The Deuce Scoop

Published on July 24, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

POST POSITION: Four first-round playoff games are set: Rochester at Albany, Birmingham at Tennessee Valley, San Diego at Bakersfield, Wichita at Peoria. Three other pairings are locked in, but homefield advantage still is up in the air as we enter the final week of the season. Here's how those matchups will look unless the teams currently in position to host lose their season finales while their respective division rivals win: Cape Fear at Richmond, Augusta at Macon, Florida at Tallahassee. The other first-round game will feature Tulsa hosting the winner of this week's Arkansas-Bossier City battle. The first- and second-place teams from each of the eight divisions (determined by overall record) 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 semifinals, Atlantic plays Northeast and Eastern plays Southern. In the National Conference semifinals, Midwest plays Western and Central plays Southern. (The teams with the better records in each pairing host the conference semifinal games). The four conference semifinal winners meet in the two conference championship games for the right to play for the af2 title in ArenaCup 2002 Presented by Built Ford Tough.

ARENACUP PLAYOFFS RUNNETH OVER: The 2002 ArenaCup playoff field is nearly set as 15 teams have locked up playoff spots. Albany, Cape Fear, Bakersfield and San Diego represent the expansion class, while Augusta, Birmingham, Richmond, Tallahassee, Tennessee Valley and Tulsa are the third-year squads to clinch to date. Arkansas would be the seventh third-year team to clinch if it wins at Bossier City on Friday. Bossier, if victorious, would join af2 sophomores Florida, Macon, Peoria, Rochester and Wichita in the playoff field.

-------------------------------------------------

af2 Tiebreaking Procedures If, at the end of the regular season, two or more clubs are tied with identical won-lost percentages, the following steps will be taken to determine rank.

Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost percentage in games among clubs).
2. If teams split head-to-head games, the next tiebreaker will be the point differential in those two games.
3. Best won-lost percentage in common games, if applicable
4. Strength of schedule (strength up).
5. Best net (total) touchdowns in all games
6. Coin toss.

Three or More Clubs
· If two clubs remain tied after a third club is eliminated during any step, tiebreaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.
· If one team wins multiple-team tiebreaker to advance to playoff round, remaining teams revert to step 1 of the two-club format.
· All teams must have played head-to-head for step 1 to be utilized in a multiple-team tie.
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost percentage in games among clubs).
2. Best won-lost percentage in common games, if applicable.
3. Strength of schedule (strength up).
4. Best net (total) touchdowns in all games.
5. Coin toss.

-------------------------------------------------

DOWN TO THE WIRE: One playoff spot out of 16 remains, and Arkansas (10-5) and Bossier City (9-6) will clash in a final-week showdown in Louisiana for the right to fill it. Despite the Twisters' one-game lead, it's winner-take-all since a Battle Wings' victory would give them the sweep of the season series between the teams. Bossier edged Arkansas 56-54 in their first meeting on June 8.

GOOD WIN, YOU'RE IN: Both Arkansas and Bossier City hope to accomplish what Florida and Rochester did last week. The Brigade and Firecats were the latest teams to claim berths with Week 17 victories. Rochester won 28-18 at Mohegan while Florida downed Columbus 55-44. A Brigade loss would have forced Rochester to win at New Haven this week, or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton would have qualified out of the Northeast Division. If Florida had stumbled, the Firecats could have been eliminated this week with another loss combined with a Jacksonville win at Tallahassee. The Tomcats would have advanced as the American South runnerup in that scenario.

THIRST FOR FIRST: Oh, what a week it promises to be. With just one regular-season game left to play, three divisions feature two teams deadlocked in first place: Macon and Augusta (both 12-3) in the American Conference East; Richmond and Cape Fear (both 12-3) in the American Atlantic; Tallahassee and Florida (both 9-6) in the American South. Macon, Richmond and Tallahassee hold tiebreaker advantages in each division, so they'll claim division crowns and homefield in the first round with Week 18 wins ... or losses by their rival co-leaders. 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.

SEVEN THE HARD WAY: If Tennessee Valley beats Macon this week to go 14-2, the Vipers would clinch homefield advantage throughout the ArenaCup playoffs. Tulsa, also 13-2 entering Week 18, can earn homefield throughout the postseason with a win at Bakersfield combined with a Tennessee Valley loss. If Tennessee Valley and Tulsa both lose, there potentially could be a hefty seven teams that finish atop the league with 13-3 records (Albany, Augusta, Cape Fear, Macon, Richmond, Tennessee Valley, Tulsa). In that case, homefield advantage would be a round-to-round thing, based on how the opponents fared against each other in head-to-head regular-season matchups or in other tiebreakers. A look at who has the edge on who among the potential 13-3's and what has yet to be decided:

Based on tiebreakers at 13-3
Albany ... tiebreaker advantage over none of the other 6
Augusta ... head-to-head over CPF, common opponents over ALB, RIC
Cape Fear ... head-to-head over ALB
Macon ... head-to-head over AUG, common opponents over CPF, schedule strength over ALB, RIC
Richmond ... head-to-head over ALB, CPF
Tennessee Valley ... common opponents over TUL, schedule strength over ALB
Tulsa ... common opponents over MAC, schedule strength over ALB, CPF

· The schedule strength advantages listed above are in situations where one team's best possible schedule strength pending Week 18 results is lower than the other team's worst possible schedule strength.
· Tennessee Valley vs. Macon will be determined by head-to-head point differential. Tennessee Valley currently is +3.
· Tennessee Valley vs. Augusta, Cape Fear and Richmond will be determined by schedule strength pending Week 18 results.
· Tulsa vs. Augusta and Richmond will be determined by schedule strength pending Week 18 results.

