San Diego Riptide Game Notes
April 9, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2)
San Diego Riptide News Release
QUICK FACTS:
San Diego Riptide (0-1) at Fresno Frenzy (0-1)
Date: Thursday, April 13, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 pm (PDT)
Site: Selland Arena (8,911) â Fresno, California
Officials: Jeff Hansen (referee); Kevin Matthews (umpire); Scott Monaco (head linesman); Steve Hoslette (line judge); Mike Cuttone (back judge)
Radio: KSDO 1130 AM (Chris Ello, Bill Werndl)
COACHES:
Riptide: Cree Morris (0-1, 1 st year)
Frenzy: Rick Worman (0-1, 1 st year)
RIPTIDE-FRENZY GAME SWITCHED TO THURSDAY
Due to the upcoming WCHL playoffs, the Riptide-Frenzy af2 contest will be played this Thursday instead of Saturday. This means a short week (only two days for practice) for the Riptide, while the Frenzy haven't played a game since March 30 (as many as 12).
THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT â Fresno Frenzy The Riptide and Frenzy are the lone West Division teams without a win. The Riptide lost in the longest af2 game in history (70 minutes and 38 seconds) 49-43 to Bakersfield last Saturday and the Frenzy fell 50-47 back on March 30 against Hawaii.
Last week vs. Bakersfield â lost 49-43 in OT
The first arenafootball2 game played in the state of California was truly a tale of two halves when the Bakersfield Blitz overcame a 27-3 late second quarter San Diego Riptide advantage to win 49-43 in overtime last Saturday.
Blitz OS Steve Wofford caught the game-winning 19-yard touchdown with 4:22 left in overtime to complete the longest game in af2 history (70 minutes and 38 seconds of game play) and the first in the history of both franchises.
In a losing effort, Riptide OS Marty Graham was named the Game's MVP after compiling the largest all-purpose yardage night in af2 history with 400 (197 receiving/199 returns/4 rushing) and four touchdowns. Graham grabbed touchdown strikes of 40, 16, 36 and 46 yards and had five of his seven kickoff returns go for more than 20 yards each. His receiving and return yards also top all single-game marks in the af2 this season.
It took the Blitz 29:38 before scoring their first touchdown, a QB bootleg by Chad Elliot from one-yard out. The Riptide went into the half up 27-10.
The second half was all Blitz when they converted three Riptide QB Kane Claunch interceptions into 20 points and held the Riptide to just 100 total yards of offense in the second half and the overtime period combined.
LONGEST af2 GAME IN HISTORY
Saturday's Riptide-Blitz game's overtime period last 10:38, which put the game at 70 minutes and 38 seconds. This marks the longest game in the history of the league.
GOLDEN GRAHAM
Despite the loss to Bakersfield, the Riptide OS set an af2 record for most all-purpose yards in a single game (400) and grabbed four touchdowns. He averaged more than 25 yards per touch in the contest with TD grabs of 40, 16, 36 and 46 yards (his other three catches went for 26,19 and 14). He also added kickoff returns of 15, 24, 12, 38, 43, 46 and 21.
FRENSO CONNECTIONS
Riptide Defensive Assistant Coach Henry Milton resides in Fresno when not coaching with San Diego. Riptide OL/DL LaPrice Reynolds also hails from Fresno.
NEXT WEEK'S OPPONENT â Tulsa Talons The Riptide return home Saturday, April 20 when they take on the Tulsa Talons, who beat the Birmingham Steeldogs 55-42 last Saturday. Talons QB Anthony Buich threw three TDs and ran in two more scores despite Tulsa only producing 170 yards of total offense in the Tulsa win.
RIPTIDE AZTEC ARMY A third of the Riptide 21-player roster consists of former San Diego State Aztec players. An eight SDSU player (Kevin Brown) is currently on the injured reserve.
Pos Player Years at SDSU
DS Aazaar Abdul-Rahim 1997-99
FB/LB Brian Berg 1999-2000
DS Kevin Burton 1998-99
WR/LB Rico Curtis 1996-99
OS Marty Graham 1996-97
WR/LB Scott Nicholson 1998-99
OL/DL LaPrice Reynolds 1998
LOCAL PLAYERS KEY FOR RIPTIDE
In addition to the seven former Aztecs, the Riptide roster is stock full of local players. Of the 21-man roster, 15 have connections to the San Diego area (by birth, schooling and/or professional experience). Both players on the injured reserve (Brown and Hendrickson) have local ties.
