af2 arenafootball2

Week 11: Friday Night Matchups

Published on June 4, 2009 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


ALBANY FIREBIRDS (3-6) AT MANCHESTER WOLVES (4-5)

Friday, June 5, 2009 - Verizon Wireless Arena (9,650) 7:30 P.M. EST

Week 11 kicks off with the Albany Firebirds traveling to New Hampshire to face the Manchester Wolves in the third of four games between the two teams in 2009. The Wolves won the first meeting in Week 4 (74-53), but Albany got its revenge in Week 8 (53-51). Both teams are hovering just below .500 and will be looking to improve their chances of making the postseason with a victory this week. After an 0-5 start, the Firebirds have won three of their last four games. One of the main reasons behind the turnaround has been QB STEPHEN WASIL. Wasil has thrown 26 TD passes over Albany's last four games against just three interceptions. Last week, despite the team's 66-63 home loss to Milwaukee, Wasil completed 26-of-38 passes for 304 yards with eight total touchdowns (7 passing, 1 rushing) and one interception. He currently ranks fifth in the league in passer rating at 122.2. One of Wasil's favorite targets is WR/DB CHRISTIAN WISE, who is averaging nearly nine receptions per game and leads the club with 69 catches for 1,062 yards (13 TDs). Against the Iron, Wise caught nine passes for 163 yards and three scores. WR/LB ALVIN RAY JACKSON is another player to watch for Albany. Jackson, who had three touchdown grabs against Milwaukee, has a team-high 14 receiving scores on the year and also leads the club in tackles (34.5), interceptions (2) and fumble recoveries (3). DL REGGIE PARAMOURE recorded a game-high two sacks last week to up his team-leading total to five. After a 3-1 start, Manchester has only won once in the team's last five games. The Wolves most recent defeat came last week at Florida, 69-53. In an effort to spark the team, this weekend's game will feature the first start for rookie QB MIKE POTTS. Potts, who hasn't seen any action in 2009, will replace veteran JAMES PINKNEY. Pinkney was completing 61.8% of his passes with only six interceptions before being traded earlier in the week. WR EMERY SAMMONS continues to lead the team in receptions, averaging 95 receiving yards per game and 12 points. Last week Sammons had 11 catches for 131 yards and a team-high four touchdowns. Defensively Manchester ranks among the league's Top-10 in points per game allowed (8th - 48.9). DB AL PHILLIPS ranks third in the af2 in tackles (64.5) and passes defended (17). If Potts can play well in his debut, this week's head-to-head matchup should be a battle from start to finish.

MAHONING VALLEY THUNDER (1-8) AT MILWAUKEE IRON (3-6)

Friday, June 5, 2009 - Bradley Center (7,017) 8:00 P.M. EST

Friday's action finishes with the Mahoning Valley Thunder traveling to Milwaukee, Wisc. to face off against the expansion Iron. This week's contest is the second and final meeting among the two clubs in 2009. Milwaukee defeated the Thunder in Week 2, 59-39. The loss was the first of eight straight for Mahoning Valley. The Thunder have also lost 16 straight road games, a streak that dates back to 2007. Mahoning Valley's struggles stem from weaknesses on both sides of the ball. The team averages just 38.9 points per game (23rd overall) while allowing the second most points per game overall (62). The Thunder are having a difficult time taking advantage of offensive opportunities and scoring in the clutch, converting on only 29.7 percent on third downs. Mahoning Valley has also struggled in the red zone, scoring just 65 percent of the time. The Thunder have also hurt themselves with a league-high 31 turnovers. Offensively, QBs DAVON VINSON and BLAKE POWERS have both seen action so far. Vinson, however, will likely get the start this week after Powers was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday. Vinson has just 12 TD passes in six games played with seven interceptions. WR QUOREY PAYNE is the team's top offensive threat. Payne is averaging 104.3 receiving yards per game and 12.7 points. He also ranks second in the league in all-purpose yards with 1,756 (195.1 per game). Last week in the team's 61-39 home loss to Kentucky, Payne had 11 catches for 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned six kickoffs for 144 yards to finish with 287 all-purpose yards. The Iron are continuing to improve in their rookie season. They have just three wins on the season but have won two of their last three. Head coach GARY COMPTON continues to play with the roster, most recently replacing his regular starting QBs TYLER DONOVAN and SHANE ADLER with 15-year AFL veteran and former teammate TODD HAMMEL. Three years after playing in his last AFL game and just one day after joining the team, the 42-year-old signal caller not only started for the Iron but guided the club to a dramatic 66-63 road win at Albany in Week 10. Hammel showed no signs of rust in his return to the game by completing 23-of-32 passes (72 percent) for 273 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. He is the oldest quarterback and third oldest player overall to see action in an af2 game. One area the Iron need to improve on is pass protection. This season Milwaukee quarterbacks have struggled under pressure as the offensive line has allowed 31 sacks, the most in the league. On the defensive side, the Iron have both the top passing defense as well as overall defense in the league, allowing a mere 207.6 average passing yards and 226.8 total yards per game. LB BLUE ALDRIDGE leads the club in tackles with 45 and in fumble recoveries with three. If Hammel plays well again in his second start, the Iron have a great opportunity to earn their first back-to-back victories.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



arenafootball2 Stories from June 4, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central