af2 arenafootball2

Seventh Heaven for Stallions?

May 23, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


AUGUSTA, Ga. - Most teams that start a season 6-0 would feel pretty good. The Augusta Stallions, one of af2's three remaining unbeatens, might be feeling a bit nervous.

See, the Stallions have been here before. Last season, they won six straight out of the gate, but then dropped seven of the next 10 to finish 9-7 and miss out on the playoffs. But that was then and this is now, and this year's squad, unblemished record and all, is far from satisfied. They plan to prove it Friday night when they host the Charleston Swamp Foxes (3-3) at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

For the Stallions to improve to 7-0, however, they'll have to get past a JIMMY DUNN-led squad that is sure to be just as hungry. Coming on the heels of a slump-busting 67-63 win over Jacksonville, the Swamp Foxes can keep pace with American Southern Division-leading Tallahassee (4-2) with another win. Couple that with the resurgence of veteran QB RAY ISAAC, and the Foxes could be in prime position for their first road win of 2002.

Isaac returned to Charleston's starting lineup last week for the first time in two games and jumpstarted the Swamp Foxes' offense, passing for 288 yards and three touchdowns. One of those strikes went for a season-high 49 yards to WR/LB BEN CHRISTOPHER. The agile vet also rushed for two scores, including a late fourth-quarter charge that sealed the win for the Foxes. Isaac's only miscue of the night was a first-quarter interception, but it was only his second misfire of the season.

Christopher earned Ironman of the Game honors for his efforts least week, but DWAYNE WILMOT has been the go-to guy for the Swamp Foxes this season. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound OS out of the University of Maine has caught 42 balls for 506 yards and 12 scores on the season. WR/DB MICHAEL BROWN also has been a target for the Swamp Foxes' gunslingers, hauling in 20 receptions for 309 yards and five strikes.

The Stallions' offense gets the job done with consistency. Augusta averages 50.7 points per game (ninth in af2) with a season high of 56 and a low of 45. QB GLEN GAUNT has passed for more than 1,500 yards with 31 touchdowns against only five interceptions. WR/DB TIM DUMAS leads the club with 43 catches for 539 yards and 10 scores, but he isn't Gaunt's only weapon of choice, as OS UNDRE WILLIAMS and WR/LB CHRIS JOHNSON both are over 300 yards receiving. In fact, Johnson leads the team with 12 touchdown grabs.

Defensively, the Stallions are just as consistent. They allow 40.2 points per contest (fifth in the American Conference), but no team has scored more than 47. DS LAVAR RAINEY leads the club with 31.5 tackles (sixth in the American Conference), three interceptions and 10 pass breakups. Lineman CLARENCE WILLIAMS has three of the Stallions' 10 sacks. Charleston also has a solid pass rush in OL/DL PRESTON VINSON, who has totaled five sacks this season. WR/DB MICHAEL BROWN solidifies the Swamp Fox secondary and is tied for second in the league with five interceptions.

Augusta and Charleston have played twice previously (both in 2000), with the Stallions winning each game. This is the first of two meetings between these clubs this season. They meet in Charleston on July 13.

The next two weeks could determine whether the Mohegan Wolves or the New Haven Ninjas are going to make a serious bid for a Northeast Division playoff spot. The division rivals meet Friday for the first of back-to-back games. They've already played once this season, with the Ninjas topping the Wolves 51-38 in April. Both clubs fell to division foes last week, and the Wolves sit in a four-game slump. Mohegan is better that its record suggests, however, having been within seven points in three of its last four games. Despite losing last week, OS BRANDON BURNSIDE still was able to garner league Offensive Player of the Week honors. He was responsible for 205 of QB CABLE DAVIS' 373 passing yards (af2 season high) against Rochester, and he caught five touchdowns to take the league scoring lead (110 points). The Ninjas haven't had the same success on offense, averaging 35.7 points (26th in af2), but the recent addition of FB/LB KERRY TAYLOR to the lineup has provided a spark to the running game. In three games, Taylor has totaled 55 yards (leads team) on the ground, including three TDs. He also has been a big contributor on defense, tallying 6.5 tackles, two sacks (tied for team lead) and two forced fumbles. QB JARROD ROUANZOIN has thrown just two interceptions in six games.

