Week 15 af2 news & notes

by af2 Press Release
Published on July 5, 2001 under arenafootball2 (af2)

af2 Press Release

League News

Rivalry week kicks off with playoff spots on the line
It may not be the playoffs quite yet, but the fans at three games may not feel any difference. First place-and the automatic playoff berth that goes with it-is on the line in each of the following games: Richmond Speed at Carolina Rhinos (American Northeast), Quad City at Tulsa (National Midwest) and Tennessee Valley at Birmingham (National Quad City).

"For the fans, it's like getting an extra playoff game," said Steamwheelers OL/DL Spencer Stevens.

The Quad City-Tulsa rematch is one of the most anticipated games of the season. The Talons (11-2) derailed the Steamwheelers (12-1) en route to Quad City's pursuit of the all-time win streak in professional football, halting the win streak at 24 straight-one shy of tying the professional football record.

Fueling Tulsa in its bid to repeat its 49-47 upset of Quad City in Week 7 is the return of brother duo Brandon and Brent Burnside. Brandon paced the Tulsa offense last season as a receiver and Brent was one of the team's major forces on the defensive side of the ball.

The Speed (11-2) is seeking to repeat its success against Carolina (10-3) this season. In Week 11, Richmond toppled the Rhinos 40-27 to assume the driver seat in the American Northeast division. If Carolina can avenge its earlier loss, the Rhinos can still pull out a chance for an automatic playoff berth. If Richmond wins, the Speed would be expected to take the division's playoff spot.

Similar scenarios abound for the rematch between Tennessee Valley and Birmingham. A rivalry dating back to last season, Tennessee Valley (12-1) handed Birmingham (11-2) a 51-42 defeat in Week 5. Both teams are riding a six-game win streak and the team that pushes it to seven games will likely get the playoff berth out of the National South Central division.

For the Record

Tallahassee WR/DB James Dickerson is leading the league with 226 points, which is the fifth-highest total of points in a season in league history. He needs 46 more points to tie former Tallahassee OS Carl Bond (272) for the No. 4 spot in career scoring.

With a kickoff return for touchdown in Week 14, Birmingham DS Terrance Harris is in a tie for the No. 3 spot all-time with five returns for touchdowns this season (Arkansas WR/DB Lennie Johnson, Quad City Shon King, and Roanoke Moe Cooper, 2000). One more return for a touchdown will give Harris six on the season and make him the sole player in the No. 3 spot on the list.

With a league-leading 10 interceptions this season, Tulsa WR/DB Jeromy Flowers is tied for second-most interceptions in the season. His next interception will tie him with former Jacksonville DS Brian Livingstone for the most interceptions in a season.

Memphis FB/LB Jeremy Scruggs is No. 2 on the all time list for rushing yards. Scruggs needs 12 more yards to take over the No. 1 spot on the all time list (312, Bobby Phillips, Richmond, 2000).

Carolina OL/DL Ronnie Washburn has 13.5 sacks on the season, the second-most sacks in a season in league history. He is currently fourth in career sack total and needs just 1.5 sack to take over the No. 3 position from former Richmond DS Lawrence Lewis (12.0).

Louisville OS Brian McDonald became the first player in league history to record three missed field goal returns for touchdown with his 54-yarder last week. McDonald's score was his ninth kick return for a touchdown this season, passing the former record of eight in a season by Birmingham's Adlai Trone.

Milestones

With seven receiving touchdowns and 223 yards receiving last week, Birmingham OS Wayne Thomas set season records for most points scored in a game (42) and most receiving touchdowns in a game.

Macon FB/LB Carlo Joseph set the season record and tied the all-time record with 17 rushing attempts in a game (Norfolk FB/LB Tony Morrison and Birmingham FB/LB Chris Windsor, both in 2000).

Baton Rouge WR/DB Archie Turner set season records for kick returns in a game (10) and most return yards in a game (234) last week in a loss to Birmingham.

Louisville Fire K Mike Moser tied the season record with 17 points scored kicking (Tulsa K Tony Dotson).

Bossier City K Marty Kent tied the season high with 10 successful extra-point attempts (Charleston K Matt Bergman and Quad City K Brion Hurley).

Notable & Quotable

Wichita Stealth coach Land Jacobsen on the Stealth's 73-53 loss to the Louisville Fire: "Of course I'm disappointed with the loss, but I'm more upset that we started so well and ended so poorly."

