Riptide Continue to Adjust Roster
April 22, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
SAN DIEGO â After a disappointing 0-3 start to the 2004 season, head coach Mouse Davis continues to adjust his roster in an attempt to get the Riptide into the win column. The league has assigned San Diego veteran OL/DL Henry Stephens and kicker Chris Arnce this week, while kicker Scott Collins and defensive back Samaji Akili have been reassigned.
Stephens, who spent much of 2003 with the Riptide, is an af2 veteran who was part of the 2002 Tulsa Talons that finished with a league-best 14-2 record. He's also spent time with the Wichita Stealth during his career. Last season he played in 10 games with San Diego, accumulating 17 tackles, eight quarterback hurries, three pass deflections and two sacks.
"Henry's a big guy with a lot of experience having played here, Wichita and a few other places," said Coach Davis in reference to his newest lineman. "He's been a bunch of places but he's settled here in San Diego now and he's looked very good in practice. This should be a very good fit for him."
The âTide also made a change at kicker, one week after Davis chose to go for the touchdown on fourth-and-goal with under a minute to play, down by three in Bakersfield. Gone is former University of Delaware kicker Scott Collins. Replacing him will be Purdue alum Chris Arnce.
Arnce was a two-year letterman at Purdue (1996-97) where he served primarily as a kickoff specialist. He had a 30-percent touchback rate during 1997 and was three of nine in his collegiate career on field goal attempts and was 15 of 16 on point-after tries. He has also spent time in training camp with the Los Angeles Avengers.
"Chris was actually our first choice at kicker coming into training camp," said Davis. "Unfortunately he suffered a leg injury and we had to go in another direction. The injury seems to be in the past now and he should be ready to go this week."
Collins had missed three extra points in the second half against Bakersfield in Week 3, prompting Davis to go for the win instead of a game-tying field goal late in the contest. On the season, Collins was one of two on field goal attempts, both coming in the âTide's first game in Arkansas, and 14 of 19 on extra points tries.
Akili was also reassigned to the league office this week. He had played in two games, recording six tackles (4 solo, 4 assisted).
The Riptide will take on former head coach Cree Morris and the Central Valley Coyotes this Friday at the Sports Arena at 7 p.m. with Riptide t-shirts going to the first 4,000 fans, courtesy of American Fire Retardant Corporation. Tickets are still available by stopping by the Sports Arena box office or visiting Ticketmaster Online.
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