The Deuce Scoop
Published on July 3, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
ARENACUP PLAYOFFS RUNNETH OVER: Albany, Augusta, Macon and Peoria clinched playoff berths back in Week 12. Two weeks later, Cape Fear and Richmond locked up playoff spots with victories in Week 14. Cape Fear joins Albany as expansion teams to qualify; the Western Division will send two more first-year squads to the postseason. The top two teams in each of af2's eight divisions (based on overall record) qualify for the postseason, with division foes facing off in the first round. Ironically, four of the six teams to clinch thus far will be opening-round opponents, with Augusta playing Macon and Cape Fear playing Richmond.
THREE-PEAT: Tennessee Valley and Tulsa can earn their third playoff berths in as many years this week. Both teams are in with victories and also could clinch with losses combined with losses by division foes. By qualifying, the Talons and Vipers would be the only af2 teams to advance to the playoffs in all three years of the league's existence. The other two-time qualifiers, Carolina and Quad City, will not be in the 2002 postseason.
AND THE AWARDS GO TO: This week's af2 award winners are: Richmond's BOB BEES (Offensive Player of the Week), Augusta's ADRIAN JONES (ADT Defensive Player of the Week), Rochester's DEREK BAKER (Ironman of the Week) and Hawaii's NIAN TAYLOR (Built Ford Tough Man of the Week).
LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY: Two former af2 standouts earned game MVP honors in Week 11 Arena Football League action. Chicago's MARVIN TAYLOR (Tallahassee ' 01) sparked a second-half Rush comeback with two third-quarter interceptions that resulted in touchdowns. Taylor added 2.5 tackles en route to being named the game MVP in Chicago's 55-45 win over New York. Tampa Bay's SHANE STAFFORD (Tallahassee '00) also earned MVP honors in the Storm's 50-40 win over Georgia. Stafford completed 26-of-41 passes for 227 yards and six scores. BILLY DICKEN (Quad City '00) had another strong outing for Chicago, passing for 280 yards and seven scores. CORNELIUS BONNER (Carolina '00) latched onto one of Dicken's scoring passes and ended the day with three catches for 51 yards and a touchdown. JAY McDONAGH (Quad City '01) led the Gladiators to a 62-45 victory over Detroit passing for 290 yards and six touchdowns. DENNISON ROBINSON (Quad City '01) added a rushing score and had 33 yards receiving for New Jersey. MATT KINSINGER (Augusta '00) started for San Jose, and helped the Sabercats remain undefeated with a 58-41 win over Dallas. CHRIS HIXSON (Tallahassee '01) relieved game MVP SHERDRICK BONNER in the fourth quarter of Arizona's 69-42 win over Buffalo. Hixson completed two passes, both for touchdowns, and added a score on the ground. CARL BOND (Tallahassee '00) was Carolina's leading receiver in a 52-48 loss to Orlando. Bond had nine receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
SUCCESSFUL 'TEN'-DENCIES: Through Week 14, seven of the 34 teams have reached or passed the 10-win plateau, with 11 more squads still having a shot at double-digit victories. Due to games against each other, it's mathematically possible for 10 of those teams to get 10 wins, which would mean 50 percent of the league reached that mark. In 2000, 26 percent (four of 15) had 10 wins or more. That number increased to 32 percent (nine of 28) last year.
FRESHMAN FOLLIES: With all 10 first-year clubs in action, the 2002 expansion class went 3-7 in Week 14. Three of those games pitted freshman vs. freshman as Cape Fear downed Mohegan 63-32, Hawaii avenged a Week 13 loss to Bakersfield with a 49-35 win and San Diego beat Fresno 67-33. The other expansion teams in action went 0-4 against veteran teams as Tennessee Valley, Norfolk, Rochester and Richmond all proved that experience counts. The Speed ended Albany's seven game winning streak with a 66-59 win, Rochester glided by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 55-38, the Nighthawks edged New Haven 50-48 and the Vipers rebounded for a loss to Quad City to defeat Mobile 53-40.
'WIN'-DOW OF OPPORTUNITY: With an active eight-game winning streak, Cape Fear has the chance to put together a run of regular-season success that would be second only to Quad City's undefeated championship year of 2000. (The expansion Wildcats' eight-game streak is tied for third all-time with Tallahassee in 2001 and Tulsa earlier this year). By winning out, Cape Fear would reel off 12 straight victories, moving past the 2001 Steamwheelers, who won 10 straight regular-season games. That 10-game streak also represents the second-most consecutive wins to end a season, another mark the Wildcats would pass. The 2000 Quad City Steamwheelers won all 16 regular-season games, then tacked on three playoff wins and five more victories to start 2001, making them the leaders in all of the league's overall consecutive wins categories.
