The Deuce Scoop

July 10, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

ARENACUP PLAYOFFS RUNNETH OVER: The 2002 ArenaCup playoff field is nearly set as Albany, Augusta, Bakersfield, Birmingham, Cape Fear, Macon, Peoria, Richmond, San Diego, Tennessee Valley, Tulsa, and Wichita all have locked up playoff spots. Albany, Cape Fear, Bakersfield and San Diego represent the expansion class, while Richmond, Tennessee Valley and Tulsa are the only third-year squads to clinch to date. Three of the remaining four spots will come from the American Conference, as one will enter from the Northeast Division and two from the Southern. Arkansas and Bossier City still are battling for the National Conference's last playoff position in the Central Division.

THREE-PEAT: Tennessee Valley and Tulsa both punched postseason tickets two weeks ago, meaning the Talons and Vipers are 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.

DOUBLE TAKE: Birmingham, Macon and Richmond are making back-to-back appearances in the playoffs. While the Steeldogs and Knights were unable to advance past the first round last season, Richmond's run lasted all the way to the ArenaCup Championship Game, where it lost to Quad City.

AND THE AWARDS GO TO: This week's af2 award winners are: Carolina's RAMONE ROBINSON (Offensive Player of the Week), Cape Fear's E.J. BURT and Quad City 's BRENT BROWNER (ADT Co-Defensive Players of the Week), Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE (Ironman of the Week) and Wichita's CHRIS ENNEKING (Built Ford Tough Man of the Week).

LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY: CARL BOND (Tallahassee '00) led af2 alums in Week 12 Arena Football League action with an Ironman-worthy performance. The former Tallahassee standout caught five passes for 58 yards, returned a kickoff for 31 yards to set up a Carolina score, picked off two passes and recorded a tackle in the Cobras' 58-44 victory over Toronto. BILLY DICKEN (Quad City ' 00) led Chicago to another victory, throwing for 299 yards and six touchdowns. CORNELIUS BONNER (Carolina '00) caught three passes from Dicken and amassed 65 yards in the victory. JOJO POLK (Tulsa '00) led Grand Rapids' defensive effort with 5.5 tackles and a forced fumble. Tampa Bay's SHANE STAFFORD (Tallahassee '00) followed up Week 11's MVP performance with another strong outing, completing 21-of-39 passes for 221 yards and five touchdowns in a 55-48 loss to Orlando. JAY McDONAGH (Quad City '01) led the Gladiators to a 76-50 victory over New York, passing for 220 yards and six touchdowns and rushing for another score. DENNISON ROBINSON (Quad City '01) latched onto three passes for 26 yards and a score on offense and returned an interception 28 yards to help New Jersey's cause. MATT KINSINGER (Augusta '00) rushed for eight yards and recorded a tackle to help San Jose remain undefeated with a 52-41 win over Indiana.

TURNAROUND: Second-year clubs Bossier City and Peoria (both 9-5) have clinched their first winning seasons in af2; Arkansas (8-5), a charter member in its third year, needs to win just one of its last three games to do the same. Other teams still mathematically alive to finish over .500 for the first time are: Florida (7-6), Roanoke (7-7), Charleston (6-7) and Pensacola (6-7).

SUCCESSFUL ‘TEN'-DENCIES: Through Week 15, seven of the 34 teams have reached or passed the 10-win plateau, with nine more squads still having a shot at double-digit victories. If all nine get 10 wins or more, it would mean 47 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 eight first-year clubs in action, the 2002 expansion class went 2-6 in Week 14. Two of those games pitted freshman vs. freshman as Cape Fear downed Albany 33-25 and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton beat New Haven 45-28. The other expansion teams in action went 0-4 against veteran teams as Arkansas, Birmingham, Quad City, and Wichita all proved that experience counts. The Stealth clinched a playoff spot with a 42-37 win over San Diego, Arkansas glided by Fresno 68-32, the Steamwheelers upended Bakersfield 27-19, and Mobile fell to Birmingham 53-24.

