Vipers Game Notes
April 29, 2002 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Tennessee Valley Raptors News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Arkansas Twisters (3-1) at Tennessee Valley Vipers (3-0)
Date: May 4, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 cst
Site: Von Braun Center (6,642)
National Anthem: Heather Batchelor
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: Randal Beesley (Referee), Robert Lose (Umpire), Shawn Kelly (Head Linesman), Rusty Baynes (Line Judge), Wayne Gautney (Back Judge)
Radio: WUMP 730 AM (Doug Franz)
TV: None
Series Record: Vipers lead 4-0
Last Meeting: Vipers won 37-28 on April 6 in Little Rock.
Streaks: Vipers W3, Twisters W3
Coaches: Kevin Guy (3-0, First Year)
Kevin Porter (13-6, Second Year)
THE STAKES: The Vipers are 3-0 on the season, while Arkansas has won three consecutive games after the opening loss. The Vipers need to win at home, while Arkansas can get a win on the road.
THE SERIES: This is the fourth meeting between the two teams. Both are original members of the af2.
THE IFs:
If TENNESSEE VALLEY defeats ARKANSAS, it would ...
· Give the Vipers a 5-0 series record with Arkansas.
· Give the Vipers their second win at home.
· Give Kevin Guy his fourth win.
· Give the Vipers a 4-0 record on the season
HEAD COACHES: Vipers head coach, Kevin Guy, is 3-0 in his first season as head coach. He played six years in the Arena Football League with Minnesota, New Jersey and Orlando and served as the defensive coordinator at New Jersey in 2000 and Florida in 2001. He also served as the interim head coach in New Jersey at the end of the 2000 season. Arkansas head coach, Gary Anderson, is in his second season with the Twisters. He served as an assistant coach in 2000.
LAST SERIES MEETING: The Vipers beat the Twisters 37-28 in the season opener for both teams on April 6 in Little Rock. The Vipers held the Twisters to one score per quarter, but the Twisters recorded four sacks on defense. Kelly Snell intercepted two passes.
SERIES NOTABLES: The Vipers lead the all-time series 4-0 and are 1-0 in Huntsville.
THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:
Kevin Guy, on the rematch with Arkansas "It looks like their offense is on all cylinders and defensively they get great pressure on the quarterback. I think they are the best team that we have faced so far. I look for them to be in the hunt at the end of the year."
Derrick Shepard, on what the offensive & defensive line must do against Arkansas: "Offensively we have to know our assignments, defensively we have to keep our motor's running the entire play. If your first move doesn't work try another. We have to keep working.."
DROPBACK: The Vipers held on for a 50-47 win over the Macon Knights in Macon last weekend. It pushed the Vipers road-winning streak to 10 games. Wes Counts completed 17-29 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. The Vipers rushed for a team record 5 touchdowns.
FORWARD MOTION: The Vipers will travel to Memphis next Saturday (May 11) to face the Xplorers.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
Arena Football Experience: Nine members of the Vipers roster are rookies in af2, however, they all have experience in the Arena Football League. Tyree Allison, Kenny Bailey, Chris Bell, Ed Howard, Todd Latourette, Derrick Shepard, Kelly Snell, Antonio Speed and David Sucura all have either played in the AFL or been in camp with a team.
Fields continues to shine: Offensive Specialist, Kelly Fields, has caught 24 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns. He has 576 all-purpose yards in three games.
Offensive Line: The Vipers offensive line gave up just six sacks last season. Through two games the group has already given up eight.
Fuller lives up to "Playmaker" name: Fuller caught two passes for 15 yards, recorded a sack and a tackle for a loss and broke up a pass in the win over Mobile. He caught a screen pass and rumbles 38 yards against Macon. He has now caught 28 passes, 17 for touchdowns. He also has an interception return for a touchdown.
Count on Wes: Quarterback, Wes Counts, continues to improve with every game. The rookie quarterback completed 17-29 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown in the win over Macon. He now has six rushing touchdowns on the season.
We're Not Worthy: Tennessee Valley wide receiver/defensive back, Reggie Worthy has caught 11 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns, rushed 12 times for 57 yards and four touchdowns and recorded 2.5 tackles, one interception and one pass break up.
Defensive Specialists: Viper defensive specialists, Kelly Snell and Kenny Bailey are living up to their position. The two combined have recorded 25 tackles, six interceptions and seven pass break ups.
Road Sweet Road: With the win over Macon last week, the Vipers have won 10 consecutive games on the road, the longest current streak in the af2. They are tied with the 2000-2001 Quad City Steamwheelers.
Tough Schedule Ahead: The Vipers got off to a good start of a tough four game stretch with the win over Macon. After Arkansas, the Vipers will travel to Memphis before hosting Birmingham.
Leading the Turnover Battle: The Vipers third in the af2 in turnover margin at +5. The Vipers have forced seven turnovers while only committing two.
Hurt Vipers: With each Viper win the injury list seems to grow. Robert Gordon suffered a concussion last week, while Kelly Snell played the second half with an injured hamstring. Chris Bell should return this week while Ronald Bonner continues to rehab his injured knee..
Kicking problem solved: The Vipers made three field goals last season, Todd Latourette has made four through the first three games this season. He nailed a 47-yarder last week in Macon as time expired in the second quarter.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Vipers vs Twister WR/DB Lennie Johnson: The Vipers have to find a way to stop Johnson. He has caught 16 passes for 292 yards and six touchdowns and recorded 10.5 tackles and three sacks on defense.
Vipers Offensive Line vs Twisters Defensive Line: The Arkansas Twisters lead the af2 in sacks with 17 sacks. They recorded four in week one against the Vipers.
KEY DATES IN VIPER HISTORY:
March 31, 2000 â Vipers defeat the Birmingham Steeldogs 59-18 in the first ever af2 game.
April 7, 2000 â Vipers defeat the Norfolk Nighthawks 48-15 in their first home game
August 1, 2000 â Vipers defeat the Tulsa Talons 49-28 in their first ever playoff game
August 5, 2000- Vipers go on the road and defeat the Augusta Stallions 47-40 in the af2 semifinals.
August 10, 2000- Vipers fall 68-59 to the Quad City Steamwheelers in the inaugural ArenaCup.
July 30, 2001- Vipers defeat the Tallahassee Thunder 70-52 in the first round of the af2 playoffs
August 4, 2001- Vipers fall 51-50 in overtime to the Richmond Speed the af2 semifinals.
April 6, 2002 - Kevin Guy gets his first win as Tennessee Valley head coach with a 37-28 win over Arkansas.
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