THREE-PEAT: Tennessee Valley and Tulsa are the only af2 teams to advance to the playoffs in all three years of the league's existence. Tennessee Valley advanced to ArenaCup 2000, where it lost to Quad City. The Vipers then fell to eventual ArenaCup finalist Richmond in an overtime semifinal game last year. Tulsa has been bounced in the first round both seasons, by Tennessee Valley in 2000 and by Carolina in 2001. The other two-time playoff qualifiers, Carolina and Quad City, will not be in the 2002 postseason.

DOUBLE TAKE: In addition to Tennessee Valley's and Tulsa's third postseason trips, Birmingham, Macon, Richmond and Tallahassee are making back-to-back appearances in the playoffs. While the Steeldogs, Knights and Thunder were unable to advance past the first round last season, Richmond's run lasted all the way to ArenaCup 2001, where it lost to Quad City.

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. Fifteen of this year's 16 playoff teams will either own or share one of the two best records within their respective divisions. The lone exception will be in the American South, where third-place Jacksonville (7-8 overall) will finish with a 4-2 or 3-3 division record compared to Florida's 2-4 division mark (the Firecats are 9-6 overall).

POINT GIVEN: The Northeast and Western Divisions are all-expansion divisions with the exception of second-year Rochester. Both divisions have an interesting tale to tell in comparisons of the champions and runners-up. In the Northeast, second-place Rochester has outscored Albany 637-627, but the first-place Conquest's defense has allowed 124 fewer points (540-664). Over in the West, division titleist Bakersfield has a slim 686-685 edge on runnerup San Diego in points scored. But the Riptide has given up 670 points compared to the Blitz's 568 allowed.

TURNAROUND: Arkansas (10-5), a charter league member in its third year, and second-year clubs Bossier City (9-6), Florida (9-6) and Peoria (10-5) have clinched their first winning seasons in af2. All but the loser of this week' s Arkansas-Bossier City game also will make their first playoff appearances.

SUCCESSFUL ‘TEN'-DENCIES: Through Week 17, 10 of the 34 teams have reached or passed the 10-win plateau, with four more squads (Bakersfield, Bossier City, Florida and Tallahassee) still having a shot at double-digit victories. If all four win this week, it would mean 42 percent of the league reached the 10-victory mark. In 2000, 26 percent of the league's teams (four of 15) had 10 wins or more. That number increased to 32 percent (nine of 28) last year.

SOMETHING TO BUILD ON: Of the 24 teams in af2 this season that were in the league last year, 14 of them have matched or bettered their win total from a year ago with one week left to play. Five of those teams already have earned playoff spots, one for the first time. (Playoff-bound Richmond and Tennessee Valley also can match last year's records with victories this week). Leading the way in the group of improved clubs is Arkansas, which has four more wins than last season. Below is a look at the teams who have equaled or surpassed their win totals of 2001:

Team ... 2001 wins ... 2002 wins ... Difference
Arkansas** ... 6 ... 10 (1 game left) ... +4
Augusta* ... 9 ... 12 (1 game left) ... +3
Peoria* ... 7 ... 10 (1 game left) ... +3
Rochester* ... 4 ... 7 (1 game left) ... +3
Columbus ... 0 ... 3 (1 game left) ... +3
Macon* ... 10 ... 12 (1 game left) ... +2
Bossier City** ... 7 ... 9 (1 game left) ... +2
Florida* ... 7 ... 9 (1 game left) ... +2
Pensacola ... 5 ... 7 (1 game left) ... +2
Memphis ... 3 ... 5 (1 game left) ... +2
Norfolk ... 7 ... 8 (1 game left) ... +1
Roanoke ... 7 ... 8 (season over) ... +1
Tulsa* ... 13 ... 13 (1 game left) ... E
Charleston ... 7 ... 7 (1 game left) ... E
* Clinched a spot in the postseason
** Still can clinch a spot in the postseason

LEAGUE OF OPPORTUNITY: In the final week of regular season Arena Football League action, several former af2 players helped their team advance to the playoffs. SHANE STAFFORD (Tallahassee '00) guided Tampa Bay to a 67-61 overtime victory against Georgia. Stafford led the Storm back from a 61-49 deficit on 21-of-28 passing for 233 yards and five touchdowns. Five tackles by JOJO POLK (Tulsa '00) and an interception by KENYATTA MORGAN (Rochester ' 01) highlighted Grand Rapids' defensive effort against Detroit. With an 8-6 record, Grand Rapids is the sixth seed for postseason play. Carolina also squeezed into the playoffs despite losing to San Jose 58-41. CARL BOND (Tallahassee '00) led the Cobras with four catches for 51 yards and three kickoff returns for 49 yards. LINDSEY FLESHMAN (Roanoke '01) earned game MVP honors in Chicago's 51-41 loss to the Indiana Firebirds. Fleshman caught six passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. BILLY DICKEN (Quad City '00) completed 21-of-35 passes for 267 yards and five scores for the Rush, which has a first-round bye as one of the league's top four teams. New Jersey, a squad heavy on af2 alums, also is a top-four team. Despite a 53-45 loss to Arizona, JAY McDONAGH (Quad City '01) passed for 283 yards and three scores for the Gladiators.

