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Tennessee Valley Vipers game notes

May 6, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Tennessee Valley Vipers (3-1)
at Arkansas Twisters (1-3)
Date: Saturday, May 8, 2004
Kickoff: 7 p.m. CST
Site: ALLTEL Arena (16,058)
National Anthem:
Coin Toss:
Officials:
Radio: WUMP 730 (Thom Abraham)
TV: None
Series Record: Vipers lead 5-0
Last Meeting: Vipers 44, Arkansas 30(5/4/02 in Huntsville, Ala.)
Streaks: Vipers W2, Twisters L3
Coaches: Kevin Guy (30-6; 1-2 playoffs, third season);
Gary Anderson (27-25; 2-2 playoffs, fourth season).

THE STAKES: The Vipers look to go 4-1 on the season and notch their second victory against a Mid-South foe.

THE SERIES: The Vipers lead 5-0. Here's the history:
4/21/00 Vipers 54, Arkansas 45 (N. Little Rock, Ark.))
6/2/01 Vipers 55, Arkansas 43 (Huntsville, Ala.)
7/21/01 Vipers 56, Arkansas 55 (N. Little Rock, Ark.)
4/6/02 Vipers 37, Arkansas 28 (N. Little Rock, Ark.)
5/4/02 Vipers 44, Arkansas 30 (Huntsville, Ala.)


American Conference Mid-South Standings
W L Pct.
Tennessee Valley 3 1 .750
Memphis 2 2 .500
Bossier City 2 3 .400
Arkansas 1 3 .250


Arkansas Twisters (1-3)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/3 San Diego W 48-38
4/9 At Peoria L 22-13
4/17 Birmingham L 56-40
5/1 At Bakersfield L 49-21
Date Opponent Time CST Streak Series
5/8 Tennessee Valley 7:00 0-5
5/15 At Memphis 7:00 6-0
5/22 Tulsa 7:00 3-7
5/29 @ Oklahoma 7:30 0-0
6/5 At Tennessee Valley 7:30 0-5
6/12 Albany 7:30 0-0
6/25 Quad City 7:30 1-4
7/2 @ Bossier City 7:00 4-2
7/9 At Laredo 7:30 0-0
7/16 Memphis 7:30 6-0
7/24 @ RioGrande Valley 7:30 0-0
7/31 Bossier City 7:00 4-2

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (3-1)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/3 Bakersfield W 60-35
4/17 @Quad City L 47-29
4/23 @ Laredo W 68-43
5/1 Memphis W 43-33
Date Opponent Time CST Streak Series
5/8 @ Arkansas 7:00 5-0
5/15 Bossier City 7:30 3-1
5/22 Florida 7:30 2-0
5/29 @ Birmingham 7:30 8-0
6/5 Arkansas 7:30 5-0
6/12 @ Macon 6:30 2-2
6/19 Birmingham 7:30 8-0
6/26 @ Memphis 7:00 6-0
7/10 Quad City 7:30 2-6
7/17 Macon 7:30 2-2
7/24 @ Bossier City 7:00 3-1
7/31 @ Florida 6:30 2-0


HEAD COACHES: Vipers coach Kevin Guy (30-6 regular season) is in his third season at the helm. He led the Vipers to a 14-2 record last season and a 1-1 showing in the playoffs. Guy was named af2 Coach of the Year and he placed OL/DL Wes Stephens – the af2 Lineman of the Year - on the American Conference first team all-af2 squad. Five others were named to the American's second squad. Arkansas' Gary Anderson (27-25) is in his fourth season.

LAST SERIES MEETING: The Vipers won 44-30 over the Twisters at the Von Braun Center on May 4 of the 2002 season. Quarterback Wes Counts threw for 177 yards and three touchdowns and Kelly Fields caught 10 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who rank among af2's statistical leaders:

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS
Player Rank Category Stat
Henry Freeman T-3rd Interceptions 3
Bryan Snyder 10th Pass Rating 106.3
Ronney Daniels T-8th Scoring (TDs) 10
T-7th Scoring 60

ARKANSAS TWISTERS
Player Rank Category Stat
Darnell Smalls T-1st Tackles for Loss 5.0
1st Sacks 4.0

TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how the Vipers and Steamwheelers are stacking up against the rest of the league.

Statistical VIPERS TWISTERS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 8 50.0 23 30.5
Scoring Defense 5 39.5 8 41.2
Total Offense 16 247.5 23 186.5
Total Defense 9 229.8 13 244.8
Pass Offense 11 239.2 23 160.8
Pass Defense 11 218.8 13 223.5
Rushing Offense 19 8.2 8 25.8
Rushing Defense 7 11.0 15 21.2
Scoring (Non-Kick) 12 176 23 102
Scoring (Kicking) T-9th 24 12th 20
Pass Rating 8 109.7 25 66.7
Pass Def. Rating 6 93.1 13 103.4
Kickoff Returns 22 16.3 21 16.4
MFG Returns 17 13.0 8 19.7
Turnover Margin 1 +7 16 -1
Field Goals T-9th 33.3% 12 30 %
PAT Kicking 13 75% 6 84.6%
Sacks By 7 8 T-2nd 13
Sacks Against 11 4 24 14
First Downs 14 57 23 45
Opp. First Downs 12 57 5 51
Penalties 20 74.8 9 55.5
Opp. Penalties 5 51.5 7 52.8
Red Zone Off. 1 94.1 22 63.6
Red Zone Def. 4 57.9 3 56.0

TENNESSEE VALLEY INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status


MILESTONES: Guy's 31 overall wins makes him the Vipers' winningest coach, ahead of Bret Munsey who notched 15 during the 2001 season.