Jacksonville hosts Florida Friday in the final meeting between the two clubs this season. On May 10, the Tomcats posted a 43-24 win over their intrastate rivals to take a 2-1 all-time advantage. Friday night games have been favorable to Jacksonville this season with the Tomcats going 2-0 in those matchups. The Firecats, however, have had less luck, losing both of their Friday contests. Since opening the season 3-0, Florida has lost its last three games. Both teams are strong defensively, with Florida allowing only 35.8 points per game and Jacksonville 36. On offense, little separates the two teams with the Tomcats holding a slight edge, scoring 38.8 points a game compared to Florida's 34.8. All-around threat LAWRENCE PULLEN leads the Tomcats' offense and should be confident coming off of an MVP performance against Charleston last week. In the 67-63 loss, Pullen caught two TD passes, rushed for a score and returned a kickoff 48 yards for a touchdown. BRYAN SPARACINO likely will start at quarterback for the Firecats after passing for 161 yards and four touchdowns in Florida's 40-37 loss to Tallahassee last week. KENNY CAUSEY has a touchdown catch in every game this season.

The Greensboro Prowlers head to Rochester Friday to play the Brigade in the first of two games between the teams this season. Rochester moved back into second place in the Northeast Division with a 53-50 victory over Mohegan last weekend while Greensboro slipped to fourth in the Atlantic after a heartbreaking 66-57 loss to undefeated Richmond. Under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach JOHNNY SMITH, the Prowlers will look to utilize their fifth-ranked scoring offense to overpower Rochester and end their three-game losing skid. The Prowlers' all-time leading passer, TRAVIS PENDER, will make his third start of the season after throwing for 277 yards and five touchdowns in last week's loss to the Speed. Rochester has its own offensive weapons in MARTINO THEUS and MATT D'ORAZIO, who have developed into a formidable one-two punch for the Brigade. Theus leads the league with 75 receptions and 123.1receiving yards per game. On the defensive side of the ball, Rochester has held opponents to just 43 points per game. Greensboro has been less effective, allowing 55.6. The Brigade's VONKEITH SPENCER is 10th in the league with four interceptions while teammate ANTHONY CLEARY also has created turnovers, recovering two fumbles. JERMAINE TONEY has been on the prowl in the Greensboro secondary, recording a team-high 42.5 tackles. The Prowlers host Rochester June 15 to conclude the season series.

One team tries to keep a streak going while another looks to end one when Tallahassee (4-2) visits Mobile (0-7) Friday. The Thunder has won three games in a row to vault to the top of the American Conference Southern Division, including two victories over division foes. Mobile plays its second straight home game after opening with five of its first six on the road. The winless Wizards hope a full week with new head coach ALAN RISHER, who debuted on Saturday in Mobile's 47-12 loss to Bossier City, can make a difference. Risher has overhauled the roster. One of the new players, KENDRICK LEE, ran back a missed field goal 48 yards for a touchdown last week. His opposite number on the Thunder, JAMES DICKERSON, ranks ninth in af2 with 15.1 yards per missed field goal return. The kicking game gets an extra kick every time Tallahassee plays ... PHIL SETTERQUIST has drop-kicked all but one PAT this season and drop-kicked a 30-yard field goal back in Week 2. (Drop kicks are worth two points for PATs and four points for field goals). Mobile hopes to turn around an offense that averages just 17.1 points per game. If the Wizards find an offensive rhythm, it will be well-earned - the Thunder ranks in the league's top 10 in virtually every defensive category, led by OL/DL TYRONNE JOHNSON, who is fourth in af2 with 7.5 sacks. These teams play again next week in Tallahassee.

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WEEK 9 SCHEDULE

Friday, May 24
Mohegan at New Haven, 7:00 p.m.
Charleston at Augusta, 7:30 p.m.
Florida at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.
Greensboro at Rochester, 7:30 p.m.
Tallahassee at Mobile, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 25
Cape Fear at Roanoke, 2:30 p.m.
Macon at Columbus, 7:00 p.m.
Carolina at Norfolk, 7:00 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Albany, 7:30 p.m.
Tennessee Valley at Pensacola, 8:00 p.m.
Louisville at Peoria, 8:00 p.m.
Memphis at Bossier City, 8:30 p.m.
Quad City at Wichita, 8:30 p.m.
Bakersfield at San Diego, 10:00 p.m.
Hawaii at Fresno, 10:30 p.m.
Arkansas bye
Birmingham bye
Richmond bye
Tulsa bye



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