‘WIN'-DOW OF OPPORTUNITY: With an active nine-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' nine-game streak is third all-time). 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?: Cape Fear increased its win streak to nine games after a 33-25 win over fellow expansion team Albany on Sunday. The Conquest had matched Cape Fear stride for stride with seven consecutive wins until two weeks ago when Albany's streak ended with a 66-59 loss to Richmond. The previous af2 record for consecutive wins by an expansion team was five (Macon, 2001). This week, the Wildcats put their league-best nine game streak on the line against Carolina. Here's a historical look at other win streaks by af2 expansion teams:

Team ... Overall record ... Win streak ... Period
Cape Fear ... 11-2 ... 9 ... 5/10/02 – Present
Albany ... 10-3 ... 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

LOOK AWAY: While Quad City (8-0 in 2000, 7-1 in 2001) and Tennessee Valley (8-0 in 2001) are the only af2 teams ever to lose no more than one game away from home in a single-season, five teams are on track to do it this year: Albany (6-1 on the road), Augusta (6-1), Cape Fear (6-1), Macon (6-1), and Tennessee Valley (6-1).

FRIENDLY CONFINES: Ten teams could finish this season with no losses or just one loss at home, paced by Tulsa (7-0 at home) and Bossier City (6-0). The seven one-loss home teams are Norfolk (7-1), Macon (6-1), Richmond (6-1), Augusta (5-1), Cape Fear (5-1), Charleston (5-1) and Tennessee Valley (5-1). 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 15, home teams combined for an 8-8 overall record. On Friday, the home teams went 0-3, with Augusta, Jacksonville and Mobile losing. On Saturday the homefield actually proved to be an advantage with home sides going 8-5. Home teams are 132-94 overall for a .584 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. (The Talons did lose to visiting Carolina in last year's playoffs – 69-35 on 7/29/01). 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. Tulsa was the first to get 20 regular-season home wins, but Norfolk and Quad City joined the Talons with victories last week.

Regular Season At Home ... Record ... Pct. ... Playoffs
Quad City ... 20-2 ... .909 ... 6-0
Tulsa ... 20-3 ... .870 ... 0-1
Norfolk ... 20-4 ... .833 ... 1-0
Cape Fear ... 5-1 ... .833 ... N/A
Augusta ... 18-4 ... .818 ... 1-1
Macon ... 12-3 ... .800 ... N/A
Tennessee Valley ... 19-5 ... .791 ... 2-1
Birmingham ... 17-6 ... .739 ... N/A
Richmond ... 17-6 ... .739 ... 1-0
Wichita ... 11-4 ... .733 ... N/A

CLOSE CALLS: Seven of last week's games were decided by 10 points or less, including Macon's 54-51 victory over Pensacola that was not decided until five seconds were left to play. Week 13 was the most "heart-stopping" week of the season as 10 games were decided by 10 points or less. Overall this season, 95 of the 226 total games (42 percent) fit that bill.

HIGH SCORIN': This week's 16 games averaged 76.1 points, with four games hitting the 100-point mark for combined points and two more eclipsing 90. The season scoring average currently stands at 82.4 combined points per game. Tallahassee's 70 points were the high for the week. The Macon-Pensacola game featured the highest combined score (105 points – Macon 54, Pensacola 51). 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, Richmond, Macon, Augusta, Arkansas and Peoria have exhibited powerful offenses this season. The quintet makes up the league's top six in scoring offense, averaging more than 50 points per game. Tulsa and Macon are the pacesetters in frequency, scoring 50 or more in a game nine times this year. Macon (13 games) leads the league with 781 points while Tulsa averages the most points per contest with 56.2.