Bossier City coach Pat Tilley on a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown by WR/DB Kevin Stevenson in an 82-43 win over Lafayette: "Kevin's play was a big momentum switch and [Lafayette] seemed to hang it up after that. The other clincher for us was that they never stopped us. We also converted our turnovers, which we didn't do last week."

Rhinos Head coach Earnest Wilson on his team letting a 31-point lead dwindle to six before rallying: "If you play a total game - offense, defense and special teams - things will work out. We're still learning."

Swamp Foxes coach Jimmy Dunn on the rest of the season: "While a playoff run is unlikely at this point, we would still like to pull off three straight wins to build up some momentum for next season."

Macon FB/LB Carlo Joseph on being named the Ironman of the Week: "I think as a team we played well. Jacksonville came out and challenged us. They played hard. But we made some plays down the stretch. We buckled down on defense; the guys up front on the line stuck together. Coach Porter said for us to keep playing hard and make the plays when they presented themselves, so that's what I did."

Memphis coach Collins Sanders on Baton Rouge: "Herb Tyler had a big game against us, and having him go down with an injury, I'm sure hurts them. But we know what that's like. Just like Tim Lester has done a great job for us at quarterback, we know they have some great athletes that we'll have to be ready for."

Quad City OL/DL Spencer Stevens on the upcoming rematch with Tulsa: "We have some unfinished business with Tulsa. The fact that they lost last week doesn't change anything for us. This is going to be a great atmosphere for football. For the fans it's like getting an extra playoff game."

Talons WR/DB Brandon Burnside on Tulsa fans: "I miss being in Tulsa. I have tried to keep up with the Talons on the Internet. I am just excited to be back in the city of Tulsa and play in front of our great fans."

Tennessee coach Bret Munsey on his team's upcoming game against Birmingham: "This is a big game for both teams. They are a very good football team and we are going to have to play better that we have the last two weeks to get a win."

Wichita coach Land Jacobsen on the Stealth being eliminated from the playoffs: "I am more disappointed with the way we lost at Louisville than the fact that we are out of the playoff hunt!"

CHARLESTON SWAMP FOXES (6-7) @ ROCHESTER BRIGADE (2-11)
THURSDAY, JULY 5 @ 7:30 PM ET

Swamp Foxes... FB/LB Kenyata Spruill is one of the league leaders in rushing with 184 yards on the season for 12 touchdowns... QB Ray Issac leads his team into Week 15 throwing for 2,291 yards and 39 touchdowns on the season...WR/DB Mike Chandler is one of league leaders this season for kickoff returns averaging 24.4 yards a return and 3 touchdowns...Brigade... OS Derek Baker is one of the league leaders in all-purpose yards on the season averaging 190.9 yards per game... DS Aaron Fix leads the team with 67 tackles on the season... In just 5 games this season, QB Scott Gasper has thrown for 1,023 yards and 21 touchdowns.

NORFOLK NIGHTHAWKS (5-8) @ GREENSBORO PROWLERS (4-9)
FRIDAY, JULY 6 @ 7:30 PM ET

Nighthawks... WR/DB Chris Pointer is one of the league leaders in interceptions on the season with 7... OS Anthony Stringfield is one of the leagues top receivers with 1,140 yards and 20 touchdowns on the year... OL/DL Michael Davis leads the team with 8 sacks on the season...Prowlers...OL/DL Orlando Atwaters is tied for the season high with 9 other players for causing 4 fumbles on the season... FB/LB Simond Platt leads the team in rushing with 111 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season...OS Demeco Archangel leads the team in receiving this season with 550 yards and 12 touchdowns. Archangel also is one of the best kickoff return mans in the league with 724 yards and 4 touchdowns.

ROANOKE STEAM (7-6) @ FLORIDA FIRECATS (5-8)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 7:30 PM ET

STEAM ... K Josh Jones is 10th in the league in points for kickers (85) by converting 52 of 61 PAT and 11 of 41 field goals. ... QB Matt D'Orazio is second in the league in passer rating (118.9) in seven appearances. ... If Roanoke wins this week, it will be the first time in team history that the Steam posted two winning streaks in one season after winning four in a row in May and June. FIRECATS ... WR/DB Anthony Dixon has caught at least one pass in every game this season. ... OS Cleveland Pratt is fifth in the league in scoring (192) and average all-purpose yards per game (207.1). ... Despite being on the short-term injured reserve, DS Robert Hall still leads the team in interceptions (4).