BEGINNER'S LUCK? PART I: Cape Fear increased its win streak to eight games after a 63-32 win over Mohegan last Friday, while Albany's seven-game run ended with a 66-59 loss against Richmond. The previous af2 record for consecutive wins by an expansion team was five (Macon, 2001). This week, the Wildcats put their league-best eight game streak on the line against Albany. Here's a historical look at other win streaks by af2 expansion teams:
Team ... Overall record ... Win streak ... Period
Cape Fear ... 10-2 ... 8 ... 5/10/02 - Present
Albany ... 10-2 ... 7 ... 5/10/02 - 6/29/02
Iowa ... 9-7 ... 5 ... 6/23/01 - 7/21/01
Macon ... 10-6 ... 5 ... 5/19/01 - 6/16/01
Florida ... 7-9 ... 4 ... 6/23/01 - 7/14/01
Louisville ... 6-10 ... 4 ... 5/19/01 - 6/8/01
BEGINNER'S LUCK? PART II: Despite losing 66-59 against Richmond on Saturday at the Pepsi Center, Albany still remains undefeated on the road this season (6-0) and is the only team in the league that can say that. Only two teams have finished the season undefeated in away contests. Tennessee Valley did it in 2001 and Quad City in 2000.
LOOK AWAY: While Quad City (8-0 in 2000, 7-1 in 2001) and Tennessee Valley (8-0 in 2001) are the only teams to lose no more than one game away from home in league history, six teams are on track to do it this season: Albany (6-0 on the road), Augusta (6-1), Cape Fear (6-1), Macon (5-1), Tennessee Valley (5-1) and Richmond (4-1).
FRIENDLY CONFINES: Ten teams could finish this season with no losses or just one loss at home, paced by Tulsa (7-0 at home), Bossier City (6-0) and Augusta (5-0). The seven one-loss home teams are Macon (6-1), Norfolk (6-1), Richmond (6-1), Pensacola (5-1), Tennessee Valley (5-1), Cape Fear (4-1) and Charleston (4-1). In the league's first two seasons, four teams went unbeaten or once-beaten at home in 2000 while five teams did it last year.
HOME SWEET HOME?: In Week 14, home teams combined for an 9-8 overall record. American Conference teams fared slightly better in front of a home audience with a 5-4 mark; National Conference teams posted were an even 4-4 in the not-so-friendly confines. Home teams are 124-86 overall for a .590 winning percentage. Oddly enough, hosts are just 1-6 in overtime games this season:
DATE ... OVERTIME GAME ... WINNER/SCORE
4/6/02 ... Bakersfield at San Diego ... Bakersfield 49-43
4/12/02 ... Memphis at Peoria ... Memphis 49-48
4/21/02 ... Roanoke at Greensboro ... Roanoke 59-56
5/4/02 ... Mohegan at Norfolk ... Norfolk 58-51
5/18/02 ... Peoria at Bakersfield ... Peoria 60-54
5/24/02 ... Mohegan at New Haven ... Mohegan 36-30
6/29/02 ... Arkansas at Birmingham ... Arkansas 45-44
NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Tulsa boasts af2's longest active streak of regular-season home victories and the second-longest home streak ever with 17 straight regular-season wins at the Tulsa Convention Center. Quad City owns the league records of 19 straight regular-season home wins and 25 consecutive overall home victories (including playoffs), streaks that ended earlier this year. Quad City and Tulsa are in a virtual tie at the top of the list of all-time regular-season home records.
Regular Season At Home ... Record ... Pct.
Quad City ... 19-2 ... .905
Tulsa ... 20-3 ... .870
Augusta ... 18-3 ... .857
Norfolk ... 19-4 ... .826
Macon ... 12-3 ... .800
Cape Fear ... 4-1 ... .800
Tennessee Valley ... 19-5 ... .791
Birmingham ... 17-6 ... .739
Richmond ... 17-6 ... .739
Wichita ... 10-4 ... .714
CLOSE CALLS: Eight of last week's games were decided by 10 points or less, including four contests determined by one or two points. Week 14 follows on the heels of the most "heart-stopping" week of the season, Week 13, when 10 games were decided by 10 points or less. Overall this season, 88 of the 210 total games (42 percent) fit that bill.
HIGH SCORIN': This week's 17 games averaged 85.0 points, with four games hitting the 100-point mark for combined points and five more eclipsing 90. The season scoring average currently stands at 88.4 combined points per game. San Diego's 67 points were the high for the week. The Albany-Richmond game featured the highest combined score (125 points - Richmond 66, Albany 59). Five weeks this year have boasted average scores of 90 points or more, led by a 96.2 clip in Week 13.