RAMONE ROCKS: RAMONE ROBINSON earned Offensive Player of the Week honors for his starring role in Carolina's 42-36 come-from-behind win over Columbus on Saturday. While his overall statistics didn't compare with other Offensive Player of the Week candidates, he definitely had the biggest impact. With Carolina trailing Columbus 28-8 at halftime, Robinson took over for starting QB CALEB SLOVER and led the Rhinos on a 34-point scoring run in a 42-36 victory that snapped a seven-game losing streak. Robinson rushed for 38 yards and three touchdowns, including what turned out to be the game-winning score. He also completed 13-of-18 passes for 162 yards and two TDs with no interceptions. Projected over an entire game, his numbers equate to 26-of-36 passing for 324 yards and four touchdowns with 76 yards rushing and six rushing TDs.

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 124-31 (80 percent) when they score 50 or more points in a game, including a 7-1 mark in Week 15. When teams score less than 50, they are 102-195 (34 percent) ... 9-15 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 ... 1-21 ... .045 ... 0-19 ... 2-64 ... .030
20-29 ... 6-45 ... .118 ... 20-29 ... 12-130 ... .085
30-39 ... 27-73 ... .270 ... 30-39 ... 69-162 ... .299
40-49 ... 67-56 ... .545 ... 40-49 ... 159-145 ... .523
50-59 ... 58-24 ... .707 ... 50-59 ... 147-62 ... .703
60-69 ... 46-7 ... .868 ... 60-69 ... 122-20 ... .859
70-79 ... 13-0 ... 1.000 ... 70-79 ... 50-1 ... .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.

MANY HAPPY RETURNS, PART I: The league record book could have a distinctly different look in the "Returns" section heading into next season. Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE added two kickoff returns for touchdowns in last weekend's 60-40 loss to Bossier City and increased his total to a league high seven this season. Dupree is on pace to break the single-season league record for kickoff return touchdowns (ADLAI TRONE – eight for Louisville in 2000). Both Tulsa's MITCH ALLNER and Tallahassee's LAWRENCE PULLEN are are on pace to equal Trone's mark as both have returned six kicks for scores. Allner, Dupree 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: LINCOLN DUPREE's two kickoff return touchdowns against Bossier City increased the Pirates' season total to 10, tying Birmingham's single-season team record, set last year. Tulsa has nine kickoff return touchdowns this season, and with three games remaining could also top the Steeldogs mark. Birmingham is one missed field goal return TD from equaling Louisville's single-season record of four, also established last year. Peoria also tied Louisville's record for combined return touchdowns with Dupree's double last week. Peoria has run back 11 returns for scores this season (10 KO, one MFG) and Louisville had 11 return touchdowns (seven on kickoffs, four on missed field goals) last season. Tulsa (eight KO, one MFG) and Birmingham (six KO, three MFG) each has nine this season.

SCORE TO SETTLE?: Tulsa's MITCH ALLNER is the league's scoring leader with 214 points this season. The OS/KR needs 71 points to break the single-season record of 284 by Quad City's SHON KING from the 2000 campaign. Allner would need to average 23.6 points per game over the final three weeks of the season to set the record. He averages 16.5, 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 217.6 yards-per-game average puts him on pace for 3,481, which would shatter BRIAN McDONALD's single-season all-purpose record of 3,271 (for Louisville, 2001). Gooch currently has 2,829 yards. Mohegan OS/KR BRANDON BURNSIDE is the league's yardage leader, but is well off Gooch 's pace. However, 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.

THAT'S IM"PREST"IVE: With a sack against Richmond on Saturday, PRESTON VINSON set a new Charleston record with 7.5 for the season. Vinson has accounted for more than 44 percent of the Swamp Foxes sacks this season.

