Week 15 Recaps
Published on July 8, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
Florida Firecats (7-6) 54, Augusta Stallions (11-2) 29
AUGUSTA, Ga. â Florida's defense held Augusta's potent offense in check to end the Stallions' five-game home winning streak with a 54-28 victory in front of 4,072 fans at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center Friday.
Augusta and Florida traded touchdowns on each of their first possessions, but an ANTHONY DIXON touchdown for Florida broke a 7-7 tie with 57 seconds left in the first quarter as Florida took the lead for good.
Game MVP TERRELL SUTTON caught just three passes, but all went for touchdowns as the receiver totaled 61 yards receiving. Dixon was the game's Ironman with 10 catches for 115 yards and three touchdowns on offense and a tackle on defense.
TIM DUMAS and CHRIS JOHNSON were the only two Stallions players to catch passes, combining for 157 yards and three touchdowns. GLEN GAUNTT went 13-of-30 for 146 yards and two touchdowns. Florida's BRYAN SPARACINO completed 19-of-29 passes for 265 yards and seven scores.
ADT Defensive Player of the Game ROY STABLER had two solo tackles, four assisted tackles, one fumble recovered and one pass defended to lead the Firecats. Augusta's ADRIAN JONES had a team-high six tackles.
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Tallahassee Thunder (8-5) 70, Jacksonville Tomcats (5-8) 31
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. â The Tallahassee Thunder built a 35-9 first-half lead en route to a 70-31 victory over Jacksonville Friday at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in front of 5,968 people.
DOMINIC ROSS latched onto a 30-yard DAVID EDGERTON pass to give Jacksonville a 9-7 lead midway through the first quarter, but with 1:50 left in the period, a 14-yard CAINON LAMB touchdown reception restored an advantage the Thunder never would relinquish.
Lamb's first-quarter strike was the first of four unanswered Tallahassee touchdown drives as the Thunder pulled out to a 26-point lead. In the second half, three Lamb receptions for scores helped Tallahassee cruise to the 29-point victory.
VIC PENN was the game MVP after passing for 177 yards and four touchdowns. Lamb's four-touchdown performance earned him Ironman honors. The Thunder's defense scored two touchdowns on the night, with MESIAH PORTER returning an interception 47 yards for a touchdown and COMONE FISCHER recovering a fumble in the end zone for a score. KEVIN CLEVELAND was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game for the Thunder, finishing with six tackles, an interception and four passes defended.
MARCELLE HOUGH led the Tomcats with six tackles, an interception and three passes defended. Edgerton ended the night 24-of-42 for 214 yards and four touchdowns for Jacksonville, but threw three costly interceptions.
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Birmingham Steeldogs (9-4) 53, Mobile Wizards (0-13) 24
MOBILE, Ala. â MONTRESSA KIRBY connected on 25-of-29 pass attempts, including a 35-yarder for a score on Birmingham's first play from scrimmage, as the Steeldogs defeated the Mobile 53-24 in an National Conference Southern Division matchup Friday at the Mobile Civic Center.
The Steeldogs scored three touchdowns in the final 4:45, two within the final 32 seconds, of the first half to turn a 14-12 lead into a 34-12 halftime advantage. Mobile pulled a score back to open the third quarter, but consecutive Birmingham touchdowns increased the visitors' advantage to 47-18. Both teams traded touchdowns in the final 10 minutes of play to conclude the scoring.
LARRY HUNTINGDON caught six passes for 53 yards and three touchdowns en route to being named the game MVP. The Steeldogs' MICHAEL FEAGIN was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game with two tackles, one pass defended and a fumble recovery. Kirby finished with 257 passing yards and six touchdowns to pace Birmingham's offense.
Mobile starting QB MELVIN HILL was replaced by KELVIN ROBINSON in the second half, and the combination completed 14-of-31 attempts for the night, each throwing for one touchdown and a combined 178 yards. Game Ironman MATT BUTLER caught seven passes for 87 yards and was credited with three solo tackles and three assists for the Wizards.
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Norfolk Nighthawks (7-6) 39, Greensboro Prowlers (3-11) 32
GREENSBORO, N.C. â Norfolk scored 22 unanswered first-half points en route to earning its sixth victory in seven games with a 39-32 win in front of 3,002 fans at Greensboro.
ANTOINE CALLOWAY gave the Prowlers an early 7-0 lead with a 15-yard touchdown grab from CHRIS WEIBEL. However, the Nighthawks bounced back and tied the score on a TRAVIS BURNS touchdown grab. Norfolk then scored three unanswered touchdowns to open up a 22-7 lead with 7:19 left in the first-half. WALTER FORD ended the run with a 57-yard kick off return for a touchdown.
