af2 arenafootball2

Week 10 Saturday/Sunday af2 matchups

Published on June 3, 2004 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MANCHESTER WOLVES (4-4) AT WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON (6-2)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - WACHOVIA CENTER AT CASEY PLAZA (7,500) 7:00 P.M. ET

The Manchester Wolves travel to Pennsylvania to take on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers in a Northeast Division matchup. The Pioneers were the number one ranked team on the af2 Coaches' Poll last week, but like many of the number one ranked teams before them they lost to Louisville last week, in heartbreaking fashion. The Fire's Anthony Payton caught a 25-yard pass off the nets while lying on his back in the endzone with no time remaining to defeat the Pioneers. Manchester, on the other hand, is coming off of a 66-61 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard in which quarterback CHRIS SANDERS threw for a 396 yards, the sixth best single game total in af2 history. A win for the Wolves would put them one game over the .500 mark. Sanders often finds GEORGE WILLAMS, whose 64 receptions is tied for second most in the af2. On defense for the Wolves, MARVIN OWENS has four interceptions, tied for third best in the league. The defense of the Pioneers is lead by KYLE GROVE and his 48 tackles (40UA 16A), tops in the af2, and four interceptions. TIM HICKS takes reigns of the Pioneer offense. His passing rating of 112.7 is tenth best in the af2. Offensive specialist J.R. THOMAS' 56 catches, in only seven games, also ranks tenth in the af2. This is the first of three meetings between the division rivals this year. The next meeting will be July 10, at Wilkes-Barre Scranton.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (7-1) AT COLUMBUS WARDOGS (3-5)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - COLMBUS CIVIC CENTER (7,600) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Birmingham Steeldogs travel to Columbus, Georgia to take on the Wardogs. The Steeldogs are currently on a seven game winning streak after losing their first game of the season to Bossier-Shreveport. Last week they defeated rival Tennessee Valley 36-30 in overtime despite turning the ball over seven times. With the victory Birmingham is now ranked first on the af2 Coaches' Poll. Teams playing as the number one team on the poll are 3-5 this season, the Steeldogs are looking to avoid a similar fate. The Wardogs have won their last two games, both over Bossier-Shreveport. In these two games quarterback KLYE ROWLEY has played superbly, completing 48 of 73 passes for 610 yards and eleven interceptions. It's a good time for him to be hot, considering the talent on the Birmingham defense. ANTHONY JORDAN of the Steeldogs leads the af2 in interceptions with eight. Since interceptions also count as passes broken up Jordan also leads the team in this category with eight, both DEMONTRAY CARTER and GEORGE WILLIAMS are second with seven passes broken up. Jordan also leads the team in tackles with 32.5 (27UA 11A). They will need to keep an eye on the af2 leader in receptions, Columbus' ADRIAN COCKFIELD, who has 79 catches and eighteen touchdowns on the season. These two teams have already met this season, April 23, when the Steeldogs came out ahead 77-45.

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (6-2) AT LOUISVILLE FIRE (6-2)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - FREEDOM HALL (15,646) 7:30 P.M. ET

It is a battle for the top spot in the Midwest Division of the National Conference as the Quad City Steamwheelers(number two on the af2 Coaches' Poll) take on the Louisville Fire (number three on the af2 Coaches' Poll) at Freedom Hall. The Steamwheelers are coming off of a bye week, which they probably needed. Two weeks ago they went into San Diego as the number one ranked team on the af2 Coaches' Poll and left the west coast with a loss to a Riptide team who had one victory at that time. Louisville is coming off of a dramatic last second victory over the Pioneers. ANTHONY PAYTON caught a pass while laying on his back in the endzone from MATT SAUK off the nets to tie the game. A MARC SAMUEL, the af2 leading kicker in points scored, extra point gave the Fire the 48-47 victory. With both teams standing at 6-2, the winner will gain the inside track to the division championship. The defending division champions Steamwheelers will look to their dynamic duo of receivers in TIM DODGE and JEFF HEWITT. Dodge's 109.4 receiving yards per game is third in the af2. Hewitt is third in the af2 in all purpose yards, with 1,637 total yards on the season for an average of 204.6 yards per game. But Sauk can do more than get lucky bounces off the nets, he leads the af2 in total offense, averaging 282.1 yards per game. He will have to deal with the loss of JAMES SCOTT, the Fire's leading receiver who was injured last week and is on the short term injured list. These two teams will meet once more, the final week of the season at Quad Cities.