THE MARTINO THEUS WATCH: Rochester OS MARTINO THEUS currently is ranked first in the league with a team-record 141 receptions, 1,538 receiving yards and an average of 109.9 yards per game. He also has 18 touchdowns to his credit and averages 10.9 yards per catch. Last week, he caught six passes for 48 yards. Averaging 10.07 receptions per game, Theus is on a pace to catch nearly 166 balls this year. That mark would break the af2 record for receptions in a season ... 148 by Wichita's PASCAL VOLZ in 2001. If he can haul in 20 receptions in his final two games, he will break the all-time professional football record for most receptions in a single season (160), 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 three games remaining, the QB needs just three more rushing touchdowns to eclipse SHERARD POTEETE's record of 23 set in 2001. Poteete also has 21 rushing scores on the season after rumbling in for four touchdowns against Peoria. Poteete has two games remaining to break his own record. Rochester QB MATT D 'ORAZIO has 19, and is just behind the pace to 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 4.5 sacks against Albany on Sunday, Cape Fear's E.J. BURT equaled the af2 mark for sacks in a single game and increased his af2-record season total to 25. With three games left to play, Burt is on pace to finish the season with 30 sacks. Arkansas' REGGIE COOLEY and Norfolk 's SPENCER CONLEY originally established the single-game record of 4.5 sacks on consecutive weekends last year (Cooley – 5/5/01 at Memphis; Conley – 5/12/01 vs. Greensboro).

WIZARDS OF OSKIE: 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 at Louisville to equal the league single-season interception record of 14, set by Richmond's TYRONE LASTER last year. The mark also is in reach for Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE, who had an af2-record four-interception night at Quad City June 1 and has 12 for the season. Quad City's BRENT BROWNER tied Dupree's single-game record this week with four pickoffs against Bakersfield. Augusta's LAVAR RAINEY, who has nine interceptions this season, matched Snell's consecutive games standard with pickoffs in six straight contests 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 103.0 tackles on the year, ranking first in af2 and putting him on pace for 117 or 118 stops.

TACKLE-ITIS: Tulsa DS ITIS ATKINSON now owns the af2 record for career tackles (263.5). Last week at Memphis, Atkinson made seven tackles (all of them unassisted) and broke up eight passes. Atkinson also is Tulsa's career leader in interceptions with 21. Atkinson began the 2002 season with the AFL 's Grand Rapids Rampage.

PASSING KING: Augusta's GLEN GAUNTT tossed two touchdown passes in last weekend's 54-29 loss to Florida. Through 13 games, Gauntt has thrown for 68 scores and is averaging 5.23 a game. The former Southern Florida standout could challenge the af2 record for most touchdown passes in a season as he is projected to toss 84. MATT SAUK set the standard, totaling 86 touchdowns with Tennessee Valley in 2001.

GOOD KNIGHTS AHEAD: Two weeks ago, the Macon Knights earned their 11th win of the season, topping last year's mark of 10 wins. This past week, the Knights scored eight touchdowns, bringing their season total to 114. The Knights now lead the league in touchdowns and have equaled their total from a year ago. Macon's next score will set a new team record and move them to seventh on the all-time list for most TDs in a single season. In addition, Macon trails only Quad City for the most TDs over the past two seasons. Below is a breakdown:

Team ... 2001 TDs ... 2002 TDs ... Games left ... Two-year total
Quad City ... 143 ... 91 ... 3 ... 234
Macon ... 114 ... 114 ... 2 ... 228
Birmingham ... 124 ... 95 ... 3 ... 219
Tulsa ... 112 ... 105 ... 3 ... 217
Richmond ... 112 ... 100 ... 3 ... 212
Bossier City ... 115 ... 95 ... 2 ... 210
Tennessee Valley ... 126 ... 83 ... 3 ... 209

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, which clinched the first postseason berth in team history with a win against San Diego last week, averages 256.0 yards per game through the air, throwing for 3,584 yards. AFL veteran QB RON LOPEZ has keyed the revival; the Stealth is 5-2 and has averaged 48 points per game since his midseason signing. Wichita ranks second behind Arkansas in total offense with 270.8 yards per game. Lopez ranks first with 295.3 passing yards per game and second with a pass rating of 113.9 (ironically, behind former AFL Oklahoma Wranglers' teammate and backup JOE PHEARS of Tulsa). But Lopez and the offense aren't the only reasons why the Stealth is one of the hottest teams in the league. Wichita ranks third in pass defense with 180.4 yards per game given up and fifth in total defense with 210.4 yards allowed. BRYAN HENDERSON keys the defensive effort with a team-record 14.0 sacks, good for second in the league. He is tied for third in the league with four forced fumbles

GIVE AND TAKE: The four National Conference division leaders also lead the league in total turnover margin, led by Bakersfield and Tulsa with +13 margins. Tennessee Valley is +12 and Peoria is +11. The four teams are a combined 38-13. The four worst teams in turnover margin have a combined 10-42 record. Peoria and 7-7 Roanoke are af2's most opportunistic teams on defense, forcing a league-high 40 turnovers. Tennessee Valley has been the league's most careful team with the football, giving up just 19 turnovers.

