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South Georgia Wildcats game notes

May 4, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2)
South Georgia Wildcats News Release


QUICK FACTS:
South Georgia Wildcats (0-4)
at Birmingham Steeldogs (0-4)
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2005
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m.
Site: Birmingham Jefferson Civic Complex (16,000)
Officials: RUSTY WYNN (Referee), MIKE CULLIN (Umpire), JEFF HEASER (Head Linesman), HAROLD MITCHELL (Line Judge), RONNIE STEWART (Back Judge)
Radio: WRAK 97.3 FM (James "Doubledown" Howard & David Daniels)
Series Record: South Georgia leads the series 1-0
Last Meeting: August 7, 2004 at Cape Fear
Wildcats 54
Steeldogs 53
Streaks: Wildcats L4; Steeldogs L4
Coaches:
SOUTH GEORGIA: Chris Siegfried (35-17; 3-3 playoffs 4th season)
BIRMINGHAM: Bobby Humphrey (47-33; 2-3 playoffs 6th season)

THE STAKES: Will it end? For one team it will... Six weeks into the season and both teams are still looking for their first win. The Wildcats came up short last week against the Albany Conquest, 39-48 and the Steeldogs fell to the Louisville Fire on a last second score, 46-48.

THE SERIES: South Georgia holds a 1-0 series lead against the Steeldogs. The two teams met for the first time in the first round of the af2 playoffs last year. Trailing 53-40 with 11:56 remaining in the game, the Wildcats scored with eight minutes remaining to cut the deficit to six points. The ‘Cats would then attempt an onside kick and would recover it and go on to score and take a one point lead with 6:05 remaining. Birmingham would then be stopped twice on the goal line as time expired and the Wildcats would advance to the second round of the playoffs with a 54-53 victory.




THE IFs:
If SOUTH GEORGIA defeats BIRMINGHAM, it would ...
· Give South Georgia their first win
· Give South Georgia a 1-2 road record
· Give South Georgia a 2-0 series lead over the Steeldogs


SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS (0-4, STREAK: L4)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/9 MACON L 41-52
4/15 @ LOUISVILLE L 46-48
4/23 @ FLORIDA L 35-42
4/30 ALBANY L 39-48
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/7 @ BIRMINGHAM 8:00 L-4 1-0
5/14 ARKANSAS 7:30 0-0
5/20 @ MANCHESTER 7:30 3-2
5/28 RIO GRANDE 7:30 0-0
6/4 @AMARILLO 8:00 0-0
6/11 FLORIDA 7:30 3-2
6/18 @ ARKANSAS 8:00 0-0
6/25 WILKES BARRE 7:30 1-3
7/8 @ ALBANY 7:30 5-0
7/16 BIRMINGHAM 7:30 1-0
7/23 @ MACON 7:30 3-0
7/30 GREEN BAY 7:30 0-0

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (0-4, STREAK: L4)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/9 SAN DIEGO L 57-58
4/14 @ Macon L 50-67
4/23 MEMPHIS L 24-60
4/30 @ Louisville L 46-48
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
5/7 SOUTH GEORGIA 8:00 L-4 0-1
5/14 @ San Diego 10:00 0-1
5/21 @ Arkansas 8:00 4-3
5/28 GREEN BAY 8:00 1-0
6/4 @ Florida 7:30 3-2
6/11 LOUISVILLE 8:00 3-2
6/18 @ Memphis 8:00 3-1
6/24 @ Green Bay 8:00 1-0
7/9 MACON 8:00 4-3
7/16 @ South Georgia 7:30 0-1
7/23 ARKANSAS 8:00 4-3
7/30 FLORIDA 8:00 3-2

HEAD COACHES: CHRIS SIEGFRIED enters his fourth season as head coach of the Wildcats. Last season, Siegfried guided the Wildcats to a 12-4 record and a trip to their third straight playoff appearance. The Wildcats averaged 53 points per game in '04. In the 2003 season, the Wildcats averaged 51 points per game and were crowned Atlantic division champions with an overall record of 10-7. In his first season as head coach, Siegfried led the expansion Wildcats to a 15-4 overall record, an Atlantic division title and an appearance in the American Conference championship. Prior to joining the Wildcat, Siegfried served as the Offensive Coordinator for the Macon Knights during the 2001 season.

Siegfried began his playing career in 1992 with the Orlando Predators in the AFL. He then signed with the Miami Hooters in 1993 before leaving to play for the Taipei Dragons of the UFL. In the 1995 he joined the Baltimore Stallions of the CFL.