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (2-7) AT MEMPHIS XPLORERS (4-4)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - DESOTO CIVIC CENTER (8,400) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Memphis Xplorers host the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings in a Mid-South Division matchup. The Battle Wings are struggling, losing their last four games. The Xplorers sit at .500 with their loss last week to a good Florida Firecats team. Rookie BRIAN JONES' maturation at the quarterback position continues for Memphis. He has completed 127 of 212 passes for 1,498 yards and 21 touchdowns with seven interceptions so far this season. Jones also has ran for 100 yards and twelve touchdowns. Bossier-Shreveport quarterback SHERARD POTEETE knows a little bit about rushing himself, as he has rushed for 1,194 yards in his career, tops for a career in af2 history and the only player with over 1,000 career rushing yards. Poteete, the former Saluki out of Southern Illinois, has also thrown 210 touchdown passes in his career, a number Jones would like to reach. On defense for the Battle Wings, JAWAN DILL makes big plays. Dill is second on the team in tackles with 36.0 (26UA 20A) while leading the team in interceptions with two. For the Xplorers, DAHNEL SINGFIELD is a major contributor on defense. His 27 tackles (21UA 12A) is third on the team and he leads the team in pass breakups with thirteen. While he won't start, Japanese quarterback TAKESHI SHINJO, will be activated for the game, making him the third international player to be on an af2 active roster this season. Memphis won the earlier meeting between these two clubs 69-29.

PEORIA PIRATES (3-5) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (3-5)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - RESCH CENTER (8,600) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Peoria Pirates travel north to Wisconsin to take on the Green Bay Blizzard in a Midwest Division tilt. The Pirates are coming off their biggest win of the season, defeating Albany 44-24 at home. Green Bay fell to 3-5 last week with a loss at Manchester in a game which featured 796 passing yards, 400 from Green Bay quarterback CHRIS GREISEN. This week Greisen will get a test from a tough Peoria defense. Last week the Pirates' defense picked off four passes from quarterback D. Bryant, coming into the game last week Bryant had only one interception. The Pirates are giving up only 37.0 points a game and only 210.4 passing yards per game. LAWERENCE MATTHEWS, the current ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his two-interception game against Albany, is a threat on both sides of the ball. He leads the team in receiving with 34 catches including five touchdowns, two he had last week. New quarterback TALMADGE HILL, a former Ball State Cardinal and af2 rookie, played a few series last week throwing one touchdown and one interception. This week Hill will get the start over MICHAEL SOUZA, who departed for the CFL. The Blizzard's RANDALL LANE is one of the best receivers in the league. He leads the af2 in scoring with 144 points on 24 total touchdowns. Peoria and Green Bay will meet once more on the season, the last game of the year in Peoria.