TAKE YOUR PICK: Just one look at the 27-19 score of Quad City's win over Bakersfield last week makes you think "defensive battle." For two defensive specialists, it was a case of "Can you top this?" The Steamwheelers' BRENT BROWNER had four interceptions. The Blitz's J'SHARLON JONES had three. In the final minute, Jones intercepted a MIKE CAWLEY pass off the end zone net to give Bakersfield a chance to rally. But Browner returned the favor three plays later, getting his fourth pick off JASON BROWN (tying an af2 single-game record) and sealing the Steamwheelers' win.

GLUSKI JUST WINS: MIKE GLUSKI did it again. Gluski, who was 11-3 as a starter in Macon (3-0 this season), passed for 162 yards and ran for a touchdown in the Wildcats' 33-25 win over Albany Sunday that gave Cape Fear its ninth straight victory and sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. The league's answer to the NFL's Mr. Perfecto, TRENT DILFER, Gluski now is a perfect 12-0 as a starter this season. Gluski goes for win No. 13 against Carolina this weekend.

DOUBLE THREATS: The top four rushers in af2 are quarterbacks, and top two leaders, MATT D'ORAZIO and SHERARD POTEETE also are among the top 10 in the league for passing yards. D'Orazio leads the way with 330 with Poteete close behind with 325. Hawaii's DARNELL ARCENEAUX (315) and MONTRESSA KIRBY (241) round out the top four. The only fullback to break the top five is New Haven 's KERRY TAYLOR with 228 yards. In contrast, there are no quarterbacks ranked in the top 10 for rushing in the Arena Football League.

PORTER'S RUNS KEEPING THUNDER 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. Last week, Porter extended his rushing TD streak to nine games as he rushed for 51 yards and two scores in Tallahassee's 70-31 win over Jacksonville.

DYNAMIC DUO: With its receiving combo of WR/LB CHRIS ANTHONY and OS IRA GOOCH, Quad City is the only af2 team to have a pair of 1,000-yard receivers. Anthony has 90 catches for 1,216 yards while Gooch has caught 73 passes for 1,089 yards. Anthony caught 12 passes for 195 yards and six TDs two weeks ago at Bossier City. That's the highest one-game TD reception total in the league this year. The duo are the third and fourth players in Steamwheelers' history to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season (SHON KING, 1,858 yards in 2000; CRAIG COLE, 1,570 yards in 2001).

FRONTRUNNERS: The Tennessee Valley Vipers are 11-2 and, as it currently stands, would host all the way through the National Conference championship game (that still is subject to change due to tiebreakers). A big reason why is their ability to get a lead and hold it. Tennessee Valley is 9-0 when leading at halftime and 10-0 taking a lead into the fourth quarter.

KILLER B's GETTING IT DONE: Having won six of their last seven games and owning a 6-1 mark at home (tied for first in the American Conference), the 7-6 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 duo of WR/LB TRAVIS BURNS and WR/DB DOMINIC BANKS. Here's how they fared last week against Greensboro: Burns – four receptions for 47 yards, one TD, three returns for 44 yards, one rush for one yard, 4.5 tackles; Banks – six receptions for 121 yards, two TD, 6.5 tackles (five solo), one forced fumble.

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 each (tied for third). Peoria is sixth overall with 31.