HALF-CENTURY CLUB: Tulsa, Peoria, Richmond, Augusta and Macon have exhibited powerful offenses this season. The quintet makes up the league's top five in scoring offense, with Tulsa, Augusta, Richmond and Macon scoring 50 or more points in a game eight times this year and Peoria reaching 50 seven times. Macon (13 games) leads the way with 727 points, while Richmond averages the most points per contest at 57.0.
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 117-30 (80 percent) when they score 50 or more points in a game, including a 10-2 mark in Week 14. When teams score less than 50, they are 93-180 (34 percent) . 7-15 in Week 14. Here's a win-loss breakdown of the league by points scored:
2002 ... W-L ... Pct. ... All-time ... W-L ... Pct.
0-19 ... 1-20 ... .048 ... 0-19 ... 2-63 ... .031
20-29 ... 5-40 ... .111 ... 20-29 ... 11-125 ... .081
30-39 ... 24-66 ... .267 ... 30-39 ... 66-155 ... .299
40-49 ... 62-54 ... .535 ... 40-49 ... 154-143 ... .519
50-59 ... 54-23 ... .701 ... 50-59 ... 143-61 ... .701
60-69 ... 44-7 ... .863 ... 60-69 ... 120-20 ... .857
70-79 ... 12-0 ... 1.000 ... 70-79 ... 49-1 ... .980
80+ ... 7-0 ... 1.000 ... 80+ ... 21-0 ... 1.000
NOTE: The lone loss by an af2 team scoring more than 70 points came on June 2, 2000, when Birmingham defeated Tallahassee 86-74 in Birmingham. That contest was the highest-scoring game in league history (160 combined points) until Arkansas blew past Tulsa 102-63 in Week 13.
PASSING KING: Augusta's GLEN GAUNTT tossed six more touchdown passes in last weekend's 54-44 win over Roanoke. Through 12 games, Gauntt has thrown for 66 scores and is averaging 5.50 a game. The former Southern Florida standout is on pace to break the af2 record for most touchdown passes in a season. MATT SAUK set the standard, totaling 86 touchdowns with Tennessee Valley in 2001.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS, PART I: The league record book could have a distinctly different look in the "Returns" section heading into next season. Both Tulsa 's MITCH ALLNER and Tallahassee's LAWRENCE PULLEN are on pace to equal the single-season league record for kickoff return touchdowns (ADLAI TRONE - eight for Louisville in 2000). Allner and Pullen have six each through 12 team games. Allner and Pullen are part of a group that includes Greensboro's WALTER FORD, San Diego's MARTY GRAHAM and Richmond's JEFF TOWNSLEY that is ahead of JOHNNY LOPER's season standard of 24.9 yards-per-kickoff return (Memphis' Loper set the record last year). Augusta's UNDRE WILLIAMS equaled an af2 record for combined return touchdowns with three against Jacksonville in Week 11.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS, PART II: Tulsa has nine kickoff return touchdowns this season, putting the Talons within one of Birmingham's single-season team record, set last year. Birmingham is one missed field goal return TD from equaling Louisville's single-season record of four, also established last year. Louisville also set the combined return touchdown record with 11 (seven on kickoffs, four on missed field goals). Tulsa, Peoria (eight KO, one MFG) and Birmingham (six KO, three MFG) all have nine.
SCORE TO SETTLE?: Tulsa's MITCH ALLNER is the league's scoring leader with 208 points this season. The OS/KR needs 77 points to break the single-season record of 284 by Quad City's SHON KING from the 2000 campaign. Allner would need to average 19.3 points per game over the final four weeks of the season to set the record. He averages 17.3, but has gone over 20 five times this year, including a 2002 league-high 42 points in Week 7.
GOING, GOING, GOOCH: Quad City OS/KR IRA GOOCH holds the league all-purpose yards-per-game lead. His 221.6 yards-per-game average puts him on pace for 3,546, which would shatter BRIAN McDONALD's single-season all-purpose record of 3,271 (for Louisville, 2001). Gooch currently has 2,659 yards. Mohegan OS/KR BRANDON BURNSIDE, who with one more game played is the league's yardage leader, is well off Gooch's pace. But with 2,735 yards through 13 games, he also could eclipse McDonald. Earlier this season, Gooch went over 200 all-purpose yards in eight straight games, a league record. He has reached the 300-yard mark in all-purpose yards three times this year (356 at Peoria, 342 vs. Wichita, 300 at Fresno). He set a new af2 record for combined return yards (288) in that May 18 game against Wichita, with four runbacks of more than 50 yards.