AND THE AWARDS GO TO: This week's af2 award winners are: Richmond OS/KR JEFF TOWNSLEY (Offensive Player of the Week), Jacksonville DS MARCELLE HOUGH (ADT Defensive Player of the Week), Hawaii WR/DB/KR NIAN TAYLOR (Ironman of the Week) and Bakersfield FB/LB JULIAN YEARWOOD (Built Ford Tough Man of the Week).

FRESHMAN FOLLIES: Expansion teams went 2-4 against "veteran" clubs in Week 17, highlighted by Hawaii's 56-55 upset win over Quad City. New Haven, meanwhile, ended Norfolk's five-game winning streak with a 55-42 victory. The four setbacks were: Richmond over Cape Fear, Rochester over Mohegan, Jacksonville over Mobile and Arkansas over San Diego. Two other games pitted freshman vs. freshman as Northeast Division champion Albany downed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 58-36 and Bakersfield clinched the Western Division title with a 45-7 win at Fresno.

‘WIN'-DOW OF OPPORTUNITY: With Cape Fear's 36-35 loss to Richmond in Week 17, the Wildcats' bid to post the second-longest season-ending winning streak in af2 history came to an end. However, their 10-game winning streak tied them with the 2001 Quad City Steamwheelers for the league's second-longest winning streak overall. The inaugural edition of the Steamwheelers won all 16 regular-season games in 2000, then tacked on three playoff wins and five more victories to start the 2001 campaign, making them the leaders in all of the league's overall consecutive wins categories.

BEGINNER'S LUCK?: Even with Cape Fear's loss to Richmond, the Wildcats established the longest-ever winning streak by an expansion team. Fellow expansion member Albany had a seven-game winning streak earlier this year. The previous af2 record for consecutive wins by an expansion team was five (Macon, 2001). Here's a historical look at win streaks by af2 expansion teams:

Team ... Overall record ... Win streak ... Period
Cape Fear ... 12-2 ... 10 ... 5/10/02 – 7/13/02
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: Coming into this season, Quad City (8-0 in 2000, 7-1 in 2001) and Tennessee Valley (8-0 in 2001) were the only af2 teams ever to lose no more than one game away from home in a single season. The Vipers (7-1 on the road in 2002) turned the trick again this year, as did expansion Albany (7-1 on the road). Two more teams are on track to achieve the feat: Cape Fear (6-1) and Macon (6-1).

FRIENDLY CONFINES: Seven teams could finish this season with no losses or just one loss at home, paced by Tulsa, which went 8-0 at home for the second straight year. The six one-loss home teams are Norfolk (7-1), Richmond (7-1), Tennessee Valley (7-1), Augusta (6-1), Bossier City (6-1) and Charleston (6-1). Four teams went unbeaten or once-beaten at home in the league's 2000 inaugural season while five teams did it last year.

HOME SWEET HOME?: A week after home teams went 13-1, the visitors rebounded to win 11 of the 17 games in Week 17. The road winners included Peoria and Bakersfield, which clinched the Midwest and Western Division championships, respectively. Richmond and Birmingham also earned big road victories, ending long winning streaks by Cape Fear and Macon, respectively. For the season, home teams are 151-106 overall for a .588 winning percentage.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Tulsa, which wrapped up its second-straight perfect home schedule with a 69-44 win over Fresno two weeks ago, boasts af2's longest active streak of regular-season home victories and the second-longest home streak ever with 18 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. Quad City and Tulsa both have 21 regular-season home wins, the most all-time.

Regular Season At Home ... Record ... Pct. ... Playoffs
Quad City ... 21-2 ... .913 ... 6-0
Tulsa ... 21-3 ... .875 ... 0-1
Norfolk ... 20-4 ... .833 ... 1-0
Tennessee Valley ... 19-4 ... .826 ... 2-1
Augusta ... 19-4 ... .826 ... 1-1
Richmond ... 18-6 ... .750 ... 1-0
Macon ... 12-4 ... .750 ... N/A
Cape Fear ... 6-2 ... .750 ... N/A
Albany ... 5-2 ... .714 ... N/A
Bakersfield ... 5-2 ... .714 ... N/A

CLOSE CALLS: After a weird week in Week 16 when just two of af2's 14 contests were decided by 10 points or less, the league was back to its nail-biting self in Week 17, with eight of the 17 tilts going down to the wire. Week 13 was the most "heart-stopping" week of the season as 10 games were decided by 10 points or less. Overall this season, 105 of the 257 total games (41 percent) fit that bill.

HIGH SCORIN': Week 17's 14 games averaged 86.7 points. Five games hit the 100-point mark for combined points and five more eclipsed 90. Six weeks this year boasted an average combined score of more than 90 points per game, led by a 96.2 clip in Week 13. The season scoring average currently stands at 83.3 combined points per game. Tennessee Valley's 81 points were the high for the week. The Tennessee Valley-Memphis game featured Week 17's highest combined score (112 points – Vipers 81, Xplorers 31).

HALF-CENTURY CLUB: Tulsa, Macon, Arkansas, Richmond, Augusta, Quad City and Tennessee Valley have exhibited powerful offenses this season. The magnificent seven all average more than 50 points per game, with pacesetter Tulsa scoring 50 or more in a game 11 times this year. The Talons have 856 points this season for a league-best 57.1 average.

