Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz game notes

Published on May 24, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (3-4)
AT Quad City Steamwheelers (3-4)
Date: Saturday, May 28, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CST
Site: The MARK of the Quad Cities (9,437)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss:
Color Guard:
Officials: Pat Miles (Referee), Jeff Carr (Umpire), Rick Kruger (Head Linesman), Matt Kukar (Line Judge), Tom Wohlleber (Back Judge)
Radio: KEBC-AM - 1340 AM - Robert Allen (Play-by-Play)
Webcast: www.kgff.com AND www.okcyarddawgz.com
Series Record: Quad City Leads 1-0
Streaks: Quad City L-3, Oklahoma City W-1
Coaches: OKC: Jeff Jarnigan (3-4, 1st season); QUA: Rick Frazier (11-12, 2nd season)

TEAM WEBSITES: Yard Dawgz: www.okcyarddawgz.com
Steamwheelers: www.steamwheelers.com

THE STAKES: The Yard Dawgz are trying to extend their winning streak to two games and win their second consecutive Midwest Division game. Both teams are trying to get to the .500 mark at the half way point of the season.

THE SERIES: Quad City leads the all-time series 1-0. The Yard Dawgz were defeated 61-43 on April 23, 2005 at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

THE Ifs:
If Oklahoma City defeats Quad City, it would ...
· Give Oklahoma City a 1-1 series record with Quad City
· Give Oklahoma City a 3-3 road record in 2005
· Give Jeff Jarnigan a 4-4 career record as head coach
· Give Oklahoma City a two-game win streak


OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (3-4)
Date Opponent Result Score Record
4/1 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton L 47-59 0-1
4/9 @ Arkansas W 71-48 1-1
4/16 CENTRAL VALLEY W 48-41 2-1
4/23 QUAD CITY L 43-61 2-2
4/30 @ Tulsa L 34-47 2-3
5/7 @ Memphis L 38-43 2-4
5/21 BOSSIER CITY W 52-17 3-4
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/28 @ Quad City 7:30 L-3 QUA1-0
6/4 RIO GRANDE VALLEY 7:30 W-3 RIO 2-1
6/11 AMARILLO 7:30 W-1 First Meeting
6/18 @ Bossier City 7:00 L-1 OKC 1-0
6/24 MEMPHIS 7:30 W-3 MEM 1-0
7/10 @ Amarillo 3:00 -- --
7/16 LOUISVILLE 7:30 L-3 First Meeting
7/23 @ Rio Grande Valley 7:30 -- --
7/30 TULSA 7:30 W-2 TIED 2-2

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (3-4)
Date Opponent Result Score Record
4/10 @ Wilkes-Barre L 28-64 0-1
4/16 Bossier-Shreveport W 36-29 1-1
4/23 @ Oklahoma City W 61-43 2-1
4/30 MEMPHIS W 45-42 3-1
5/7 @ Amarillo L 48-58 3-2
5/14 WILKES-BARRE L 55-63 3-3
5/21 @ Green Bay L 49-56 3-4
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/28 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:30 W-1 QUA 1-0
6/4 LOUISVILLE 7:30 L-3 QUA 5-2
6/11 @ Memphis 7:00 W-3 QUA 3-0
6/18 ALBANY 7:30 L-2 First Meeting
6/24 @ Manchester 6:30 W-6 QUA 2-0
7/9 GREEN BAY 7:30 W-5 QUA 4-1
7/16 AMARILLO 7:30 W-1 AMA 1-0
7/23 @ Bossier-Shreveport 7:00 L-1 QUA 3-1
7/30 @ Louisville 6:30 -- --
(All times Central)

YARD DAWGZ HEAD COACH AT A GLANCE: Jeff Jarnigan served as the Defensive Coordinator in 2004 with the Austin Wranglers of the Arena Football League. The Wranglers were one of three expansion teams for the AFL and they finished their inaugural season at 8-8. Defensively, the Wranglers tallied 4.1 stops per game and finished 3rd in the AFL in sacks, 3rd in third downs allowed, 8th in turnover margin and 12th in total defense. After a slow start, the Wrangler pass defense held their opponents to an average of 210 passing yards over the final eight games of the season.