THE MARTINO THEUS WATCH: Rochester OS MARTINO THEUS currently is ranked first in the league with a team-record 135 receptions, 1,490 receiving yards and an average of 114.6 yards per game. He also has 17 touchdowns to his credit and averages 10.38 yards per catch. Last week, he caught four passes for 44 yards. Averaging 10.38 receptions per game, Theus is on a pace to catch nearly 166 balls this year. That mark would obliterate the af2 record for receptions in a season . 148 by Wichita's PASCAL VOLZ in 2001. If he can haul in 26 receptions in his final three games, he will break the all-time professional football record for most receptions in a single season (16), set in the Canadian Football League by DERRELL MITCHELL in 1998. Below are the all-time reception records for various leagues:
Canadian Football League 160, DERRELL MITCHELL, Toronto Argonauts, 1998
arenafootball2 148, PASCAL VOLZ, Wichita Stealth, 2001
Arena Football League 138 , EDDIE BROWN, Albany Fiebirds, 1999
National Football League 123, HERMAN MOORE, Detroit Lions, 1995
NFL Europe/World League 74, JERMAINE COPELAND, Barcelona Dragons, 2000
All-American Football Conference (1946-49)* 67, MAC SPEEDIE, Cleveland Browns, 1947
American Football League (1960-69)* 101, CHARLIE HENNIGAN, Houston Oilers, 1964
World Football League (1974-75) 89, TIM DELANEY, (Honolulu) The Hawaiians, 1974
USFL (1983-85) 115, RICHARD JOHNSON, Houston Gamblers, 1984
XFL (2001) 67, JERMAINE COPELAND, Los Angeles Xtreme, 2001
* merged with NFL
RUNNING AWAY WITH IT: DARNELL ARCENEAUX's 21 rushing touchdowns rank him second in af2 history for ground scores in a season. With four games remaining, the QB needs just three more rushing touchdowns to eclipse SHERARD POTEETE's record of 23 set in 2001. Rochester QB MATT D'ORAZIO is hot on Arceneaux's heels with 19, and also is on pace to equal or break the record. Arceneaux and D'Orazio both tied the league record for rushing scores in a game (five) over the past two weeks . Arceneaux at Bakersfield June 22 and D'Orazio last week against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
THE NEW SACK KING: With one sack against Mohegan on Friday night, Cape Fear' s E.J. BURT officially became "The New Sack King", surpassing ERNEST CERTAIN (the 2001 Defensive Player of the Year), who had the previous mark of 20.0 sacks with Tallahassee last season. With four games left to play, Burt is on pace to finish the season with 27.3 sacks.
WIZARDS OF OSKIE: Two of this year's ADT Defensive Player of the Week honorees are waging a nip-and-tuck battle on top of the league's interception leader board. Tennessee Valley's KELLY SNELL, who set an af2 record with interceptions in six straight games to start the year, grabbed another pick last week, boosting his season total to 13. Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE, who had an af2-record four-interception night at Quad City June 1. Both players have their sights set on the single-season interception record of 14, set by Richmond's TYRONE LASTER last year. Snell is on pace for 17 while Dupree is on pace for 14 or 15 Augusta's LAVAR RAINEY, who has nine interceptions this season, equaled Snell's mark with pickoffs in six straight games in Weeks 9 through 14.
RICO SUAVE: Another defensive record that could fall this season is CORNELIUS COE's individual mark for tackles in a season. The former Quad City standout made an af2-record 117 tackles in 2000, then set the Arena Football League single-season record with the Indiana Firebirds last year. Who knows if the AFL is in RICO CURTIS' future, but Coe's af2 record could be. The San Diego WR/LB has 104.5 tackles on the year, ranking first in af2 and putting him on pace for 129 stops.
FLYING HIGH: Offense wasn't the Wichita Stealth's strong suit at the start of the season, but guess who's leading the league in passing offense now? Wichita averages 253.5 yards per game through the air, throwing for 3,296 yards. AFL veteran QB RON LOPEZ has keyed the revival; Wichita is 4-2 and has averaged 49 points per game since his midseason signing. Wichita also ranks fifth in total offense with 267.4 yards per game. But the offense isn' t the only reason why the Stealth is one win or one Louisville loss away from a playoff spot. Wichita ranks third in pass defense with 176.7 yards per game given up and fifth in total defense with 208.4 yards allowed. BRYAN HENDERSON keys the defensive effort with 13.0 sacks, good for second in the league.
