Peoria Pirates Game Notes

Published on April 23, 2003 under United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Peoria Rough Riders News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Peoria Pirates (1-2) Vs. Louisville Fire (1-2)
Date: Friday, April 25, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m.
Site: Freedom Hall (16,154)
National Anthem:
Officials:
Radio: None
TV: LOU - Live on Insight, cable channel 8; Play-by-play: Kent Taylor; Color commentary: Male High School football head coach Bob Redman
Series Record: Tied 2-2
Last Meeting: PEO 34, LOU 24, at Louisville, 7/20/02
Streaks: Peoria lost 1, Louisville lost 2
Coaches: Bruce Cowdrey: PEO, Wally English: LOU

THE STAKES: The Pirates and the Fire are both looking to even their records out to 500.

THE SERIES: The series is tied at 2-2. Both teams are split with one victory at home and one on the road.

THE IFs:

If Peoria defeats Columbus, it would ...
· Give Peoria a 3-2 series record against Louisville
· Give Peoria two wins in a row
· Give Peoria a 2-2 overall record for 2003
· Give head coach Bruce Cowdrey his 18th win as Pirates' head coach

HEAD COACHES: Bruce Cowdrey led the Pirates to an 11-5 record last season, culminating with a 4-0 postseason run and an ArenaCup Championship. It was the second title for Cowdrey and the Pirates in the past three years as he won the IFL title in 2000. In two seasons with the IFL Pirates, Cowdrey went 29-2.

Tommy Johnson attended the University of Alabama, where he played defensive back. His senior class at U of A was known for having the most wins in a four-year time period (45-5-1). In 1992, he played on the Crimson Tide squad that defeated the University of Miami for the National Championship. Johnson then continued his football career with the Jacksonville Jaguars for a year, where he was given the opportunity to compete in NFL Europe. He started his Arena football career with the Albany Firebirds, and moved on to the Carolina Cobras. Johnson presently holds the record for the longest interception return for a touchdown in AFL history. In 2001, Johnson began his coaching career with the Louisville Fire as defensive coordinator.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Peoria 34, LOUISVILLE 24

(7/20/02) – The Pirates started off slowly in the first quarter, losing by 10 at the start of the second quarter. However, things improved for the Pirates and they went on to outscore the Fire in every remaining quarter. Rushing touchdowns were scored by Robert Meyer and Derrick Coakley, who were 3-25, 1 TD and 2-23 1 TD, respectfully. Matt Pike was the throwing force for the Pirates, tossing one touchdown (25-10-1, 111). Cornell Craig had four receptions for 20 yards and one touchdown, and Bryan Archibald and Tabari Wallace kept things interesting with one interception each. Defensively, the Pirates were led by Lincoln Dupree, who had nine total tackles and two pass break-ups. Fire QB Dan English was sacked five times. Robert Meyer, Jason Hennigh, Derrick Coakley, Jon Verdegan (.5), and Antonio Brown each had a sack. Anthony Shelman had six rushes for 33 yards and one touchdown for the fire. Dan English threw 33 times and completed 19 for 17 yards and 2 touchdowns. Anthony Payton was the receiving leader for the Fire, collecting nine for 104 yards and one touchdown. Tim Bailey also had one receiving touchdown. Mike Summers had a decent defensive game for the Fire with six total tackles, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble and five defended passes. James Dawson accumulated two sacks and Michael Bowers had one.

MILESTONES:

Eric Johnson needs six more sacks to reach 20... Charles Sheffield is 376 yards away from 1,500 total receiving yards, and 14 receptions from 100 total receptions... Jack Walker needs 23 receptions to reach 100 and 732 receiving yards to reach the 2,000 mark... Charlie Peterson is 20 TD passes away from his 100th and 180 passing yards from his 4,000th.

DROPBACK:

PEORIA 53, Columbus 9
(Attendance: 6,613): The Pirates (1-2) didn't allow a single point after the first quarter in the rout over Columbus (2-1). Game MVP CHARLIE PETERSON completed 12-of-19 with five touchdowns and rushed for another score. Columbus quarterback SHAYNE SHRADER, filling-in for the injured MIKE GLUSKI, threw four interceptions and was sacked three times.

FORWARD MOTION:

The Pirates are on the road for the next two games in Quad City and Green Bay.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Pirates WR/DB Davaren Hightower: Hightower really stepped up and was named both Ironman of the Game and ADT Defensive Player of the game for his performance against Columbus last week. He picked off QB Shayne Shrader and ran 51 yards. He also totaled six receptions for 89 yards and two touchdowns. He is eighth in the league in scoring with 42 points,

Pirates' QB Charlie Peterson: Peterson was named MVP for the first time this season for his performance last week. He found his teammates in the endzone to receive five touchdown passes. He completed 12 of his 19 attempts and threw for 157 yards. He is second in the league with a pass rating of 127.9, tenth in passing yards with 648 and eighth in total offense with 217.3.

Pirates' WR/LB Charles Sheffield: Sheffield read QB Shayne Shrader like a book last week, picking off two passes for 38 yards.

Pirates' OS Versie Gaddis: Half the time Gaddis caught a ball last week, he scored a touchdown. He is also ranked fifth in the league in kickoff return average with 26.7.

Pirates' FB/LB Bryan Archibald: Archibald rushed for a total of eight yards against Columbus last week. In addition, he had 5.0 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss and 1 sack. He is number one in the league in tackles for loss with 4.0 and fifth in sacks with 3.0.

Pirates' Line vs. Fire Line: The Pirates boast one of the heaviest lines in the league, as four OL/DLs on the roster weigh in over 300 pounds.

KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:

3/29/01 – The Pirates become the only team to suffer a shutout in af2 history, as the Quad City Steamwheelers defeat Peoria 41-0 in Moline. The Pirates got even last season, sweeping the season series with the ‘Wheelers, scoring over 65 points in each contest.

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United Indoor Football Association Stories from April 23, 2003


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