Stockton Lightning game notes

Published on April 20, 2007 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Stockton Lightning (1-1)

Vs. Bakersfield Blitz (2-0)

Date: April 21, 2007

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT

Site: Rabobank Arena (9,000) - Bakersfield, CA.

Internet: www.stocktonlightning.com - courtesy of SportsJuice.com and B2 Networks (Steve McElroy)

Officials: Referee - Steve Strimling; Umpire - Ali Shetula; Head Linesman - Patrick Turner; Line Judge - Danny Short; Back Judge - Brad Glenn

Series Record: Bakersfield leads, 2-1

Last Meeting: Bakersfield 72 - Stockton 51 (7/22/06)

Coaches: Doug Murray (Stockton - 1-1, 1st season)

Gary Compton (12-8; 1-1 playoffs, 2nd season)

THE STAKES: The Stockton Lightning have gotten back to the .500 mark with a gut-wrenching win last week over Central Valley, now aiming to climb over the .500 mark for the first time in the team's all-time history. After dropping the first game of the regular season at Spokane, the Lightning are also aiming to help Doug Murray collect his first road victory in his head coaching career. Additionally, Bakersfield will be playing in their home opener for 2007, and the Lightning look to play spoiler and give the Blitz their first loss of the year after a roaring 2-0 start.

THE IFs:

If Stockton defeats Bakersfield, it would ...

- Give the Lightning their first road victory since June 10, 2006 at Green Bay, the "Touchdown In Titletown" game

- Guarantee the Lightning no lower than a first place tie in the West Division of the American Conference

- Give head coach Doug Murray the first road win in his af2 head coaching career

- Give the Lightning a 2-1 record

- Put the Lightning above the .500 mark in a season for the first time in franchise history

STOCKTON (1-1)

Date Opponent PT Result Score

3/31

@ Spokane 5 p.m. L 35-51

4/14 CENTRAL VALLEY 7 p.m. W 50-47

4/21 @ Bakersfield 7 p.m.

4/28 SPOKANE 7 p.m.

5/5 @ Tri-Cities 5 p.m.

5/14 @ Everett 7:30

5/19 CENTRAL VALLEY 7 p.m.

5/26 @ Boise 6 p.m.

6/2 TRI-CITIES 7 p.m.

6/15 @ Amarillo 5:30

6/23 BAKERSFIELD 7 p.m.

6/30 EVERETT 7 p.m.

7/7 @ Central Valley 7 p.m.

7/14 BOISE 7 p.m.

7/21 @ Bakersfield 7 p.m.

7/28 CORPUS CHRISTI 7 p.m.

BAKERSFIELD (2-0)

Date Opponent PT Result Score

3/29 @ Laredo 5:00 W 58-52

4/14 @ Tri-Cities 5:00 W 48-45

4/21 STOCKTON 7:00

4/28 @ Central Valley 7:00

5/5 BOISE 7:00

5/12 @ Spokane 5:00

5/19 TRI-CITIES 7:00

5/27

@ Everett 3:00

6/9 SPOKANE 7:00

6/17 CENTRAL VALLEY 3:00

6/23 @ Stockton 7:00

6/30 LAREDO 7:00

7/7 @ Boise 6:00

7/14 EVERETT 7:00

7/21 STOCKTON 7:00

7/28 @ Central Valley 7:00

American West Division - 2007

Overall Points

Team W L T For Opp Pct

---- - - - --- --- ---

Bakersfield Blitz... 2 0 0 106 97 1.000

Cen. Valley Coyotes. 1 1 0 121 81 .500

Stockton Lightning.. 1 1 0 85 98 .500

Boise Burn.......... 1 1 0 95 117 .500

Spokane Shock....... 1 2 0 152 158 .333

Tri-Cities Fever.... 0 2 0 85 96 .000

Everett Hawks....... 0 2 0 61 135 .000

HEAD COACH PROFILES:

Doug Murray - Stockton: Doug Murray was hired as the second head coach in Lightning history during the off-season and was introduced to the media as the at a September 15, 2006 news conference at Stockton Arena. He will oversee all on and off-field matters related to football operations.

A longtime resident of the Northern California area, Murray's defensive knowledge has been instrumental to the collegiate successes of Chabot College, Menlo College and the University of California at Davis, having then moved to the pro ranks with the Spring Football League (a precursor to the XFL), the Central Valley Coyotes of the af2 and then the Lightning.