Player Local Connection
Aazaar Abdul-Rahim SDSU
Brian Berg SDSU
Brad Bohn Born in San Diego
Jason Burk Mt. Carmel High/Palomar JC
Kevin Burton SDSU
Robert Craig Montgomery High
Rico Curtis SDSU
Marty Graham Torrey Pines High/SDSU
Brad Greetis Orange Glen High/Palomar JC
Jason Henry San Dieguito High/ Palomar JC
Trevor Misipeka Temecula Valley High
Scott Nicholson SDSU
Altie Parker Crawford High
LaPrice Reynolds SDSU
Ryan Smith Escondido High/Palomar JC
RIPTIDE INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
DS Kevin Brown Nose On IR
FB/LB Steve Hendrickson Knee On IR
WHERE TO LISTEN TO THE RIPTIDE GAME
If you cannot make it to this Thursday's game, you have three options to listen to the Riptide-Frenzy game. RADIO â KSDO 1130 AM Join Chris Ello and Bill Werndl for the pre-game show at 6:30pm and at 7pm get ready for all the high-scoring Arena football action.
INTERNET â sandiegoriptide.com Log-on to the Riptide's official homepage (sandiegoriptide.com) to listen to every second of tonight's game anywhere that the Internet is available on the planet.
TELEPHONE â 1.800.846.4700 Team Code: 4101 There's no need to have Internet access to listen to the Riptide games. To hear live play-by-play of all 16 Riptide games make a toll-free to 1-800-846-4700 and enter 4101 as the Riptide 'Team Code'.
BUILT FORD TOUGH AWARD The Built Ford Tough Award is a national recognition award given after every game to the player or players on each team best demonstrating determination and toughness in that game. The award honors the players who made a game-saving tackle or score-saving tackle, threw a key block on the big play or exhibited physical sacrifice or consistent tough blocking and tackling on both sides of the ball.
Riptide Built-Ford Tough Players of Game
4/06 vs. Blitz Brian Berg, Rico Curtis, Ryan Cuthbert
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME/WEEK/YEAR
This is a brand new award that honors the top defensive player of the game/week/year. ADT Security Services, Inc., a unit of Tyco Fire and Security Services recently signed on to sponsor this award and become one of the af2's primary sponsors.
THE HEAD COACHES
Riptide â Cree Morris
Former Orange Glen High School quarterback Cree Morris, who has playing experience with the NFL, Arena Football League and the World League enters his first season as a head coach at any level. Morris also played collegiate football with San Diego State and St. Mary's College. Morris, 31, led Orange Glen to a 12-1 record his senior year in 1988, finishing second in the state in passing with over 3,000 yards and 30 TDs. He was named Palomar League Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-CIF and Honorable Mention All-State. He spent three years at San Diego State, before transferring to Division II St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. In two seasons with the Gaels, he threw for 3,451 yards and 24 TDs, as well as six rushing scores. He is listed 16 times in the school's all-time record books after leading them to consecutive winning seasons in just 15 starts. He participated in the training camp of the Los Angeles Raiders in 1994 and with the St. Louis Rams in 1995. In 1996, Morris spent a season in the World League of American Football with the London Monarchs. The following year, Morris began his two-year Arena career spending a year and half with the Arena League's San Jose SaberCats (1997-98) and finishing his career with the Iowa Barnstormers (1998).
Frenzy â Rick Worman
The former Fresno State quarterback comes back to the Central Valley after a career in the Canadian Football League as a player and coordinator. He recently completed a stint with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as the team's offensive coordinator. With the help of Worman's creative offense, the Blue Bombers rebounded from a 7-10 season in 2000 to a 14-4 record the next season. Winnipeg also led the league in scoring, touchdowns and time of possession. The Blue Bombers' dream season finally culminated with an appearance in the 2001 Grey Cup before losing to the Calgary Stampeders for the league title. Before his coaching career, Worman played quarterback for three different CFL teams (Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatchewan) from 1986 to 1991. In his six-year career, Worman played in 103 regular season and playoff games combined. During that time, he completed more than 50% of his passes and threw for 8,577 yards and 55 touchdowns. Worman entered the CFL in 1986 when he signed a free agent contract with Calgary. The Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League (USFL) drafted Worman in the 11th round of 1986 draft. The 6-foot-2 Worman attended Fresno State from 1981 to 1983. Four games into the 1983 season, he decided to transfer to Eastern Washington University. At the Division 1-AA school, Worman flourished in his new surroundings from 1984 to 1985. In his senior year with the Eagles, he completed 274 of his 491 attempts for 3,466 yards and 27 touchdowns. When he finished his college career, Worman had set 10 school records with Eastern Washington, two of which still stand today.
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