Riptide Recap
April 21, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
LAST WEEK: The Riptide dropped a heartbreaker to the Bakersfield Blitz to fall to 0-3 on the season. Ryan Smith picked off a Blitz pass and returned it for a touchdown to give the Riptide a 3-point lead with just 52 seconds remaining in the game, but Bakersfield's Steve Wofford returned the ensuing kick-off for a touchdown to steal the win, 57-54.
THIS WEEK: The Riptide return home for the second time this season and will welcome a few familiar faces to the Sports Arena when they take on the Central Valley Coyotes on Friday at 7 p.m. The Coyotes moved to Fresno this past off-season from Bakersfield and revamped much of their coaching staff and roster.
Among the newcomers are former Riptide head coach Cree Morris, who now holds the same position with Central Valley. Morris, who guided San Diego to their only playoff appearance and victory in 2002 left the team after the 2003 season. This will be his first game in San Diego since his departure. Among the players on the Coyote's roster with whom âTide fans will be quite familiar are OL/DL Zach LaMonda, a San Diego State grad who played in 18 games for the Riptide over two seasons, tallying 22 total tackles, and former Riptide QB Wesley Phillips.
In addition to his Riptide roots, Phillips is also the son of current San Diego Chargers Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips. The elder Phillips will be in attendance to watch his son take on the âTide before hunkering down in the Chargers war room to prepare for the 2004 NFL Draft, in which his team holds the first-overall pick. To view the complete game notes for this week, please click here.
STANDINGS: The âTide are 0-3 and have the worst record in the National Conference's Western Division. They are two games behind both Bakersfield and Hawaii, each 2-1. With 11 more intra-division games remaining on the schedule, however, the âTide still could make some noise in the West.
SHARK BITES: QB Kane Claunch completed passes to six different receivers in the âTide's week 3 loss at Bakersfield... Smith needs just one more touchdown to match his career high for a season... The Riptide ran seven running plays in Week 3 after attempting just two designed runs in their first two games combined... Fundamentals will be a key for the Riptide in Week 4. The team ranks 23rd (out of 25) in turnover differential is the second-most penalized team in the league... San Diego has increaded its point total in each of its first three games... Claunch has thrown for five touchdowns in each of his last two games... The Riptide reassigned K Scott Collins and DB Samaji Akili to the league office... San Diego has been assigned K Chris Arnce and OL/DL Henry Stephens... All âTide games can be heard live with Mark Rogandino calling the play by play on www.WorldTalkRadio.com...
Blitz Edge Riptide in a Thriller, 57-54
Elliot Tosses Seven Scores to Drop San Diego to 0-3
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. â It came down to the last play of the game, but the Riptide dropped their third straight and remain winless on the season. Kane Claunch passed for five touchdowns and Ryan Smith returned an interception for a score in the fourth quarter to give the âTide a chance late, but it wasn't enough to overcome the seven touchdown passes from Blitz QB Chad Elliot, as Bakersfield won the game 57-54.
Elliot out-dueled Claunch, completing 28 of 37 passes for 308 yards and seven touchdowns and Eric Mahanke and Steve Wofford each scored three times to lead the Blitz. Claunch countered with 310 yards and five scores of his own, but Wofford, who scored the first two touchdowns of the game for Bakersfield, both on 45-yard receptions, returned a kickoff for a touchdown after San Diego had grabbed a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winner.
To view the complete game recap, Click Here.
âTide Trivia
Q. Who holds the Riptide record for rushing yards in a game? (answer at the bottom)
Catch All the Riptide Action on World Talk Radio
The San Diego Riptide will air all 16 regular season games over the internet at www.WorldTalkRadio.com. The site, which also covers the Major Indoor Soccer League's San Diego Sockers, will also archive each game so that fans can enjoy the hard-hitting action of Riptide football anytime.
