Swarm fall to Steeldogs
April 5, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Cincinnati Swarm News Release
Birmingham, AL - The Cincinnati Swarm fell to 0-2 with a 63-33 loss Friday night in Birmingham. Birmingham's Jeff Aaron was named game MVP after throwing for 206 yards while completing 16 of 22 pass attempts with four touchdowns.
The Swarm fell behind in the first quarter when Aaron hit Anthony Jordan with a 16-yard TD pass. Cincinnati was able to answer the score with a score of their own eleven seconds later. Cincy QB Danny Smith hit wide out Tony Locke with a 43-yard strike. The pass from deep in Birmingham territory put the Swarm back in the game, but the Swarm weren't able to convert the extra point. Birmingham added another first quarter touchdown, a 13-yard run by Segun Ajigbeda, to end the first with a 14-6 lead.
Aaron and Jordan hooked up for another touchdown in the second. Aaron hit Jordan with a 29-yard pass to give the 'Dogs a 20-6 lead. Birmingham did not convert the point after. The Swarm struck back to pull within eight when Danny Smith found his favorite target, James Scott, for a 19-yard TD pass. For the game, Scott caught 11 passes for 121 yards to lead the Swarm in receiving yards for the second consecutive game. After Scott's touchdown, the Swarm failed to convert the PAT to set the score at 20-12.
The 'Dogs gained momentum headed into the locker room by scoring a touchdown with one second left in the first half. Aryvia Holmes' 11-yard TD catch gave Birmingham a 26-12 lead that they carried into the locker room.
The 'Dogs dominated the third quarter, outscoring the Swarm 23-7. The 'Dogs scored a safety, a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown. Anthony Payton scored the lone Swarm touchdown of the quarter on a 12-yard pass from Danny Smith. The Swarm ended the third trailing 49-19.
The Swarm had an exciting fourth as Ryan Russell returned a kickoff 50 yards for a touchdown. James Scott also caught his second TD pass of the game in the fourth for the Swarm. Unfortunately, Birmingham scored twice as well to set the final at 63-33.
Danny Smith threw for 180 yards in the game while completing 17 of 26 passes. Smith also recorded three touchdown passes in the game. Christian Batcheller came in to end the game at QB for the Swarm. Batcheller went 4 of 6 for 47 yards with a TD. For the game, Swarm QBs completed 21 of 32 passes for 197 yards with four touchdowns and only one interception.
The Swarm have a bye week next week to prepare for their home opener on April 19th against Charleston. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at U.S. Bank Arena.
• Discuss this story on the arenafootball2 message board...
arenafootball2 Stories from April 5, 2003
- Brigade Can't Recover from Slow Start - Rochester Brigade
- Wolves Win 2003 Opener, 57-20 - Mohegan Wolves
- Nighthawks Victorious in First Game of 2003 Season - Norfolk Nighthawks
- Prowlers start 1-0 - Greensboro Prowlers
- Swamp Foxes Fall to Norfolk, 31-21 - Charleston Swamp Foxes
- Albany Conquers at Richmond Again - Albany Firebirds
- Wardogs Beat The Xplorers 26-25 - Memphis Xplorers
- Swarm fall to Steeldogs - Cincinnati Swarm
- Saturday game previews - af2
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.
