The Deuce Scoop

May 8, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

WEEK 6 BY THE NUMBERS:
972 – Total points scored by the league's four unbeaten teams this season
614 – Total points scored by the league's four winless teams this season
142 – Total points in Carolina/Greensboro game (season high, tied for 10th-highest all-time)
34 – Passes completed by Bakersfield's CHAD ELLIOTT against Fresno (season high, 2nd-most all-time)
18- Touchdowns scored by both Albany and Florida this season (both teams in first place)
8 – Turnovers committed by Mobile against Memphis

LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY: Former af2 players continue to make a big impact in the Arena Football League. Among the highlights from Week 3 of AFL action:
DENNISON ROBINSON (Quad City '01) – Five receptions for 44 yards, three rushes for 11 yards and two TDs, including game-winning TD in New Jersey's 45-44 win over Orlando; CORNELIUS COE (Quad City '00) – Three solo tackles and two PDs in Indiana's 52-45 win over New York; CARL BOND (Tallahassee ' 00) – Three catches for 56 yards and one TD for Carolina in the Cobras' 46-36 win over Tampa Bay; BILLY DICKEN (Quad City '00) – 256 yards passing with six TDs as the Rush beat defending Arena Bowl champion Grand Rapids 71-59. JAY McDONAGH (Quad City '01) was in the AFL's Built Ford Tough spotlight this week. The QB completed 25-of-39 passes for 239 yards with one passing TD and two rushing scores in the victory over Orlando.

AND THE AWARDS GO TO: This week's af2 award winners are: Tulsa OS/KR MITCH ALLNER (Offensive Player of the Week), Memphis WR/LB JESSE ALLEN (ADT Defensive Player of the Week), FB/LB RENDELL JACKSON of Macon (Ironman) and San Diego WR/LB RICO CURTIS (Built Ford Tough Man).

"FOUR" BETTER: The Florida Firecats fell 49-31 to the Birmingham Steeldogs on Friday, leaving only four teams left with perfect records. The final four are Augusta (4-0), Quad City (4-0), Tennessee Valley (4-0) and Richmond (6-0). None of these teams meet in Week 7 ... and the Speed is off.

OR "FOUR" WORSE: Two of af2's winless teams found victory in Week 6, as the Carolina Rhinos and Norfolk Nighthawks both came out on top. Carolina busted into the win column with an explosive offensive effort (82-60 W vs. Greensboro) while the Nighthawks used an extra session to get past Mohegan (58-51 in OT). With the wins, the number of teams still looking for their first victory is down to four. Fresno (0-5) Louisville (0-5), Mobile (0-5) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (0-5) all are still in search of that elusive first win. Louisville has a bye this weekend.

FRESHMAN FOLLIES: The 2002 expansion class managed only three wins in Week 6, with one of those coming against a fellow first-year club. Winners included Bakersfield (64-41 vs. Fresno), New Haven (46-28 vs. Rochester) and San Diego (68-27 vs. Louisville). Besides Fresno, other expansion losers in Week 6 were Hawaii (70-42 vs. Tulsa), Mobile (80-18 vs. Memphis), Mohegan (58-51 vs. Norfolk) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (44-26 vs. Roanoke). Albany had a bye last weekend. Albany and Bakersfield lead the expansion class with 3-1 and 4-1 records, respectively. Cape Fear sits at 2-2. Mohegan, New Haven and San Diego are 2-3. Hawaii is 1-4 while Fresno, Mobile and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton all are 0-5. The expansion teams' 16-32 combined record includes a 7-24 mark against "veteran" clubs.

CROWD PROUD: Average attendance is up from last season, with the league averaging 5,251 fans per game so far this year. In addition to the expansion teams, af2 "veteran clubs" Louisville and Memphis set team single-game attendance records. The Fire leads the league, averaging 11,479 fans per game despite an 0-5 record.

