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Week 11 Saturday night matchups

June 11, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MANCHESTER WOLVES (4-5) AT CAPE FEAR WILDCATS (5-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - CROWN COLISEUM (8,920) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Manchester Wolves go on the road to take on the Cape Fear Wildcats in a Northeast Division tilt. The Wolves have struggled to put together consistent performances, as their longest winning streak this season is just two. Manchester is coming off a tough loss to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last week. Against the Pioneers the Wolves had a chance to move one game above .500 and get back into the Northeast Division championship race, but with the loss they are now one game out of last place. But they are still in the playoff chase making every game for the rest of the season crucial. Cape Fear currently has a two game winning streak, defeating Macon two weeks ago and Albany last week. The Wildcats' MITCH GALLOWAY earned the U.S. Army Ironman of the Week accolade for his performance last week. Galloway passed for a touchdown, ran for a touchdown and recovered a fumble for a touchdown. All of this while catching six passes, racking up 2.5 tackles and returning one kickoff for 14 yards. On the season Galloway is the Wildcats second leading receiver with 32 catches for 311 yards and five touchdowns. The Wolves truly have a team defense as eleven different Manchester players have at last half a sack this season. MARVIN OWENS is the stand out on the Wolves defense. While he doesn't have a sack he does have four interceptions and 45.0 tackles (37UA 16A). The Wolves won the first meeting this season between these two clubs 45-41. They will meet one more time this season, July 16 in Manchester.

COLUMBUS WARDOGS (4-5) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (6-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - GERMAINE ARENA (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

It is a South Division matchup as the Florida Firecats host the Columbus Wardogs. Both teams are hot. Columbus has won their last three games, including a 44-42 victory last week over Birmingham. The Steeldogs entered the game last week as number one on the af2 Coaches' Poll and the only one loss team in af2, but the Wardogs changed all this. Florida also has a three game winning streak, winning 41-29 last week against Macon. While CAINON LAMB is the Firecats' leading receiver MAGIC BENTON plays a pivotal role for the Florida offense. He has fewer catches and touchdown receptions than Lamb, but Benton has more receiving yards as he has 51 catches for 685 yards and fifteen touchdowns. While STEVE GORRIE lead the Firecats and af2 in rushing yards with 268, CHRIS MORANT also deserves some attention. Morant's 109 rushing yards would lead many teams. On defense Morant is tied for second on the team in tackles with 22.5 and leads the Firecats with 6.0 tackles for a loss. The Wardogs' ADRIAN COCKFIELD's 89 receptions is first in the af2. Cockfield is averaging 108.0 receiving yards per game. With the help of Cockfield, former Ivy Leaguer from Brown KYLE ROWLEY has put up solid numbers this season. Columbus will have to deal with some injuries as WR/DB ANTHONY DIXON and WR/DB TERENCE SAMUEL both got banged up last week and will not play. Florida defeated Columbus earlier this season 62-33 in Columbus. Wardogs head coach.

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (6-3) AT MACON KNIGHTS (2-7)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - MACON COLISEUM (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

In a rematch of a playoff game last season the Tennessee Valley Vipers take on the Macon Knights. Last season the Knights went into the Snake Pit and defeated the Vipers 51-48 to advance to the ArenaCup. This season the Knights are struggling to regain that same form, losing their last three. The Knights two victories this season have come against Manchester and Columbus, two teams fighting for the playoffs so there is talent on the Macon roster. JAMAAL GARMAN is the leading receiver for the Knights. He has 57 catches for 711 yards and fifteen touchdowns. In Arena Football fashion, Garman has registered eight solo tackles and two forced fumbles on defense. While only registering one sack on the season JASON GETER leads the Knights in quarterback hits with five. For the Vipers DAVE MORRILL is a key contributor. Morrill leads the team in rushing with 33 yards and two touchdowns. On defense he is second on the team in tackles with 17.0 (12UA 10A). His 3.5 tackles for a loss leads the team. He has also forced two fumbles and recovered one. JOSH KELLETT's play at quarterback has been up and down. Last week he threw four touchdowns and zero interceptions while two weeks ago against Birmingham he threw one touchdown and two interceptions. Look for Kellett's play to dictate the Vipers' fortunes. Macon and Tennessee Valley will play one more time this season, July 17 at Tennessee Valley.

BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (6-3) AT MEMPHIS XPLORERS (4-5)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - DESOT0 CIVIC CENTER (8,400) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Bakersfield Blitz take the long trip east to take on the Memphis Xplorers. The Blitz have won two games in a row and four of their last five. Their only loss in the last five games came to the Memphis Xplorers, with this the Blitz have revenge on their minds. In that game BRIAN JONES threw six touchdown passes and ran for three earning Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week honors for the week. Last week Jones sat out due to an injury, but he is expected back this week along with OS KEVIN PRENTISS and his 18 touchdowns. As far as the rest of the season goes, Jones could face competition from MICHAEL WALL, who the Xplorers acquired from Tulsa this week. Bakersfield is the quiet contender for the ArenaCup. First place in the West Division, but not garnering much attention. They have played very consistent football, as they haven't lost two games in a row yet this season. A win over Memphis would give them their first three game winning streak of the season though. One player the Blitz will rely on to get this win is KEVIN CARROLL. Carroll's 5.5 sacks leads the Blitz and is tied for fifth in the league. Carroll also has three forced fumbles, one recovered fumble and a safety on the season. The Blitz' are ranked fourth in the league in total sacks with 22. On offense CHAD ELLIOTT has been a solid leader of the Blitz offense. Elliott's 46 touchdown passes is fifth in the af2 among quarterbacks. This is the final meeting between the Blitz and Xplorers this season.

LOUISVILLE FIRE (7-2) AT PEORIA PIRATES (3-6)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - PEORIA CIVIC CENTER (9,772) 8:00 P.M. ET

It is a Midwest Division matchup when Louisville Fire go on the road to face the Peoria Pirates. Louisville comes in as the number one ranked team on the af2 Coaches' Poll looking to avoid the Coaches' Poll Curse, which has taken down many of the previous number one ranked teams. Louisville comes in hot with three straight victories and a win last week over the Steamwheelers which came down to the final minute of play. Louisville is now in first place of the Midwest Division and wants to stay there. After a win two weeks ago over Albany, Peoria suffered a setback last week in Green Bay. One Pirates' player who has been consistent has been FB/LB CASEY URLACHER. His 120 rushing yards leads the team, as do his six touchdowns. Urlacher's 21.0 tackles (16UA 10A) is third on the team. His 6.5 tackles for a loss leads the team. LAWRENCE MATTHEWS has 38 catches on offense to go with his two interceptions this season. With leading receiver JAMES SCOTT out last week for the Fire due to injury TAKUYA FURUTANI stepped his game up. Last week Furutani caught ten passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns. ANTHONY PAYTON also caught four touchdowns last week also and has thirteen total on the season. These two clubs will have to get used to each other as they face off again next week in Louisville.

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (7-2) AT WICHITA STEALTH (6-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - KANSAS COLISEUM (9,686) 8:00 P.M. ET

Two of the best teams in the American Conference face off as the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz go on the road to face the Wichita Stealth. Earlier this season the Stealth went into the Ford Center in Oklahoma City and suffered a 53-35 defeat. Wichita struggled on offense, scoring only two touchdowns in the first three quarters. The Yard Dawgz racked up six sacks on the Stealth while the offense was superb for Oklahoma City. In the game Yard Dawgz' quarterback CRAIG STRICKLAND threw seven touchdown passes, four to AL HUNT, two to KRIS PETERS and one to TIMON MARSHALL. This week's meeting has some key differences than that last meeting. This time the game is at Wichita, and this now the Stealth quarterback is JONATHAN BEASLEY. In two games Beasley, the former Kansas State Wildcat, has completed 24 of 50 passes for 386 yards and twelve touchdowns with two interceptions. Don't look for Wichita receiver MICHAEL DRITLEIN back yet, he was placed on the long-term injury list this week. DAVID HURST's 5.5 sacks leads the Stealth. The Wichita line has sacked the opposing quarterback 23 times, second in the af2, only behind the Yard Dawgz who have 33 sacks. While the Yard Dawgz have only given up five sacks the Stealth line has given up 20 sacks, 22nd in the league. If the game comes down to a final kick, give the Yard Dawgz an edge, as PETER MARTINEZ is the af2's second leading scorer among kickers, scoring 78 points. Wichita and Oklahoma City will play each other one more times this season, July 17 at Wichita.