FORWARD MOTION: The Vipers host Mid-South foe Bossier City at the Von Braun Center on May 15.. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and the first 1,500 kids 18-and-under will receive Viper Football Trading Cards.


RECENT ROSTER MOVES (most recent first):
Date Action Player

4/22 Assigned OL/DL Jermaine Hoyt
4/19 Traded to Cape Fear OS Rodney Brown
4/19 Traded to Peoria OL/DL Desmon Baker
3/30 Traded to Cape Fear Chris Wallace, QB
3/26 Reassigned Kareem Bland WR/DB
3/26 Reassigned Curtis Daniely OL/DL
3/26 Reassigned Sheldon Durham FB/LB
3/26 Reassigned Juwan Jackson, OL/DL
3/26 Reassigned T.J. Stallings WR/DB
3/20 Reassigned Michael Sims, WR/ DB
3/20 Traded to Macon James Dickerson, WR/DB


Last Time Out: The Vipers used their defense to defeat the Memphis Xplorers 43-33 before an announced crowd of 5,084 at the Von Braun Center last Saturday night.

The victory – Tennessee Valley's team-record 10th straight at home - moved the Vipers (3-1) into first place in the American Conference's Mid-South Division ahead of Memphis (2-2).

Tennessee Valley needed offensive/defensive lineman Andy Fuller – a former Auburn standout - bulling 11 yards into the end zone on an onside kick with 14 seconds left to seal the game.

Memphis had 252 yards of total offense, but five times the Xplorers drove inside the Tennessee Valley 15-yard line and only came away with three points. The Vipers intercepted Memphis three times, including defensive specialist Henry Freeman's 48-interception return for a touchdown with 8:18 remaining that gave the Vipers an insurmountable 31-17 lead.

Receiver/defensive back Marquis Floyd followed Freeman's interception with one of his own in the end zone to thwart the Xplorers' next drive.

"Our goal-line defense was great," said Vipers coach Kevin Guy, whose team travels to Arkansas next Saturday. "From top to bottom the defense played well. I couldn't have asked for a better defensive effort."

Former Mississippi State star Kevin Prentiss kept Memphis in the game with two 50-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns. His 47-yard touchdown reception made the final minute uncomfortable for the Vipers before Fuller ended the threat.

While the defense was stellar, the Viper offense struggled without suspended receivers Jerrian James and Michael Caraway tallying only 175 yards of total offense. Quarterback Bryan Snyder completed 16 of 33 passes for 172 yard and two touchdowns.

But relief did come in the form of former All-af2 selection Kenny Bailey, who re-signed with the team on Thursday. Bailey, playing defensive back and wide receiver, rushed for one touchdown and caught four passes for 43 yards. He also had five tackles for the Vipers.

Snyder's 12 yard touchdown pass and place kicker Alex Walls' two-point conversion pass to John Bradley on the game's opening series gave Tennessee Valley a lead it would not relinquish.

Offensive specialist Kyle Henderson had seven receptions for 73 yards and receiver/linebacker Ronney Daniels caught three passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns for Tennessee Valley.

Memphis quarterback Brian Jones completed 16 of 29 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown to go along with his three interceptions.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

James, Caraway out again: WR/DB Jerrian James and WR/DB Michael Caraway served the first games of their two-game suspensions last Saturday against Memphis. They'll serve their final games tonight against the Twisters. For their actions during the Vipers' April 23 game at Laredo. The players were cited for violating league policy that forbids players from being in the stands pregame or postgame while in uniform for any reason.

Hall to the Rescue: The short-handed Vipers picked up another reinforcement on Thursday.
Former Alabama standout Calvin Hall, a force at wide receiver and linebacker for Tennessee Valley from 2001-03, has re-signed with the Vipers for one game.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Hall will play wide receiver and defensive back this weekend for the Vipers.

"Calvin is a guy that obviously knows our system and that really helps when we only need a person for one game,'' Tennessee Valley coach Kevin Guy said.

"He's really helping us out and it's really a great pickup for one game."

In 34 career games for the Vipers, Hall caught 90 passes for 1,045 yards and 22 touchdowns and had 78 total tackles. His 49-yard touchdown reception from Matt Sauk on the road against Florida in 2003 stands remains a team record and Hall's 90 catches place him fourth on the team's all-time list.

