Swamp Foxes Look to Get Back on Track Versus Nighthawks
June 5, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Charleston Swamp Foxes News Release
NORTH CHARLESTON, SC â The Charleston Swamp Foxes arenafootball2 team will try and right the ship this Saturday, June 7 as they play host to the Norfolk Nighthawks in a crucial Atlantic Division match-up.
After dropping two-in-a-row, the Swamp Foxes (3-5) return to the friendly confines of the North Charleston Coliseum looking to avenge a season-opening loss to the Nighthawks. Norfolk bested the Foxes by 10, 31-21, back in the season-opener in Virginia. Charleston's last win â a three-point victory at home over the Florida Firecats -- came nearly a month ago (May 10, 2003).
The Charleston-Norfolk series is one of the most competitive around as four of the six games in the series have been decided by six points or less, including a pair of overtime contests. The Swamp Foxes trail in the series 5-1, with the lone win over the âHawks coming last season at home, 40-37.
Hometown hero, Aaron Sparrow, leads the Nighthawk offense. The Norfolk State product is averaging 232.9 yards passing per game. He's completed 160-of-263 passes for 1,863 yards and 28 touchdowns through the mid-season point. Sparrow has added seven rushing scores for the âHawks.
Offensive specialist Travis Burns has been Sparrow's favorite target. Burns has caught 60 balls for 875 yards and a team-leading 16 touchdowns. He's also rushed for a pair of scores. He currently ranks in the Top 10 in several af2 statistical categories including second in all-purpose yards (1,699), sixth in receptions (7.5 per game), and is tied for ninth in scoring with 114 total points.
Head coach Rik Richards is well aware of Burns' offneisve threat. In two games versus the Swamp Foxes in 2002, he caught eight passes for 180 yards and five receiving TDs while adding two rushing scores. In the first meeting of 2003, Burns caught five passes for 50 yards and a receiving TD.
Defensively, defensive specialists Quesuan Wigfall and Kofi Smith lead the Nighthawks. The two have combined for 79.5 tackles, Wigfall leading the way with 46 total, including 35 solo stops. Smith has two tackles for loss and 15 pass breakups, and both have tallied an interception.
Offensive/defensive lineman Ron Wiafe has recorded nine and a half tackles on the season, registering four total sacks to lead a dangerous Nighthawk front that ranks tied for 12th in sacks by with 11 total on the year.
The Swamp Foxes are searching for answers on offense despite coming off of one of their most productive outings of the season versus Greensboro. Again the Foxes' enter the game with no true offensive specialist, a position that is used to stretch the field on opposing defenses. However, offensive coordinator Tony Wells will utilize the services of Michael Brown, Mike Chandler, and Joe Judge as two-way players to move the football.
After the performance in the North Carolina Triad, the offense cracked the Top 20 in a couple statistical categories for the first time in 2003. The Foxes' "O" currently ranks 19th in total offense, averaging 226 yards per contest, and it ranks 19th in passing behind quarterback Johnny Turman with 206.8 yards per game. On the ground, the Swamp Foxes rank 11th in the league, grinding out just under 20 yards per contest.
Defensively, the Foxes have some rebuilding to do. Charleston gave up the most points on the season, 60, in last week's loss to Greensboro. The defense does, however, continue to rank atop the af2 stat sheet in several categories, including total defense (191.9 yds/gm), rushing defense (6.4 yds/gm), and pass defense rating (81.0 rating). The "D" slipped to second versus the pass and continues to boast the seventh best scoring defense in arenafootball2.
Kickoff this Saturday is slated for 7:30 pm at the North Charleston Coliseum. The excitement starts at 5:00 pm with the tailgate zone, featuring balloons, face painting, and live music from the group, "Little Pieces." The North Charleston Fire Department will be on hand with fire trucks, the "smoke house," which is a tool used for promoting fire safety in the home, and other educational yet fun items prior to the game. The North Charleston Police Department K-9 unit will be providing half time entertainment
For tickets, fans can stop by the box office at the North Charleston Coliseum, visit www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at (843) 554-6060. Group rates are available by calling the Swamp Foxes' office at (843) 554-4321.
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