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Stockton Lightning game notes

April 27, 2007 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Stockton Lightning News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Stockton Lightning (1-2)

vs. Spokane Shock (2-2)

Date: April 28, 2007

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PT

Site: Stockton Arena (9,919) - Stockton, CA.

Radio: 1420-AM KSTN (Mike Benton, Steve McElroy, J.J. Stokes)

Internet: www.stocktonlightning.com - courtesy of SportsJuice.com and B2 Networks

Officials: Referee - Mike Weseloh

Umpire - Torrance Crable; Head Linesman - Clay Reynard; Line Judge - Greg Toler; Back Judge - Ken Sarna

National Anthem: Claudia Landeen

Color Guard: Naval Cadets

Coin Toss: Adam Huxley, Stockton Thunder

Series Record: Spokane leads, 3-0

Last Meeting: Spokane 63 - Stockton 44 (7/15/06)

Coaches: Doug Murray (Stockton - 1-2, 1st season)

Adam Shackleford (Spokane - 2-2, 1st season)

THE STAKES: The Stockton Lightning return home after a last-second defeat to the Bakersfield Blitz, aiming for redemption and their first win in franchise history against the Spokane Shock, who are also the defending ArenaCup champions. Saturday's matchup pits a rematch of a week 1 affair which propelled the Shock to a 51-35 season-opening win over the Lightning. Additionally, the Lightning may has caught Spokane at a 2-2 mark this season, after the Shock fell out of the Coaches Poll in week four which was followed by 63-26 rout of Lubbock last week.

THE IFs:

If Stockton defeats Spokane, it would ...

- Give the Lightning their first win in franchise history against Spokane

- Give the Lightning a 2-2 record

- Give the Lightning a two-game winning streak at home

STOCKTON (1-2)

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. L 42-45

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.

SPOKANE (2-2)

Date Opponent Time Result Score

3/31 STOCKTON 5:00 W 51-35

4/7 QUAD CITY 5:00 L 45-60

4/15 @ FORT WAYNE 1:00 L 56-63

4/21 LUBBOCK 5:00 W 63-29

4/28 @ STOCKTON 7:30

5/12 BAKERSFIELD 5:00

5/19 @ BOISE 6:00

5/26 CENTRAL VALLEY 5:00

6/2 EVERETT 5:00

6/9 @ BAKERSFIELD 7:00

6/16 @TRI-CITIES 7:30

6/23 BOISE 5:00

6/30 @ CENTRAL VALLEY 7:00

7/14 TRI-CITIES 5:00

7/21 AMARILLO 5:30

7/28 @ EVERETT 7:30

American West Division - 2007

Overall Points

Team W L T For Opp Pct

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

Bakersfield Blitz... 3 0 0 151 139 1.000 Boise Burn.......... 2 1 0 165 151 .667

Spokane Shock....... 2 2 0 215 184 .500

Cen. Valley Coyotes. 1 2 0 165 130 .333

Tri-Cities Fever.... 1 2 0 134 140 .333

Stockton Lightning.. 1 2 0 127 143 .333

Everett Hawks....... 0 3 0 95 205 .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.

Adam Shackleford - Spokane: Adam Shackleford is in his first year as Head Coach in the af2, but his 4th year in the league. He has coached in the arenafootball2 league since 2003 and worked with the Louisville Fire the last two as Offensive Coordinator. The Fire offense was third in the league last season, averaging 58 points per game. Under Shackleford, the Louisville Fire produced the 2005 and 2006 Offensive Player of the Year (Matt Sauk and Rob Mager) and the Rookie of the Year in 2006 (Brett Dietz). Shackleford began his 2007 season with a win against the Stockton Lightning, defeating them 51-35.

