Swamp Foxes Tackle Longest Road Trip of Season

Published on July 9, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Charleston Swamp Foxes News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – This Thursday, while most of the Lowcountry will be fast asleep, the Charleston Swamp Foxes arenafootball2 team will just be getting started.

At 12:01 am Thursday morning, the Foxes will board a bus for a 15-hour trek across the deep south and nearly into the Lonestar State of Texas for a Friday night date with the Bossier City Battle Wings.

The first-ever meeting between the Swamp Foxes and Battle Wings can be heard live on ESPN Radio, 1340 AM starting at 8:15 EST on Friday, July 11.

Bossier City started out the 2003 season appearing as one of the best teams in the league. The upstart Battle Wings knocked off defending ArenaCup Champion Peoria Pirates by 16, 74-58, to kickoff the season. After stumbling in Week Two, Bossier City rallied to beat current Atlantic Division-leading Cape Fear 62-61.

The Wings' high-octane offense –then led by all-af2 quarterback Sherard Poteete – was averaging just under 60 points per game as they started 2-1 and were turning heads in the National Conference.

However, that's when turmoil hit western Louisiana. Changes in coaching staff led in changes in the roster, including the starting quarterback for the past two seasons, Poteete, leaving town. The high-flying offense unraveled, as did the Battle Wings season. The 60-point average dropped to 35 and the "L's" began to pile up.

Bossier City has dropped ten of its last 11 games to plummet to 3-11 overall with a pair of home games remaining. The Battle Wings are currently riding a six-game losing skid, the worst in team history.

Despite not having success on the field as a team, several different Wings players are having sensational seasons. Defensive specialist Chris Samson is four tackles shy of setting a Bossier City single-season record for tackles. He currently stands at an af2-leading 80.0 for the year.

Offensively, specialist Leaford Hackitt and Shadric McAfee are a pair of dangerous weapons. Hackitt has hauled in 76 passes for 1,228 yards this season, an average of 102.5 yards per game. McAfee currently ranks seventh in all-purpose yards with a 171.2-yard average per game.

For the Foxes, the final three games are must-wins if there is to be a team-first appearance in the af2 postseason. Charleston must win and receive help from around the league to make the playoffs.

The Swamp Foxes are coming off a disappointing 76-62 home loss to divisional rival, Greensboro, last Saturday. In that game, two-way Michael Brown suffered an ankle injury that may prevent him from being in the lineup this Friday night.

To take up any slack, former college teammate Jamie Hattley may be called upon to fill-in as a defensive specialist, moving Melvin Justice and newcomer Ameer Riley over to two-way.

Quarterback Johnny Turman continues to be one of the hottest quarterbacks in arenafootball2. After a sluggish start, the rookie signal caller has thrown for over 1,500 yards in the past five games, including tossing 32 scoring strikes. Turman has re-written every single-game and single-season passing record for the Swamp Foxes and could possibly take over several career records after just one season.

Offensively, the Swamp Foxes have several weapons that they could use against the ailing Battle Wings. Leroy McFadden continues to lead the team in scoring this season. To date, the receiver in a fullback's body has scored 160 points, 10 shy of the single-season record. McFadden is also two touchdowns away from the single-season TD record of 27 in one year.

There's new law in town, however, when it comes to receiving yards. Joe Judge, fresh off a career night that saw the rookie haul in eight passes for 155 yards and four touchdowns, currently leads the team in receiving. Currently, Judge has caught 48 passes for 631 yards, an average of 63.1 yards per game. McFadden ranks second with 623 yards and all-time leading scorer Mike Chandler is third with 590.

Two-year veteran Antoine Calloway could again etch his name in the Swamp Fox record book this weekend. The receiver from North Carolina Central is a mere three catches shy of the career reception record.

Charleston looks to even its record and keep the playoff fever alive this Friday night. The action kicks off at 8:30 pm EST and can be heard live on ESPN Radio, 1340 AM.

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