HOME SWEET HOME: The first few weeks of the season had folks wondering, "What homefield advantage?" Home teams went a combined 12-19 over the first three weekends, including a 4-10 mark in Week 3. But the home teams have reasserted themselves over the past three weeks, going 10-6 in Week 4, 12-4 in Week 5 and 10-6 again in Week 6. With the turnaround, the home teams are 44-35 overall (56 percent).

ROAD SWEET ROAD: Tennessee Valley, winner of 10 straight road games dating back to last year, tries to break the league record for consecutive road wins this Saturday at Memphis. The Vipers currently share the record with Quad City (eight straight road wins in 2000 and two more to start 2001). This could be the toughest road test in during the streak – the Xplorers are 4-1 and averaging 55.0 points per game (third in af2). What's more ... Tennessee Valley barely escaped with a 49-48 win at Memphis last season when a last-second two-point conversion failed. The Xplorers are 1-1 at home this year, beating Bossier City, but losing their last home game to Florida, 30-25. Here's a look at Tennessee Valley's record-tying run:

DATE ... OPPONENT ... SCORE
4/12/01 ... at Baton Rouge Blaze ... 47-27
4/28/01 ... at Birmingham Steeldogs ... 51-42
5/11/01 ... at Pensacola Barracudas ... 68-49
5/25/01 ... at Peoria Pirates ... 56-16
6/9/01 ... at Greensboro Prowlers ... 50-30
6/16/01 ... at Bossier City Battle Wings ... 74-44
6/30/01 ... at Memphis Xplorers ... 49-48
7/21/01 ... at Arkansas Twisters ... 56-55
4/6/02 ... at Arkansas Twisters ... 37-28
4/27/02 ... at Macon Knights ... 50-47

BIG WHEEL KEEP ON TURNIN': By the way, Quad City is working on another road streak, winning seven straight away from home since its 49-47 setback at Tulsa a year ago this week (May 12, 2001). That remains the Steamwheelers' only loss in team history (41-1 overall). Quad City (4-0 in 2002) plays at 3-2 Peoria Friday night.

MISSING HOME BLUES: What is it they say about the light at the end of the tunnel sometimes being a train? After four straight road games to start the season, the expansion Mobile Wizards finally played their home opener on Saturday. It wasn't pretty. A week after a 72-6 loss at Pensacola, the Wizards got thumped 80-18 by the visiting Memphis Xplorers. Mobile, which hits the road again this week with a trip to Bossier City, has been outscored 318-101 in starting the season 0-5.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Beginning with this week's game against Arkansas, Tulsa is beginning its longest home stand in team history. The Talons will play five consecutive games in the friendly confines of the Tulsa Convention Center, where they have a regular-season record of 15-3 over the last three seasons, including 12 straight regular-season home wins dating back to the 2000 campaign.

POST POSITION: Admittedly, it's really early, but here's a look at this year 's playoff matchups were the season to end today: American Conference – Roanoke at Richmond, Macon at Augusta, Tallahassee at Florida, New Haven at Albany; National Conference – Birmingham at Tennessee Valley, Tulsa at Memphis, San Diego at Bakersfield, Wichita at Peoria. The first- and second-place teams from each of the eight divisions will make the playoffs, with the first-place team hosting the second-place team in each respective division in the first round. (Quad City is ineligible). The winners of the first-round games will meet the team closest to them geographically (within the conference) for the second round, with those winners meeting in the two conference championship games. The final two remaining teams will play for the af2 title in ArenaCup 2002.

INTERCONFERENCE CLASH: For the first time this season, the ArenaCup is designed to pit the champions of the American Conference and National Conference. In the league's first two years, teams were seeded in the playoffs by record, regardless of conference affiliation. There are no interconference games scheduled for Week 7. National Conference representative Birmingham (4-1) won at Florida 49-31 in the only Week 6 cross-conference battle, dropping the 3-1 Firecats from the ranks of the unbeaten. Overall this season, the American Conference leads 4-3.