Siegfried returned to arenafootball in 2000 as a wide receiver / defensive back for the af2's Augusta Stallions. In his final season of professional football, Siegfried had 65 receptions for 709-yards and 10 touchdowns to go along with 49 tackles and one interception.

Coach Siegfried has performed stunts for the movie "The Waterboy" and most recently is seen in the Cuba Gooden Jr. film "Radio" as an assistant coach.

LAST SERIES MEETING: August 8, 2004- First round of the ArenaCup Playoffs: The two teams met for the first time in the first round of the af2 playoffs last year. Trailing 53-40 with 11:56 remaining in the game, the Wildcats scored with eight minutes remaining to cut the deficit to six points. The ‘Cats would then attempt an onside kick and would recover it and go on to score and take a one point lead with 6:05 remaining. Birmingham would then be stopped twice on the goal line as time expired and the Wildcats would advance to the second round of the playoffs with a 54-53 victory.

Wildcats quarterback Jake Eaton finished the night 18-of-28 for 211 yards and five touchdowns including a rushing touchdown. OS Matt Burstein had seven receptions for 94 yards and three touchdowns and WR/DB George Williams added seven catches for 92 yards and one touchdown and returned a 56 yard kickoff return for a score. FB/LB Keeon Johnson and Taalib Smith both rushed for scores.

Steeldogs' quarterback Jeff Aaron was 12-of-21 for 144 yards and four touchdowns. WR/DB Anthony Jordan had four catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns. Carlos McNeary chipped in with 48 yards receiving and three touchdowns including one rushing score. FB/LB Dontae Walker rushed for 32 yards on eight carries and one touchdown.


SERIES NOTABLES:
SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS:
LONGEST STREAK: The Wildcats have never lost five straight during their three seasons (four games into their fourth season). The longest losing streak for the Wildcats came during the 2003 season when the Wildcats lost four straight to the Richmond Speed, Charleston Swampfoxes, Florida Firecats and Greensboro Prowlers.


BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS:
ANOTHER STREAK: The Steeldogs are in the same boat as the Wildcats. They have never lost five straight, in fact, this is the first time they have lost four straight during their existence and they are off to their worst start in franchise history (along with the Wildcats) with a 0-4 mark.

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the WILDCATS and STEELDOGS stack up:
Statistical SOUTH GEORGIA BIRMINGHAM
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 16 40.8 pts. 12 44.2 pts.
Scoring Defense 12 47.5 pts. 18 58.2 pts.
Total Offense 1 308.0 yds. 3 284.5 yds.
Total Defense 2 202.0 yds. 7 247.8 yds.
Pass Offense 1 307.8 yds. 7 246.2 yds.
Pass Defense 2 172.2 yds. 8 232.8 yds.
Rushing Offense 20 0.2 yds. 3 38.2 yds.
Rushing Defense 16 29.8 yds. 9 15.0 yds.
Scoring (Non-Kick) 13 146 pts. 12 154 pts.
Scoring (Kicking) 20 15 pts. 12 23 pts.
Pass Rating 14 100.3 18 90.3
Pass Def. Rating 14 110.8 16 113.1
Kickoff Returns 20 9.6 yds. 13 18.0 yds.
MFG Returns T-16 0.0 yds. 13 5.0 yds.
Turnover Margin 12 -2 19 -7
Field Goals 12 1-4/.250 5 3-5/.600
PAT Kicking 20 12-21/.571 10 14-18/.778
Sacks By T-9 3 T-9 3
Sacks Against 3 3 17 9
First Downs 8 76 6 79
Opp. First Downs 4 63 7 64
Penalties 13 36/67.8 yds. 10 41/62.0 yds.
Opp. Penalties 19 24/36.2 yds. 9 45/62.2 yds.


DROPBACK: The South Georgia Wildcats lost their fourth straight last week when they played host to the Albany Conquest.

The Wildcats were up 21-7 with 5:18 remaining in the second quarter when the Conquest put up 28 unanswered points to finish the first half and to start the second half. The ‘Cats took a 39-34 lead with 5:11 remaining and on the pursuing kickoff, Albany's Jeff Higgins returned the kick 56 yards for a score and give the Conquest the lead for good. Wildcats QB Bobby Pesavento threw a late interception and the Conquest added one more score for a final of 48-39.

Pesavento finished his evening 32-of-54 for 386 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. OS Matt Burstein had 10 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns. His performance earned him Offensive Player of the Game. WR/DB Adrian Cockfield added six catches for 64 yards and one score and WR/LB Chris McKinney hauled in five catches for 63 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensively the Wildcats were led by DS Leo FenceRoy who had finished the game with two interceptions and four tackles.