JACKSONVILLE TOMCATS (6-7) @ AUGUSTA STALLIONS (9-4)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 7 PM ET

TOMCATS ... OS Anthony Bright is leading all receivers in the league with 1,747 yards receiving, more than 250 yards higher than the No. 2 receiver in the league (1,491, Tallahassee's James Dickerson). ... WR/LB Russell Parker leads the team in interceptions (5). ... WR/DB Terrance Flagler leads Jacksonville in combined kick returns with 710 kickoff return yards and 157 missed field goal return yards. ... STALLIONS ... Despite playing the second half with a separated shoulder, OS Tim Dumas still set the Augusta record for catches in a game (14) and receiving yards in a game (169) last week. ... QB Jermaine Alfred is sixth in the league in passing yards (2,781) and seventh in passer rating (103.5). ... DS Maurice Blanding is tied for fourth in the league in tackles (74).

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (4-9) @ LAFAYETTE ROUGHNECKS (3-10)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:30 PM ET

TWISTERS ... Arkansas posted four sacks last week to improve its total to 41 on the season, which ties Richmond for second in the league (45, Carolina). ... WR/LB Reggie Cooley is tied for third in the league in total sacks (10.0). ... DS Raymond Fleming has 74 tackles which is three shy of tying the team record for most in a season (Bruce Bailey, 2000). ... ROUGHNECKS ... FB/LB Anthony Skinner is seventh in the league in rushing (147). ... WR/DB Anthony Giovingo is tied for fourth in the league in fumbles recovered (5). ... WR/DB Shadrick McAfee is tied for sixth in the league in tackles (74).

RICHMOND SPEED (11-2) @ CAROLINA RHINOS (10-3)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 7:30 PM ET

SPEED ... WR/DB Jeff Townsley is seventh in the league in scoring (168). ... WR/DB George Williams is seventh it the league in kickoff return average per game (24.6) with 468 yards in 12 games. ... QB Bob Bees is 10th in the league in passer rating (102.2). ... RHINOS ... QB Randy Sullivan is third in the league rushing (254). ... DS Donevitius Franklin is first in the league in passes defended (48) and fifth in the league in missed field goal return average per game (23.8). ... OL/DL Ronnie Washburn is second in the league in sacks (13.5).

MACON KNIGHTS (8-5) @ COLUMBUS WARDOGS (0-13)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 7 PM ET

Macon... FB/LBJoseph Carlo leads the Knights in rushing with 30 attempts for a total of 89 yards...QB Mike Gluski is 4th in individual league statistics in passing yards with 144 completions on 256 attempts for 1,717 yards...WR/DB Jamaal Garman is in the league's top ten for interceptions with 7 for 43 yards... Columbus... K Stan Whitlock leads the league in field goals with 16 on 44 attempts...OS Matt Burstein leads the Wardogs in kick returns with 38 for 780 yards...OL/DLJeff Thomas leads his team in interceptions with 2 for 26 yards.

WICHITA STEALTH (7-6) @ BOSSIER CITY BATTLE WINGS (5-8)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:00 PM ET

WICHITA...Were eliminated from the playoffs last week with a 20-point loss at Louisville...OS Pascal Volz became the 4th leading receiver in af2 history with his 13 catches last week (118)...OL/DL Jeremy Johnson is tied for 3rd in sacks (10.0) and 2nd in fumbles forced (3)...Wichita has only returned one kickoff for a touchdown this season...DS Michael Seahorn leads the team in tackles (69), pass deflections (26) and interceptions (4)...The first time these two teams met, they combined for the second highest scoring game in af2 history...BOSSIER CITY...Scored the most points in team history last week (82) in defeating Lafayette at home...QB Sherard Poteete reached the 200-yard mark in rushing this season...Battle Wings look for their first two-game winning streak of the season.

BATON ROUGE BLAZE (7-6) @ MEMPHIS XPLORERS (3-10)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:30 PM ET

BATON ROUGE...Dropped their third straight road game last week at Birmingham...Are out of the playoff race with the loss...OS Archie Turner reached the 1,000 yard mark plateau last week in return yardage...DS Quincy Sorrell leads the team in tackles with 72...Blaze are tied for 23rd in turnover margin having turned the ball over 13 more times than it forced turnovers...K Danny Boyd has missed only 5 extra points this season...MEMPHIS...Came within a two-point conversion of upsetting the Tennessee Valley Vipers last week at home...Xplorers are 2-2 in their last 4 games, after losing 8 of their first 9 games...This marks the last home game of the season for Memphis...Continue to lead af2 in rushing (52.4 ypg)...OL/DL Marcus Evers is tied for 2nd in tackles for a loss (7), and tied for 1st in fumbles forced (4).