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (6-2) AT LAREDO LAW (2-6)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - LAREDO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER (8,000) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz go on the road to face the Laredo Law at the Laredo Entertainment Center. The Yard Dawgz have won four of their last five games and have won their last two. Laredo lost last week at Wichita 64-34 after winning their two previous games against Rio Grande Valley and Tulsa. Oklahoma City's offense is flat out explosive as they average 61.0 points a game. CRAIG STRICKLAND leads the charge for the Yard Dawgz averaging 271.0 passing yards per game and 51 touchdowns. He finds three key receivers: TIMON MARSHALL, KRIS PETERS and AL HUNT; who have 47, 40 and 38 receptions respectively and while making other contributions. Marshall has an interception and two kickoff return touchdowns on the season. Peters has returned four missed field goals for 67 yards. Hunt leads the team in touchdown catches with nineteen. TRACO RACHAL leads a Laredo defense which will have the responsibility slowing down the Yard Dawgz offense. Rachal's 41.0 tackles (33UA 16A) is tied for fifth in the league. P.J. WINSTON is the top receiver for the Law. He has 44 catches for 656 yards and eleven touchdowns. The Yard Dawgz defense has 30 sacks on the season, a league high. They are led by JAMES LANDERS, who has a league high 8.0 sacks on the season. Oklahoma City and Laredo has met once already this season, with the Yard Dawgz coming out on top 79-48. The next meeting will be two week from now, at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (1-7) AT TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (5-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - VON BRAUN CENTER (6,642) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Arkansas Twisters travel to Huntsville, Alabama to take on the Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Vipers and Twisters didn't meet once last season but have already met one this season with the Vipers coming out on top 53-36. The Vipers are coming off an overtime loss to arch rival Birmingham in which Vipers kicker SEAN SULLIVAN made a 40-yard field goal to push the into overtime. After Birmingham scored a touchdown and missed the extra point, the Vipers couldn't capitalize, throwing an interception ending the game. The Twisters' loss last week to Oklahoma City featured two impressive individual achievements. REGGIE COOLEY returned two interceptions back for touchdowns, and quarterback KEVIN WILLIAMS rushed for 88 yards, including a 35-yard rush. Williams currently ranks fifth in the af2 in rushing with 134 yards on the season. DARNELL SMALL leads the league in tackles for a loss with seven, five of these tackles are sacks, which leads the team in that category also. The Vipers defense will be short handed with the loss of DS CORL BUCKNOR. In last weeks game Bucknor tore his ACL, MCL and patella tendon in his right leg, and will not return this season. Bucknor was second on the team in tackles with 16.5 (10UA 13A), had two interceptions and lead the team in pass breakups with eleven. The rest of the secondary including HENRY FREEMAN will need to step up their play to make up for the loss of Bucknor. JOSH KELLETT took over as starting quarterback for the Vipers a few weeks ago, but with the trade of the expected preseason starter BRYAN SNYDER earlier this week the team is now more than ever Kellett's team. This is the final meeting between the Twisters and Vipers this season.

WICHITA STEALTH (6-2) AT TULSA TALONS (5-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - TULSA CONVENTION CENTER (7,111) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Wichita Stealth go on the road to face the defending ArenaCup Champions Tulsa Talons. After losing their two previous games to the Steamwheelers and Yard Dawgz, Wichita got back on track last week with a victory at home over Laredo. Tulsa has won their last two games, over Arkansas and Rio Grande Valley. While Tulsa has one of the leagues best offenses, they will be without one of the best players in af2 history as MITCH ALLNER is out for a minimum of 30 days as he was placed on the long-term injured reserve list. Second leading receiver ROBERT REED with his 36 catches for 456 yards and 14 touchdowns, will have to step it up for the Talons. Quarterback BOB BEES will need to move the ball around a bit more to make up for the absence of Allner. Wichita may have found their quarterback in former Kansas State passer JONATHAN BEASLEY. Last week in his first professional start, Beasley completed 12-of-22 passes for 200 yards and six touchdowns with one interception. His main target was DAMON THOMPSON who caught five Beasley passes, four of them for touchdowns. On defense for the Stealth, DAVID HURST not only leads the team in sacks with 4.5 he also leads the team in forced fumbles with four. He will have the task of chasing down Bees. The Talons and Stealth will face off two more times this season, Week 12 in Wichita and Week 14 back in Tulsa.

HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (5-3) AT BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (5-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - CENTENNIAL GARDEN (9,000) 10:00 P.M. ET