Bailey returns to Vipers, former Steeldog Jermaine Hoyt also signs: WR/DB Kenny Bailey, an All-af2 selection for Tennessee Valley last season, re-signed May 30 with the team for an expected period of two games.

The Vipers also signed OL/DL Hoyt, a former Jacksonville State standout who played four games in Birmingham last season.

Guy on the Arkansas game: " I think both team's defenses are playing real well and it's going to come down to which team can execute on offense and play well on special teams."

KEY DATES IN VIPER HISTORY:
March 31, 2000: Vipers get first ever win with a 59-18 victory over Birmingham.
April 8, 2000: Vipers get their first home win over Norfolk 48-15.
August 10, 2000: Vipers fall 68-59 to the Quad City Steamwheelers in the ArenaCup Championship.
April 7, 2001: Vipers get their first win in the 2001 season with a 55-14 win over Memphis.
July 21, 2001: Vipers rally from a 34-point deficit in the 4th quarter to beat Arkansas 56-55.
July 30, 2001: Vipers beat Tallahassee 70-52 in the first round of the af2 playoffs.
August 4, 2001: Vipers fall 51-50 to the Richmond Speed in overtime in the af2 semifinals.
April 6, 2002: Vipers beat Arkansas 37-28 for their first win of the 2002 season.
April 11, 2002: Vipers win their 11th straight road game 57-46 at Memphis to break the af2 record.
May 24, 2003: Vipers get off to their best start at 7-0 with a 57-54 home win over Cape Fear.
May 31, 2003: Vipers win their club-record eighth straight game with a 61-55 victory at Columbus.
July 12, 2003: Vipers post first-ever undefeated home mark at 8-0 and also improve to a franchise best 14-0.
April 3, 2004: Vipers win team-record ninth straight home game with season-opening 60-35 win over Bakersfield.


GAME MVP AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Bakersfield Bryan Snyder
4 @ Laredo Jerrian James
5 Memphis Michael Caraway
GAME IRONMAN AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Bakersfield Jerrian James
4 @ Laredo Ronney Daniels
5 Memphis Ronney Daniels
GAME DEFENSIVE AWARD (selected by media)
Week Opp. Player
1 Bakersfield Henry Freeman
4 @ Laredo Andy Fuller
5 Memphis Corl Bucknor


2004 STATISTICAL TEAM HIGHS
First Downs 20 @ Laredo 4/23/04
Total Offense 332 @ Laredo 4/23/04
Rushing Attempts 9 vs. Memphis 5/1/04
Rushing Yards 16 @ Laredo 4/23/04
Rushing Touchdowns 2 vs. Bakersfield 4/3/04; vs. Memphis 5/1/04
Passing Yards 316 @ Laredo 4/23/04
Passing Touchdowns 8 @ Laredo 4/23/04
Touchdowns Scored 10 @ Laredo 4/23/04

2004 STATISTICAL INDIVIDUAL HIGHS
Rushing Attempts 3, Jerrian Jamesvs. Bakersfield, 4/03/04; Dave Morrill, Dedric Maffett vs. Memphis 5/01/04
Rushing Yards 9, Dave Morrill@ Laredo, 4/23/04
Rushing Touchdowns 1, Jerrian James, Bryan Snyder vs. Bakersfield 4/03/04; Dave Morrill @ Laredo, 4/23/04
Passing Attempts 36, Bryan Snydervs. Bakersfield, 4/03/04
Passing Completions 21, Bryan Snydervs Bakersfield, 4/03/04
Passing Yards 284, Bryan Snydervs. Bakersfield, 4/03/04
Passing Touchdowns 7, Bryan Snydervs. Bakersfield, 4/03/04
Receptions 13, Jerrian James@ Laredo, 4/23/04
Receiving Yards 186, Jerrian James@ Laredo 4/23/04
Receiving Touchdowns 4, Ronney Daniels and Jerrian James @ Laredo, 4/23/04
Tackles 9.5, Henry Freemanvs. Bakersfield, 4/03/04
Interceptions 2, Henry Freeman vs. Bakersfield, 4/03/04
Sacks 2, Andy Fuller @ Laredo 4/23/04; Joe Minucci @ Quad City, 4/17/04.



THE VIPERS WHEN:
Score First 3-0 Lead after 1st 2-1
Opponent Scores First 0-1 Trail after 1st 0-0
Overtime 0-0 Tied after 1st 1-0
More Total Offense 2-0 Lead after 2nd 2-0
Less Total Offense 1-1 Trail after 2nd 0-1
Out Passing Opponent 2-0 Tied after 2nd 1-0
Opponent Out Passes 1-1 Lead after 3rd 3-0
Out Rushing Opponent 3-0 Trail after 3rd 0-1
Opponent Out Rushes 0-1 Tied after 3rd 0-0

THE VIPERS WHEN
Points Score Allow
0-9 0-0 0-0
10-19 0-0 0-0
20-29 0-1 0-0
30-39 0-0 2-0
40-49 1-0 1-1
50-59 0-0 0-0
60-69 2-0 0-0
70-79 0-0 0-0
80+ 0-0 0-0



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