STREAKY SITUATION: The Florida Firecats currently sit at 6-6 and in position for a playoff spot out of the American Conference Southern Division, but they've taken a peculiar road to get there. The 'Cats started the season as one of af2's hottest clubs, winning three straight out of the gate. But then Florida faded, losing the next four and falling into the division cellar. Rather than call it quits, the Firecats regrouped and strung together three consecutive wins to get back into the playoff hunt. Even though the 'Cats fell to Southern leader Tallahassee two weeks ago and dropped one to Memphis this past weekend, the division race probably won't be decided until the final week of the season, so Florida stands to be part of the chase.
GIVE AND TAKE: The four National Conference division leaders also lead the league in total turnover margin, led by Bakersfield, Peoria and Tennessee Valley with +13 margins. Tulsa is +11. The four teams are a combined 36-11. The four worst teams in turnover margin have a combined 11-39 record. Peoria is af2's most opportunistic team on defense, forcing a league-high 37 turnovers.
GLUSKI JUST WINS: MIKE GLUSKI did it again. Gluski, who was 11-3 as a starter in Macon (3-0 this season), threw five touchdowns in the Wildcats' 63-32 win over Greensboro on Friday, securing a playoff spot in the process. The league's answer to the NFL's Mr. Perfecto, TRENT DILFER, Gluski now is a perfect 11-0 as a starter this season and has helped Cape Fear win eight straight games. Gluski goes for win No. 12 against Albany this weekend.
DOUBLE THREATS: The top four leading rushers in af2 are quarterbacks, and two of them, MATT D'ORAZIO and SHERARD POTEETE also are among the top 10 in the league for passing yards. Hawaii's DARNELL ARCENEAUX has 315 rushing yards to lead the league, followed by D'Orazio with 314. Poteete (279) and MONTRESSA KIRBY (238) round out the top four. The only fullback to break the top five is Arkansas' DARNELL SMALL with 222 yards. In contrast, there are no quarterbacks ranked in the top 10 for rushing in the Arena Football League.
PORTER'S RUN PUTS THUNDER BACK IN FIRST: Tallahassee's MESIAH PORTER was named the Week 13 Built Ford Tough Man by af2 for his efforts in the Thunder 's come-from-behind, first-place-claiming win over Florida. In the game, Porter rushed for three touchdowns. The rushing tally marked the eighth straight week that Porter ran for a score. Against Macon last week, Porter registered another rushing score, increasing his streak to nine games.
A LITTLE ANTHONY GOES A LONG WAY: The Louisville Fire has struggled this season, but it would be hard to blame guys named Anthony. Two weeks ago, ANTHONY STALLINGS (two rushing touchdowns, 65 return yards) and ANTHONY PAYTON (10 catches, 180 yards, four touchdowns) played big parts in a 51-50 win at Memphis, the Fire's first road victory of the year. Payton won game MVP honors. Last week against Wichita, ANTHONY SHELMAN returned from injury to rush for three touchdowns and total 97 return yards, including a 54-yard runback. Stallings now has seven rushing touchdowns in just five games and averages 20.2 yards per kick return. Payton is Louisville's top receiver with 63 catches, 969 yards and 17 TDs. Shelman has five rushing touchdowns and leads the Fire with 85 rushing yards.
KILLER B's GETTING IT DONE: Having won five of their last six games and owning a 6-1 mark at home (second-best in the American Conference), the 6-6 Norfolk Nighthawks are building momentum for a stellar 2003. Part of the resurgence of the Nighthawks can be attributed to the play of the Killer B's trio of WR/LB TRAVIS BURNS, OS GARY BRIGGS and WR/DB DOMINIC BANKS. Here's how they fared last week against Charleston: Burns - four yards rushing, four receptions for 38 yards, 2.0 tackles; Briggs - nine receptions for 141 yards (two TDs), one returns for 31 yards; Banks - five receptions for 79 yards (one TDs), 2.0 tackles.
CAPTAINS CRUNCH: Peoria FB/DL ERIC JOHNSON and OL/DL KEN BOUIE not only share the responsibilities of being team captains, they both rank among the league's sack leaders with 12.0 and 11.5, respectively (third, tied for fourth). Peoria is tied for third overall with 31, trailing Tallahassee (35) and Cape Fear (34).
SACK KINGS: Led by TYRONN JOHNSON's 10.5 sacks, Tallahassee leads the league with 35 sacks this season, and could challenge Carolina's mark of 52 set during 2001. Tallahassee is averaging 2.9 sacks per game. COMONE FISCHER and SYDNEY MADISON have added nine and eight sacks, respectively, for the Thunder.
ALL ON THE LINE: Five teams rank in the af2 top 10 in both sacks by and sacks against, paced by Tallahassee, which has a league-leading 35 sacks, and Arkansas, which has given up just eight (first in af2). The other lines that get the job done on both sides of the ball belong to Bossier City, Cape Fear and Richmond. As you might suspect, all five teams are in playoff contention, with Cape Fear and Richmond already clinching postseason berths.