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (11-2) @ TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (12-1)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:30 PM ET

BIRMINGHAM...Continued to surge, winning their 6th straight game last week against Baton Rouge...Clinched a playoff spot with the victory...OS Wayne Thomas tied an af2 record with 7 touchdown receptions against the Blaze last week, his 223 receiving yard performance broke a Steeldogs' record...Steeldogs are averaging almost 14 points per game more than they did last season...Rank 2nd in the league in turnover margin (+25), and have already gained 15 more turnovers than they did all of last season...DS Terrance Harris has returned a kickoff for a touchdown in four straight games...TENNESSEE VALLEY...Won their 6th straight game for the second time this season last week with a win at Memphis...Vipers currently hold down the 2nd seed in the playoff race...Vipers are 7-0 against South Central division opponents...OL/DL Curtis Jeter is tied for 1st in fumbles forced (4) and leads the team with 9.5 sacks...Vipers are 3-0 versus Birmingham including the first ever win in af2 history on March 31, 2000.

LOUISVILLE FIRE (6-7) @ IOWA BARNSTORMERS (6-7)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:00 PM ET

LOUISVILLE...Won their 5th straight home game last week against Wichita...Back-up QB John Krueger threw for five touchdowns and ran for two more in relief of Matt Pike...OS Brian McDonald returned a missed field goal 54-yards for a touchdown last week, his 3rd missed field goal return for a score and his 9th overall return on the season, both af2 records...Fire rank 9th in af2 with 29 sacks...IOWA...Won their 3rd straight home game and their second overall in defeating Norfolk last week...OL/DL Charles Woolridge recorded 3 sacks in the win last week...QB Anthony Buich ranks 10th in af2 with 2,509 yards of total offense.

LINCOLN LIGHTNING (4-9) @ PEORIA PIRATES (6-7)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:00 PM ET

LINCOLN...Won their 3rd home game of the season last week in defeating Columbus...Are 2-6 versus divisional opponents this season...Rank 27th in the league in scoring (32.9 PPG)...DS David Johnson ranks 9th in the league in interceptions (6)...OS Damon Benning leads the team in both rushing and receiving...QB Josh Luedtke is probable for this week's game with a shoulder injury...PEORIA...Won their second straight road game last week at Arkansas...OL/DL Kenneth Bouie had two safeties and one touchdown catch in his first af2 game of the season...Pirates had a season high 29-point quarter last week...Rank 1st in rushing defense holding opponents to 10.4 ypg on the ground...QB Sean Hoolihan had a season high 2 rushing touchdowns last week against Arkansas.

TULSA TALONS (11-2) @ QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (12-1)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:00 PM ET

TULSA...Broke their five game winnings streak last week with a loss at Tallahassee...The loss dropped the Talons down to the number five seed in the playoff race and one game behind the Steamwheelers in the Midwest Division race...OS Jarrail Jackson was injured in the loss last week and is probable for this week's game...Talons were sacked 6 times in the loss last week...Brandon and Brent Burnside have rejoined the Talons and will play against Quad City after being released by the AFL's Houston T'Bears...OL/DL Richard McCleskey is tied for 4th in tackles for a loss (6)...QUAD CITY...Won their 7th straight ballgame last weekend and regained sole possession of the Midwest division lead and the number one ranking in the playoff race...Steamwheelers are 19-0 at home in two seasons...Are atop every offensive and defensive statistical category...Need to average 84 points per game over the remainder of the season to eclipse their own Arena Football scoring record for most points in a regular season (1074)...Tulsa is the only team to have defeated Quad City in two years.

TALLAHASSEE THUNDER (8-5) @ PENSACOLA BARRACUDAS (4-9)
SATURDAY, JULY 7 @ 8:00 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE...Won their fifth straight game last weekend with their upset of Tulsa at home...The Thunder moved to within one game of the South East division lead and one game back of the 8th and final playoff spot...OS James Dickerson is 3rd in all-purpose yards (2,356)...Thunder rank 5th in pass defense giving up 179.9 ypg...Thunder need to win out to have a chance at a wildcard spot in the playoffs...PENSACOLA...Lost their 5th straight game last week at Florida...OS Everett Burnett has run back kickoffs for a touchdown in the last two weeks...Tallahassee will look to even up the season series at 1-1.

arenafootball2 Stories from July 5, 2001

• Week 15 af2 news & notes - OSC Original by af2 Press Release

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