HIGH SCORIN': Scoring was up league-wide for the third straight week. Week 6 was the highest scoring week of the season, with the 32 teams in action combining for an all-time league-high 1,483 points. In the three weeks featuring 16 games, scoring has jumped from 84.8 ppg (Week 4) to 85.8 ppg (Week 5) to 92.7 ppg (Week 6). The overall league average through 79 contests is 84.5 points per game.

THE BIG ‘5-0': In the high-scoring sport of Arena Football, reaching the 50-point mark typically serves as a good indicator of team success. League-wide this season, teams are 42-7 (86 percent) when they score 50 or more points in a game, including a 9-2 mark in both Weeks 5 and 6. When teams score less than 50, they are 37-72 (34 percent). Here's a win-loss breakdown of the league by points scored:

2002: W-L, Pct. / All-time: W-L, Pct.
0-19: 1-13, .071 / 0-19: 2-46, .042
20-29: 3-22, .120 / 20-29: 9-107, .078
30-39: 12-18, .400 / 30-39: 54-107, .335
40-49: 22-19, .537 / 40-49: 114-108, .514
50-59: 16-6, .727 / 50-59: 105-44, .705
60-69: 16-1, .941 / 60-69: 92-13, .876
70-79: 8-0, 1.000 / 70-79: 45-1, .978
80+: 2-0, 1.000 / 80+: 16-0, 1.000

NOTE: The lone loss by an af2 team scoring more than 70 points came on June 2, 2000, when the Birmingham Steeldogs defeated the Tallahassee Thunder 86-74 in Birmingham. That contest remains the highest-scoring game in league history (160 combined points).

SWEET REVENGE: The New Haven Ninjas and Tallahassee Thunder both set out to avenge early-season losses against divisional foes last week and both accomplished the feat. The Ninjas, who lost to Rochester 61-34 in Week 2, returned the favor on Friday, beating the Brigade 46-28. Tallahassee blew past Charleston 70-49, getting even for a 53-44 loss two weeks prior.

INDOOR WAR ON I-74: Quad City and Peoria meet for the first time this season on Friday. With the two teams only 90-miles apart, af2 bragging rights in the nation's heartland are on the line. The two-time defending af2 champion Steamwheelers look to extend their unbeaten streak to 18 games and move out to a two-game lead over the second-place Pirates in the Midwest Division of the National Conference. In the 2001 Kickoff Classic, Quad City made Peoria the victim of the only shutout in af2 history, beating the Pirates 41-0. The Steamwheelers were the defending ArenaCup champions after posting a 19-0 record in 2000 while the Pirates were coming off a perfect 17-0 season in the old Indoor Football League. The Steamwheelers also handed the Pirates a 45-7 season-ending loss. The teams will meet again June 1 at The Mark of the Quad Cities.

SIZZLING STEAM: Since starting the season 0-2, the Roanoke Steam has won three straight games, climbed into second place and is above .500 for the first time since June 29, 2001, when the Steam was 7-6 (Roanoke finished 7-9). To put things in perspective, the Steam averaged 20.0 points in its first two games. In the last three, the Steam is averaging 54.6 points.

WILD WEST: The offensive specialists for the four Western Division teams hold four of the league's top five spots in all-purpose yardage. The foursome has combined to lead af2 in single-game all-purpose yardage in four of the six weeks thus far, including the league-record 400 yards by San Diego's MARTY GRAHAM in Week 2. The top five all-purpose performers:

Player/Team Rush Rec MFG KOR Yds Avg/G Webb/FRN 5 408 0 580 993 198.6 Graham/SDG 22 432 21 510 985 246.2 Jones/HAW 28 375 23 493 919 183.8 Copeland/MEM 2 680 84 123 889 177.8 Wofford/BAK 9 522 26 304 861 172.2

THE CLAUNCH LAUNCH: San Diego QB KANE CLAUNCH had a near-perfect game last week in the Riptide's 68-27 win over Louisville – when you consider that a 158.33 passer rating equals a "perfect game." Claunch's stats of 222 yards, six TDs, no interceptions and 13-of-17 passing (76.5 percent) gave him a rating of 157.48. He would have recorded a perfect game if he attempted one less pass or completed one more. Two of his passes were dropped and another was thrown away.

