Payback Time for Richmond

June 28, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

Richmond started the 2002 season on a tear, winning seven straight games and seeming, at times, on a different level than most other af2 teams. The offense put up 61.3 points per game, and the defense caged opponents to the tune of 26.7 points per contest. Many felt the Speed was unbeatable.

Then Albany came to Richmond on June 1 and crashed the party, holding the Speed to its lowest offensive output in more than a year (30 points) and wrecking its bid for a perfect season. Since then, the Speed has been a changed team, splitting the next two games and not scoring more than 50 points for three straight weeks. The last time the Speed went three weeks without scoring 50 was, ironically, in June of last year.

Luckily for the Speed, last week's triumph over Mohegan seemed to put it back on track. QB BOB BEES and company found the throttle in that contest, rallying for 62 points, while the league's top defense held the Wolves to 20 points. 2001 Ironman of the Year KEVIN HARVEY had four touchdowns in the game (three rushing, one receiving) along with four solo tackles. For the season, Harvey leads the Speed in rushing (134 yards, seven TDs) and receiving (67 catches, 17 TDs). Defensively, he leads the team in tackles with 40.5 and has two interceptions this season.

Albany's offense is modest, but efficient. Led by QB RYAN VENA, the Conquest ranks 24th in the league, averaging 40.4 points per game. Vena could eclipse the 2,000-yard passing plateau against the Speed. He has 1,904 yards, averaging 190.4 per game, and has thrown 35 touchdown passes on the season. Vena's main target this season has been COREY HILL. Hill has recorded 110 receptions (second in af2) for 1,264 yards (second in af2) and 25 touchdowns (seventh in af2).

On the other side of the ball, few teams do it better than the Conquest. Ranked third in af2, the Conquest typically holds opponents under 34 points a game. The Conquest pass rush has netted 22 sacks this season, good for eighth overall in the league. ALEX HOUSTON leads that effort with 9.5 QB takedowns. BRANDON TINSON leads the squad with 51.5 tackles and HENRY BAKER keeps receivers in check with his team-high five interceptions.

The Conquest already has clinched a postseason berth and claimed the Northeast Division title, but needs this game to ensure a tiebreaker advantage over the Speed should they meet in the second round of the playoffs. A win also would increase the Conquest's winning streak to eight games and would assure them of having the league's best record for another week (Augusta also is 10-1). If the Speed wins, it will clinch a spot in the playoffs for the second straight season. This is the final regular season meeting between Richmond and Albany.

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National Conference headliner: Powers Peoria, Tulsa clash

Powerhouses Tulsa (9-2) and Peoria (9-3) meet Saturday at the Peoria Civic Center, with both teams coming off losses ... Peoria at San Diego (28-21) and Tulsa at Arkansas (102-63). Before last week's setbacks, though, the Pirates had won seven games in a row and the Talons eight straight, rising to the top of their respective divisions and harboring legitimate aspirations of an ArenaCup championship.

By the numbers, the Pirates and Talons are two of the most dominating teams in af2, outscoring their opponents by more than two touchdowns a game. Only Richmond (25.8) and Cape Fear (15.7) have margins of victory equal to or greater than Peoria's 15.8 and Tulsa's 14.7.

Last week was strange territory for both teams. While Arkansas put up 20 points in the final minute against the Talons last week, the Pirates scored just 21 overall against San Diego, with no points in the second half. They' ll turn to backup quarterback RONNIE GORDON after starter WALTER CHURCH separated his throwing shoulder against the Riptide, putting him out long-term and possibly for the season. Gordon (461 passing yards, eight TDs, three INTs this season) has plenty of firepower around him, which should make the transition easier – last week's offensive struggles notwithstanding. Peoria averages 52.9 points per game (fifth in af2), led by OS CORNELL CRAIG, who has 154 points (fifth in the league individually) with 80 catches (also fifth) and 1,198 yards (fourth in af2). WR/LB JERMAINE SHEFFIELD is a tall, go-up-and-get-it threat with 50 receptions for 692 yards and 15 scores. LINCOLN DUPREE (10 interceptions, second in af2) and linemen ERIC JOHNSON and KEN BOUIE (12.0 and 11.5 sacks, respectively) lead a defensive unit that limits opponents to 37.1 points per game (fifth in af2).

