Orlando Predators vs Spokane Shock Game Notes
Published on April 20, 2011 under Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release
Last Time Out
For the second week in a row Orlando needed a late rally in the fourth quarter to come away with the win. On Saturday night the Predators went on the road to defeat the Georgia Force 48-43. Quarterback Nick Hill ran for a 23-yard touchdown with 38 seconds to play to put the Preds ahead. Rayhaun Kizer intercepted a pass two plays later to seal the win... Spokane was unable to complete its comeback on the road against the Utah Blaze. The Shock lost 69-62.
What To Watch For:
QB Nick Hill vs. Spokane Defense - Predators quarterback Nick Hill leads the AFL in passing yards per game (314) and total offensive yards per game (336.4). He is also one of only three players in the league with over 100 yards rushing on the season. Hill has tallied 112 yards and 3 TDs on 31 carries and has gone 126-of-186 passing for 1,570 yards and 28 touchdowns. The Preds rank eighth overall in points per game (52.6). The Shock rank No. 17 in scoring defense as they've allowed 56.6 points per game.
Predators Defense vs. QB Kyle Rowley - Shock quarterback Kyle Rowley ranks third in the AFL with 304.2 yards per game. He's thrown for 1,521 yards and 34 touchdowns while leading the seventh-best scoring offense (53.6). The Preds rank fifth in points allowed (44.8) and lead the league with 17 takeaways and 13 interceptions. The two interceptions made by Rayshaun Kizer last week gives him six on the season, more than any other player in the league at this point. Kizer leads the team with 33 tackles. Marlon Moye-Moore has four interceptions while Lyman High School alum Mark Robinson ranks third in the AFL with 4.5 tackles-for-loss (3.5 sacks).
Spreading the ball around - T.T. Toliver, Robert Quiroga and Bobby Sippio lead a deep receiving core for the Orlando Predators in 2011 as each are averaging over 12 yards per catch. Toliver leads the group with 45 receptions for 553 yards and 12 TDs. Quiroga has 41 catches for 516 yards and 8 TDs while Sippio has 35 catches for 447 yards and 8 TDs. It's only a matter of time before several others on the roster step up to contribute as Doug Gabriel and Chris Duvalt are among those waiting in the wings... Four different receivers have caught at least 24 passes for Spokane this season.
By The Numbers
Predators Rankings:
Scoring: 8th (52.6 points/game)
Offense: 1st (338.0 yards/game)
Passing: 2nd (304.6 yards/game)
Rushing: 4th (33.4 yards/game)
Scoring Defense: 5th (44.8 points/game)
Total Defense: 10th (288.6 yards/game)
Pass Defense: 12th (268.6 yards/game)
Rush Defense: 7th (20 yards/game)
Shock Rankings:
Scoring: 7th (53.6 points/game)
Offense: 8th (304.4 yards/game)
Passing: 4th (299.4 yards/game)
Rushing: 17th (5.0 yards/game)
Scoring Defense: 17th (56.6 points/game)
Total Defense: 8th (286.0 yards/game)
Pass Defense: 7th (251.4 yards/game)
Rush Defense: 16th (34.6 yards/game)
Head Coaches
ORLANDO PREDATORS - Pat O'Hara is in his second season as head coach in the AFL. He led the Orlando Predators to an 8-8 regular season record in 2010, falling one game short of reaching the ArenaBowl. The Preds went 1-1 in the postseason a year ago. O'Hara was part of two ArenaBowl title teams in Orlando, where he played quarterback from 1995-2000.
SPOKANE SHOCK - Rob Keefe is the first person in arena football history to win four championships as he won the 2006 ArenaCup (af2) and 2008 ArenaBowl as a player, and the 2009 ArenaCup and 2010 ArenaBowl as a coach. At the age of 29, Keefe became the youngest coach to win an ArenaBowl after leading the Shock to the best regular season record in the league at 13-3.
Florida Connections
ORLANDO PREDATORS - OL Joe Alajajian (Florida International); WR Doug Gabriel (Dr. Phillips/UCF); DL Paul Griffin (Florida State); K Mark Lewis (Longwood/Florida International); DL Frisner Nelson (UCF); WR Bobby Sippio (Osceola); WR T.T. Toliver (Daytona/Bethune-Cookman)
SPOKANE SHOCK - None
All-Time Series
Spokane leads the series 1-0. The Shock are in its second season in the Arena Football League after becoming one of three franchises to win at least two ArenaCup titles in af2. They defeated Tampa Bay 69-57 last year in the final game of the season to capture the ArenaBowl XXIII title.
Last Meeting
Spokane 53, Orlando 52
June 12, 2010 @ Amway Arena
The Shock outscored Orlando 13-0 in the fourth quarter to overcome a 12-point deficit for the win. The teams combined to rush for five touchdowns on the night. Orlando ran for three scores and Spokane ran for two... Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley passed for 305 yards, 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions on 28-of-40 attempts. Raul Vijil (134 yards, 4 TDs) and Huey Wittaker (122 yards, 2 TDs) caught 11 passes each. Jerry Turner and Richard Gilbert recorded sacks and Antwan Marsh picked off a pass... Nick Hill went 18-of-34 passing for 207 yards and 2 TDs for Orlando. Josh Bush (51 yards, TD) and Derrick Lewis (53 yards, TD) each caught six passes. Kenny McEntyre led the team with 11.5 tackles and picked off a pass which he returned 47 yards for a score. Rayshaun Kizer recorded two interceptions and Arrion Dixon got a sack.
Next Up
The Orlando Predators are on the road next Saturday, April 30, 2011 against the Jacksonville Sharks. The Preds and Sharks sit atop the South Division standings with 4-1 records... Spokane hosts the Arizona Rattlers (5-0) in a matchup of West Division teams.
Season Tickets
Season tickets are still available and can be purchased by calling 407-648-4444. Single game tickets are available for purchase online at www.TicketMaster.com.
Preds Coaches:
GARY GUSSMAN - Assistant Head Coach & Special Teams Coordinator
Gary Gussman is entering his third overall and second consecutive season with the Orlando Predators as special teams coordinator. He is in his first season as an assistant head coach. In 2010, Gussman coached Predators kicker Carlos Martinez, was finished second in the league in scoring among kickers with 8.9 points per game. Martinez also set three new individual team records including extra points made (104), extra point attempts (114) and a franchise best 54-yard field goal.
LEE JOHNSON - Defensive Coordinator
Lee Johnson is entering his second season as the defensive coordinator of the Orlando Predators. Under his guidance in 2010 the Predators finished third in the league in turnover margin and fifth in the league in scoring defense. Johnson's defense was led by two 2010 All-Arena First Team defensive backs in Rayshaun Kizer and veteran Kenny McEntyre. Under Johnson's leadership Kizer set a new team record for interceptions in a season with 12, which he returned for 148 yards.
DOUG MILLER - Line Coach
Doug Miller is in his second season as the offensive and defensive line coach. Miller played for the Predators from 2002-08. He recorded four sacks in 2004.
Arena Football League Stories from April 20, 2011
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- Orlando Predators vs Spokane Shock Game Notes - Orlando Predators
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