Jarnigan spent the 2001 –2003 seasons as the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach for the Tulsa Talons of af2. While with Tulsa, Jarnigan's defense was known for its hard-hitting, high-pressure defense that traditionally finished in the top third of the league in several defensive categories. During Jarnigan's three seasons with the Talons, they accumulated a 44-10 record, won two National Conference Central Division championships and won the ArenaCup in 2003.

QUAD CITY HEAD COACH AT A GLANCE: Rick Frazier begins his second season in af2 and first with Quad City. Frazier coached the Norfolk Nighthawks in 2003. Frazier has spent numerous years in the Arena Football League, most recently with the Grand Rapids Rampage in 2004 on the staff of Yard Dawgz general manager Bob Cortese.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's match-up who rank among af2's statistical leaders in 2005:
YARD DAWGZ
Player Rank Category Stat
Craig Strickland 8th Total Offense 1774
Craig Strickland 3rd Total Offensive Plays 272
Craig Strickland 8th Total Offensive Yds 1774
Jarrail Jackson 7th All-Purpose Yds 1023
Craig Strickland 8th Passing Avg/Game 252.1
Craig Strickland T-2nd Pass Attempts 264
Craig Strickland T-7th Passing TDs 35
Craig Strickland 8th Passing Yards 1765
Craig Strickland 9th Pass Completions 144
Jarrail Jackson 6th Receptions 50
Jarrail Jackson 7th Reception Yards 615
Jarrail Jackson 3rd Receiving Yds/Game 102.5
Jason Ball 5th Field Goal % 33.3%
Jason Ball 1st PAT Kicking % 100.0%
B.J. Barre T-10th Interceptions 3
Jarrail Jackson 2nd Kick Return Avg 25.7
B.J. Barre T-6th Kick Return Avg 24.0
Jarrail Jackson 10th Kick Return Yds 386
B.J. Barre T-7th Interception Return Yds 53
B.J. Barre T-4th Interception Return TDs 1
Rickie Davis T-4th Interception Return Yds 1
Chris Archie T-4th Interception Return Yds 1
B.J. Barre T-7th Passes Defended 12
STEAMWHEELERS
Player Rank Category Stat
Sam Clemons 5th Total Offense 1873 yds
Sam Clemons 6th Total Offensive Plays 268
Sam Clemons 7th Total Offensive TDs 38
Travis Burns 10th Scoring 78 pts
Nick Gatto 9th Scoring (Kick) 44
Travis Burns 5th All-Purpose 1125 yds
Travis Burns T-10th Scoring (TDs) 13
Sam Clemons T-3rd Passing Avg/Game 265.3
Sam Clemons 2nd Pass Completion % 68.4
Sam Clemons 5th Pass Attempts 250
Sam Clemons T-7th Passing TDs 35
Sam Clemons 4th Pass Rating 119.6
Sam Clemons T-3rd Passing yards 1857
Sam Clemons 2nd Pass Completions 171
Travis Burns 9th Receptions 48
Nick Gatto T-10th Field Goals 2
Nick Gatto T-5th Field Goal Attempts 12
Nick Gatto 6th PAT Kicking % 82.6%
Nick Gatto 4th PAT Kicks Made 38
Matt Forbes T-2nd Interceptions 6
Travis Burns T-3rd Kick Returns 30
Travis Burns 5th Kick Return Yds 627
Travis Burns T-8th Kick Return TDs 1
Matt Forbes 1st Interception Return Yds 118
Matt Forbes T-1st Interception Return TDs 2
Matt Forbes 10th Tackles 37.0

LOOKING BACK: The Yard Dawgz snapped a three-game losing streak last weekend as they defeated the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings 52-17 in front of 7,394 fans at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

The Yard Dawgz returned three interceptions for touchdowns in the second half to put the game away. The Yard Dawgz scored the last 31 points of the game to gain their first Midwest Division win of the 2005 season.

ADT Defensive Player of the Game, Rickie Davis led the Yard Dawgz with two interceptions and tied the team high with four tackles on the night.

