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Norfolk Nighthawks Game Notes

July 15, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Norfolk Nighthawks News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Norfolk Nighthawks (8-6) at Cape Fear Wildcats (8-6)
Date: Saturday, July 19, 2003
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. EST
Site: Cumberland County Crown Coliseum (8,920)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: TBA
Series Record: The Cape Fear Wildcats have owned the Nighthawks throughout their meetings, besting the Nighthawks three times in a row. 3-0
Streaks: NOR — WIN 2, CAP — LOSE 4
Last Meeting: The Wildcats won the last meeting with the Nighthawks, in Norfolk, 56-49
Coaches: Norfolk Nighthawks – Rick Fraizer (8-6, 8-6 overall) Cape Fear Wildcats, Chris Sigrfried (2nd Year, 21-10 overall)

THE STAKES: The Norfolk Nighthawks have battled their way back into the af2 playoff hunt. During the middle portion of the season, the Nighthawks went through a difficult spell, as the team struggled offensively, defensively and with injuries. Head Coach Rick Fraizer has their heads back on straight and their hearts in the game. Tlast week at Norfolk Scope, the Nighthawks handled the Macon Knights and leap-frogged the team from Georgia for the final playoff spot in the conference. They have weathered a potential devastating quarterback controversy and have blossomed into a dangerous and winning team.

THE SERIES: To say that the Nighthawks have not performed well against the Wildcats is an understatement. Earlier this season, the Norfolk Nighthawks came up just a few seconds short against the Cape Fear Wildcats, as the team suffered their second loss in as many games. Cape Fear’s OS Matt Burstein, who was nearly unstoppable throughout the entire contest, took a pass from QB Bryan Snyder into the end zone with just :19 to go in the fourth quarter. With the score at 56-49 in favor of the Wildcats and just seconds to go, the Nighthawks were unable to muster enough offense to get a win. The Norfolk crowd of over 4,500 watched their team lose for the second straight week in the remaining seconds (the Nighthawks lost the week before to the Richmond Speed in Richmond). Aside from the loss, the Nighthawks had an explosion of offensive output. The team had been struggling a bit to put points on the board, but all that changed on May 3, 2003, as the team cruised to seven touchdowns throughout the game. As soon as Cape Fear would score, the Nighthawks would respond. This sort of score and response offense dominated the game and made for an exciting contest.

The Nighthawks faced the af2 expansion franchise twice last year, and fell both times, leaving fans and writers wondering who the expansion team was, and who was the team that had 2 years of experience under their belts. April 6 of the 2002 season, the Nighthawks opened their season against the Wildcats at Scope. They recieved a wallop and the team took weeks to recover (they lost their next two games, starting the season at 0-3). 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 ID passes. Cape Fear OS Level 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. The second game helped the Nighthawks get off The Norfolk Nighthawks (1-5) got off to their worst start in franchise history by losing to the Cape Fear Wildcats (4-2), 57-32, in front of 4,200 fans last year in Fayetteville, NC. Norfolk’s turnover woes continued as they lost four fumbles, two of which led directly to Wildcats’ touchdowns. Cape Fear scored on their first two offensive plays of the first quarter to jump out to a 13-0 lead after playing less than six minutes.

THE IFs:

If NORFOLK defeats the WILDCATS, it would …
- Get NORFOLK on a 3-game winning streak
- Put the NIGHTHAWKS sole possession of the American Atlantic Division and into the driver’s seat in the af2 playoffs
- Put some more air and confidence into the players sails as they attempt to win all of their games on the way to an ArenaCup championship

HEAD COACHES: Rick Fraizer brings more than a quarter century worth of coaching experience to the Norfolk Nighthawks in his new capacity as the team’s Head Coach. Frazier comes to Norfolk after spending the 2002 season with the Toronto Phantoms of the AFL. Frazier served the Phantoms as their Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator.

Chris Siegfried Entering his second season as Wildcats head coach, Chris Siegfried led the Wildcats to an Atlantic Division title and an appearance in the American Conference championship in 2002. Siegfried is the first former af2 player to become head coach in the league. Siegfried’s last season in af2 was in 2000 season in which he caught 72 passes for 806 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. Siegfried served as offensive coordinator for the af2 Macon Knights in 2001.

LAST SERIES MEETING: The Norfolk Nighthawks came up just a few seconds short against the Cape Fear Wildcats, as the team suffered their second loss in as many games. Cape Fear’s OS Matt Burstein, who was nearly unstoppable throughout the entire contest, took a pass from QB Bryan Snyder into the end zone with just :19 to go in the fourth quarter. With the score at 56-49 in favor of the Wildcats and just seconds to go, the Nighthawks were unable to muster enough offense to get a win. The Norfolk crowd of over 4,500 watched their team lose for the second straight week in the remaining seconds (the Nighthawks lost the week before to the Richmond Speed in Richmond).

Aside from the loss, the Nighthawks had an explosion of offensive output. The team had been struggling a bit to put points on the board, but all that changed on May 3, 2003, as the team cruised to seven touchdowns throughout the game. As soon as Cape Fear would score, the Nighthawks would respond. This sort of score and response offense dominated the game and made for an exciting contest.

For the Nighthawks, QB Aaron Sparrow completed 23-of-34 for a season high 295 yards with one touchdown. Sparrow even rushed for two on the ground. Cape Fear’s defense got to Sparrow mid-way thought the fourth quarter, hobbling the quarterback. Sparrow took to the sideline and was ready when the offense got the ball.

FORWARD MOTION: Next week, the Nighthawks will be back home to face the Greensboro Prowlers for their final regular season game at Norfolk Scope.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

NIGHTHAWKS: OS Travis Burns. What can you say about Travis Burns … the man leads the league in overall all-purpose yards for the 2003 season with 2,835 yards (giving him a 202.5 per game average). Burns turned the tide in the game last week against the Macon Knights as he burst through Macon’s special teams for nearly 100 yards in kickoff returns. He also scored a touchdown on one of those returns. Burns would most certainly be the MVP for the Nighthawks’ this season, especially if he can continue to churn out these faboulous numbers.

CAPE FEAR: Bryan Snyder, QB. Interestingly, the Cape Fear Quarterback’s performance against the Macon Knights he was 17-of-23 for 213-yards and three touchdowns. In his first three games with the Wildcats, Snyder has completed 60-of-90 passes for 665-yards, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. With three years of af2 experience under his belt, Snyder has thrown for 7, 783 yards and 143 touchdowns. Snyder played for af2 Wilkes Barre/Scranton Pioneers in 2002. In 11 games with the Pioneers, Snyder threw for 2,271 yards and 48 touchdowns. In 2000, he led the Tennessee Valley Vipers to the Arena Cup championship game and had a career best during the season, throwing for 3,838 yards and 61 touchdowns.

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