ALL ON THE LINE: Five teams rank in the af2 top 10 in both sacks by and sacks against, paced by Cape Fear, which has a league-leading 40 sacks, and Arkansas, which has given up just nine (first in af2). The other lines that get the job done on both sides of the ball belong to Bossier City, Richmond and Tallahassee. 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 ... 2 ... 36 ... T-5 ... 13
Cape Fear ... 1 ... 40 ... 4 ... 12
Richmond ... T-4 ... 33 ... T-2 ... 11
Arkansas ... 3 ... 35 ... 1 ... 9
Bossier City ... 9 ... 26 ... T-7 ... 14

A HEAVENLY REUNION: Pensacola Head Coach MIKE BUCK and Florida Head Coach JOHN FOURCADE both are former New Orleans Saints quarterbacks. They were teammates for the 1990 season in New Orleans and will be on opposite sidelines when the Barracudas visit the Firecats on Saturday. Buck holds the Saints' record for completion percentage in a game. He completed 10-of-11 passes (90.9 percent) against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1993.

HOWDY, PARTNER: Saturday's game between Bakersfield and Wichita is more than a possible playoff preview, it's a reunion between Stealth Director of Football Operations BOB CORTESE and Blitz Head Coach JAMES FULLER. Cortese and Fuller were assistant coaches together with the Arena Football League's Portland Forest Dragons, then Fuller served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Wranglers when Cortese was head coach of the Oklahoma City-based AFL team in 2000 and 2001.

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 (214), 3rd in KO return avg (26.8), 6th in all-purpose yds (167.5), 34 TD
BOB BEES (Richmond) – 6th in pass rating (108.8), 7th in passing ypg (225.9), 52 TD, 10 INT
BRANDON BURNSIDE (Mohegan) – 4th in scoring (182), 2nd in all-purpose yds (210.4), 3rd in receiving yds (1354), 6th in recepts (86), 27 TD
KANE CLAUNCH (San Diego) – 7th in af2 in pass rating (106.8), 55 TD, 10 INT
MATT D'ORAZIO (Rochester) – 1st in rush ypg (23.6), 3rd in total offense yds (3,414), 48 TD passing, 19 TD rushing
GLEN GAUNTT (Augusta) – 9th in pass rating (106.4), 6th in passing ypg (241.1), 68 TD, 12 INT
MIKE GLUSKI (Cape Fear) – 12-0 as starter this season, 51 TD, 13 INT, 2,583 yards passing
IRA GOOCH (Quad City) – 3rd in scoring (188), 26 receiving TD, 1st all-purpose ypg (217.6), 3 return TD
RICKY HEBERT (Arkansas) – 4th in pass rating (109.7) 3rd in passing ypg (250.0), 4th in total offense ypg (251.3), 66 TD, 16 INT
COREY HILL (Albany) – 9th in scoring (158), 2nd in recepts (124), 2nd in receiving yds (1408), 26 TD, 4th in all-purpose yds (178.1)
TIM LESTER (Memphis) – 5th in passing ypg (243.6), 2nd in total offense yds (3423), 59 TD, 20 INT
SHERARD POTEETE (Bossier City) – 2nd in rushing ypg (23.2), 1st in total offense ypg (248.5) 21 rush TD, 49 pass TD
JOHN RAYBORN (Macon) – 2nd in pass rating (114.3), 2nd in passing ypg (251.1), 56 TD, 11 INT
MARTINO THEUS (Rochester) – 1st in recepts (141), 1st in receiving yds (1538), 18 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-7th in INT (6 for 69 yds), 7th in tackles (73.0)
MICHAEL BROWN (Charleston) – 3rd in INT (10 for 35 yds), 50.5 tackles
E.J. BURT (Cape Fear) – 1st in FF (9), 1st in sacks (af2 single-season record 25), single-game record 4.5 sacks
RICO CURTIS (San Diego) – T-2nd in FR (3), 1st in tackles (103.0), 2 INT, 4 FF
LINCOLN DUPREE (Peoria) – 2nd in INT (12 for 186 yds), 2 TD, single-game record 4 INT, 64.5 tackles, 25 PD
BRYAN HENDERSON (Wichita) – 2nd in sacks (14.0), T-2nd in FF (4)
LARRY HOLLINQUEST (Tulsa) – T-6th in INT (7) for 98 yards 1 TD, 4th in PD (37), 8th in tackles (71.0)
J'SHARLON JONES (Bakersfield) – T-7th in INT (6), T-2nd in FR (3), 4th in PD (37), 62.0 tackles
WILL PETTIS (Pensacola) – 2nd in PD (40), 5th in INT (8), 1 FR
LaVAR RAINEY (Augusta) – 4th in INT (9 for 96 yds), 59.5 tackles, T-3rd in FF (3), 1st in FR (4), 30 PD
KELLY SNELL (Tennessee Valley) – 1st in INT (af2-record 14), 3rd in PD (37), 53.0 tackles
DESMOND WASHINGTON (Norfolk) – 1st in PD (41), 46.0 tackles, 2 FR, 2 FF, 1 INT

