MVP.
FORWARD MOTION: Following this week's road game to Mohegan, the Nighthawks will have a bye week in week four. After the bye, they will travel up I-64 to face the defending conference champion Richmond Speed. Richmond is 2-0, beating Roanoke twice in the first two weeks, and sit atop the Atlantic Division. The Nighthawks play four out of their next five games
on the road, where they are 4-13 all-time. If the Nighthawks can put together a good road trip and return for a home-filled June schedule within a game or two of Richmond, they will be poised to make a run at the af2 playoffs.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
Turnover Nightmare: The Nighthawks fumbled away the ball five times, threw two interceptions and finished with (-12) yards rushing against Cape Fear. Two of the fumbles were recovered in the end zone for Wildcats touchdowns, while Norfolk only got two turnovers of their own. In 2001, Norfolk finished near the bottom of the league in turnover ratio and need to remedy this stat quick to get the team on course.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Nighthawks OS Mercury Hayes: Hayes was one of the only bright spots for the Nighthawks in their opening loss to Cape Fear. Hayes scored twice on receptions of 30 and 5 yards. He finished the game with eight catches, and led all receivers with 76 yards. Hayes also set up a score with his 42-yard kickoff return in the second half. Being the most high-profile collegiate player to play for the Nighthawks, Hayes will be looked to early and often until the rest of the offense come around.
Nighthawks OL/DL Adrian Wideman: In his first ever arena football game, Wideman registered the first sack of the 2002 season for Norfolk. The Hampton U. alumnus played well in front of his home fans. Wideman was one of the few positive spots along the Nighthawks offensive line against Cape Fear.
KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
April 15, 2000 â Nighthawks get their first ever victory, a 28-25 win versus the Richmond Speed, in front of a sold-out Scope Arena crowd of 8,950.
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