In last season's stint as the Lightning's defensive backs coach, the Lightning ranked third in the af2 with 16.4 yards per interception return, tied for10th in red-zone defense with a 79.4 percent opponent conversion rate, and tied for eighth in the af2 with 26 sacks. Murray will continue to have a hands-on approach in this year's defense, doubling-up as the team's defensive coordinator.

Currently in his second tour of duty within the af2, Murray previously served on coaching staff with the Central Valley Coyotes in 2004 as defensive coordinator. Murray guided the Coyotes defense to finish third in the af2 with a 33.3 percent opponent fourth-down conversion rate, seventh in the af2 with 56 fumble return yards, 10th in the af2 with 226 first downs allowed, 11th in the af2 with 3,584 passing yards allowed and 12th in the af2 with 3,939 total defensive yards allowed.

Previously, Murray spent two years in the college football ranks as the defensive backs coach at the University of California-Davis, helping guide the Aggies to the NCAA Division-II quarterfinal playoff game in 2002 and helping the program earn their 34th consecutive winning season in UC Davis' first year of NCAA Division-I status in 2003.

Murray's ties to the Northern California-area are also linked to his college football playing career, where he earned two letters (1978-79) as a receiver at Cal State Hayward (NCAA).

Murray received his B.A. degree in Sociology from Hayward in 1986, followed by earning his master's in public administration in 1990. Murray currently resides in Stockton with his wife Natalia, daughter Naje, and son Nicolas.

2007 LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from the Lightning and Blitz who rank among the af2's statistical leaders:

LIGHTNING

Player Rank Category Stat

Kenyatte Morgan 7th Kick returns 11

Kenyatte Morgan 7th Kick return yds 206

Kenyatte Morgan 10th All-purpose 385

Derrick Crudup T-9 Rushing yds 48

Derrick Crudup 8th Pass avg/gm 248.0

Derrick Crudup T-9 Completions 46

Derrick Crudup 10th Total offense 272.0

Derrick Crudup 10th Total off. Plays 82

Sale' Key 7th Reception yds 269

Sale' Key T-4 Receptions 24

Alex Walls 7th Scoring (kick) 17

Alex Walls T-1 PAT kick pct 100.0 (11-11)

Travis Seaton T-13 Tackles 14.5

BLITZ

Player Rank Category Stat

DeRonn Finley T-9 Scoring (TD) 6

DeRonn Finley 5th Yards per catch 17.6

DeRonn Finley 2nd MFG Ret. Yds 65

Rennard Reynolds 6th Yards per catch 17.5

Nathan Munson T-4 Interceptions 3

Steve Baker 10th Scoring (kick) 16

Ben McCombs 2nd Tackles for loss 4.0

Ben McCombs T-2 Sacks 3.0

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES: (courtesy of The Record)

Head Coach DOUG MURRAY, on earning his first win as a head coach last Saturday in a week 3 victory over Central Valley:

"It's part happiness and part relief. I'm really happy for our players who came here believing we had something special, and you saw a glimpse of that."

Quarterback DERRICK CRUDUP, breaking down last week's victory that required a comeback from three 13-point deficits:

"As a unit, we felt it. It's like Kobe Bryant shooting a basketball. It just felt good and we knew we could come back."

DROPBACK: Kicker Alex Walls drilled a 39-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to cap a 17-point fourth-quarter rally, lifting the Stockton Lightning (1-1) to their first win for first-year Head Coach Doug Murray in a 50-47 triumph over the Central Valley Coyotes before 5,011 at Stockton Arena last Saturday in week 3 of arenafootball2 play.

The Lightning overcame three 13-point deficits to earn their first home-opening win in team history and first all-time victory over the Coyotes, led offensively by QB Derrick Crudup's 23-for-36 effort, tallying 231 passing yards and four touchdowns.

Rookie WR/DB Vernon Smith highlighted the only Lightning touchdown of the first quarter for the first Stockton home tally of the year, hauling in a short-distance toss from Crudup with his left hand while sprawling over the right corner wall of the end-zone. Central Valley ended the quarter with a 20-7 lead.

Both teams exchanged three scores early in the third quarter before the Lightning kick-started their rally with 30 seconds left in the second quarter to cut Central Valley's lead to 27-21 on Sale' Key's 31-yard bomb reception from Crudup. Rookie OL/DL and former Washington Huskies star Manase Hopoi followed with a safety on Coyotes QB Clay Groefsema just nine seconds later to cut the Central Valley lead to 27-23.

