VooDoo Hoping to Storm the Barn for a Win
Published on May 8, 2013 under Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS (May 8, 2013) - The New Orleans VooDoo (1-5) continue their three game road trip with a visit to the Iowa Barnstormers (3-4) Saturday night.
The VooDoo is coming off their fifth straight loss as they fell to South Division rival Tampa Bay last weekend. The Barnstormers picked up a win in San Antonio after losing four in a row. The VooDoo is looking to avenge a 48-34 Week 2 loss to the Barnstormers in New Orleans.
Iowa starting quarterback J.J. Raterink tied a season high with seven touchdown passes in the victory against the Talons and has 36 passing touchdowns on the season. Raterink is second in the league in passing yards with 1,923. He was involved in six scores in the last game with the VooDoo as he tossed four touchdowns and rushed for a season high two.
New Orleans started its third different quarterback last week against the Storm. Bill Stull took the reins and completed 27 of 47 passes for a season high 265 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. VooDoo quarterbacks have struggled with consistency at times and will need to connect with their receivers to match up with the prolific Raterink.
Despite only suiting up in five games so far this season, Iowa receiver Marcus Harris, who did not play in New Orleans in Week 2, leads all Barnstormers receivers with 675 yards (5th in AFL) and 12 touchdowns. He did have his lowest yardage output last week in San Antonio with 90, but he grabbed three scores. Receiver Marco Thomas leads the Barnstormers in receptions at 49. Thomas had a stellar game against the Talons as he caught seven balls for 104 yards and a score.
The VooDoo's Courtney Smith leads VooDoo receivers with 29 receptions for 342 yards and seven touchdowns, a total he shares with receiver Derek Lee. Receiver Quorey Payne had the best outing last week with 10 catches for 102 yards. This group will need to continue to work together to help lead the VooDoo passing game, which has been battered by injuries.
Defensively, Iowa is tied for second in the league with 12 interceptions. Barnstormers defensive back Ter'Ran Benton has five of those interceptions including one in New Orleans in Week 2. New Orleans has had difficulty finding interceptions as they have four on the season. Defensive back Eddie Moten has three of those including one against Iowa in Week 2. New Orleans will have to apply more pressure to the quarterback to be able to notch a game in the win column.
One thing the VooDoo will have to do to beat Iowa is to take advantage of opportunities. The Barnstormers were penalized a season high 11 times in New Orleans, but the VooDoo were unable to turn that into their favor. Iowa simply needs to minimize mistakes as they committed two turnovers in the first game against the VooDoo and allowed more yards of total offense.
Iowa will look to keep pace in the Central Division as they are a game behind Chicago, while the VooDoo are looking to get into the win column as they share a 1-5 record with Orlando in the South Division, five games back from Jacksonville. Kickoff is set for 8:05 p.m. Eastern Time this Saturday in the Wells Fargo Arena.
Arena Football League Stories from May 8, 2013
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- Talons Look to Win First Home Game - San Antonio Talons
- Rattlers Reclaim First Place in Week 8 Coaches' Poll - AFL
- Philadelphia Looks to Win First Home Game - Philadelphia Soul
- Soul Announce Faith against Cancer Concert Before Soul Game - Philadelphia Soul
- VooDoo Hoping to Storm the Barn for a Win - New Orleans VooDoo
- Tampa Bay Storm Initiates "Seats for Soldiers" Program - Tampa Bay Storm
- Utah Heads to Phoenix for Rematch with Rattlers - Utah Blaze
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