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

LIGHTNING

Player Rank Category Stat

Kenyatte Morgan T-4 Kick returns 18

Kenyatte Morgan 4th All-purpose 599

Derrick Crudup T-3 Rushing yds 85

Derrick Crudup T-9 Pass attempts 106

Derrick Crudup T-8 Completions 66

Derrick Crudup T-6 Total off. Plays 121

Sale' Key 7th Reception yds 351

Sale' Key T-7 Receptions 29

Maurice Bowers T-3 Rushing yds 85

Alex Walls T-5 Scoring (kick) 27

Alex Walls 4th PAT kick pct 93.8 (15-16)

Travis Seaton T-13 Tackles 19.5

SHOCK

Player Rank Category Stat

Andrico Hines 3rd Total offense 933

Andrico Hines T-7 Total off. TD 19

Andrico Hines 3rd Total off. Yards 233.2

Andrico Hines 7th Completion pct. 68.8

Andrico Hines T-8 Passing TD's 17

Andrico Hines 3rd Passing yards 921

Andrico Hines 1st Completions 88

Antwone Savage 1st All-purpose 832

Antwone Savage T-1 Scoring 78

Antwone Savage T-2 Receptions 34

Antwone Savage 6th Reception yds 399

Antwone Savage T-1 Reception TD's 12

Antwone Savage T-1 Scoring TD's 13

Antwone Savage 3rd Kick return yds 384

Raul Vijil T-2 Receptions 34

Raul Vijil 5th Reception yds 415

John Koker T-5 PAT kicks made 20

Rob Keefe T-2 Interceptions 4

Alex Teems T-9 Tackles 20.5

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

Head Coach DOUG MURRAY, on last Saturday's defeat at Spokane which came off Eric Mahanke's fumble recovery:

"The bounce went against us on that particular play, but there were several bounces we didn't get and several we did get but didn't take advantage of. We had plenty of opportunities to not only take the lead but to extend it, and we didn't do it."

Quarterback EVAN GRAY, who made a snap-saving hold (while standing) on Alex Walls' game-winning 39-yard field goal vs. Central Valley:

"I just did what I had to do and let Alex kick it. If you give him a chance, he's going to make it. He's clutch."

DROPBACK: The Bakersfield Blitz notched an 18-point, fourth quarter rally to send the Stockton Lightning to a 45-42 loss at Rabobank Arena in week four of arenafootball2 play.

In a defensively-heated matchup, the Lightning scraped together 210 receiving yards, while holding Bakersfield to a miniscule 181 yards total. Additionally, the Lightning forced eight Blitz fumbles and recovered three loose balls.

FB/LB Jason Hunt notched a safety early in the game to get the Lightning on the board, trailing 7-2 in the first quarter. QB Derrick Crudup promptly followed with a 16-yard keeper straight through the middle for a touchdown, to give the Lightning their first lead of the game at 9-7 with 2:58 left in the opening quarter.

The defensive scheme was keyed by LB Lyndell Hawkins' efforts, who recovered a 19-yard fumble for a touchdown with 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter to put the Lightning ahead 35-27.

WR/LB Sale' Key highlighted the only Lightning score of the fourth quarter with a 41-yard bomb from Crudup with 8:12 to go, hiking the Lightning advantage to 42-30. Bakersfield started its game-winning spurt with a Chad Elliott 35-yard touchdown pass to Rennard Reynolds with 5:10 remaining in regulation. WR/LB Eric Mahanke recovered a forward fumble for a touchdown and the game-deciding score after FB/LB John Petty muffed a snap with one minute remaining in regulation.

Crudup finished with a 20-for-34 passing effort, notching two touchdown passes and 157 passing yards. WR/DB Kenyatte Morgan led all Lightning receivers with 10 receptions, yet was held to 42 receiving yards and went without a touchdown reception. Key posted five catches for 82 yards and one touchdown.

FORWARD MOTION: On the horizon are two critical road games in the Pacific Northwest following this Saturday's home game against Spokane. The Lightning face Tri-Cities for the first matchup in the all-time history on May 5, followed by rare Monday night tilt against the Everett Hawks on May 14, the first time the Lightning square-off against wide receiver Phil Goodman, who left in an off-season trade. It could be a critical stretch for the Lightning to make their move in the standings - currently Everett and Tri-Cities are a combined 1-5 this season.