IT'S 50/50 WITH SLOVER: Last week against Greensboro, Carolina QB CALEB SLOVER threw 23 passes and completed 12 (52 percent) of them. Of his 12 completions, six (50 percent) went for touchdowns. Just for good measure, he also rushed for two scores, helping his club to a team record-breaking 82-point outburst. In case you're wondering, he had eight rushes total.

XCELLENT XPLORERS: Memphis QB TIM LESTER continues to lead the league with 1,444 passing yards after throwing for 313 last week at Mobile. With seven touchdown passes against the Wizards, he shares the league lead with Birmingham's MONTRESSA KIRBY (27 TDs). His main target, RUSSELL COPELAND, the former Buffalo Bill, leads af2 with 680 receiving yards and 84 points (tied with Birmingham's WAYNE THOMAS). He set Xplorers' records with five TD catches, 15 receptions and 169 yards in Week 3 at Peoria. After that performance, he shared league Offensive Player of the Week honors with Lester.

HAS THE JURY REACHED A VERDICT?: Two weeks ago, Macon Head Coach KEVIN PORTER traded QB MIKE GLUSKI to Cape Fear and brought in former AFLer JOHN RAYBORN. Even though Gluski helped lead the club to a 3-0 start, Porter justified the loss of the QB by saying he improved the position with the acquisition of Rayborn. In three games, Gluski completed 58 percent of his passes, averaged 208.6 yards, 4.6 TDs and two interceptions. In his debut with the Knights, Rayborn hit on 56 percent of his passes for 228 yards with three TDs and one pick. Last week, he completed 20-of-27 passes for 247 yards and five scores. The Knights are 1-1 with Rayborn under center.

SPEAKING OF GLUSKI: Cape Fear Head Coach CHRIS SEIGFRIED has opted to go with Gluski for the remainder of the season, sending QB VIC PENN to the Columbus Wardogs. Gluski, who was 11-3 as a starter in Macon, threw 43 touchdown passes in 10 starts last year in Macon, where Siegfried was the offensive coordinator. Gluski completed 14-of-24 passes for 131 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the second half of last week's loss to Richmond. He'll get his first start in a Cape Fear uniform this weekend.

WILL PENN BRING ‘VIC'-TORIES TO COLUMBUS: The Wardogs hope that is the case. Penn heads to Columbus to replace the injured JEROME WEAKS. Penn has been one of the better passers in the league this season. In three-and-a-half games with Cape Fear, he completed 68 percent of his passes for 783 yards and 12 TDs – with a passer rating of 105.97.

DUMAS DOES IT ALL: TIM DUMAS, the do-it-all WR/DB, leads his club in receiving with 31 catches for 436 yards and nine scores. The nine touchdowns also make him the Stallions' top scorer with 54 points. Add his return yardage to his receiving total and he is the team leader with 505 all-purpose yards. Defensively, Dumas is fourth on the squad with 10.5 tackles. He also has one interception and two pass breakups. Dumas has earned Ironman honors twice this season for the Stallions.

IN HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM: That's the feeling of opposing QBs when they hear the name ALEX HOUSTON. The 6-4, 260-pound lineman has been terrorizing QBs all season. With 5.0 sacks on the season, he is only 1.5 shy of the league leader E.J. BURT (Cape Fear).

TWIST AND STOUT: For the first time this season, Arkansas OL/DL GREG TAYLOR and his Twisters were held without a sack in the 44-30 loss at Tennessee Valley. Arkansas had no sacks against Tennessee Valley. It marks the only game this season where the Twister defense to get to the quarterback. Arkansas' 17 sacks now rank second behind Richmond's 21, although the Twisters' 101 yards in sacks leads the league. Taylor now ranks third individually behind Cape Fear's E.J. BURT and Peoria's ERIC JOHNSON, who each have 6.5 sacks.