Team ... Sacks By Rank ... Total ... Sacks Against Rank ... Total
Tallahassee ... 1 ... 35 ... T-4 ... 11
Cape Fear ... 2 ... 34 ... 6 ... 12
Richmond ... T-3 ... 31 ... T-2 ... 10
Arkansas ... 5 ... 30 ... 1 ... 8
Bossier City ... T-10 ... 23 ... 9 ... 14
POSTSEASON AWARD CANDIDATES: Below is a glance at the current leading candidates (in alphabetical order) for three of the league's postseason awards. In addition to the award categories to follow, af2 will honor a Built Ford Tough Man of the Year, Lineman of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Executive of the Year and Expansion Team of the Year.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
MITCH ALLNER (Tulsa) - 1st in af2 in scoring (208), 3rd in kickoff return avg (26.9), 5th in all-purpose yds (174.9), 33 TD, 10 XPT
BOB BEES (Richmond) - 3rd in passer rating (114.2), 7th in passing ypg (228.5), 52 TD, 8 INT
BRANDON BURNSIDE (Mohegan) - 3rd in scoring (182), 2nd in all-purpose yds (210.4), 2nd in receiving yds (1354), 6th in receptions (86), 27 TD
KANE CLAUNCH (San Diego) - 6th in af2 in passer rating (109.7), 10th in passing ypg (217.7), 55 TD, 9 INT
MATT D'ORAZIO (Rochester) - T-1st in rush ypg (24.2), 2nd in total offense yds (3258), 46 TD passing, 19 TD rushing
GLEN GAUNTT (Augusta) - T-4th in passer rating (109.7), 5th in passing ypg (249.1), 66 TD, 8 INT
MIKE GLUSKI (Cape Fear) - 11-0 as starter this season, 51 TD, 13 INT, 2,421 yards passing
IRA GOOCH (Quad City) - 4th in scoring (176), 24 receiving TD, 1st all-purpose ypg (221.6), 3 return TD
RICKY HEBERT (Arkansas) - 8th in passer rating (106.9) 3rd in passing ypg (251.3), 5th in total offense ypg (252.8), 58 TD, 16 INT
COREY HILL (Albany) - 9th in scoring (156), 2nd in receptions (117), 2nd in receiving yds (1348), 26 TD, 4th in all-purpose yards (180.7)
TIM LESTER (Memphis) - 2nd in passing ypg (256.5), 1st in total offense yds (3347), 59 TD, 19 INT
SHERARD POTEETE (Bossier City) - 3rd in rushing ypg (21.5), 3rd in total offense ypg (246.9) 17 rush TD, 47 pass TD
JOHN RAYBORN (Macon) - 2nd in passer rating (114.8), 6th in passing ypg (248.4), 50 TD, 10 INT
MARTINO THEUS (Rochester) - 1st in receptions (135), 1st in receiving yds (1490), 17 TD
LAMONT WEBB (Fresno) - 2nd in scoring (190), 22 receiving TD, 4 return TD
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
KENNY BAILEY (Tennessee Valley) - T-5th with 6 INT for 69 yds, 9th in tackles (61.0)
MICHAEL BROWN (Charleston) - 4th in INT with 9 for 13 yards, 39.5 tackles
E.J. BURT (Cape Fear) - 1st in FF (8), 1st in tackles for loss (15.5), 1st in sacks with af2 single season record 20.5
RICO CURTIS (San Diego) - T-2nd in FR (3), 1st in tackles (104.5), 2 INT, 4 FF
LINCOLN DUPREE (Peoria) - 2nd in INT (11) for 186 yards and 2 TDs, single-game record 4 INT in a game, 60.5 tackles
BRYAN HENDERSON (Wichita) - 2nd in sacks (13.0), T-2nd in FF (4)
LARRY HOLLINQUEST (Tulsa) - T-6th in INT (7) for 98 yards 1 TD, 4th in passes defended (32), 8th in tackles (67.5)
J'SHARLON JONES (Bakersfield) - T-6th in INT (6), T-2nd in FR (3), 5th in passes defended (31), 60.0 tackles
WILL PETTIS (Pensacola) - 2nd in passes defended (36), 4th in INT (8), 32.5 tackles, 1 FR
LaVAR RAINEY (Augusta) - 3rd in INT (9) for 96 yards, 57.0 tackles, T-3rd in FF (3), 1st in FR (4), 28 PD
KELLY SNELL (Tennessee Valley) - 1st in INT (13), 3rd passes defended (33), 49.5 tackles
DESMOND WASHINGTON (Norfolk) - 1st passes defended (39), 44.5 tackles, 2 FR, 2 FF, 1 INT
IRONMAN OF THE YEAR
CHRIS ANTHONY (Quad City) -10th scoring (152 pts), 7th in receiving yds (1216), 6th in receptions (90), 25 TD, 26.5 tackles, 1 INT