After a MATT McNEW field goal made it 25-14, Weibel darted 15 yards for a touchdown to cut the lead to 25-20 with 32 seconds left. In the second half, both teams scored twice, with Norfolk maintaining its lead and walking away 39-32 winners.
Calloway finished with six receptions, 73 yards and two scores to lead Greensboro. Prowlers DS JERMAINE TONEY registered 10 tackles and one pass deflection to earn the ADT Defensive Player of the Game award.
DOMINIC BANKS, who had six receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns, collected Ironman honors. CHRIS WALLACE completed 20-of-37 passes for 284 yards and five TDs en route to collecting game MVP recognition. The Norfolk defense was led by CHRIS POINTER, who picked off a pass and recorded four tackles.
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Charleston Swamp Foxes (6-7) 49, Richmond Speed (10-3) 44
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. â Charleston upset Richmond 49-44 in front of 3,224 fans Saturday night at the North Charleston Coliseum.
BEN CHRISTOPHER's three-yard touchdown run with 34 seconds remaining in the game increased the Swamp Foxes' lead to 49-37, but a MARCUS RICHARDSON 58-yard kickoff return for touchdown gave the Speed a glimmer of hope. However, Charleston managed to run down the clock after taking possession on the onside kick due to a Richmond penalty.
Charleston's defense held the Speed offense to three field goals and no touchdowns in the first quarter, as the Swamp Foxes' offense capitalized on its red zone chances to open up an early 21-16 lead. Richmond's offense got on the board in the second half with three rushing scores, but Charleston responded each time with a score of its own.
Charleston was led by QB MIKE BATH, who completed 15-of-24 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns to earn the game MVP award. DWAYNE WILMOT caught six passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns to lead all receivers.
MICHAEL BROWN earned the game's Ironman Award as he caught four passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, Brown tallied four tackles, including half a tackle for a loss, in addition to picking off his 10th pass of the year. Defensive end PRESTON VINSON was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game after tallying three tackles, including two solo stops and a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries.
Bees was 16-for-32 with two interceptions and no touchdown passes. KEVIN HARVEY led the Speed with six receptions for 79 yards and 13 yards rushing.
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Tennessee Valley Vipers (11-2) 48, Louisville Fire (2-11) 34
LOUISVILLE, Ky. â RODNEY BROWN returned the opening kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown as Tennessee Valley led wire-to-wire and earned a 48-34 victory over Louisville before 6,948 fans at Freedom Hall Saturday.
The Fire fought back from an early 28-0 deficit, and a MIKE LEAKS touchdown reception with 6:09 to play reduced the Tennessee Valley advantage to 41-34. However, Tennessee Valley sealed the game with 56 seconds remaining as Vipers QB JERMAINE ALFRED hit receiver CALVIN HILL on a one-yard bootleg pass to extend the lead to 48-34.
The Fire had a chance with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter to stop the Vipers' early momentum when MIKE SUMMERS picked off an Alfred pass that saved a potential Brown touchdown. However, Tennessee Valley recovered a fumble at the Louisville four-yard line after a poor exchange between starting QB MATT HICKS and center MIKE BOWERS. That set up a four-yard scoring pass from Alfred to REGGIE WORTHY with 2:08 remaining in the first quarter to extend the Viper lead to 21-0.
Alfred was the game MVP after completing 19-of-30 passes for 182 yards and four touchdowns. KELLY SNELL picked up ADT Defensive Player of the Game recognition. Snell finished with a tackle, five assists and an interception. Louisville's ANTHONY PAYTON recorded 1.5 tackles on defense and six catches for 67 yards on offense to earn Ironman honors.
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Carolina Rhinos (3-10) 42, Columbus Wardogs (3-10) 36
GREENVILLE, S.C. â The Carolina Rhinos scored 34 unanswered points to erase a 28-8 halftime deficit and beat the Columbus Wardogs 42-36 in front of 5,115 fans Saturday to avenge last week's 56-28 loss to the Wardogs.
Columbus built a 20-point lead as JEFF WELSH threw touchdown passes of 16 yards and 18 yards to SHAMARI BUCHANAN and 17 yards to CLIFTON ROBINSON. Welsh also ran for a score in the first half.
Game MVP RAMONE ROBINSON relieved starting QB CALEB SLOVER to start the second half and led the Rhinos to victory, rushing for 38 yards and three touchdowns, including what turned out to be the game-winning score with 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Robinson started the Rhinos' rally with the first of his scoring runs late in the third quarter and threw a 35-yard scoring pass to MAL LAWYER with two seconds left in the period, closing the gap to 28-20. Robinson and JERMAINE DERRICOTT hooked up for a 10-yard touchdown pass and the two-point conversion to tie the game at 28-28 early in the fourth quarter. Robinson then ran for a nine-yard touchdown with 5:10 to play and a 13-yard score with 10 seconds left before Welsh completed a 26-yard scoring pass to Buchanan with one second left in the game.
