Week 15: Friday Night Matchups

Published on July 2, 2009 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (4-9) AT PEORIA PIRATES (3-9)

FRIDAY, July 3, 2009 - Peoria Civic Center (9,873) 7:00 P.M. ET

The holiday weekend kicks off with an exciting rivalry game as the Quad City Steamwheelers travel to Peoria to face the Pirates for the third and last time this season. The Steamwheelers lead this in-state matchup 8-4 all-time and the two teams have each taken a game this season. Both teams have had their share of ups and downs this season, but at this time both also find themselves still mathematically alive for one of the final playoff spots in the American Conference. Last week the Steamwheelers suffered an 18-point home defeat at the hands of the Manchester Wolves, 53-35. The loss was the seventh straight for Quad City. QB BRIAN ZBYDNIEWSKI started the game well, connecting with WR JESSE SCHMIDT on the Steamwheelers' first possession for a TD pass. Zbydniewski, however, struggled overall, completing just 16-of-40 passes for 198 yards with five TDs and two INTs. Schmidt caught nine passes on the night for 135 yards and three TDs. In 13 games played, the veteran receiver leads the league in scoring (290 points), receiving yards (2,035), total touchdowns (48) and receiving touchdowns (45). He is on pace to set new league single-season records in each category. Quad City is fifth in the league in overall passing offense, due in large part to Schmidt. DB DEMARCUS ROBINSON stood in last week's defeat on defense with a game-high 12 tackles and one interception. The Pirates are coming off of a heartbreaking loss last week at Albany. Peoria came up short as Firebirds DB Kenny Williams broke-up a potential go-ahead pass in the end zone with 42.2 seconds left in the game and Albany took over on downs to secure a 56-52 victory. The Pirates slipped to 2-3 under Mike Hohensee. Rookie QB Luke Drone completed 19-of-25 passes for 255 yards and seven TDs with one interception. DANTE RIDGEWAY led the receiving corps with five catches for 80 yards and three TDs. DB JOSH FERGUSON led the Pirates defensive effort with 8.0 tackles and two pass breakups. Overall, Drone has improved his play since regaining his role as the regular starter upon Hohensee's arrival. In the team's last five games, the Illinois State alum has thrown 23 TDs against just three INTs and has recorded six of his seven total rushing scores on the year. His continued steady play will be a key factor in this week's game. The last time these two clubs played (65-48 Peoria win in Week 9), Drone was responsible for eight of the team's nine total TDs (5 TD passes, career-high 3 rush TDs). With both clubs hungry for a win, expect this contest to be a battle from start to finish.

PIRATES STEAMWHEELERS SERIES LEADER Quad City leads series 8-4

LAST MEETING Peoria won 65-48 on 5/23/09

LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 0-5

LAST GAME Lost at Albany 52-56 on 6/26/09 Lost vs. Manchester 35-53 on 6/27/09

LEADERS PIRATES STEAMWHEELERS PASSING Drone: 161-265-11; 1888; 39 TDs Raterink: 247-384-14; 2754; 54 TDs

RECEIVING Ridgeway: 53-735; 13 TDs Schmidt: 141-2035; 48 TDs

RUSHING Smith: 27-129; 5 TDs Monk: 19-37; 2 TDs

TACKLES Phillips: 56.5 Robinson: 47.0

SACKS Lewis: 3 Jackson: 6.0

INTERCEPTIONS Golder: 5 Goines & Robinson: 4

KICKING Longest: 41-55 PAT; 6-14 FG; 65 PTs Denny: 80-85 PAT; 1-9 FG; 83 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 50.9 PPG; 249.9 YPG 47.9 PPG; 286.2 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 60.3 PPG; 307.9 YPG 57.7 PPG; 263.2 YPG

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (7-6) AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS (6-6)

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2009 - Dodge Arena (5,500) 8:30 P.M. ET