Mark Rogondino will be calling the play-by-play for all of the Riptide's home games, and, along with Riptide Public Relations Director David Hale, will also provide commentary for each San Diego road game. Fans can access the World Talk Radio site directly from the San Diego Riptide homepage at www.SanDiegoRiptide.com by simply clicking on the World Talk Radio logo.
Get Your 2004 Riptide Tickets Now
Riptide football is underway for 2004 and with seven exciting home games left, fans still have plenty of opportunities to catch the action!
This Friday's game against the Central Valley Coyotes will feature the return of former âTide members, Cree Morris, Wesley Phillips and Zach LaMonda, as well as Riptide t-shirts to the first 4,000 fans, courtesy of AFRC.
Make your next company/group outing a Riptide Football Game
Are you ready for a helmet poppin', heart stoppin', 50-yard Indoor War? We will assist your group in every way possible to make this an unforgetable and carefree experience.
You will experience football so close you can feel the action! Our games are filled with action packed entertainment. Don't blink! Group Benefits (must be 20 or more):
-FREE Ticket for group leader
-$3 off per ticket
-Public Announcement at game
-Group name on scoreboard
-Ask about groups of 50 or more!!
PLAYER PROFILE
After more than two years under center for the San Diego Riptide, fans may think they know quarterback Kane Claunch pretty well. But here's some facts about the âTide gunslinger you might not have known...
Name: Kane Claunch
Position: Quarterback
Years with Riptide: 3
College: Montana Tech
Favorite TV Show: George Lopez
Favorite musician: Al Green
Favorite Food: Mexican
Least Favorite Food: Beets
Favorite Sports Team Growing Up: Kansas City Chiefs
Greatest Moment Outside of Sports: Seeing my son born
Best non-athletic talent is: Math
Before a game, I like to: Relax
Football hero growing up: Warren Moon
Favorite Hobbies: Playing with my son
You can learn more about all of the Riptide players by visiting www.sandiegoriptide.com, the internet's home for Riptide football.
The Riptide website features all the latest news and notes you'll need to stay up to date on your 2004 San Diego Riptide. Check out the training camp rosters, news stories, articles on your favorite players and coaches, and even purchase your tickets - all at www.sandiegoriptide.com.
Become a San Diego Riptide Corporate Partner
The Riptide offer many exciting and unique opportunities for members of the San Diego corporate community to market their products through the hard-hitting, fast-paced sport of arena football.
For more information on Riptide sponsorship packages or to become a corporate partner, contact Alan Friedman at afriedman@sandiegoarena.com or call the Riptide offices at 619-224-4625 x327.
Riptide in the Community
April 23: Peninsula YMCA Flag Football
Before their home game against the Central Valley Coyotes, the Riptide will host members of the Peninsula YMCA to the Sports Arena for a game of five-on-five flag football on the field from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
April 26: San Diego Brain Injury Foundation Charity Golf Classic
The San Diego Riptide Dancers will be helping out with this charity event at the Stone Ridge Country Club in Poway by selling raffle tickets, giving out awards and promoting Riptide football.
April 27: Golf 2/5 Marine Homecoming
Members of the Riptide Dance Team will be on hand to welcome home members of the Golf 2/5 Marines. Girls will be posing for pictures and signing autographs for members of the marines and promoting Riptide football.
May 11: Old Pro's Monthly Meeting
The Old Pros will be holding their monthly meeting with Mouse Davis as their keynote speaker. The Riptide girls will be on hand as well to greet group members and promote Riptide football.
May 21: Sempra Fit Health Fair
Ripper and the Dance Team will be on hand for the Sempra Fit Athletic Department of the Military's Health Fair to promote healthy living to more than 1,000 attendees. The event will last from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Sports Complex in Miramar.
Trivia Answer
A. Former âTide and current Central Valley Coyote quarterback Wesley Phillips set a Riptide record when he ran for 57 yards on 7/12/03 against the Quad City Steamwheelers.
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