However, the Pirates face the most potent offense they've played all season in Tulsa (57.3 ppg, first in af2). Remember, the Talons still scored 63 in last week's 39-point loss. OS/KR MITCH ALLNER has produced 200+ all-purpose yards in six of the last eight games. He ranks among the af2's top 10 players in 11 different categories, leading the league in scoring (190 points), touchdowns (30) and kickoff return TDs (six). He has 77 receptions for 1,056 yards this season. WR/DB SEAN LOVE is to Allner what Sheffield is to Craig, totaling 42 catches for 615 yards and 15 TDs this year. The Talons enjoy the luxury of two quality quarterbacks, ANTHONY BUICH and JOE PHEARS. The tandem, which typically alternates by quarter, has combined for 2,712 passing yards and 57 touchdowns with just nine interceptions this year. They also have five rushing touchdowns between them. But Tulsa isn't just a team that will try to outscore you. The Talons allowed just 36.7 points per game before last week's triple-digit anomaly. LARRY HOLLINQUEST has six interceptions and is tied for third in af2 with 31 passes defended. Love and ITIS ATKINSON has four and three picks, respectively.

Peoria and Tulsa met twice last season with each team winning at home. Peoria defeated the Talons 51-28 in Week 8 to hand Tulsa its first loss after a 6-0 start. Tulsa then beat the Pirates 41-37 in Week 16 on a 45-yard TD toss from CRAIG STRICKLAND to BRENT BURNSIDE with 32 seconds remaining. This is the only meeting of the 2002 regular season between these teams. If the Pirates and Talons get through their opening-round playoff contests and their second-round games, they'd meet again in the National Conference Championship Game. Peoria has homefield advantage in the first round of the playoffs locked up; Tulsa, though not officially in the playoffs yet, is on the inside track to claim homefield, as well. The Talons, who lead both second-place Bossier City and third-place Arkansas by three games in the loss column, can clinch a postseason berth with a victory combined with Quad City win at Bossier.

Peoria Head Coach BRUCE COWDREY and Tulsa Head Coach SKIP FOSTER have been friends since they both were six years old, when their fathers coached with each other and against each other on the collegiate level. The sons served as assistants together at Oklahoma State University and also have faced off as opposing college head coaches. The longtime friends did not coach against each other last season; Cowdrey was the head man in Pensacola in 2001.

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Greensboro and Charleston clash Saturday, with the teams looking to rebound from Week 13 losses. Last weekend, the Swamp Foxes (4-7) suffered a heartbreaking 42-41 loss in Norfolk. Greensboro (3-9) was unable to repeat its 81-61 winning performance against Rochester when it faced Cape Fear last weekend, ending up 48-31 victims. The Prowlers' offense is ranked ninth in the league with 48.6 points per game while their defense allows 54.4. Charleston's offense and defense have combined for a plus-5 turnover margin and rank fifth in the league in that category. Scoring-wise, the Swamp Foxes average 44.6 points a game and concedes 49.7 ppg defensively. WALTER FORD has been a pleasant surprise for Greensboro and ranks first in af2 with 28.6 kickoff return average. JERMAINE TONEY has been a stalwart on defense for the Prowlers, racking up 74.5 tackles. For Charleston, MICHAEL BROWN has emerged as a defensive leader, picking off a team-high eight passes and registering 39.5 tackles. ANTOINE CALLOWAY leads the Prowlers' air attack and ranks third in af2 with 90 receptions. Calloway's 1,147 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns are team-highs. CHRIS WEIBEL was named Offensive Player of the Week for his nine-touchdown performance in Week 12, but was unable to duplicate that success against Cape Fear's stingy defense. Weibel has passed for 1,685 yards and 28 scores this season for Greensboro. MIKE BATH leads the Swamp Foxes' offense into Saturday's game despite receiving treatment for a back injury this week. Bath has 1,194 yards passing on the season and 21 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. MIKE CHANDLER made the switch from a two-way player to offensive specialist last weekend and produced his best performance of the season, catching seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown. Chandler also threw a score to DWAYNE WILMOT in the loss.

