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Thunder to Face off with Undefeated German Rival Frankfurt Galaxy

April 16, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Berlin Thunder News Release


The two-time defending World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder (0-2) look to gain their first win of the young season as they travel to Frankfurt on Saturday, April 19 to take on the rival Frankfurt Galaxy (2-0). The Thunder are attempting to make it two in a row against the upstart Galaxy, who they ousted 27-7 in Week 10 of the 2002 season on their way to another title. Last week, the Thunder suffered a 21-10 setback in front of a Berlin record crowd of 16,312 while the Galaxy snuck past the Claymores in Glasgow, 17-13.

TV:

Saturday's contest will be broadcast live in the United States on Direct TV at 1:00pm EST, on tape delay on DSF in Berlin on Saturday night at 7:45pm, and again on Premiere in Berlin at 1:00am early Sunday morning. The U.S. play-by-play will be handled by veteran Fox Sports Northwest broadcaster Rich Cellini, with color commentary coming from Detroit Lions offensive guard Ray Brown. Kick-off at Waldstadion is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local Frankfurt time.

THE SERIES

Berlin is looking to make it four out of the last five in the victory column against the Galaxy, dating back to the 2001 season. Frankfurt, however, leads the all-time series 5-3, thanks to four straight triumphs in 1999 and 2000.

Berlin's Largest Margin of Victory: 20; 27-7 (June 15, 2002) in Berlin
Frankfurt's Largest Margin of Victory: 25; 32-7 (April 15, 2000) in Berlin
Most Recent Tie: There has never been a tie
Current Winning Streak: Thunder 1, (June 15, 2002- Present)

LAST TIME VS. FRANKFURT

Berlin won its third straight game to qualify for World Bowl X. Frankfurt missed out on the World Bowl after a 4-0 start.

Thunder running back Anthony White rushed for a team-record 197 yards and 2 touchdowns and added 52 receiving yards to delight a Berlin record crowd of 12,397.

White opened the scoring with a 1-yard dive into the end zone. The Galaxy replied when Bart Hendricks tossed a 2-yard pass to tight end Marcus Williams and Ola Kimrin's PAT tied the game.

Thunder quarterback Todd Husak threw two interceptions but the Galaxy were unable to capitalize and a 44-yard Danny Boyd field goal earned Berlin a three-point halftime lead. Needing to win by four points, the Thunder were relentless and Husak picked out Kenny Christian, who fought his way into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown and a 17-7 lead. Husak threw his third interception of the evening, but the unstoppable White fought his way into the end zone for 5 yards to earn a 24-7 lead. German defensive back Lelan Brickus then produced his third interception in as many weeks and tore 63 yards to set up a 30-yard Axel Kruse field goal for the final margin.

A THUNDER VICTORY WOULD...

-Improve Peter Vaas's career coaching record to 17-16 in the regular season and to 4-3 against the Galaxy.

-Give German National wide receiver Jörg Heckenbach a win against his old team whom he played for in 1997 and 1998. He has at least one catch in each of the 8 games he's played against the Galaxy.

-Improve the franchise overall record to 22-23.

-Give the Thunder their second win in a row against their heated rival.

HEAD COACHES

PETER VAAS completed his third season as head coach of the Berlin Thunder by leading his squad to the team's season best-tying record at 6-4 and their second consecutive World Bowl title in 2002. Vaas finished his fifth year of coaching in NFL Europe, having joined the league in 1998 as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach for the Barcelona Dragons. In 1999 as offensive assistant he helped the Dragons to a league best 7-3 record and a World Bowl berth. Under his guidance running back Lawrence Phillips rushed for 1,021 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named the league's Offensive MVP. Vaas began his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant at Allegheny College and from 1979-85 worked as offensive coordinator at the University of New Hampshire. In 1986, Vaas returned to Allegheny as their head coach, guiding a team that had not posted a winning record in seven years to two North Coast Athletic Conference championships. In his second season he led the Gators to an undefeated 9-0-1 regular season record. Vaas went on to become running backs and then quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. There he coached players such as Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis, and Ricky Watters, all of who became top-flight NFL players. He was head coach at Holy Cross from 1992 to 1995 before becoming the offensive coordinator for the Montreal Allouettes of the Canadian Football League. Peter Vaas is married to Rosann and they have two daughters, Katelyn and Kelly and reside in Hampton, New Hampshire.

DOUG GRABER Former college head coach at Rutgers and Montana State enters second year as head coach of the Frankfurt Galaxy. Succeeded Dick Curl as head coach in 2001 and compiled a 3-7 record. Graber, who also spent three seasons as defensive coordinator of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been working as a college football television analyst for Liberty Sports before becoming the fourth head coach in Galaxy history. A native of Michigan, Graber began his coaching career at St. Francis Cahrini High School, where he was head coach from 1967-68. He then became defensive coordinator at Michigan Technological University (1969-71) and held the same position at Eastern Michigan University (1972-75). From 1976-77 he was defensive secondary coach at Ball State University, and from 1978-81 held that post at the University of Wisconsin. As defensive secondary coach of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983-86, Graber saw his unit lead the league with 120 interceptions over a four-year period, before moving on to the Buccaneers. He was head coach of Rutgers University from 1990-95 and in 1991 and 1992 Graber led the school to its first back-to-back winning records in 14 years. Both Graber's grandparents were born in Germany and immigrated to Ohio in the late 1890s.

