Riptide versus Blitz Game Preview
April 13, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
Date: Friday, April 15, 2005
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PST
Series Record: BAK 3 â SDG 1
Last Meeting: SDG 34- BAK 30; The âTide stole the win after a Matt Guardia rushing TD with 1:42 left on the clock. Both team defenses dominated the game. The Blitz defense sacked Feterik twice, recovered three of four forced fumbles, scored two safeties, and picked off one pass. The Riptide intercepted three passes and blocked three field goals.
Game Preview: After squeaking by with a victory over the Birmingham Steeldogs, 58-57, San Diego gears up for another road trip this time to Bakersfield to take on the Blitz. The Riptide-Blitz series has become one of the best rivalries in the National West Division. The âTide suffered three losses to Bakersfield by a margin of just 10 points before pulling away with a victory 34-30 in their last meeting. The three previous losses were due to several missed PATs and field goals. But after the âTide's victory in Birmingham, kicking is something the team does not have to worry about.
Against the Steeldogs, the Riptide pulled away with a victory thanks to the flawless kicking of all-af2 kicker Kimo Naehu. Naehu nailed a 37 yarder with just one second left on the clock to steal the win 58-57. He was perfect on field goals (3-for-3) and PAT's (7-7). In addition to excellent kicking, FB/LB Jeff Macrea and WR/DB Nian Taylor effectively played both sides of the ball. Macrea chipped in with two rushing scores and a blocked PAT. Taylor hauled in seven receptions for 83-yards and a touching while breaking the 3,000 career receiving yards mark.
The Blitz will be relying on OS Rennard Reynolds, QB Chad Elliot, WR/DB Eric Mahanke, and FB/LB Nick Onainda. Last season against the âTide, Mahanke and Reynolds pulled down ten touchdowns from Elliot. New faces on the Blitz team to watch out for are DSs Alex Wallace and Kharee Shorter. Wallace was a standout cornerback for the San Jose State Renegades. Last week against the Coyotes, Shorter notched a Blitz record 11 solo tackles.
If the âTide offense can have a repeat seven touchdown performance against the Blitz, the team would notch another "W" in the win column and take the lead in the National West Division.
Riptide Roster Moves
The Riptide activated Rico Curtis from short term injured reserve. The addition of Curtis gives the team a defensive edge. In last week's contest, the âTide gave up 57 points including two booming 45-yarders while without Curtis.
FB/LB Matt Guardia was placed on short term injured reserve with a knee injury. WR/DB Torrey Prather was reassigned to the league office. FB/LB Brandon Hall was placed on recallable reassignment.
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