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Second Round: Friday Night Matchups

August 9, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


No. 5 BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT (12-5) at No. 1 RIO GRANDE VALLEY (16-1)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2007 - Dodge Arena (5,600) 8:30 P.M. ET

The second round of the playoffs begin Friday night when the Battle Wings fly into Dodge Arena to face the Dorados in what promises to be an intense affair. Bossier-Shreveport is coming off an impressive road victory at Arkansas (62-40) while Rio Grande Valley was pushed to the limit by the Alabama Steeldogs (44-41). This year the Dorados and Battle Wings split their season series, 1-1, with each team winning on their opponent's home field. Bossier-Shreveport earned a 52-48 victory in Week 4 and Rio Grande Valley claimed the second contest in Week 16, 42-39. Quarterback play was a big factor in the regular season and figures to play an important part in this week's battle as well. In the Battle Wings' Week 4 win, QB QUINCY CARTER had a stellar outing, throwing for 344 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions (no sacks). That turned out to be the Dorados' only loss of the season, as the team has won 14 straight games (13 regular season, 1 playoff). In Week 16's head-to-head matchup, the Rio Grande Valley defense got to Carter, sacking him three times and forcing three key interceptions (two in the second half).

Bossier-Shreveport enjoyed its best season ever this year under the direction of Head Coach JON NORRIS. Carter was a big reason behind the team's success as well, as the former starting signal caller for the Dallas Cowboys threw for 66 TDs and 3,254 yards. The Battle Wings offense is not just about Carter, however. FB JASON SCHULE and WR JAMAAL PERRY have both put together All-af2 caliber seasons. Schule led the league in rushing yards with 351 and finished second in rushing scores with 20. Perry recorded career highs in receptions (112), receiving yards (1,483) and touchdowns (27). The team's defense is equally as impressive. Leading the charge is rookie DL ELEX REED. Reed finished second in the league in sacks with 17.5 and led the af2 in tackles for loss with 24. DBs PHILLIP GEIGGAR (team-high 9 INTs), KENNETH WILLIAMS and CHRIS IBEZIM have also played well in the defensive backfield. As a group, the defense ranked tied for third in points per game allowed at 39.8 per game. In last week's first round win at Arkansas, the usual suspects (Reed on defense, Schule on offense) showed up and performed well. Reed registered an af2 postseason record 3.5 sacks while Schule rushed for 37 yards and four scores. Reed also forced two fumbles and recovered one.

Rio Grande Valley's first round win was not as comfortable as Bossier-Shreveport's. The Dorados trailed 41-38 with 1:38 to play against Alabama before driving down the field on their next possession. With just 19 seconds left to play, QB JOSH KELLETT hooked up with WR COCO BLALOCK on the game-winning 11-yard score. Kellett finished with 258 yards passing with six TDs and no interceptions. Blalock scored three receiving TDs and WR GEORGE WILLIAMS, the league's leading scorer, caught nine passes for 137 yards and one TD. Kellett ranked fourth in the league in touchdown passes in 2007 with 86 while Blalock amassed a team-high 2,270 all-purpose yards. As good as Rio Grande Valley is on offense, they are even more dominating on defense. They limited their opponents to a league-low average of 32.8 points per game in 2007. The group also shattered the af2 single-season sack record with 66 overall. DL QUINTON STATON led the league in sacks individually with 18.5. KEENAN WASHINGTON ranked third in the league with 14.5 sacks. The defensive backfield is anchored by DBs CHRIS CANTY (team-high 63.5 tackles, 8 INTs, 3.5 tackles for loss) and ANDRE GOINES (team-high 11 INTs, 54 tackles, 19 pass breakups). Expect emotions to run high in this game. It has been well documented that these two teams don't like each other very much. Last time they took the same field together, four players (3 Rio Grande Valley, 1 Bossier-Shreveport) were ejected for extracurricular activities and verbal battles were being waged all night long.

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT/RIO GRANDE VALLEY - BY THE NUMBERS:

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT RIO GRANDE VALLEY SERIES LEADER Rio Grande Valley leads 4-3

LAST MEETING Rio Grande Valley won 42-39 on 7/14

LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 5-0

LAST GAME Won 62-40 at ARK on 8/4 in 1st round Won 44-41 vs. ALA on 8/5 in 1st round

2007 LEADERS BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT RIO GRANDE VALLEY PASSING Carter: 228-383-12 3254; 66 TD Kellett: 309-546-17 3982; 86 TD

RECEIVING Perry: 112-1483; 27 TD Williams: 99-1534; 42 TD

RUSHING Schule: 89-351; 20 TD Gatlin: 47-161; 7 TD

TACKLES Williams: 94.0 Canty: 63.5

SACKS Reed: 17.5 Staton 18.5

INTERCEPTIONS Geiggar: 9 Goines: 11

KICKING Hazelwood: 93-117 PAT;15-26 FG;138 PTs Phillips: 101-127 PAT; 5-12 FG; 116 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 54.2 PPG; 256.3 YPG 56.5 PPG; 275.6 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 39.8 PPG; 244.1 YPG 32.8 PPG; 212.6 YPG

* Stats reflect regular season numbers

NO. 7 LOUISVILLE FIRE (10-7) AT NO. 6 GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (10-7)

FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2007 - Resch Center (7,995) 8:30 P.M. ET