Offensive Player of the Game, Jarrail Jackson finished the night with 13 catches for 128 yards and one touchdown. Yard Dawgz quarterback Craig Strickland finished the night 19-of-35 for 180 yards and two touchdowns.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how OKLAHOMA CITY and QUAD CITY rank in the league this season:
Statistical YARD DAWGZ STEAMWHEELERS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 10th 47.6 ppg 13th 46.0
Scoring Defense 7th 45.1 ppg 14th 50.7 ppg
Total Offense 11th 261.4 2nd 283.7
Total Defense 12th 264.0 16th 274.4
Pass Offense 9th 248.9 3rd 270.1
Pass Defense 15th 255.1 17th 259.1
Rushing Offense 14th 12.6 13th 13.6
Rushing Defense 1st 8.9 7th 15.3
Pass Rating 13th 102.8 4th 119.2
Pass Def. Rating 12th 108.6 17th 116.9
Kickoff Returns 2nd 23.1 9th 19.4
Turnover Margin T-9th 0 T-15th -4
Sacks By T-9th 9 8th 10
Sacks Against T-17th 13 T-14th 12
First Downs 12th 123 T-3rd 145
Opp. First Downs T-3rd 115 14th 131
Penalty Yards 12th 407 3rd 292
Opp. Penalty Yds 3rd 498 T-10th 396
Red Zone Offense 12th 22-29 (75.9%) 19th 21-31 (67.7%)
Red Zone Defense 13th 15-19 (78.9%) 17th 30-35 (85.7%)

OKC YARD DAWGZ INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
DS Orlando Green Long Term IR
OL/DL Walter Taylor Hamstring Short Term IR
OL/DL Barry Giles Short Term IR

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING: (Notable quotes):
JEFF JARNIGAN, On the win over the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings: "We never lacked confidence. We applied that and we created positive situations for ourselves."

JARRAIL JACKSON, On the Yard Dawgz outlook for the rest of the season: "We are getting this thing turned around. Our goal is to win out and Saturday we took that first step."

ADVANCE BOOKING: (A look at upcoming Yard Dawgz games):
The Yard Dawgz will return home for two consecutive games beginning on June 4th when they face the Rio Grande Valley Dorados and then they will take on the Amarillo Dusters on June 11th.

DAWG BONES: (A look at team trends and tidbits):
FIRST DRIVE OF THE GAME: This season the Yard Dawgz have taken their first drive of the game and scored three out of seven times. Below is a chart detailing how the Yard Dawgz have fared on their first drive in each game thus far this season.

YARD DAWGZ FIRST DRIVE OF THE GAME
Date Opponent Result Game Outcome
4/1 @ Wilkes-Barre Turnover (Downs) LOST
4/9 @ Arkansas FIELD GOAL WON
4/16 Central Valley TOUCHDOWN WON
4/23 Quad City Missed Field Goal LOST
4/30 @ Tulsa TOUCHDOWN LOST
5/7 @ Memphis Missed Field Goal LOST
5/21 Bossier-Shreveport Turnover (Downs) WON

TALE OF TWO HALVES: This season, the Yard Dawgz have been outscored by their opponents 148-183 in the first half and they have outscored their opponents in the second half 185-133. The chart below details the point differential of the Yard Dawgz in each half of every game compared to their opponents.



YARD DAWGZ POINT DIFFERENTIAL BY HALF
Date Opponent First Half Second Half Game Outcome
4/1 @ Wilkes-Barre -5 -7 LOST
4/9 @ Arkansas -12 +35 WON
4/16 Central Valley +1 +6 WON
4/23 Quad City -9 -9 LOST
4/30 @ Tulsa -7 -6 LOST
5/7 @ Memphis -10 +5 LOST
5/21 Bossier-Shreveport +7 +28 WON
SEASON TOTALS -35 +52

JUST KICKING IT: Since joining the Yard Dawgz on April 30th, kicker Jason Ball has been a perfect 16-for-16 on extra-point attempts this season. The former All-af2 performer is currently leading the league in that category. Last season with the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings, Ball finished the season 70-for-87 (80.4%) on extra-point attempts.

MAKING HISTORY: Beginning the 2005 season, Yard Dawgz quarterback Craig Strickland had 14,415 yards in his af2 career. In week two versus the Arkansas Twisters Strickland eclipsed the 15,000 yard mark, becoming the first af2 player ever to throw for over 15,000 yards. Below is a look at the yards Strickland has thrown for in each game this season.
CRAIG STRICKLAND PASSING YARDS
Date Opponent Passing Yards Career Yards GAME RESULT
4/1 @ Wilkes-Barre 281 14,696 LOST
4/9 @ Arkansas 352 15,048 WON
4/16 Central Valley 212 15,260 WON
4/23 Quad City 311 15,571 LOST
4/30 @ Tulsa 240 15,811 LOST
5/7 @ Memphis 189 16,000 LOST
5/21 Bossier-Shreveport 180 16,180 WON

KEY MATCH-UPS THIS WEEK:
Yard Dawgz defense versus the Steamwheelers offense: The Yard Dawgz defense is coming off of a huge output versus the Bossier-Shreveport Battlewings. The defense accounted for 21 points in the victory. The Steamwheelers offense is ranked 2nd in the league in total offense as they average 283.7 yards per contest. The Yard Dawgz defense is ranked 12th in the league and only gives up 264.0 yards per game.