The Lightning went on a 10-6 run in the first 12 minutes of the third quarter, capped off by a Walls 19-yard field goal with 3:03 remaining to knot the game at 33-33. Following a Central Valley score to end the third quarter, WR/DB Kenyatte Morgan hauled in a 14-yard touchdown reception with 12:10 left in regulation, followed by Walls' extra-point boot to give the Lightning their first lead of the game at 40-39.

After the Lightning added their final touchdown of the night to increase their lead to 47-39, Central Valley rallied in dramatic fashion on WR Tonae Martin's three-yard touchdown grab from Groefsema with 22 seconds left to cut the lead to six. Groefsema then found Borba in the left corner of the end-zone for a leaping two-point conversion catch to knot the game at 47-47.

A mid-field return by Morgan helped set up Walls' game-winning heroics for Stockton, who split the uprights on the deciding kick and gave the Lightning their first home win since June 24 of last season. Key led all Lightning receivers with 12 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns, while Groefsema tallied a 24-for-36 effort, 242 passing yards and six touchdown passes in the losing effort for Central Valley.

FORWARD MOTION: The Lightning are currently in a critical stretch with just one home game in the next four weeks, and it's one of the biggest home dates of the season - an April 28 re-match against the Spokane Shock. In total, the Lightning have two games in April and won't play their third until May 19. Last season, the Lightning went 1-3 in March and April.

THE LIGHTNING EXPERIENCE(D): Below is a look at the players on this year's Lightning season-opening roster with AFL experience:

- JAJUAN HUDDLESTON (San Jose SaberCats)

- SALE' KEY (Utah Blaze)

- KENYATTE MORGAN (Portland, Oklahoma, Buffalo, Grand Rapids)

- TRAVIS SEATON (Philadelphia, San Jose)

LIGHTNING ON-THE-AIR: A new method to experience Lightning road games over the internet debuts this week as B2 Networks, the official internet broadcast partner of the arenafootball2 league, is scheduled to air every Lightning home game and select road games through stocktonlightning.com. The audio broadcast is free and the video stream combined with the Lightning radio broadcast is available for viewing at a $6 "pay-per-view" charge (Windows Media Player version 9 or higher required).

Below is a look at all remaining Lightning scheduled games to air on B2 Networks:

Saturday, April 21, 2007 @ 10:00 PM EST vs. Bakersfield

Saturday, April 28, 2007 @ 10:30 PM EST vs. Spokane

Saturday, May 19, 2007 @ 10:30 PM EST vs. Central Valley

Saturday, May 26, 2007 @ 9:00 PM EST vs. Boise

Saturday, June 02, 2007 @ 10:30 PM EST vs. Tri-Cities

Saturday, June 23, 2007 @ 10:30 PM EST vs. Bakersfield

Saturday, June 30, 2007 @ 10:00 PM EST vs. Everett

Saturday, July 07, 2007 @ 10:00 PM EST vs. Central Valley

Saturday, July 14, 2007 @ 10:30 PM EST vs. Boise

Saturday, July 21, 2007 @ 10:00 PM EST vs. Bakersfield

Thursday, July 26, 2007 @ 10:30 PM EST vs. Corpus Christi

TALE OF THE TAPE:

(A look at the Lightning vs. Blitz through week 3)