The Bakersfield Blitz host the Hawaiian Islanders with the winner gaining the early edge in the West Division championship race. The Islanders lost last week at home to San Diego, 91-77, in the highest scoring game in af2 history. Bakersfield on the other hand defeated Central Valley to pull into a tie with the Islanders for first place in the division. This week Bakersfield looks to go one game up on the Islanders with a victory. KENNY HASLIP's 97.5 tackles led the league in tackles last season as a member of the San Diego Riptide. This season as a member of the Blitz, Haslip is leading the Blitz in tackles with 31.5, including 1.5 tackles for a loss, six pass breakups, and one fumble recovery. Last week he had six tackles, including one for a loss. ERIC MAHANKE is the leading receiver for the Blitz, but has had to step up the last two weeks with STEVE WOFFORD being out the last two games. In true Ironman football fashion, Mahanke also has an interception this season. Bakersfield's BEN MCCOMBS has shown a knack for finding the endzone on the ground, with five rushing touchdowns on 49 total rushing yards. In his second week back for the Islanders, ANTHONY ARCENEAUX had a giant game last week. Arceneaux returned six total kickoffs, bringing three all the way back for touchdowns and totaling 254 total return yards on the game. He also added seven catches for 92 yards and a receiving touchdown. This brings his total of receptions on the season to 29. Hawaiian has already defeated the Blitz this season, 45-40, on April 24 in Hawaii.

SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (3-5) AT CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (1-7)
SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2004 - SELLAND ARENA (8,300) 10:30 P.M. ET

In their second of back-to-back home game the Central Valley Coyotes host the San Diego Riptide. Last week the Coyotes lost 41-25 to the Bakersfield Blitz. Two weeks ago the Riptide had one victory, now after wins against the Steamwheelers and Islanders they are on a high. A victory over the Coyotes would get them within one game of .500, giving their season new meaning. A key contributor for the Riptide is NAKOA MCELRATH, current U.S. Ironman of the Week. His three touchdown catches combined with a defensive touchdown last week earned him this honor. He is currently the third leaving receiver for the Riptide with 21 catches for 399 yards and twelve touchdowns along with having 8.5 tackles on defense. Another of the Riptide's ironmen is RICO CURTIS. He has 34.0 (25UA 18A) tackles this season, one interception, four passes broken up, one forced fumble and a recovered fumble. On offense Curtis has fourteen catches for 177 yards. The Coyotes' KENYATTE MORGAN, a former Montana State Bobcat, leads the af2 in all-purpose yards with 1,863, averaging 232.9 yards per game. Interestingly though, he would have fourteen more if he didn't have minus fourteen yards rushing. If quarterback KYLE BIGGS can consistently get the ball to Morgan the Coyotes' chances of winning improve greatly. VONKEITH SPENCER leads the Coyotes defense with five interceptions. San Diego defeated Central Valley earlier in the season 59-34, for their first victory of the season. The Riptide and Coyotes will square off two more times this season, Week 15 at Central Valley and the final week of the season, Week 18, in San Diego.

CAPE FEAR WILDCATS (4-3) AT ALBANY CONQUEST (3-5)
SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2004 - PEPSI ARENA (13,901) 12:00 P.M. ET

In NFL fashion, it is a Sunday afternoon game in Albany as the Cape Fear Wildcats take on the Albany Conquest with kickoff set for Noon, changed from the original start time of 2:00 p.m. After losing their first five, then winning their next three, Albany's hot streak ended last week with a loss at Peoria. A loss in which quarterback D. BRYANT threw four interceptions. Cape Fear is a game above .500 but has yet to put a solid win streak together, with their longest winning stretch being victories over Florida and Columbus in Weeks 4 and 5. The Wildcats' up and down play could be rectified with new quarterback MICHAEL GLUSKI. Last week against Macon Gluski completed sixteen of 27 passes for 241 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. After a scoreless first quarter Gluski lead the Wildcats to five touchdowns and 35 total points in the second quarter. MATT BURSTEIN had two of his five touchdowns in the second quarter, one 36-yard pass from Gluski and a 58-yard kickoff return. On the season Burstein leads the Wildcats in receiving with 48 catches for 764 yards and 20 touchdowns. JAMAIE WARE of Albany will need to keep an eye on Burstein while trying to add to his total of four interceptions on the season. Ware picked off two passes last week. On offense Ware has 30 catches for 513 yards and seven touchdowns. TONY LOCKE is not only a threat on offense, but also on special teams, as he has returned two kicks back for touchdowns this season. Cape Fear won the first meeting of the season between these two teams 70-55, the match up was the first game of the season for both teams. They will play once more, the last week of the season at Cape Fear.

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