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 142-34 (81 percent) when they score 50 or more points in a game, including a 9-2 mark in Week 17. When teams score less than 50, they are 115-223 (34 percent) ... 8-15 in Week 17. Here's a win-loss breakdown of the league by points scored:

2002 ... W-L ... Pct. ... All-time ... W-L ... Pct.
0-19 ... 1-24 ... .040 ... 0-19 ... 2-67 ... .029
20-29 ... 7-49 ... .125 ... 20-29 ... 13-134 ... .088
30-39 ... 32-83 ... .278 ... 30-39 ... 74-172 ... .301
40-49 ... 75-67 ... .528 ... 40-49 ... 167-156 ... .517
50-59 ... 68-26 ... .723 ... 50-59 ... 157-64 ... .710
60-69 ... 52-7 ... .881 ... 60-69 ... 128-19 ... .871
70-79 ... 13-1 ... .929 ... 70-79 ... 50-2 ... .962 80+ ... 9-0 ... 1.000 ... 80+ ... 23-0 ... 1.000

ON AN ISLAND: Two weeks ago, the Hawaiian Islanders became just the second team in league history to top the 70-point mark and lose, falling at Arkansas 83-73 in af2's third highest-scoring game ever. Prior to that shootout, 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 – guess who?! – Arkansas blew past Tulsa 102-63 in Week 13.

GOOD KNIGHTS AHEAD: Four weeks ago, the Macon Knights earned their 11th win of the season, topping last year's mark of 10 wins. Last week, the Knights scored seven touchdowns, bringing their season total to 121. The Knights are second in the league in touchdowns and have eclipsed their total from a year ago. Macon is tied with Tulsa and behind 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 ... 109 ... 1 ... 252
Macon ... 114 ... 121 ... 1 ... 235
Tulsa ... 112 ... 123 ... 1 ... 235
Birmingham ... 124 ... 108 ... 1 ... 232
Tennessee Valley ... 126 ... 101 ... 1 ... 227
Richmond ... 112 ... 112 ... 1 ... 224
Bossier City ... 115 ... 103 ... 1 ... 218

MANY HAPPY RETURNS, PART I: The league record book could have a distinctly different look in the "Returns" section heading into next season. Tallahassee's LAWRENCE PULLEN tied the single-season league record for kickoff return touchdowns with his eighth of the season last week against Augusta (ADLAI TRONE had eight for Louisville in 2000). With one missed field goal return TD upping Pullen's combined total to nine, he needs just one more to equal the 10 combined return touchdowns by Louisville's BRIAN McDONALD last year (seven KO, three MFG). Florida's JARROD WARE (29.6 yards per kickoff return) leads a group of six players that are 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 three weeks ago increased the Pirates' season total to 10, tying Birmingham's single-season team record, set last year. Greensboro, Jacksonville and Tulsa all have nine kickoff return touchdowns this season, putting them in position also to tie or surpass the Steeldogs' mark. Birmingham is one missed field goal return TD from equaling Louisville's single-season record of four, also established last year. Birmingham and Peoria have tied Louisville's record for combined return touchdowns. The Steeldogs (eight KO, three MFG) and Pirates (10 KO, one MFG) have run back 11 kicks for scores this season; Louisville had 11 return touchdowns (seven KO, four MFG) last season. Greensboro (nine KO, one MFG) and Jacksonville (nine KO, one MFG) have 10 combined return TDs this year.

GOING, GOING, GOOCH: With 279 all-purpose yards in an MVP performance last week at Hawaii, Quad City OS/KR IRA GOOCH broke BRIAN McDONALD's single-season all-purpose record of 3,271 (for Louisville, 2001). Gooch now has 3,310 yards and is on pace to finish 3,531. 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. Gooch, by the way, also ranks second in the league with 226 points and fifth with 1,489 receiving yards.

THE MARTINO THEUS WATCH: Rochester OS MARTINO THEUS broke the league record for receptions in a season with his 149th of the year in the Brigade's playoff-clinching 28-18 win over Mohegan last week. currently is ranked first in the league with a team-record 149 receptions, 1,538 receiving yards and an average of 109.9 yards per game. If he can haul in 11 receptions in Rochester's season finale at New Haven, Theus would equal 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
149, MARTINO THEUS, Rochester Brigade, 2002

Arena Football League
138, EDDIE BROWN, Albany Firebirds, 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: With another rushing touchdowns against Quad City last week, Hawaii QB DARNELL ARCENEAUX boosted his season total to 25. He broke SHERARD POTEETE's 2001 record of 23 two weeks ago at Arkansas. Poteete rushed for two scores last week against Pensacola to give him 23 again this year – with one game to play. Tallahassee FB/LB MESIAH PORTER has 21 rushing TDs and Rochester QB MATT D'ORAZIO has 19, putting them just behind the pace to eclipse the old mark. Arceneaux and D'Orazio both tied the league record for rushing scores in a game (five) earlier this year ... Arceneaux at Bakersfield June 22 and D'Orazio July 6 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

THE NEW SACK KING: With 4.5 sacks against Albany on July 7, Cape Fear's E.J. BURT equaled the af2 mark for most sacks in a single game. Burt's single season record total stands at 26.5. 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 his 15th pick two weeks ago at Birmingham to break the league single-season interception record of 14, set by Richmond's TYRONE LASTER last year. Snell had tied the record at Louisville the previous week. Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE, who had an af2-record four-interception night at Quad City June 1, has 12 for the season. Quad City's BRENT BROWNER tied Dupree's single-game record last week with four pickoffs against Bakersfield July 6. Augusta's LAVAR RAINEY, who has 10 interceptions this season, matched Snell's consecutive games standard with pickoffs in six straight contests in Weeks 9 through 14. Though likely out of the running for a record bid, Bakersfield's J'SHARLON JONES and Charleston's MICHAEL BROWN each have 11 interceptions this year, tying for third behind Snell and Dupree.