IRONMAN OF THE YEAR
CHRIS ANTHONY (Quad City) –11th scoring (152 pts), 7th in receiving yds (1291), 5th in recepts (100), 25 TD, 26.5 tackles, 1 INT
ANTHONY COMER (New Haven) – 17 rush, 44 yards, 5 TD, 58 recepts, 750 yards, 15 TD, 47.5 tackles, 5 INT for 55 yards, 1 FF, 1 FR
RICO CURTIS (San Diego) – T-2nd in FR (3), 1st in tackles (103.0), 2 INT, 4 FF, 13 rush, 58 yards, 2 TD, 29 recepts, 354 yards, 5 TD
LINCOLN DUPREE (Peoria) – 2nd in INT (12) for 186 yards and 2 TD, single-game record 4 INT in a game, 60.5 tackles, 25 PD, 16 recepts, 244 yards, 5 TD, 9 MFG return, 163 yards, 1 TD, 35 kick return, 921 yards, 7 TD
CHRIS JOHNSON (Augusta) – 49 recepts, 740 yards and 23 TD, 39.5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF
KEVIN HARVEY (Richmond) – 164 rush yds, 9 TD, 80 recepts, 896 yds, 18 TD, 50.5 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FR
LENNIE JOHNSON (Arkansas) – 51 recepts, 875 yards, 22 TD, 42.0 tackles, 5 INT for 71 yards, 1 FF, 8 MFG return, 1 TD, 33 KO return, 711 yds, 3 TD
JERMAINE SHEFFIELD (Peoria) – 23.5 tackles, 4 INT for 76 yds, 1 TD, 1.5 sacks, 3 FR, 2 FF, 55 rec., 764 yds, 18 TD
GREG TAYLOR (Arkansas) – 11 recepts, 172 yds, 5 TD, 19.0 tackles, 10 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR

TOUGH SLATE: Through Week 15, Mobile owns the league's toughest schedules (according to opponents' combined records). The Wizards' foes are 105-67 (.610) so far this season. Arkansas (8-5) owns the hardest schedule faced by a team with a winning record (99-76, .566 – fifth in af2); the Twisters boast the league's toughest schedule without factoring in their own wins and losses (subtracting Arkansas' 8-5 mark, opponents are 94-68, .580). Overall 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.
Mobile ... 0-13 ... 105-67 ... .610
Pensacola ... 6-7 ... 99-73 ... .576
Jacksonville ... 5-8 ... 98-73 ... .573
Columbus ... 3-10 ... 97-74 ... .567
Arkansas ... 8-5 ... 99-76 ... .566

FISH STORY: This season, the Pensacola Barracudas have played only one opponent that has been eliminated from playoff contention. Of the other opponents, three are in first place and three more are in second in their respective divisions.

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 two interconference games in American Conference cities as Pensacola (6-7) visits Florida (7-6) and Mobile (0-13) heads to Jacksonville (5-8). Last week, the American Conference won the only cross-conference battle when Macon got a TD with five seconds left to eke past Pensacola 54-51. Overall this year, the American leads the National 12-7. Including this week's games, seven interconference matchups remain in the regular season.