PICK SIX: The Memphis Xplorers tied a league record with six interceptions in their 80-18 win at Mobile Saturday. Two of the picks went for touchdowns, a 27-yard return by GENO HENDERSON to put Memphis on the board and a 39-yard runback by JESSE ALLEN that capped the Xplorers' 80-point night. Allen, who also had a fumble return for TD, earned league-wide ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors. Memphis leads all of af2 with 13 interceptions this season. The Xplorers' plus-9 turnover margin leads the league along with Bakersfield.

SNELL'S PACE: Tennessee Valley DS KELLY SNELL intercepted two passes against Arkansas Saturday to take over the league lead with six interceptions on the season. He has intercepted a pass in all four Viper games. Snell and fellow DS KENNY BAILEY have combined for 35 tackles, eight interceptions and seven pass breakups this year.

TWIST OF FATE: In Week 5, Macon Knights' kicker WESLEY WILSON had a chance to send a game into OT, but he just missed a 52-yard field goal as time expired and the Knights lost 50-47. Last week, the Knights turned the tables as Week 6 Ironman KENDELL JACKSON blocked a game-tying field goal attempt by Jacksonville kicker JERRY CHAPMAN, sealing the 50-47 win for the Knights.

4 GONE CONCLUSION: Last weekend against Tulsa, Hawaii QB DARNELL ARCENEAUX wore No. 9 and not No. 4 as listed in all the programs and media guides. The reason dates back to the Bakersfield game on April 13 when Arceneaux became dehydrated after the game. When he reported to the hospital to get some fluids, the doctors cut his No. 4 home jersey, but didn't tell the equipment manager. When the Islanders returned from a two game road trip last weekend, the discovery was made and a new number was assigned to him.

HOT HAND HURTING: In the first three games of the season, Greensboro QB CHRIS WEIBEL was sacked nine times. In the last two games, the Prowlers' offensive line hasn't allowed a single sack and Weibel has responded. After completing just 46 percent of his passes and throwing five interceptions the first three games, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound QB has thrown for 415 yards and seven scores in his last two contests. Unfortunately for the Prowlers, Weibel broke his hand in the final minutes of last week's game and will be out indefinitely.

DOG DISASTER: Birmingham DS TERRANCE HARRIS, who won the league's Week 5 Ironman award, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Friday and is out for the year. Harris suffered the injury when he collided with teammate CEDRICK BUCHANNON while returning a kickoff in the second quarter of the Steeldogs' 49-31 win at Florida. Harris is the current league leader with a 31.1 missed field goal return average. He ranks sixth in af2 with a 25.5 average on kickoff returns. In his last full game, he won league Ironman honors after totaling 190 combined return yards against Mobile, highlighted by a 52-yard kickoff return for touchdown and a 56-yard missed field goal return for TD. On defense, the hard-hitting Harris made 7.5 tackles (seven unassisted), broke up five passes and recovered a fumble in the game.

NUTT JOB: University of Arkansas head football coach HOUSTON NUTT will serve as honorary captain at the Arkansas Twisters' home game against Memphis on May 18. Salute the Razorbacks Night, as the game is billed, is part of an effort by the Twisters to show its support for Nutt and the University of Arkansas. The Twisters are offering the members of Arkansas' Letterman Club and all of the state Razorbacks clubs a chance to purchase game tickets, with up to $5,000 from the proceeds going to the Razorback Foundation.

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 8, 2002

• This week in the AFL - OSC Original by Mark Sargent
• The Deuce Scoop - AFL I
• Cobras Snake Charmers and Taco Bell Team Up for Camp - Carolina Cobras
• Hot Questions - AFL I
• Cobras Game Notes - Carolina Cobras
• Arena Football League Transactions - AFL I

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