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Columbus (2-9) and Carolina (2-9) meet Saturday at the Columbus Civic Center with both teams looking to snap losing streaks. This contest marks the first time the two teams have met, but not the last, as they face one another again next weekend in Carolina. Both teams are searching for their first victory within the American Conference Eastern Division. Offensively and defensively, these two teams match up closely, but Carolina holds a slight edge on both accounts, bettering Columbus' 35.3 points per game by 2.2 points and limiting opponents to five fewer points. PHIL TAYLOR enters Saturday's game with 964 receiving yards and needs just 36 more to become the Wardogs' first-ever 1,000-yard receiver. Last weekend, Taylor had a strong showing, pulling in nine receptions for 140 yards and two scores. BILLY LUCKIE is the starting quarterback for Columbus. He has passed for 1,259 yards in eight games. Columbus relies on SHEDRIC HARRIS for defensive leadership. Harris has 43.0 tackles on the season and had an interception in last weekend's game against Augusta. ARKEE THOMPSON is the team's biggest defensive weapon, having recorded five interceptions in six games with the Rhinos this season. Thompson also has a team-high 24.5 tackles despite missing five games. NICK JOHNSON is coming off of his best performance of the season. Johnson caught 14 passes for 181 yards and four scores in last weekend's loss to Roanoke. CALEB SLOVER has 1,730 passing yards and 34 touchdowns as Carolina's starter.

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Louisville hosts Wichita at Freedom Hall Saturday and the Fire wants to avenge its 62-39 loss to the Stealth two weeks ago. With a win last weekend and a Wichita loss, the Fire (2-9) pulled to within a game and a half of the Stealth (4-7) for the National Conference Midwest Division's final playoff spot. A victory for the Stealth would help create a little breathing room ... this is the last meeting of the season between the teams. Wichita is scoring an average of 35.8 points a game compared to Louisville's 33.5. On defense, Wichita holds opponents to an average of four fewer points a game than the Fire's 49.5. Arena Football League veteran RON LOPEZ has played just five games for the Stealth, but already has thrown 25 touchdown passes and has a passer rating of 111.1. WILLIE GRISSOM is the Stealth's leading receiver with 69 receptions for 738 yards and seven scores. On defense, BRYAN HENDERSON leads a powerful pass rush with 12.0 sacks. ANTHONY PAYTON produced one of his finest performances in a Fire uniform last weekend against Memphis, catching 10 passes for 180 yards and four touchdowns. ANTHONY STALLINGS added 18 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the win. MATT HICKS, who spent most of the season with Wichita before Lopez came aboard, completed 21-of-33 passes for 270 yards and four scores against Memphis. In his just third game for the Fire, LEROY FREDERICK recorded two tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against the Xplorers.

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Norfolk (5-6) and New Haven (4-7) both come off of confidence-boosting victories last weekend heading into Saturday's clash. The Nighthawks escaped with a 42-41 win over Charleston and New Haven gave its playoff chances a boost with a 67-59 win over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Ninjas have scored an average of 56.5 points a contest in CHRIS BODEN's two starts. The Ninjas' defense holds opponents to 46.5 points a game compared to the Nighthawks 47.7 points against. Norfolk's offensive unit has averaged 37.2 points a game, but that number is up to 48.5 in its last two wins. CHRIS WALLACE has passed for just 1,330 yards, but has thrown 28 touchdowns compared to just six interceptions. Boden has been impressive for the Ninjas in his two starts, throwing 15 touchdown passes. ANTHONY COMER is the Ninjas' leading offensive threat with 49 catches for 637 yards and 13 scores. Comer also is a defensive weapon for the Ninjas, recording a team-high 44.0 tackles and picking off five passes. TRAVIS BURNS has a team-high 757 receiving yards to lead the Nighthawks. DESMOND WASHINGTON and JAY CLARKE combine in the Nighthawks secondary to give opponents a major headache. Clarke has 43.5 tackles and five interceptions while Washington is second in the league with 35 passes defended and 42.0 tackles.

