VooDoo Take on Conference's Number 1 Saturday
June 12, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS (June 12, 2014) - The New Orleans VooDoo (2-9) wrap up their road trip with a visit to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators this Saturday night.
The VooDoo face their toughest test of the season as they will be squaring off with the American Conference's top team. The Gladiators (10-1) last played the VooDoo on March 29 in New Orleans, where the VooDoo came up short but held Cleveland to just 37 points, their lowest total in a victory.
VooDoo quarterback Ryan Perrilloux handled the passing game and recorded 15 completions out of 29 attempts. He tossed a touchdown and used his legs to grab three more scores, but he also threw three interceptions. Perrilloux's 131 total rushing yards this season is fifth in the league. Perrilloux and back-up BJ Hall both sustained ankle injuries against Pittsburgh, so the VooDoo brought in Rookie Quarterbacks Adam Kennedy and Brian Hudson. Hudson (6-3, 215, Campbell) spent three seasons at Liberty before transferring to Campbell for his final season of eligibility in 2013. He appeared in 11 games with two starts at Liberty in 2011, passing for 498 yards and four touchdowns. As a senior at Campbell in 2013, he completed 183-303 passes for 15 touchdowns. He also rushed for 884 yards and eight scores on the year. Kennedy (6-4, 230, Arkansas State) finished his time at Arkansas State with 3,313 passing yards and 22 touchdowns. He began his collegiate career at San Joaquin Delta College, where he earned First Team All-Valley Conference honors as a freshman in 2010. In 2011, he transferred to Utah State, where he threw for 972 yards and 11 touchdowns in 8 games while leading the Aggies to an appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. As a senior at Arkansas State in 2013, Kennedy guided the Red Wolves to the GoDaddy Bowl.
Receiver Carlese Franklin recorded his best performance of 2014 with nine catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. Team leader L.J. Castile was limited to just three receptions for 27 yards. Castile needs 89 yards to reach 1,000 for the season and is the only VooDoo receiver with at least a catch in every game.
Last week, Cleveland quarterback Shane Austin threw seven touchdowns for the second time this season, both times against the Iowa Barnstormers. Austin is sixth in the league with 2,414 yards through the air, and he also leads the team with 95 rushing yards. Receiver Dominick Goodman leads a prolific receiving corps with 87 catches for 900 yards. Receiver Thyron Lewis is not too far behind with 61 catches for 854 yards.
Two talented defenders Cameron McGlenn and Mike Alston anchor a unit that has had its bright spots for the team this season. McGlenn joins four others, including Cleveland defensive back Marrio Norman, in a tie for second league-wide with eight interceptions. He also leads the team in tackles with 54. Alston is tied for fourth in the league with nine sacks.
Cleveland's defense tackles well, as three of its defenders appear on the league leaderboard: LaRoche Jackson (70.5, 3rd ), Norman (64, 8th ), and Dominic Jones (63, 9th ). Willie McGinnis is tied for eighth in the AFL with 6.5 sacks.
Jones has also been a big threat in the Gladiators' kick return game as he is second in the league with 1,141 yards. The VooDoo's Larry Beavers has also been consistent with 681 yards in the return game (7th, AFL).
The teams are set for a 6:00 p.m. CDT kickoff, Saturday, at the Quicken Loans Arena. Fans can watch the game live on ESPN3.com or tune in to WRNO 99.5-FM on the radio. The VooDoo return to the Graveyard on June 21 to host the Jacksonville Sharks.
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