RICO SUAVE: San Diego WR/LB RICO CURTIS is the league's new record-holder for tackles in a single season. With 8.0 tackles against Arkansas last week, Mr. Always-around-the-ball broke CORNELIUS COE's individual mark for tackles in a season. The former Quad City standout made 117 tackles in 2000, which now ranks second to Curtis' 118.5. With an average night in the Riptide's season finale at Quad City, Curtis would finish with 126.5. Curtis has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in 13 of 15 games. He also has been named one of the Riptide's Built Ford Tough Players of the Game in all 15 games this year.

PASSING KINGS: Arkansas' RICKY HEBERT has emerged as the leading contender to challenge the single-season record of 86 touchdown passes, set by Tennessee Valley's MATT SAUK in 2001. Hebert has thrown nine touchdown passes in a game twice this season and has 80 heading into the final week. Augusta's GLEN GAUNTT, who has led the league in touchdown passes for most of the second half of the season, has 78 on the year, giving him a good shot to match or surpass Sauk.

SECOND-HALF PASSING KING: While RICKY HEBERT and GLEN GAUNTT are on path to challenge the mark for most TD passes in a season, there is another QB who might be in the same situation if he'd played the whole year. Norfolk's CHRIS WALLACE joined the Nighthawks in Week 8 (May 18) and has thrown 50 TD passes in 10 games since then. Compared to our league leaders' totals since Week 8, Wallace is right there with them:

Passing TDs since Week 8
Hebert (ARK) ... 52
Gauntt (AUG) ... 52
Wallace (NOR) ... 50
Rayborn (MAC) ... 49
Elliott (BAK) ... 46

BIG LOSS FOR BIG-TIME WINNER: MIKE GLUSKI's undefeated streak is over after Cape Fear lost 36-35 to Richmond. Gluski had won 13 straight games as a starting quarterback this year – three with Macon and 10 with Cape Fear. To add injury to insult, Gluski dislocated his shoulder on the Wildcats' final drive and is expected to miss the playoffs.

DOUBLE THREATS: Four of the top five rushers in af2 are quarterbacks. Hawaii 's DARNELL ARCENEAUX leads the way with an af2-record 442. SHERARD POTEETE (325) rushed for a team-record 69 yards against Pensacola to move past Rochester's MATT D'ORAZIO into the second spot with 392 yards. D'Orazio is third with 331 yards while Birmingham QB MONTRESSA KIRBY (271) is in fifth place behind Arkansas FB/LB DARNELL SMALL, who has 295 yards. In contrast to af2's QB-heavy rushing charts, there are no quarterbacks ranked in the top 10 for rushing in the Arena Football League.

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 will play its first-ever playoff game at Peoria next week, averages 254.7 yards per game through the air, throwing for 4,075 yards – the only af2 team over 4K. AFL veteran QB RON LOPEZ keyed the revival; the Stealth went 5-4 and averaged 45.7 points per game since his midseason signing. Wichita ranks third in total offense with 267.3 yards per game. Lopez, who has thrown 45 touchdown passes in just nine starts, ranks first with 285.0 passing yards per game and first among currently active players with a pass rating of 117.5. But Lopez and the offense aren't the only reasons why the Stealth was able to shake off a 1-6 start. BRYAN HENDERSON keys the defensive effort with a team-record 16.0 sacks, good for second in the league. He is tied for third in the league with four forced fumbles.

ATTACK MODE: Two of the top offensive teams in af2 will collide when Bossier City and Arkansas kick off Friday. The Battle Wings now rank first in total offense (273.2 ypg) while the Twisters are right behind them in second (268.5). Another offensive showdown features the quarterbacks. Bossier City' s SHERARD POTEETE ranks first in the league with 253.0 ypg while Arkansas' RICKY HEBERT ranks second with 244.0 ypg.

UP‘HILL' BATTLE: Since Week 12, Albany OS COREY HILL has been on a tear and is on MARTINO THEUS' heels in the race for af2 receiver crown. Rochester's Theus set a new af2 record for receptions in a season last weekend, but Hill trails his rival by just six catches headed into the final week. Since Week 12, Hill has posted impressive numbers and has leapfrogged Theus to become the league's receiving yardage leader. Here's a head-to-head comparison of Hill and Theus since Week 12:

af2 RECEPTIONS RACE ... COREY HILL ... MARTINO THEUS
Week ... Rec. ... Yards ... TDs ... Rec. ... Yards ... TDs
Week 12 ... 12 ... 121 ... 2 ... 11 ... 150 ... 4
Week 13 ... 16 ... 226 ... 5 ... 12 ... 141 ... 2
Week 14 ... 7 ... 84 ... 1 ... 4 ... 44 ... 0
Week 15 ... 7 ... 60 ... 0 ... 6 ... 48 ... 1
Week 16 ... 7 ... 115 ... 2 ... BYE
Week 17 ... 12 ... 118 ... 3 ... 8 ... 75 ... 1
Week 18 ... vs. Mohegan ... at New Haven
Totals since Wk. 12 ... 61 ... 724 ... 13 ... 41 ... 458 ... 8
Per Game Avg. ... 10.17 ... 120.67 ... 2.17 ... 8.2 ... 91.6 ... 1.6
Totals before Wk. 12 ... 82 ... 917 ... 18 ... 108 ... 1,155 ... 11
Current Total ... 143 ... 1,641 ... 31 ... 149 ... 1,613 ... 19

ALL ALLNER, ALL THE TIME: Tulsa OS/KR MITCH ALLNER is a big reason why the Talons are tied with Tennessee Valley for the league's best record at 13-2. He has been the game's Most Valuable Player in eight of the last 12 Talons' victories and has generated 200+ all-purpose yards six times this season. Allner ranks among af2's top 10 players in 12 different categories. Most notably, he leads the league in scoring (246 points), touchdowns (39), tied for the lead in TD receptions (32), third in kickoff return average (26.2 ypr), third in kickoff return TDs (six) and fourth in receptions (117).