ANTHONY COMER (New Haven) - 15 rush, 42 yards, 4 TD . 51 receptions, 664 yards, 14 TD . 46 tackles, 4.5 TFL, 5 INT for 55 yards, 1 FF, 1 FR
RICO CURTIS (San Diego) - T-2nd in fumble recoveries (3), 1st in tackles (104.5), 2 INT, 4 FF, 10 rushes, 52 yards, 2 TD, 26 catches, 325 yards, 5 TD
CHRIS JOHNSON (Augusta) - 44 receptions, 701 yards and 22 TD, 35.5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
KEVIN HARVEY (Richmond) - 144 rushing yds, 8 TD, 74 receptions, 817 yds, 18 TD, 44.0 tackles, 3 for loss, 2 INT, 1 FR
ERIC JOHNSON (Peoria) - T-2nd in sacks (12.0), 4th in tackles for loss (6.5), 15 rush, 59 yards, 7 TD
LENNIE JOHNSON (Arkansas) - 47 receptions, 790 yards, 20 TD, 32.5 tackles, 5 INT for 71 yards, 1 FF, 8 MFG returns 1 TD, 31 KO returns, 683 yds, 3 TD
JERMAINE SHEFFIELD (Peoria) - 21.5 tackles, 4 INT for 76 yds, 1 TD, 1.5 sacks, 3 FR, 2 FF, 54 rec., 747 yds, 17 TD
GREG TAYLOR (Arkansas) - 10 receptions, 167 yds, 5 TD, 17.5 tackles, 8 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR
FRANK TRENTADUE (Quad City) - 11.5 sacks, 5 blocked kicks, 2 FF, 2 FR, 58 yds rushing, 3 TD, 3 safeties
MATT VITTENGL (Albany) - 25 rushes, 48 yds, 7 TD, 5 receptions, 14 yds, 1 TD, 40.0 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR, 1 blocked kick, 1 safety
TOUGH SLATE: Through Week 14, Columbus and Mobile own the league's toughest schedules (according to opponents' combined records). Both teams' foes are 87-60 (.592) so far this season. Arkansas (7-5) owns the hardest schedule faced by a team with a winning record (87-63, .580 - third in af2). Strength of schedule comes into play as the third playoff tiebreaker following head-to-head results and records against common opponents. A look at the five toughest slates to date:
Team ... Team Record ... Opp. Record ... Pct.
Columbus ... 3-9 ... 87-60 ... .592
Mobile ... 0-12 ... 87-60 ... .592
Arkansas ... 7-5 ... 87-63 ... .580
Roanoke ... 6-7 ... 90-68 ... .570
Jacksonville ... 5-7 ... 83-63 ... .568
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. Week 15 features one interconference game as Macon (11-2) travels to Pensacola, where the 6-6 Barracudas are 5-1 this season. Last week, the National Conference swept a pair of games, with Pensacola beating Jacksonville and Memphis winning at Florida. Both teams got revenge for losses to their American Conference counterparts earlier this year. Overall this season, the American Conference leads the National 11-7.
THE GREAT AMERICAN CHASE: The state of Florida is home to "The Great American Race" in NASCAR's Daytona 500, and now Floridians are witnessing "The Great American Chase" as af2's American Conference Southern Division clubs (three from Florida) jockey for playoff position. Only two games separate first and last in the division, as Tallahassee (7-5), Florida (6-6), Jacksonville (5-7) and Charleston (5-7) battle for postseason berths. This is the only division in the league in which every team still is capable of making the playoffs. Tallahassee used an earlier five-game winning streak to hop into the lead. Florida (winners of three of its last five) has kept the pressure on the Thunder, although Tallahassee earned a season sweep of the Firecats with a 32-28 win two weeks ago. If either of those teams slip, Jacksonville and Charleston are right in the thick of things, as well. Charleston has the toughest hill to climb - the Swamp Foxes' remaining opponents are 33-15. Jacksonville could be poised to make a run, facing a 14-34 schedule. Tallahassee and Florida have similar tasks as they try to maintain their playoff positions - the Thunder's July foes are 24-24 while Florida's are 26-22.