ALBANY CONQUEST (3-6) AT ARKANSAS TWISTERS (1-8)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - ALLTEL ARENA (16,508) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Albany Conquest go on the road to face the Arkansas Twisters at Alltel Arena. Arkansas is struggling losing their last eight games after winning their season opener. But Albany has hit a road block the last two weeks and may be exactly what the twisters need to see across from them on the turf. After losing their first four games Albany changed head coaches and won their next three games, but now has lost their last two, losing at Peoria and at home against Cape Fear. Albany has reason to be optimistic though as they have talent at key positions. Quarterback D. BRYANT is a dynamic rusher along with a dangerous passer. Bryant has six rushing touchdowns to go along with his 22 passing touchdowns. OS TONY LOCKE is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball, either on offense or returning a kickoff. Locke has 44 catches for 856 yards and 21 touchdowns along with 35 kick returns for 843 yards and three touchdowns. JAMIE WARE leads the team in interceptions with four while catching 31 passes for 532 yards and seven touchdowns on offense. For the Twisters DARNELL SMALL leads the team with 8.0 tackles for a loss of 44 yards. The only Arkansas' player who has returned an interception for a touchdown this season is REGGIE COOLEY, who did it twice against Oklahoma City in Week 9. To attempt to reverse their fortunes newly signed quarterback TRAVIS MOTLEY will start for the Twisters. This is the first ever meeting between the Conquest and Twisters.

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (4-5) AT BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (7-2)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - BJCC (16,000) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Green Bay Blizzard take the long trip south to face the Birmingham Steeldogs for a Week 11 battle. After losing their previous two Green Bay got a big victory over Peoria last week. Birmingham lost last week for the first time since the first week of the season. The loss dropped them out of the top spot of the af2 Coaches' Poll to third. Both Green Bay and Birmingham are without their top receivers, but for different reasons. Green Bay's RANDALL LANE is on the injured list. Birmingham's DETRONN HARRIS left the team this week to join the Carolina Panthers and will be invited to training camp. CARLOS MCNEARY will now need to step up for the Steeldogs. His 27 receptions for 423 yards and eleven touchdowns puts him second on the Steeldogs in receiving, only behind Harris. Pressure will also fall the Steeldogs' two-headed quarterback attack of JEFF AARON and KENTON EVANS to make up for the loss of Harris. Aaron has thrown 22 touchdown passes this season, Evans has thrown 18. Green Bay has two solid receivers in ROBERT GARTH and DERONN FINLEY that will be expected to step up as they did last week to replace the missing production of Lane. It will be the job of CHRIS GREISEN to get the ball to these two. On defense Garth and Finley are tied for the team lead in interceptions with three. Birmingham has the leagues leader in interceptions, ANTHONY JORDAN, who has eight. This is the first and only meeting between the Blizzard and Steeldogs this season.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (7-2) AT QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (6-3)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - THE MARK OF THE QUAD CITIES (9,437) 8:30 P.M. ET