DYNAMIC DUO: Quad City has the league's most prolific receiving combo in WR/LB CHRIS ANTHONY and OS IRA GOOCH. Quad City was the first af2 team this year to have a pair of receivers go over the 1,000-yard mark and the Steamwheelers remain the only team with two of the top 10 scorers in the league. Anthony has 117 catches for 1,500 yards and 29 touchdowns while Gooch has 96 catches for 1,489 yards and 32 scores. The teammates 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).

BROWN'S BAG: Tennessee Valley newcomer Rodney Brown has made an immediate impact in his first three games as a Viper. He has 24 catches for 345 yards and five touchdowns, 43 rushing yards with three touchdowns, 10 kickoff returns for 295 yards and three touchdowns as well as a blocked field goal recovery for TD. Last week, he scored a hat trick in Tennessee Valley's 81-31 win over Memphis. Brown caught 10 passes for 156 yards and three touchdowns, rushed for a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He has 11 overall touchdowns in four games and has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in three straight games.

A ONE-MAN WRECKING CREW: "Big Time Player!" That was one of the compliments dished out by a Quad City executive last week when describing Hawaii WR/DB/KR NIAN TAYLOR. In the Islanders' 56-55 upset of the Steamwheelers, Taylor caught a game-high eight passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, he recorded four solo tackles in addition to returning six kickoffs for 156 yards and a touchdown on special teams. He also returned two missed field goals for 23 yards. In just four games with the Islanders, Taylor has 24 receptions for 445 yards and 11 touchdowns, 513 yards and a touchdown on 23 kickoff returns, plus two interceptions. He earned his second consecutive af2 Ironman award this week and became the first player in af2 history to win three league-wide awards in four weeks. He was af2's Built Ford Tough Man in Week 14.

MR. CONSISTENT: Peoria OS CORNELL CRAIG has scored a touchdown in every game this season except for the opener at Wichita. Craig has had six games with two or more touchdowns. He kept his streak alive last week by recovering a fumble by teammate CHARLES SHEFFIELD and taking it into the end zone in the Pirates' 34-24 win at Louisville. Craig has 28 touchdowns overall this season, 26 as a receiver. His 96 catches and 1,337 receiving yards both rank 10th in af2.

PORTER'S RUNS HELPING THUNDER TOWARDS DIVISION TITLE: Last week, Tallahassee 's MESIAH PORTER extended his rushing TD streak to 11 games, running for 17 yards and one score in Tallahassee's 65-45 loss to Augusta. Led by Porter's playmaking, the Thunder can clinch the American Conference Southern Division championship with either a win over Jacksonville or a Florida loss at Pensacola this week.

KILLER B's GETTING IT DONE: Having won seven of their last nine games and owning a 7-1 mark at home (tied for first in the American Conference), the 8-7 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 – six receptions for 68 yards, three returns for 47 yards, two rushes for seven yards and one score, 3.0 tackles; Banks – 11 receptions for 147 yards and three TD, one solo tackle and a breakup.

GOOD WILL HUNTING: Pensacola's WILL PETTIS leads the league with 43 passes defended and also is among the league leaders with nine interceptions. But last week the former University of Houston star got downright offensive. Pettis caught 12 passes for 175 yards in the Barracudas' 55-52 win at Bossier City. Both his reception and yardage totals were team records. Pettis' four touchdowns tied the Pensacola record for most in a game held by TROY ESPRIT.

GIVE AND TAKE: The four National Conference division champions and two American Conference co-leaders, the Augusta Stallions and Cape Fear Wildcats, also lead the league in total turnover margin, led by Bakersfield with a +23 margin. Tulsa is +18, Tennessee Valley is +17, Cape Fear is +14, Peoria is +12 and Augusta is +10. The six teams are a combined 69-21. The six worst teams in turnover margin have a combined 18-73 record. Roanoke (8-8) ended its season as af2's most opportunistic team on defense, forcing a league-high 47 turnovers. Tennessee Valley has been the league's most careful team with the football, giving up just 21 turnovers.

FRONTRUNNERS: The Tennessee Valley Vipers are 13-2 and, as things currently stand, would host all the way through the ArenaCup championship game. A big reason why is their ability to get a lead and hold it. Tennessee Valley is 11-0 when leading at halftime and 12-0 taking a lead into the fourth quarter.

TWIST ON THE TWISTERS: Some trends to watch for in the Arkansas-Bossier City winner-take-all battle for the final playoff spot Friday ... Arkansas is undefeated when leading at halftime and after the third quarter (8-0 at half, 9-0 after three). Any kin of lead bodes well for the Twisters – they' re 8-1 when on top after the first quarter. Other magic numbers for the Twisters are their 8-1 mark when intercepting a pass, 3-0 record when they pass for 300 yards or more, their 6-1 record when scoring 50 points or more and their 6-1 mark when holding opponents under 30 points.