Yard Dawgz offensive specialist Jarrail Jackson versus Quad City defensive specialist Matt Forbes: Jackson is one of the top receiver's in the league as he ranks 6th in the af2 in receptions and 7th in receiving yards. Forbes is among the league leaders in interceptions and interceptions return yards. The last time these two teams met, Jackson was named Offensive Player of the Game and Forbes was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.

YARD DAWGZ PRACTICE PLAN: (A look at the Yard Dawgz schedule this week)
Tuesday: OFF
Wednesday: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Ford Center)
Thursday: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (Ford Center)
Friday: PRACTICE (The MARK of the Quad Cities)
Saturday: 7:30 p.m. – KICKOFF At Quad City Steamwheelers (The MARK of the Quad Cities – Moline, IL)
**All Times are central**
RECENT YARD DAWGZ ROSTER MOVES (most recent first):
Date Action Player
5-16 HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED Jeromy Flowers-WR/DB
5-16 HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED Carlos Johnson-WR/LB
5-16 HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED Walter Taylor-OL/DL
5-16 PLACED ON RE-ASSIGNMENT Shawn Terry-WR/LB
5-16 PLACED ON RE-ASSIGNMENT Chris Toney-FB/LB
5-10 PLACED ON RE-ASSIGNMENT Antonio Dingle-OL/DL
5-10 TRADED TO FLORIDA FIRECATS Tony Agee-OL/DL

GAME AWARD WINNERS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 @ Wilkes-Barre JR Thomas –Wilkes Barre
2 @ Arkansas Craig Strickland-Oklahoma City
3 Central Valley Brandon Daniels-Oklahoma City
4 Quad City Jarrail Jackson-Oklahoma City
5 @ Tulsa Donovan Morgan-Tulsa
6 @ Memphis Brian Jones-Memphis
7 BYE
8 Vs. Bossier Jarrail Jackson – Oklahoma City

IRONMAN AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 @ Wilkes-Barre Demetrius Austrum – Wilkes Barre
2 @ Arkansas B.J. Barre-Oklahoma City
3 Central Valley Al Hunt-Oklahoma City
4 Quad City Tim Dodge-Quad City
5 @ Tulsa B.J. Barre-Oklahoma City
6 @ Memphis Ryan Karr-Memphis
7 BYE
8 Vs. Bossier B.J. Barre – Oklahoma City

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 @ Wilkes-Barre Ameer Riley – Wilkes Barre
2 @ Arkansas Al Hunt-Oklahoma City
3 Central Valley Clint Merz-Central Valley
4 Quad City Matt Forbes-Quad City
5 @ Tulsa Chris Canty-Tulsa
6 @ Memphis Dahnel Singfield-Memphis
7 BYE
8 Vs. Bossier Rickie Davis – Oklahoma City

af2 WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS
Week Offensive Defensive Ironman
1 Julian Reese-Amarillo Demetrius Austrum-Wilkes-Barre Khreem Smith-Memphis
2 Kevin Prentiss-Memphis Ahmad Willis-Tulsa Tony Stallings-Louisville
3 Jake Eaton-Manchester Matt Forbes-Quad City Matt Jackson-Macon
4 Julian Reese-Amarillo Matt Forbes-Quad City Chris Robinson-Rio Grande Valley
5 Bo Smith-Bossier-Shreveport Travis Coleman-Albany J.J. McKelvey-Manchester
6 Juston Wood-Central Valley William Haith-Manchester Nathan Munson- Bakersfield
7 Kyle Rowley-Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Ryan Bowers-Green Bay Joe Wesley-Bossier-Shreveport
8 Detronn Harris-Birmingham Norman Mason-Rio Grande Valley Robert Kilow-Arkansas

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