FROM COACH VAAS (on what he is looking for this week)

"We need to pull ourselves out of the rut that we're in and get a win this week in Frankfurt. Despite our record, I still feel like we have a quality team and will continue to improve each and every week. We got better in a few areas in Week 2 on the defensive side of the ball, but we didn't capitalize when we should have on offense. I know that the Frankfurt crowd will make things difficult, but it is my job to keep my team focused and ready for battle." (on the keys to the game)

"The keys for us this week are to come away with points in the red zone and block out the crowd noise. Like every game, if we concentrate on the task at hand and stick with the fundamentals, I believe that we have a good chance. It's always fun to go up against the rival Galaxy and this week is an important game for us. They have been playing well so we'll see what happens."

PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR THE GALAXY

Jonas Lewis-Running Back

Single-mindedly focused on reaching the end zone. His running style is reminiscent of Emmitt Smith. He runs hard and does a great job setting up his blockers before exploding into a hole. Big enough to shrug off tacklers, he has the speed to take it the distance and the hands to be considered a true receiving threat from the backfield. Lewis gained 78 yards and 1 touchdown on 21 carries against Scotland.

Robert Baker (Miami Dolphins) – Wide Receiver Nobody on the Galaxy is as explosive as Robert Baker. He is a pure playmaker as Frankfurt's surest deep threat and as an electric return man. He lit up the Claymores in the second half, making catches of 35 and 23 yards in Frankfurt's final touchdown drive. Baker finished the game with 4 receptions for a game-high 94 yards. His speed, quick feet and soft hands make him a constant threat.

Joey Evans (Seattle Seahawks) – Defensive End The defensive line is the deepest and most talented group on the team. Among the best of that squad is Joey Evans. Evans recorded three solo sacks against F.C. Barcelona and led the team with 8 solo tackles, proving he can play the pass and the run. He backed those numbers up with another sack and three solo tackles against Scotland. He can be found manning the right end position. Evans played alongside 2002 NFL first-round draft picks Julius Peppers and Ryan Sims while at North Carolina.

Rashidi Barnes – Strong Safety

One of the smartest players in the Galaxy secondary. In his third season with the team, he possesses an intimate knowledge of the defensive scheme, and is always in the right place at the right time. Barnes' presence improves the entire secondary. A sure tackler and fierce competitor, Barnes can usually be found near the ball. His two interceptions against the Claymores were instrumental to the Galaxy victory. Source: Ike Ofobike

THUNDER OFFENSIVE NOTES

-Quarterbacks Henry Burris (Chicago Bears) and Phil Stambaugh will split time this season, Coach Vaas decided following a closely contested battle throughout training camp.

-Both Burris and Stambaugh looked impressive in Tampa and were therefore rewarded with leading the team every other quarter. Burris will play during the first and third quarters and Stambaugh will get the nod for the second and fourth periods. After two games, Stambaugh has totaled 32 of 46 for 338 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions through the air. Burris has completed 19 of 39 passes for 231 yards, two touchdowns (one rushing), and one interception.

-Running backs Sedrick Irvin (Miami Dolphins) and David Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars) provide the ground game with an effective variety of styles. Irvin is a power runner that can get the team those much-needed extra yards while Allen uses his quickness to make opposing defenders miss and has great breakaway speed. Irvin put up quality numbers in Week 1 against the Claymores rushing for 53 yards on 6 carries, including a 46-yard scamper and has totaled 96 yards on 18 carries. The former Michigan State star has also been effective as a receiver out of the backfield catching 12 balls for 125 yards. Allen has identical numbers on the ground and has caught 6 balls for 68 yards while also setting an NFL Europe record with 10 kickoff returns at Scotland.

-Wide receivers Elijah Thurmon (Chicago Bears) and Sean Scott (Philadelphia Eagles) led the team in receptions throughout the training camp scrimmages, while Pierre Brown (Detroit Lions) serves as the team's deep threat.

-The most impressive catch of camp came on a 30-yard snag by Scott against Amsterdam in which he leaped up over two defenders, took a brutal hit that sent him crashing to the ground, and still held on to the ball.

-Brown had the longest reception of the day against Scotland last week when he hauled in a 44-yarder from Burris on the third play of the game. His final stats included 6 grabs for 97 yards, tops on the team. The speedster from Wayne State also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stambaugh in the second quarter.

-Center Josh Warner (Chicago Bears) and tackle Freddie Moore return for their second seasons with the Thunder and help anchor one of the biggest offensive lines that the organization has had in its five years of existence.