Next up on Friday night, the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz face the Rio Grande Valley Dorados in a hotly contested matchup. The Yard Dawgz have already clinched a postseason berth while a Dorados win this week would secure a spot for them as well. While the all-time series is tied at 5-5, Rio Grande Valley won the only previous meeting in 2009 back in Week 6 at Oklahoma City, 74-73. At the time, the loss was the first of the year for the Yard Dawgz after they had gotten off to a 4-0 start. Oklahoma City is currently ranked No. 11 in the latest league coaches poll. Last week the team lost on the road at No. 1-ranked Spokane, 61-28. The Yard Dawgz high-octane offense was slowed down by the powerful Spokane defense. Oklahoma City scored all 28 of its points in the first half as the team was tied with the Shock at intermission, 28-28. In the second half, however, the Yard Dawgz offense couldn't sustain a drive and were stopped on all five possessions. Three of the drives were stopped as a result of interceptions by the team's normally-steady starting QB ROBERT KENT. Kent was held to just 155 yards passing overall and no TDs. He completed just 14-of-26 passes. Kent did manage two rushing TDs. The veteran signal caller currently ranks second in the league in rushing, with 42 attempts for 319 yards (11 rush TDs). He also leads the league in average yards per rush. Veteran WR AL HUNT who leads his team with 68 catches on the season for 1013 yards and 28 TDs, was held to just three receptions for 35 yards and no TDs. DB TRAVIS SEATON led the Yard Dawgz in tackles for the game with six. DB FRED SHAW leads the club with eight interceptions. As a team, Oklahoma City ranks eighth in scoring at 58.5 points per game. They also lead the league in rushing yards (629) and rushing TDs (36). The Dorados, ranked No. 14 in the latest league coaches poll, will be looking to salvage a three-game home stand as they lost their second game in a row at home last week against Arkansas, 57-54. The Twisters converted a 14-yard field goal in the final seconds to earn the victory. The close game saw a good performance from Dorados QB NICK HILL who threw no interceptions while going 19-of-27 for 289 yards and four TDs. He connected with star WR ROD WINDSOR nine times for a team-leading 99 yards and two TDs. Windsor, in 11 games played, leads the league in receptions (144), ranks second in receiving yards (1,743) and receiving touchdowns (42) and ranks third in scoring (260 points) and total touchdowns (42). WR BRET SMITH added four catches for 96 yards and two scores. The defense put up a valiant effort in the game, and the backfield performed well against the deadly Arkansas air attack led by QB KYLE ROWLEY. Rio Grande Valley DB DAHNEL SINGFIELD led the club with 7.5 tackles and two INTs. Singfield leads the team in tackles with 62.5 and has three interceptions on the season. If the first meeting is any indication, expect this week's game to be loaded with offensive fireworks from both teams.

YARD DAWGZ DORADOS SERIES LEADER Series tied at 5-5

LAST MEETING Dorados won 74-73 on 5/1/09

LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 1-4

LAST GAME Lost at Spokane 28-61 on 6/26/09 Lost vs. Arkansas 54-57 on 6/27/09

LEADERS YARD DAWGZ DORADOS PASSING Kent: 242-360-13; 3474; 65 TDs Hill: 283-422-15; 3737; 76 TDs

RECEIVING Hunt: 68-1013; 28 TDs Windsor: 144-1743; 42 TDs

RUSHING Kent: 42-319; 11 TDs Hill: 47-143; 12 TDs

TACKLES Burns: 74.0 Singfield: 62.5

SACKS Chavers: 7.5 Chude: 7.0

INTERCEPTIONS Shaw: 8 McAlpine: 4

KICKING Hendrix: 68-86 PAT; 6-10 FG; 86 PTs Rubio: 37-47 PAT; 1-4 FGs; 40 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 58.5 PPG; 305.7 YPG 58.6 PPG; 329.6 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 51.8 PPG; 253.8 YPG 57.7 PPG; 295.6 YPG

arenafootball2 Stories from July 2, 2009

• Week 15: Friday Night Matchups - af2
• Week 15: Quick Hitters - af2
• Yard Dawgz Looking to Crack Top Ten - Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz

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