Orlando Starz Week Two Notes

Published on April 15, 2003 under Independent Women's Football League (IWFL)
Orlando Mayhem News Release


COACHES: Orlando: Wes Moore, 2nd Year, 7-1; Atlanta: M.G. Dawson, 1st season

INJURIES/DISABLED LIST:Atlanta: n/a Orlando: K Angie Mickel (leg, out) Cindy Welch (pregnant, out), Stacy Williams (pregnant, out) STARZ-XPLOSION: THE GAME: In a battle between bad spellers, or we can even call this a match-up of mangled monikers, the Orlando Starz hope to shake off last week's 8-0 loss to Tampa Bay by spoiling the debut of the Atlanta Xplosion on the road Saturday. . SERIES: Since this is the Xplosion's first-ever game, we can say it's safe to assume that this is also the first meeting between the two teams.

TWO FIRSTS: Saturday's game marks the first time the Starz have left the state of Florida. It will also be Orlando's first game on artificial turf.

DOES IT COUNT?: The Xplosion is classified as an exhibition team by the Independent Women's Football League [read the next paragraph]. Though the game will count in the Starz' overall record, it will have a bearing on the South Atlantic Division standings.

ABOUT THE IWFL: The Independent Women's Football League (IWFL) is a full tackle women's football league focused on creating a positive, safe and fun environment for the women who play the game and fans that come out to watch them. The IWFL currently has 29 teams across North America from Florida to Montreal and Oregon to Massachusetts. The league championship game will be held July 12. Orlando is in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.

MEET COACH MOORE: Beginning his second season with the Orlando Starz, Wes Moore is a seasoned veteran of Orlando area football. For 18 seasons, Moore has served as defensive coordinator for Jones High School. Moore was a standout defensive back for Virginia State University, where he earned All CIAA honors. His uncle, Wes, was the head coach at

STARZ/2-2-2-2

Bethune-Cookman College and led the Wildcats to a pair of SIAC championships.

He is employed by the City of Orlando's Parks and Recreation Department overseeing Hankins Park -- the Starz' practice facility.

LAST WEEK'S GAME:

TERMINATORS 8, STARZ 0

ORLANDO – In front of a crowd twenty times larger than Martha Burk's protest at Augusta [Forgive Us. We're trying to be topical], the Starz dropped their season opener to Tampa Bay at Jones High School. Sheylia Rutland rushed for 128 yards and scored the game's only touchdown on an 18-yard third quarter run as Tampa Bay took control in the second half. Ella Coffee added a fourth-quarter safety as the Terminators dealt the Starz their first-ever shutout.

THE HIGHLIGHTS: Orlando controlled the first half, holding the ball for over 20 minutes and driving inside the Tampa Bay red zone ... Ayesha Jones had a solid start, rushing for 57 yards .... Laurie Aversano and Etta Wright had great games on defense, making nine and eight tackles ... The Starz defense made a goal line stand in the fourth quarter ... For opening night, the logistics weren't that bad for a stadium without a press box.

THE LOWLIGHTS: No offense in the second half ... QB Kahs Sky Deer had most of her attempts dropped by her receivers

THE LAST WORD: Both coaches and players agree they let this one get away from them, even though Tampa Bay is much improved from last year. For a complete game review, go to the Starz' website at http://www.orlandostarz.com

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

QB Kahs Sky-Deer: One of the most experienced quarterbacks in women's football, Sky- quarterbacked for the Daytona Beach Barracudas of the Women's Professional Football League, where she threw for 288 yards and four touchdowns in a playoff game.

RB Ayesha Jones: A team captain, Jones moves to running back after playing receiver and safety last season.

OL/DL Tonique Lamar- A former Jones student, Lamar will be playing on her high school field. She attends college in Tallahassee but commutes for games and practice.

OL/DL Jayne Hamilton After played linebacker, defensive end, and defensive tackle last year, Hamilton will see action on the offensive and defensive line this season.

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Independent Women's Football League Stories from April 15, 2003


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