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 three games separate first and last in the division, as Tallahassee (8-5), Florida (7-6), Charleston (6-7) and Jacksonville (5-8) battle for postseason berths. Tallahassee used an earlier five-game winning streak to hop into the lead. Florida (winner of four of its last six) has kept the pressure on the Thunder, although Tallahassee earned a season sweep of the Firecats with a 32-28 win three weeks ago. Charleston's big win over Richmond last week kept it close, should Tallahassee or Florida slip. Jacksonville's chances have diminished of late, but a playoff spot still is possible at 8-8.

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 (9-5) and Arkansas (8-5) are separated by a half-game with a final-week showdown scheduled in Bossier. The Battle Wings won the first meeting 56-54. In the Northeast Division, Rochester (6-8) and New Haven (4-9) 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. To make things more interesting, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (5-9) and Mohegan (3-10) are not yet out of contention in the division race.

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: Macon (12-2) and Augusta (11-2) in the American Conference East; Cape Fear (11-2) and Richmond (10-3) in the American Atlantic; Tallahassee (8-5) and Florida (7-6) in the American South; Bakersfield (7-6) and San Diego (7-7) in the National West. Although Quad City won't be in the playoffs, the Steamwheelers (8-5) are making a late push to at least share the Midwest Division title with Peoria (9-5). 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, 15 of the 16 teams currently in playoff position also own the best records within their respective divisions. The lone exception is in the American South, where last-place Jacksonville (5-8 overall) has a 3-2 division record compared to second-place Florida's 2-4 division mark (the Firecats are 7-6 overall). In the Central Division and Northeast Division, second-place Bossier City and Rochester, respectively, have division records equal to those of their closest competitors (Arkansas and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, respectively), but own the head-to-head tiebreaker edge over their rivals.

POST POSITION: Here's a look at this year's first-round playoff matchups were the season to end today: American Conference – Richmond at Cape Fear, Rochester at Albany, Augusta at Macon, Florida at Tallahassee; National Conference – Birmingham at Tennessee Valley, Bossier City at Tulsa, San Diego at Bakersfield, Wichita at Peoria. Of that group, all but Bossier City, Florida, Rochester and Tallahassee have clinched playoff spots. Although the teams in "playoff position" have remained static over the past few weeks, we had a flip-flop at the top of the Atlantic and Eastern Divisions this week, with Cape Fear and Macon, respectively, taking over first place. 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). 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 16

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Charleston OR Tallahassee loss vs. Columbus.

BAKERSFIELD: Clinched playoff berth.

BIRMINGHAM: Clinched playoff berth.

CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth.

FLORIDA: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Pensacola AND loss by Charleston vs. Augusta AND loss by Jacksonville vs. Mobile.

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.

RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth.

SAN DIEGO: Clinched playoff berth.

TALLAHASSEE: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Columbus OR loss by Charleston vs. Augusta AND loss by Jacksonville vs. Mobile. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Columbus AND loss by Florida vs. Jacksonville.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch National Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Birmingham.

TULSA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Central Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

WICHITA: Clinched playoff berth.

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WEEK 16 BY THE NUMBERS:
453 ... Fewest points allowed in a season (Quad City, 2001)
394 ... Points allowed by Cape Fear with three games left
114 ... TDs scored by Macon's offense this season (eighth-best total all-time)
86.2 ... Completion percentage by Birmingham's MONTRESSA KIRBY last week (25-of-29)
40.0 ... Average yards per catch for Memphis' CARLOS McNEARY against Tulsa (two catches, 80 yards, two TDs)
6 ... Games in which Greensboro has returned a kick for a TD
4.5 ... Sacks by Cape Fear's E.J. BURT against Albany (ties league record)
4 ... Interceptions by Quad City's BRENT BROWNER against Bakersfield (ties league record)

arenafootball2 Stories from July 10, 2002

• The Deuce Scoop - af2
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers Announce End-Of-The-Season Charity Auction - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
• Enneking King for a Week - Wichita Stealth

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