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers go on the road to face the Quad City Steamwheelers. The Pioneers are ranked number two on the af2 Coaches' Poll and the Steamwheelers come in at number five. After starting out 6-1 the Steamwheelers have lost their last two games, at San Diego and at Louisville. The Pioneers had a big victory last week at home over the Manchester Wolves. These two clubs met in Week 4 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with the Pioneers coming out ahead 40-27. In this game TIM HICKS threw three of his 41 touchdowns passes on the season. Steamwheelers' quarterback RONNIE GORDON threw two touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns but had two passes intercepted; one intercepted by AMEER RILEY in the endzone and returned 53 yards for a touchdown. Aside from Riley, JAMIE HATTLEY is a major contributor on the Pioneers defense. He has three interceptions to go with his 46.5 tackles (37UA 19A) that ranks second on the team. He will have to keep an eye on JEFF HEWITT who has 57 receptions for 916 yards and 15 touchdowns. On defense for the Steamwheelers, MATT FORBES is the main playmaker. Along with leading the team in interceptions (4) and tackles (48.0) Forbes also leads the team in pass breakups with fifteen and forced fumbles with three. These two teams met once last season, in the Quad Cities. The Steamwheelers were victorious, 66-34, with Hewitt catching eight passes for 133 yards and four touchdowns.

TULSA TALONS (6-3) AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS (3-5)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - DODGE ARENA (5,500) 8:30 P.M. ET

It is a Southwest Division battle when Tulsa Talons go on the road to take on the Rio Grande Valley Dorados. Rio Grande Valley is coming off of a bye week, but their last game was in Week 9 at Tulsa. Rio Grande Valley had a 23-19 lead at halftime in the Week 9 tilt, but in the second half BJORN BARRE had three touchdowns for Tulsa to give them a 51-38 victory. Barre had the game clinching play; with a 49-yard fumble return for a touchdown with three seconds left in the game as the Dorados were knocking on the door for a game tying touchdown. The Talons' quarterback position belongs to BOB BEES and just Bob Bees now. The starter at the beginning of the season, MICHAEL WALL, was traded to Memphis, officially giving the position to Bees for good. On the season Bees has completed 75 of 112 passes for 916 yards and 21 touchdowns with four interceptions. Bees has the Talons playing well as they have won their last three games. ROBERT REED will need to make up for the loss of leading receiver MITCH ALLNER who is on the long term injured list. On defense, ANTONIO DINGLE leads the Talons in sacks with 3.5. MANWELL TALBERT's 41 catches for 473 yards and eleven touchdowns leads the Dorados. Rio Grande Valley's strength is on the defensive side of the ball. The Dorados have eight different players who have registered more than one sack on the season. The Dorados defense also features ten different players who have ten tackles or more. The Talons and Dorados will meet one more time this season, Week 16 at Tulsa.

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (1-8) AT HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS (5-4)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2004 - NEAL BLAISDELL ARENA (6,033) 8:30 P.M. ET

Two West Division teams battle on the islands as the Central Valley Coyotes take on the Hawaiian Islanders. The defending division champion Islanders are reeling a bit. They started out 5-2, but have lost the last two weeks, to San Diego and Bakersfield. Now the Islanders are looking to stay above the .500 mark. The Coyotes made had a coaching change earlier this week. Cree Morris stepped down and Fred Bilenikoff Jr. took over. Bilenikoff was serving as offensive coordinator for the Coyotes. With quarterback KYLE BIGGS out with an injury look for FRANK BORBA to get his first career af2 start for the Coyotes. On the season Borba has completed five of twelve passes for 44 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions along with one rushing touchdown. His growing pains will be eased if he just looks to get the ball to KENYATTE MORGAN. Morgan is ranked first in the af2 in all purpose yards with 2,069. He has earned 859 of these yards on his 71 receptions. The rest of the yards have come on kick returns, both kickoff and field goal. Morgan has returned two kickoffs back for touchdowns, one field goal and has caught fifteen touchdowns. The Islanders have a solid return man of their own in ANTHONY ARCENEAUX who has 509 return yards and four touchdowns. On defense, the Islanders are paced by JOSH ROBINSON. His five interceptions leads the team and has played well making up for the loss of EDDIE KLANESKI who is out due to injury. The Islanders won the first two meetings this season 68-35 and 54-48. They will meet one more time, June 24 at Central Valley.



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