THE LIGHTNING EXPERIENCE(D): Below is a look at the players on this year's Lightning 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)

- TUPO TUUPO (San Jose, Las Vegas)

TALE OF THE TAPE:

(A look at the Lightning vs. Shock through week 4)

Statistical LIGHTNING SHOCK

Category Rank Stat Rank Stat

Scoring Offense 22nd 42.3 10th 53.8

Scoring Defense T-15 47.7 11th 46.0

Total Offense 14th 263.7 7th 281.0

Total Defense 9th 237.3 12th 250.0

Pass Offense 24th 206.0 8th 260.5

Pass Defense 9th 208.0 10th 218.0

Rushing Offense 1st 57.7 17th 20.5

Rushing Defense T-21 29.3 24th 32.0

Touchdowns T-24 16 T-3 20

Scoring (Kicking) T-5 27 T-12 23

Pass Rating 21st 88.3 T-8 109.7

Pass Def. Rating 20th 107.8 12th 94.8

Kickoff Ret. Avg. 6th 20.0 T-7 19.6

Turnover Margin T-19 -0.67 T-14 0.00

Field Goals (pct) T-4 .800 T-17 .250

PAT Kicking 3rd .938 15th .741

Sacks By 5th 11 T-15 4

Sacks Against T-20 7 T-12 4

First Downs 24th 47 T-3 79

Opp. First Downs T-14 53 26th 71

Penalty yds/game 8th 47.7 28th 51.0

Opp. Pen yds/game 7th 70.3 12th 50.2

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Derrick Crudup (QB, Stockton) - The second-year af2 signal caller jumped out to three impressive starts to begin this season, throwing for 653 yards and has tallied an average quarterback rating of 103.70 through two the first two games, despite being held to only two touchdown passes last week at Bakersfield. In the week 2 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 is in a neck-and-neck race with Manchester's Jarrail Jackson for the all-time af2 lead in kick-return yardage. Morgan currently leads Jackson by 146 yards.

ALL-TIME af2 LEADERS - KICK RETURN YARDAGE

PLAYER TEAM YARDS

1. Kenyatte Morgan* STK 4,132

2. Jarrail Jackson* MAN 3,986

3. Kevin Prentiss MEM 3,681

4. Shadrick McAfee LAF, BOS 3,572

5. Travis Burns NOR, QC 3,386

* Active

Morgan led the league last season 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 averaged 21 yards per return on kickoffs and tallied seven returns on 172 yards at Bakersfield.

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

KENYATTE MORGAN'S TOP-5SINGLE-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

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 29 catches and 351 receiving yards, additionally tallying a team-high five TD receptions. Key's 12-catch, 149-yards receiving game in week 2 against Central Valley currently ranks as the top receiving performance of the year.

TRAVIS SEATON (DB) - A local San Jose State product, Seaton leads the Lightning with 19.5 tackles, six pass breakups and 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 had a Lightning season-best 10.5 tackles at Spokane in week 1 and had five take-downs last week against Bakersfield.

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 in week 2 against Central Valley with an end-zone takedown on Coyotes quarterback Clay Groefsema and two tackles.

JAJUAN HUDDLESTON (LB) - Huddleston currently ranks second on the Lightning with 13 tackles and tied a team-high with five tackles in last week's setback at Bakersfield. Huddleston was a part of a 10-6 San Jose SaberCats team that won the Arena Football League's Western Division title last year and advanced to the American Conference Championship Game.

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

4/21 Assigned to Lightning Tupo Tuupo

4/21 Placed on "Left team" Michael Ng

4/27 Assigned to Lightning Amadeo Novella

4/27 Placed on injured reserve Vernon Smith

4/27 Activated off injured reserve Chris Stallworth

4/27 Placed on re-assignment York Frierson

4/27 Placed on re-assignment Cornelius Lambert



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