Statistical BLITZ LIGHTNING

Category Rank Stat Rank Stat

Scoring Offense 9 53.0 ppg 29 17.5 ppg

Scoring Defense 16 48.5 ppg 3 25.5 ppg

Total Offense 5 296 ypg 28 126.5 ypg

Total Defense 20 270 ypg 2 104 ypg

Pass Offense 8 268.5 ypg 28 118 ypg

Pass Defense 23 263.0 ypg 2 85.5 ypg

Rushing Offense 9 27.5 ypg 24 8.5 ypg

Rushing Defense 4 7.0 ypg 16 18.5 ypg

Scoring (Non-Kick) 11 90 points 29 30 points

Scoring (Kicking) 9 16 points 26 5 points

Pass Rating 26 75.9 13 105.0

Pass Def. Rating 11 87.0 13 92.3

Kickoff Returns 9 20.5; 1 TD 12 17.6; 0 TD

MFG Returns 2 32.5 7 22.0

Turnover Margin 14 0.00 22 -1.0

Field Goals 5 2-3; 66% 27 0-0

PAT Kicking 20 10-15 2 5-5

Sacks By 3 9; 23 yards 26 1; 3 yards

Sacks Against 9 2; 2 yds 11 2; 19 yds

First Downs 13 36 30 16

Opp. First Downs 9 32 2 18

Penalties 6 32.0 ypg 5 31.5 ypg

Opp. Penalties 26 30.5 ypg 24 38.0 ypg

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Derrick Crudup (QB, Stockton) - The second-year af2 signal caller has jumped out to two impressive starts with the Lightning this season, throwing for nine touchdowns, 496 yards, and tallied an average quarterback rating of 103.70. In last week's victory over Central Valley, Crudup threw for 23-for-39, 241 passing yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

Kenyatte Morgan (WR/DB, Stockton): One of the most celebrated returners in af2 history is back for his second season in Stockton, as Kenyatte Morgan continued a demolition of opposing special team defensive schemes in 2006. Morgan led the league in kick return avg.(23.2), kick return yards(1793), kick return touchdowns(4) and was 2nd in all -purpose yards(2644).

Morgan led all Lightning receivers with three touchdown receptions in a week 1 loss at Spokane and posted 235 all-purpose yards, leading the team.

Morgan has nearly averaged 20 yards per return on kickoffs and tallied six returns for 106 yards in last week's win against Central Valley.

Below is a look at Morgan's top-five games for return yards in 2006:

KENYATTE MORGAN'S TOP-5

SINGLE-GAME RETURNS IN 2006

OPPONENT DATE YARDS

1. vs. Memphis 6/3 227

2. vs. Everett 6/17 222

3. @ Bakersfield 5/20 186

4. vs. Central Valley 7/29 171

5. @ Everett 5/27 160

THE AFL VETERANS:

SALE' KEY (WR) - A late newcomer to the Lightning roster shortly before the start of training camp and a former veteran of the AFL's Utah Blaze, Key brings ArenaCup championship experience after getting in the last four regular season games with Memphis in 2005, and all 3 ArenaCup playoff games. Key hauled in 6 catches for 81 yards in the ArenaCup title game vs. Louisville.

Key leads all Lightning receivers with 24 catches and 269 receiving yards, additionally tallying a team-high (tied) four TD receptions. Key's 12-catch, 149-yards receiving game last week against Central Valley currently ranks as the top receiving performance of the year.

TRAVIS SEATON (DB) - A local San Jose State product, Seaton is a two-year veteran formerly with the Philadelphia Soul and ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats, ranking third on the Soul with 40.5 tackles in 2004. Seaton led the Lightning in a week 1 loss at Spokane with 10.5 tackles and had four take-downs last week against Central Valley

COLLEGE FOOTBALL POWERS:

MANASE HOPOI (DL) - A burly lineman who enjoyed a decorated college football career with the Washington Huskies, Manase Hopoi returns to his college hometown state after four years of play with the Huskies and preseason NFL experience with the Minnesota Vikings. Hopoi earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors last week against Central Valley with an end-zone takedown on Coyotes quarterback Clay Groefsema and two tackles.

CARL WALKER (LB) - Walker managed to get 30 games under his belt at Miami despite an array of injuries, and participated on Miami's national championship Rose Bowl squad in 2001, and the year prior helped guide the Hurricanes to a Nokia Sugar Bowl title.

2007 LIGHTNING ROSTER MOVES:

Date Action Player

3/15 Placed on "refused to report" Clyde Surrell

3/15 Placed on "refused to report" Antwone Young

3/15 Acquired from Cincinnati in exchange for WR Phil Goodman Brian Baker

3/15 Acquired from Tri-Cities in exchange for QB Brian Baker Evan Gray

3/15 Acquired from Tri-Cities in exchange for QB Brian Baker Antar Brame

3/15 Assigned to Lightning Manase Hopoi

3/15 Assigned to Lightning Sale' Key

3/25 Placed on injured reserve Chris Stallworth

3/26 Placed on injured reserve York Frierson

3/26 Placed on injured reserve Mason Mitchell

3/26 Placed on injured reserve Cornelius Lambert

3/26 Placed on re-assignment Antar Brame

4/14 Placed on injured reserve Clarence Cunningham

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



arenafootball2 Stories from April 20, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central