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Florida's playoff drive hit a snag last weekend as the Firecats suffered a 32-28 loss against Tallahassee. This weekend, Florida (6-5) needs to defeat Memphis (4-8) to keep the pressure on the Thunder. Memphis has suffered through serious injury problems season long, but OS RUSSELL COPELAND is due to return after a six-game absence. Last weekend, injuries to both the Xplorers long snappers early in the game forced Memphis to go for two point conversion attempts after touchdowns instead of kicking for one. Memphis only converted on 1-of-6 two-point attempts and lost 51-50 to Louisville. TIM LESTER has Memphis scoring 46.8 points a game. The QB leads the league with 3,089 passing yards. The Western Michigan product also has thrown for 57 touchdowns. BRYAN SPARACINO leads a Firecats offense that scores 37.8 points a game. He has 1,263 passing yards and 19 touchdowns since taking over the starting role. ANTHONY DIXON is the Firecats' leading receiver with 49 receptions for 589 yards compared to the Xplorers' CARLOS McNEARY who has 63 catches and 804 yards, both team records. Defensively, Florida holds an edge, giving up just 36.7 points compared to the Xplorers' 47.9. On defense, GENO HENDERSON has 39.0 tackles and four interceptions to lead Memphis while ROY STABLER has 61.5 tackles and five picks for Florida.

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Augusta (10-1) travels to Roanoke (6-6) to be assured of maintaining its half-game lead on Macon (10-2) in the American Conference Eastern Division. In 2001, when Roanoke last hosted Augusta, the Steam won 57-52, starting a four-game Stallions losing streak that dashed their playoff hopes. This year, Augusta's offense is among the most potent in the league and, under the direction of QB GLEN GAUNTT, averages 55.0 points per game. Defensively, the Stallions hold opponents to 41.8 ppg and do a good job against the run, giving up just 14 rushing yards a contest. Roanoke's offense puts 37.2 points a game on the board while its opponents score 41.2. Gauntt has passed for a league-leading 60 touchdowns and has a passer rating of 111.1. TIM DUMAS has caught a 77 passes for 891 yards to lead Augusta's receivers. MIKE VOLARVICH led the Steam to a come-from-behind victory against Carolina Saturday, throwing the winning touchdown pass to TACOMA WASHINGTON with just seven seconds to play. Washington had a stellar game against the Rhinos, amassing 264 all-purpose yards. Washington recorded game highs of 143 receiving yards and 47 rushing yards. Defensively, JOSE WHITE leads the Steam with 5.0 sacks and four fumble recoveries. For Augusta, LAVAR RAINEY has picked of nine passes and recorded a team-high 55.0 tackles.

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Rochester (5-7) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (4-7) are in the midst of a playoff battle in the Northeast Division and meet at Blue Cross Arena Saturday in a game that could determine both teams' playoff fate. With a win, Rochester will snap a four-game losing streak that began with a 52-35 defeat at the hands of the Pioneers. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's three-game winning streak came to an end last weekend with a 67-59 loss at New Haven, but the Pioneers have played better of late and climbed back into playoff contention. The Brigade's offense is ranked third in the league with an average of 267.7 yards a game, and third in rushing with 41.9 ypg. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has gotten stronger on both sides of the ball as the season has progressed and averages 40.7 ppg on offense and 46.8 allowed on defense. QB BRYAN SNYDER has injected the Pioneers' offense with new life and guided the team to a 4-2 record in its last six games. JOHN KNUST's move from quarterback to offensive specialist has helped shore up the Pioneers' air attack. Knust has caught 40 passes for 507 yards and 15 touchdowns in just five games at his new position. RODRICK PRAYER has been consistent all season long in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's secondary, registering 72.0 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Defensively for Rochester, VONKEITH SPENCER has six interceptions on the season and AARON FIX has 46.0 tackles. ANTONIO DINGLE leads the Brigade's pass rush with six sacks. Offensively, MATT D'ORAZIO and MARTINO THEUS have developed into a formidable duo. D'Orazio is dangerous through the air and on the ground and averages 254.0 yards of total offense a game. Theus leads the league with 130 receptions and 1,446 receiving yards. He needs 18 receptions to eclipse the single-season league record. This is the final meeting between the teams this season.