DOWN TO THE WIRE: The American South features the most compelling division race top to bottom, but some interesting battles for a single playoff spot loom in two other divisions. In the Central Division, Bossier City (8-5) and Arkansas (7-5) are separated by a half-game with a final-week showdown scheduled in Bossier City. The Battle Wings won the first meeting 56-54. Arkansas' remaining schedule is more favorable - the Twisters' opponents are a combined 22-29 while the Wings' opponents are 22-15. In the Northeast Division, Rochester (6-7) and New Haven (4-8) also play in a regular-season finale that could determine who faces Albany in the first round. The Brigade and Ninjas split their first two meetings, meaning the winner of their final clash in Connecticut will win a tiebreaker if the teams end up with the same record. Rochester has the easier road by the numbers down the stretch. Opponents are a combined 13-25 while New Haven's foes are 26-24. To make things more interesting, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (4-9) and Mohegan (3-10) are not out of contention in the division race, either.
THIRST FOR FIRST: With divisional battles heating up in both conferences, the final weeks of the regular season will feature several dogfights for playoff spots as well as homefield advantage in the first round. As it stands today, there are four divisions in which the top two teams are separated by one game or less: Augusta (11-1) and Macon (11-2) in the American Conference East; Cape Fear (10-2) and Richmond (10-2) in the American Atlantic; Tallahassee (7-5) and Florida (6-6) in the American South; Bakersfield (7-5) and San Diego (7-6) in the National West. There never has been a situation where the top two teams in a division or conference finished the season with the same record in af2. The closest finish was in 2001, with Tallahassee (11-5) edging Macon (10-6) in the Southeast Division.
DIVISIONAL DIVIDENDS: This year's playoffs feature the top two teams from each division based on overall record, but the stats show it also pays to do well against your division rivals. At this point, 14 of the 16 teams currently in playoff position also own the best records within their respective divisions. The lone exceptions are in the American South, where Jacksonville (5-7 overall) has a 3-1 division record compared to second-place Florida's 2-4 division mark (the Firecats are 6-6 overall), and in the National Central, where the top three teams (Tulsa, Bossier City and Arkansas) all have 3-2 division records. One of those teams will be left out of the postseason.
POST POSITION: Here's a look at this year's first-round playoff matchups were the season to end today: American Conference - Cape Fear at Richmond, Rochester at Albany, Macon at Augusta, Florida at Tallahassee; National Conference - Birmingham at Tennessee Valley, Bossier City at Tulsa, San Diego at Bakersfield, Wichita at Peoria. The first- and second-place teams from each of the eight divisions (determined by overall record) 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 Cape Fear-Richmond and Macon-Augusta first-rounders are set, although the home teams in both matchups still are up in the air. In the American Conference second round, Atlantic plays Northeast and Eastern plays Southern. In the National Conference second round, Midwest plays Western and Central plays Southern. (The teams with the better records in each pairing host the second-round games). The second-round winners meet in the two conference championship games. The final two teams will play for the af2 title in ArenaCup 2002 Presented by Built Ford Tough.
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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 15
ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.
AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth.
BAKERSFIELD: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Quad City OR loss by Fresno at Arkansas.
BIRMINGHAM: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mobile AND loss by Pensacola vs. Macon.
CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth.
MACON: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round).
PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch Midwest Division championship with win vs. Bossier City AND loss by Quad City vs. Bakersfield.
RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth.
SAN DIEGO: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Wichita OR loss by Fresno at Arkansas.
TENNESSEE VALLEY: Can clinch playoff berth with win or tie at Louisville OR loss or tie by Pensacola vs. Macon.
TULSA: Can clinch playoff berth with win or tie at Memphis OR loss or tie by Bossier City at Peoria OR loss or tie by Arkansas vs. Fresno. Can clinch Central Division championship with win at Memphis OR loss by Bossier City at Peoria AND loss by Arkansas vs. Fresno.
WICHITA: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. San Diego OR loss by Louisville vs. Tennessee Valley.
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WEEK 15 BY THE NUMBERS:
1,018,600 ... Total attendance this season (second straight season over one million)
284 ... All-time individual scoring record set by SHON KING in 2000
208 ... Points by Tulsa's MITCH ALLNER with four games to go
20.5 ... New af2 record for most sacks in a season (set by Cape Fear's E.J. BURT against Mohegan)
8 ... Cape Fear's current win streak (longest active streak)
7 ... Teams averaging 50 or more points per game
4 ... Teams that average 50 or more points and have clinched playoff spots
3 ... QBs that have tossed nine TD passes in a game this season
arenafootball2 Stories from July 3, 2002
- The Deuce Scoop - af2
- Welcome Back Baker a.k.a. League Ironman - Rochester Brigade
- Carolina Rhinos Looking For Fan MVP Input - Carolina Rhinos
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