* Broadcast via B2 Networks

The Louisville Fire travel to Green Bay Friday night to tackle the Blizzard in an unlikely rematch of Midwest Division rivals. Both teams entered the first round as underdogs, but both Louisville and Green Bay came away victorious. The Fire, who traveled by bus more than 30 hours to Spokane, Wash. to face the Shock, looked fresh and fresh and ready in the team's impressive 62-35 win. The Blizzard showed their mettle by coming back from a 21-0 first half deficit on the road to push out Quad City, 39-34. In 10 all-time meetings, Louisville and Green Bay are tied with five wins apiece. The squads also split the season series this year as well, with each team winning on their home field. The Fire won the first matchup on June 2 in overtime, 39-33. The Blizzard dominated the second affair on July 20, 74-48. FB/LB DEMETRIUS FORNEY (3 rush TDs) and WR TIGER JONES (5-90; 1 TD) fueled the Fire's first win while QB GINO GIUDUGLI (6 TD passes), WR GERALD HARRIS (1 TD catch, 57-yard MFG return TD) and DB RONNIE AMADI (7 tackles, 1 INT return TD) led Green Bay to its victory.

This year the Fire have been a bit hard to figure out, but the team picked up the pace in the latter stages of the season, winning four of its last six games. The team's top offensive weapon is Jones, who finished his first af2 season with 142 catches for nearly 1,900 yards (1,897) and 37 scores. Forney is a veteran who has had another strong season for the Fire. He holds several Louisville team records, including rushing TDs (41) and sacks (16.5), and also set single season records this year in rushing yards (243) and rushing TDs (15). QB JOEL STEELE is the starter under center for Louisville. Defensively, the team has a solid group overall. The Fire defensive backfield is anchored by the af2's all-time interceptions leader MATT FORBES. Forbes, who has six picks in 2007, has 33 for his career. The big men up front who like to get after the quarterback are linemen EDDIE YAUCH (8 sacks) and JEROME WALKER (7 sacks). In Saturday's first round win at Spokane, the Louisville defense forced six Shock turnovers (4 fumbles, 2 INTs). DB NATE GREEN was the biggest ball hawk of the night with a game-high 14 total tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception while Jones (7-121; 3 TDs) and Forney (2 rush TDs) again led the offensive attack.

The Blizzard return home this week to the friendly confines of the Resch Center. Green Bay has won all eight home games this year and 10 straight dating back to July 28, 2006. In the team's eight wins at home in 2007, Green Bay's defense has been stingy at best, limiting the opposition to just 31.6 points per game. The highest single-game offensive showing by an opponent came from none other than Louisville in Week 17. The Fire put up 48 points, but the Blizzard scored 74, their second-highest single game total of the year. The Blizzard's main strength in 2007 has been on defense. The team ranked fifth in the league in scoring defense, allowing just 40.2 points per outing. The Green Bay defensive backfield boasts talented rookies RONNIE AMADI and STEPHEN CASON. Amadi led the league in passes defended with 44 (36 PBUs, 8 INTs) on the season. Cason ranked fourth in the af2 in tackles with 113.0. He also recorded six interceptions. DL JASON HARDEE is the team's top pass rusher with 8.0 sacks. Offensively, the team isn't quite as talented. The Blizzard did seem to be rounding into form with GINO GUIDUGLI under center, but two weeks ago Guidugli left the team to pursue an opportunity in the CFL. ZEKE DIXON, who threw 26 TDs in 2007 with eight interceptions, returned to the starter's role he occupied early in the season last week against the Steamwheelers. Dixon responded well, completing 26-of-39 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. WR GERALD HARRIS was also a major factor in the team's first round win, returning two kicks for touchdowns (57-yard MFG return, 57-yard KR TD) that sparked the team to its second-half comeback. Ronnie Amadi (4 tackles, 1 INT) and FB/LB GUSTAVUS TYSON (1.5 sacks) stood out defensively. This has the makings of a hard-fought defensive struggle. If that's the case, the edge must go to the Blizzard, especially at home with the ninth man backing them up at the Resch Center.

LOUISVILLE/GREEN BAY - BY THE NUMBERS:

LOUISVILLE GREEN BAY SERIES LEADER

Series tied 5-5

LAST MEETING Green Bay won 74-48 on 7/20

LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1

LAST GAME

Won 62-35 at SPK on 8/4 in 1st round

Won 39-34 at QCS on 8/3 in 1st round

2007 LEADERS LOUISVILLE GREEN BAY PASSING Steele: 240-381-13 2610; 44 TD Guidugli: 137-236-6 1675; 40 TD

RECEIVING Jones 82-1009; 21 TD Burnoski: 58-775; 17 TD

RUSHING Forney: 72-243; 15 TD Ficklin: 72-188; 9 TD

TACKLES Midlam: 72.5 Cason: 113.0

SACKS Walker: 7.0 Hardee: 8.0

INTERCEPTIONS Green: 6 Amadi: 8

KICKING Hendrix 74-94 PAT; 9-25 FG; 101 PTs Forstrom: 72-88 PAT; 4-21 FG; 84 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 49.7 PPG; 278.8 YPG 43.9 PPG; 244.0 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 48.8 PPG; 248.1 YPG 40.2 PPG; 237.2 YPG



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