FIVE ALIVE: Arkansas' five-game winning streak has assured the Twisters of their first winning season and has them one victory away from a playoff berth. Arkansas has averaged 68.6 points in the last five games. On the season the Twisters score 54.3 points per contest. The Twisters have scored on 49-of-66 drives (74 percent) during it winning streak. Of those drives, 38 were three plays or less. QB RICKY HEBERT has thrown 34 of his league-high 80 touchdown passes in the last five games. He needs just five more to become Arkansas' all-time single-season leader. He needs six to become af2's all-time single-season record-holder.

SPREAD LOVE: San Diego is the only team in af2 to have seven different receivers with at least five touchdown catches this season. MARTY GRAHAM, who has played in just nine of the Riptide's 15 games due to injury, leads the way with 14. MARK BUTLER has nine, JERRY GARRETT and ALTIE PARKER have eight each, RYAN SMITH has seven and RICO CURTIS and AAZAAR ABDUL-RAHIM have five apiece.

ALL ON THE LINE: Four teams rank in the af2 top 10 in both sacks by and sacks against, paced by Cape Fear, which has a league-leading 43 sacks, and Arkansas, which has allowed just nine (first in af2). The other lines that get the job done on both sides of the ball belong to Richmond and Tallahassee. As you might suspect, all four teams are in playoff position, with Cape Fear, Richmond and Tallahassee already clinching postseason berths.

Team ... Sacks By Rank ... Total ... Sacks Against Rank ... Total
Cape Fear ... 1 ... 43 ... T-2 ... 12
Tallahassee ... 2 ... 42 ... T-6 ... 15
Arkansas ... 3 ... 41 ... 1 ... 9
Richmond ... 4 ... 37 ... 5 ... 14

TOUGH SLATE: Through Week 17, Mobile owns the league's toughest schedule (according to opponents' combined records). The Wizards' foes are 133-92 (.591) with one week remaining in the regular season. Arkansas (10-5) owns the hardest schedule faced by a team with a winning record (119-108, .524 – 10th in af2). 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 ... 0-15 ... 133-92 ... .591
Memphis ... 5-10 ... 131-94 ... .582
Pensacola ... 7-8 ... 129-96 ... .573
Columbus ... 3-12 ... 128-97 ... .569
Hawaii ... 4-11 ... 126-99 ... .560

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 18 features three interconference games, headlined by Macon's visit to Tennessee Valley (13-2). The American Conference's Knights (12-3) lost to the Vipers 50-47 on April 27. Pensacola of the National Conference (7-8) hosts Florida (9-6) in a game that could clinch a division title for the visiting Firecats. Mobile (0-15) shoots for its first victory at Columbus (3-12). Ironically, the American Conference Wardogs went 0-16 last season. Last week, the conferences split two games ... Birmingham won at Macon 48-46 and Mobile lost to Jacksonville 39-35. Overall this year, the American leads the National 15-9 and will win the season series between the conferences.

-------------------------------------------------

POSTSEASON AWARD CANDIDATES: Below is a glance at some of the 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 (246), 5th in KO return avg (26.2), 5th in all-purpose yds (166.6), 39 TD
DARNELL ARCENEAUX (Hawaii) – af2-record 442 rushing yds, af2-record 25 rushing TDs, season-high 88-yd rushing game, 2,862 passing yds, 44 TD, 13 INT
BRANDON BURNSIDE (Mohegan) – 5th in scoring (202), 2nd in all-purpose yds (202.2), 3rd in receiving yds (1516), 8th in recepts (101), 33 TD
MATT D'ORAZIO (Rochester) – 3rd in rush yards (331), 5th in total offense yds (3,596), 50 TD passing, 19 TD rushing. 12 INT
GLEN GAUNTT (Augusta) – 7th pass rating (109.3), 8th in passing ypg (237.0), 78 TD, 13 INT
IRA GOOCH (Quad City) – 2nd in scoring (226), 32 receiving TD, 1st all-purpose yds (3310), 3 return TD
RICKY HEBERT (Arkansas) – 6th in pass rating (109.4) 6th in passing ypg (242.8), 2nd in total offense ypg (244.0), 80 TD, 18 INT
COREY HILL (Albany) – 7th in scoring (188), 2nd in recepts (143), 1st in receiving yds (1,641), 31 TD, 3rd in all-purpose yds (2719)
SHERARD POTEETE (Bossier City) – 2nd in rushing ypg (26.1), 1st in total offense ypg (253.0) 23 rush TD, 54 pass TD, 17 INT
JOHN RAYBORN (Macon) – 3rd in pass rating (114.3), 5th in passing ypg (242.8), 61 TD, 11 INT
MARTINO THEUS (Rochester) – af2 record 149 receptions, 2nd in receiving yds (1613), 19 TD