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Bossier City stayed in control of its playoff destiny last week with a 47-46 victory over Wichita. The Battle Wings are a half-game in front of Arkansas in the race for the Central Division's second playoff spot. The Steamwheelers defeated the Wings 39-34 in the season opener and hope to repeat that success in the final game of a three-game road trip. Quad City's offense scores 50.5 points per game on offense while giving up 49.1 defensively. Bossier City totals 46.5 ppg on offense and allows 40.0 on defense. MIKE CAWLEY has two games under his belt as the Steamwheelers' quarterback and has made the most of the opportunity, passing for eight scores and rushing for three. IRA GOOCH and CHRIS ANTHONY are one of the most dangerous receiving tandems in the league, combining for 2,040 yards and 41 touchdowns. FRANK TRENTADUE is one of the league's top Ironmen, and leads the Steamwheelers' pass rush with 9.5 sacks. On the offensive side of the ball, Trentadue has three rushing scores. SHERARD POTEETE will be no easy task for Quad City's defense. Not only can the Battle Wings quarterback throw for yardage, but his is good on his feet, too. Poteete is third in the league in total offense with 241.6 yards per game. Poteete has thrown 42 touchdown passes and rushed for 17 more. KEVIN STEVENSON is Bossier City's leading receiver, having caught 90 passes for 1,138 yards and 20 scores. Defensively, CEDRIC ROBINSON leads the Battle Wings' secondary with six interceptions.

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San Diego (6-6) is feeling good after upending Peoria last weekend and hosts a rested Fresno team (4-7) that enjoyed an open date last week. With a good run down the stretch and some misfortune in Bakersfield, the Riptide could leapfrog the Blitz and take the top spot in the Western Division. Fresno has other plans, and a win over San Diego would give the Frenzy the season series and put them in position to overtake the Riptide. A San Diego win, meanwhile, puts the Riptide one more win or one more Fresno loss away from clinching a playoff berth. On offense, the Riptide and Frenzy are very similar, with both teams averaging close to 45 points a game. San Diego's defense has been stronger on the year, giving up 45.8 points a game compared to a Fresno defense that concedes 55.2 ppg. KANE CLAUNCH has guided the Riptide to come-from-behind victories in both of San Diego's last two wins. Against Peoria, Claunch threw four unanswered touchdown passes to rally the Riptide from a 21-point deficit to a 28-21 victory. RICO CURTIS has been nothing short of dominant on defense this season, recording a league-high 95.0 tackles. Despite missing games due to injury, MARTY GRAHAM leads the Riptide's receiving corps with 39 catches for 658 yards. Fresno QB KENNY ROSE guided the Frenzy to a 65-48 victory over Arkansas in his last outing. LAMONT WEBB is among the league's leading offensive threats, amassing 2,246 all-purpose yards and 178 points. On defense, CHRIS BAYNE has a team-high 46.5 tackles to lead the Frenzy.

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Hawaii (2-10) hosts Bakersfield (7-4) on Saturday with the Islanders thinking revenge after suffering a 56-48 loss to the Blitz last week. Bakersfield looks to maintain its cushion on top of the Western Division. The Blitz can clinch a playoff spot with a victory combined with a San Diego win against Fresno. But Bakersfield has to contend with Hawaii QB DARNELL ARCENEAUX, who equaled an af2 record in last weekend's defeat with five rushing touchdowns in the game. The Hawaii quarterback heads the league with 21 rushing scores on the season and needs just three more to break SHERARD POTEETE's single-season mark of 23, set last year. The Islanders' leading receiving threat is DARRELL JONES, who has 598 receiving yards and seven scores this season. STEVE WOFFORD is scheduled to make his Bakersfield return after missing two games due to injury. Wofford has 76 receptions for 838 yards and 17 scores in nine games this season. CHAD ELLIOTT has passed for 2,822 yards to pace the league's third-ranked pass offense. Elliott has 52 touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions. On defense, Bakersfield's J'SHARLON JONES has recorded team highs of 58.0 tackles and six interceptions. In last weekend's loss, TIKI SAGAPOLUTELE recorded 1.5 sacks to lead the Islanders' pass rush.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 14

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth.

BAKERSFIELD: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Hawaii AND loss by Fresno at San Diego.

BIRMINGHAM: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Arkansas AND loss by Pensacola vs. Jacksonville.

CAPE FEAR: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mohegan OR loss by Norfolk vs. New Haven AND loss by Roanoke vs. Augusta.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

RICHMOND: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Albany OR loss by Norfolk vs. New Haven AND loss by Roanoke vs. Augusta.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mobile AND loss by Pensacola vs. Jacksonville.

TULSA: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Peoria AND loss by Bossier City vs. Quad City.

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