-German national wide receiver Jörg Heckenbach is in his seventh year in the league and fifth with the Thunder. He finished with 12 catches for 205 yards in 2002, including a 66-yard reception and started off the 2003 campaign with a 20-yard touchdown snag against the Claymores in Week 1.

THUNDER DEFENSIVE NOTES

-Free agent acquisition Salem Simon has stood out at defensive tackle throughout the first few weeks together with his new teammates. The 6-3, 273 pounder from Northwestern plays a key role for a defensive line that has already suffered several injuries.

-Defensive end Teto Simpson, in his second year in NFL Europe, has brought an array of energy to the Thunder defense since joining the team from Amsterdam during Week 1. Simpson spent time with the Barcelona Dragons in 2001 and played his college ball at the University of North Carolina. He has totaled 10 tackles through the first two games for Berlin. -Cornerbacks Tim Carter and Foad Ajdir, and safety Lelan Brickus are returning to the Thunder defense for the 2003 season. Brickus, a German national in his fourth season with Berlin, was named NFL Europe National Player of the Week in week 8 for his performance against Scotland last season.

-Defensive back Travis Coleman (Chicago Bears) has been one of the bright spots for Berlin. He picked off a pass thrown by Claymore quarterback Shane Stafford and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown in Week 1 and leads the team with 14 tackles.

-Linebackers Joe Wesley (wrist) and Josh Symonette (shoulder), Berlin's veteran defensive leaders, have been sent to Birmingham, Alabama to rehabilitate their injuries.

-Coleman (14), Byron Thweatt (11), Simpson (10), and Jamaal White (10) lead the team in tackles through two games.

-The D-line's latest addition is tackle Darian Tate (Carolina Panthers). He was in training camp with Barcelona and spent the first week of the season with the Amsterdam Admirals.

THUNDER SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

-Kicker Axel Kruse looks to extend his consecutive PAT streak to 80.

-Steve Cheek leads the league in punting. He was impressive throughout training camp and has been outstanding throughout the first two games of the season. He's punted 5 times, totaling 243 yards with a stellar average of 48.6 yards per boot.

ADDITIONAL THUNDER NOTES FROM WEEK 2 ACTION

-Quarterbacks Henry Burris (Chicago Bears) and Phil Stambaugh have split time during the first two weeks of the season. In only two games and 46 pass attempts, Stambaugh has matched the total of touchdown passes (2) he threw in 10 games and 200 attempts for the Rhein Fire in 2001.

-Running Back Sedrick Irvin (Miami Dolphins) leads the team in yards from scrimmage and has been the team's leading receiver (tied in Week 2) in both games.

-Running back David Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars) is tied for the team lead in rushing after totaling 66 yards on 7 carries last week. He has also caught 3 passes in each game this year, including 3 for 33 yards last week.

-Wide receiver Pierre Brown (Detroit Lions) leads the team in receiving yardage.

-Wide receiver Elijah Thurmon (Chicago Bears), born in Heidelberg, Germany, caught 3 passes for 33 yards last week and has 8 receptions for the season.

-National wide receiver Jörg Heckenbach had a 6-yard TD reception last week and is the only player in the league to have caught a TD pass in each of the first two weeks. Until this season his only 2 career TDs had been scored against the Galaxy, the team for whom he played in 1997 and 1998. Has caught 16 passes for 198 yards and 2 TDs in career vs. Galaxy and has at least one catch in each of his eight games against them.

-Receiver Sean Scott (Philadelphia Eagles) caught 1 pass for 7 yards last week.

-Tight end Bryan Fletcher (Chicago Bears) caught 2 passes for 9 yards last week.

-Cornerback Travis Coleman (Chicago Bears) tied the team lead with 8 tackles last week and returned 4 kickoffs for a 30.3-yard average.

-Defensive end Teto Simpson posted a team-high 8 tackles against Rhein last week and forced and recovered a fumble.

-Linebacker Jamal White (Oakland Raiders) had 7 tackles last week.

-Linebacker Byron Thweatt recorded 6 tackles last week.

-Defensive end Reggie Grimes made 3 tackles last week.

-Defensive end Ryan Wingrove had 4 tackles last week.

-Linebacker Chris Ball recorded 4 tackles against Rhein last week.

-German safety Lelan Brickus made 4 tackles and returned an interception 63 yards last time these teams met (Week 10 last year), to win National Player of the Week honors. -German kicker Axel Kruse is in his fifth season and is the Thunder's all-time leading scorer with 131 points, after adding a PAT last week. His 79 straight PATs is the second longest streak in NFLEL history. He missed a 29-yard FG on his only attempt last week.

-Kicker J.R. Jenkins (Baltimore Ravens) made a 48-yard FG last week but missed from 36 yards.

NEXT WEEK

The Thunder will host the Scottish Claymores on Sunday April 27th. Kickoff is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. (EST), 4:00 Local German Time.

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