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
KENNY BAILEY (Tennessee Valley) – T-6th in INT (8 for 100 yds), 8th in tackles (76.5)
MICHAEL BROWN (Charleston) – 3rd in INT (11 for 35 yds), 55.0 tackles
E.J. BURT (Cape Fear) – 1st in FF (9), 1st in sacks (af2 single-season record 26.5), tied af2 single-game record with 4.5 sacks
RICO CURTIS (San Diego) – 3 FR, af2 record 118.5 tackles, 2 INT, 4 FF
LINCOLN DUPREE (Peoria) – 2nd in INT (12 for 186 yds), 2 TD, single-game record 4 INT, 73.5 tackles, 27 PD
BRYAN HENDERSON (Wichita) – 2nd in sacks (16.0), T-2nd in FF (4)
LARRY HOLLINQUEST (Tulsa) – T-5th in INT (9) for 188 yards 2 TD, 3rd in PD (41), 5th in tackles (83.0)
J'SHARLON JONES (Bakersfield) – T-3rd in INT (11), 3 FR, 2nd in PD (41), 70.0 tackles
WILL PETTIS (Pensacola) – 1st in PD (43), 6th in INT (8), 1 FR LaVAR RAINEY (Augusta) – 4th in INT (10 for 96 yds), 66.5 tackles, 3 FF, FR (4), 33 PD
KELLY SNELL (Tennessee Valley) – 1st in INT (af2-record 15), 4th in PD (39), 64.5 tackles
DESMOND WASHINGTON (Norfolk) – 2nd in PD (41), 46.0 tackles, 2 FR, 2 FF, 1 INT

IRONMAN OF THE YEAR
CHRIS ANTHONY (Quad City) –10th scoring (182 pts), 4th in receiving yds (1,500), 4th in recepts (117), 29 TD, 30.0 tackles, 2 INT, one returned for TD
ANTHONY COMER (New Haven) – 20 rush, 45 yds, 6 TD, 69 recepts, 848 yds, 17 TD, 49.5 tackles, 7 INT for 99 yds, 1 FF, 1 FR
RICO CURTIS (San Diego) – 3 FR, af2 record 118.5 tackles, 2 INT, 4 FF, 18 rush, 60 yards, 3 TD, 33 recepts, 385 yards, 5 TD
LINCOLN DUPREE (Peoria) – 2nd in INT (12 for 186 yds), 2 TD, single-game record 4 INT, 73.5 tackles, 27 PD, 16 recepts, 244 yards, 5 TD, 11 MFG return, 201 yds, 1 TD, 39 kick return, 994 yds, 7 TD
KEVIN HARVEY (Richmond) – 186 rush yds, 11 TD, 91 recepts, 1,003 yds, 18 TD, 55.5 tackles, 2 INT, 1 FR
CHRIS JOHNSON (Augusta) – 55 recepts, 813 yds and 26 TD, 48.0 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 INT
LENNIE JOHNSON (Arkansas) – 63 recepts, 1,132 yds, 29 TD, 47.5 tackles, 5 INT for 71 yards, 1 FF, 1 FR, 8 MFG return, 190 yards, 1 TD ... 40 KO return, 897 yds, 3 TD, 206 points
MESIAH PORTER (Tallahassee) – 3rd in scoring (212 pts), 67 rushes, 258 yards, 21 TD ... 41 recepts, 598 yds, 12 TD ... 52.0 tackles, 1 sack, 3 INT, one returned for TD, 3 FR, 1 FF
JERMAINE SHEFFIELD (Peoria) – 23.5 tackles, 4 INT for 76 yds, 1 TD, 1.5 sacks, 3 FR, 2 FF, 55 recepts, 764 yds, 18 TD
GREG TAYLOR (Arkansas) – 12 recepts, 136 yds, 5 TD, 26.0 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 3 FF, 2 FR

-------------------------------------------------

PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 18

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Mohegan AND Cape Fear loss at Charleston AND Richmond loss at Carolina.

ARKANSAS: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Bossier City.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round). Can clinch Eastern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Norfolk AND Macon loss at Tennessee Valley.

BAKERSFIELD: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Western Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

BIRMINGHAM: Clinched playoff berth.

BOSSIER CITY: Can clinch playoff berth with win vs. Arkansas.

CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Atlantic Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Charleston AND Richmond loss at Carolina. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Charleston OR Albany loss vs. Mohegan.

FLORIDA: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Pensacola AND Tallahassee loss vs. Jacksonville.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round). Can clinch Eastern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Tennessee Valley OR Augusta loss vs. Norfolk.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Midwest Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round).

RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Atlantic Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Carolina OR Cape Fear loss at Charleston. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Carolina OR Albany loss vs. Mohegan.

ROCHESTER: Clinched playoff berth.

SAN DIEGO: Clinched playoff berth.

TALLAHASSEE: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Jacksonville OR Florida loss at Pensacola.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched National Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout National Conference playoffs (if victorious in first two rounds) with win vs. Macon OR Tulsa loss at Bakersfield. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout entire playoffs with win vs. Macon.

TULSA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Central Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout entire playoffs with win at Bakersfield AND Tennessee Valley loss vs. Macon.

WICHITA: Clinched playoff berth.

-------------------------------------------------

WEEK 17 BY THE NUMBERS:

3,968 ... Number of all-purpose yards Hawaii's NIAN TAYLOR would have if he posted his 264.5 ypg average in 15 games
3,310 ... Number of all-purpose yards new af2 record-holder IRA GOOCH has through 15 games
36.3 ... PHIL TAYLOR's yards per catch in Columbus' loss to Florida. Taylor had four catches for 145 yards and four TDs
11 ... Number of point-after attempts Tennessee Valley's TODD LATOURETTE made against Memphis
7 ... Number of points Bakersfield's defense surrendered against Fresno

arenafootball2 Stories from July 24, 2002

• The Deuce Scoop - af2
• Burns Reaches af2 Elite Status - Norfolk Nighthawks

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.