Albany's quarterback D. Bryant was 18-of-25 for 204 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. WR/DB Jeremiah Pope had seven receptions for 99 yards and two touchdowns and OS Manwell Talbert added seven catches for 88 yards and two scores. WR/DB Jeff Higgins was named the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game. Higgins had one catch for eight yards, returned eight kickoffs for 122 yards which included a return of 56 yards for a score and added three tackles. DS Travis Coleman picked off Pesavento twice on the night and returned both interceptions for touchdowns, Cy Butler also had two pick on the night.

FORWARD MOTION: The Wildcats will play host to the Arkansas Twisters at the Albany Civic Center on Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 p.m.

The Steeldogs will travel to the west coast to take on the San Diego Riptide on Saturday, May 14 at 10:00 p.m.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

52, 54,...keep the pattern going?: Those are the number of passes that Wildcats quarterback Bobby Pesavento has attempted in the last two games. Against Florida, Pesavento was 31-of-52 and against Albany last week, he was 32-of-54. His 52 attempts put him sixth all-time for regular season individual records and his 54 attempts bumped him into fifth all-time. The Wildcats are ranked first in the league in pass attempts with 198.

ONCE AGAIN...SLOW RE-START: Last week against the Conquest, the Wildcats managed to put up only six points in the third quarter. Going into the game, the Wildcats scored a total of 10 points in three games in the third quarter.

DUSTING OFF HIS SHOES: Offensive Specialist Matt Burstein returned to the Wildcats last week and in his first game against Albany, he picked up where he left off. He had 10 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns against the Conquest. Burstein has had his way with the Conquest, in three games last season he had 22 receptions for 415 yards and 11 touchdowns.

NOT SO SPECIAL: In four games this season, the Wildcats have allowed two touchdowns on kickoff returns. Last week against Albany, Jeff Higgins returned a kickoff for 51 yards for a touchdown; the Conquest totaled seven returns for 222 yards. The Florida Firecats had seven returns for 120 yards and the Louisville Fire totaled six returns for 130 yards including a 56 yard return by Tony Stallings against the ‘Cats. The Wildcats have returned 17 kickoff returns for 164 yards in four games. The ‘Cats have the lowest average in the league with 9.6 yards per return.


PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
WILDCATS OS MATT BURSTEIN: The af2's Offensive Player of the Year last season returned to the Wildcats last week against the Conquest. In his first game back, he had 10 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Burstein racked up 119 catches for 1,684 yards and 43 touchdowns last season.

WILDCATS QB BOBBY PESAVENTO: Pesavento was 32-of-54 for 386 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions last week against the Conquest. In three games this season, Pesavento is 92-of-155 for 947 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He is averaging 315 passing yards per game and is completing 59% of his passes.

WILDCATS WR/LB CHRIS MCKINNEY & WR/DB ADRIAN COCKFIELD: This dynamic duo has combined for more than 600 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. McKinney has 26 catches for 256 yards and eight touchdowns and is second on the team in tackles with 14. Cockfield has hauled in 39 passes for 405 yards and nine touchdowns.

STEELDOGS OS DETRONN HARRIS: In four games with the Steeldogs this season, Harris has 23 catches for 327 yards and three touchdowns. He also has returned 19 kickoffs for 340 yards and one touchdown.

STEELDOGS WR/LB DRE FULGHAM: Fulgham has 16 receptions for 220 yards and two touchdowns and has three tackles on the defensive side.

STEELDOGS FB/LB PATRICK BILLINGS: Billings has rushed for 50 yards on 13 carries and four touchdowns. He has totaled three tackles and one tackle for a loss in four games.

FAMILIAR FACES:

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS: Defensive Coordinator- Tony Missick: Missick served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Cape Fear Wildcats last season. Missick's defense totaled 18 interceptions, 88 pass break-ups and returned three picks for scores last season.




OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
2 Macon Adrian Cockfield- South Georgia
3 Louisville Adrian Cockfield- South Georgia
4 Florida Magic Benton- Florida
5 Albany Matt Burstein- South Georgia

IRONMAN OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
2 South Georgia Derrick Lloyd- Macon
3 South Georgia Tony Stallings- Louisville
4 Florida Steve Gorrie- Florida
5 Albany Jeff Higgins- Albany

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
(selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
2 South Georgia Hosea Laney- Macon
3 South Georgia Rob Green- Louisville
4 Florida Kelly Snell- Florida
5 Albany Travis Coleman- Albany

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