Welsh posted game highs of 20 completions, 237 yards and four touchdowns. Buchanan also caught six passes for 82 yards.
Derricott caught three passes for 26 yards and had 1.5 tackles to earn Ironman Player of the Game honors while teammate ARKEE THOMPSON had four solo tackles, five assisted tackles and two interceptions to be named ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
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Roanoke Steam (7-7) 33, Rochester Brigade (6-8) 20
ROANOKE, Va. â Roanoke's defense forced four Brigade turnovers, recorded seven sacks and held Rochester's offense to just two touchdowns en route to a 33-20 victory at the Roanoke Civic Center Saturday.
After a JOSH JONES first quarter field goal gave Roanoke a 3-0 lead, MARTINO THEUS hauled in a 21-yard touchdown pass early in the second period that put the Brigade ahead 6-3. JAMES EVERAGE then scooped up a fumble in the second quarter and rumbled in from 20 yards out for Roanoke's first TD of the game. CHARVIN CLARK made it 17-6 at halftime with a 21-yard reception from SEAN PETERSON.
In the second half, a pair of Peterson touchdown tosses sandwiched between a DEREK BAKER score and LAMONTE COLEMAN's one-yard fumble return for touchdown sealed the victory for the Steam.
Peterson completed 19-of-29 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown and earned MVP honors. In is first game for the Steam, RICHARD HOLLAND was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game with a game-high eight tackles. Everage was the Game Ironman after recording four tackles, a fumble return TD and three catches for 20 yards and a touchdown.
Rochester QB MATT D'ORAZIO left the game in the fourth quarter after completing 15-of-26 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns.
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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (5-9) 45, New Haven Ninjas (4-9) 28
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. â BRYAN SNYDER threw for four touchdowns to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers to a 45-28 win over the New Haven Ninjas before 4,880 fans at the First Union Arena Saturday.
New Haven broke onto the scoreboard first, with ANTHONY COMER punching the ball in from the one-yard line. However, following that opening drive, the Pioneers' ELLY SALAMO rushed in from the one-yard line to knot the score at seven.
The Pioneers turned two New Haven turnovers into touchdowns and scored three consecutive TDs in the second quarter to open up a 28-7 lead with 26 seconds in the half. The Ninjas' CHRIS BODEN hit RYAN BLAND with a 27-yard strike for a touchdown with two ticks on the clock to make it 28-14 at halftime. The two teams exchanged scores in the second half, as New Haven was unable to claw its way back into the game.
TERRELL JOHNSON was named the game MVP with five receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Salamo's 34 yards rushing and two touchdowns on offense and tackle on defense earned him Ironman honors. DARRIUS ELLISON picked up ADT Defensive Player of the Game accolades after recording 2.5 tackles and a forced fumble.
Boden led the New Haven offense, completing 16-of-30 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns. Comer led all receivers with seven catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.
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Arkansas Twisters (8-5) 68, Fresno Frenzy (4-9) 32
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. â The Arkansas Twisters outscored Fresno 35-6 to open the game on their way to a 68-32 victory Saturday before 7,649 fans in Alltel Arena.
Arkansas scored on 10 of its 11 possessions, including its first five. RICKY HEBERT hooked up with OS KEVIN WILLIAMS on TD passes of 20 and 40 yards to start the onslaught. EUGENE SYKES got Fresno on the board with a five-yard run, but the Twisters reeled off 21 straight points on a REGGIE COOLEY five-yard run, a DARNELL SMALL one-yard run and a two-yard reception by ARTHUR ABSTON. The Frenzy got no closer than 22 points the rest of the way.
Williams' game MVP performance included seven catches for 118 yards and four touchdowns. Hebert threw for eight touchdowns, going 16-of-24 for 234 yards and no interceptions. Ironman of the Game LENNIE JOHNSON had four receptions for 84 yards and two touchdowns and led Arkansas with 9.5 tackles, including seven solo tackles. Led by OL/DL GREG TAYLOR and his two sacks, the Twisters sacked Fresno quarterbacks KENNY ROSE and ROB STEPHENSON five times.
Fresno's offensive attack was led by Sykes, who had six receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown. Rose completed 16-of-29 passes for 236 yards and four touchdowns.
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Macon Knights (12-2) 54, Pensacola Barracudas (6-7) 51
PENSACOLA, Fla. â MARTEZ WESLEY caught a 24-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left to lift Macon to a 54-51 win over Pensacola Saturday before a crowd of 2,520 fans. The Knights scored 22 points in the fourth quarter to become the first af2 team to win 12 games this year. The loss eliminated the Barracudas from playoff contention.
Pensacola had taken a 51-46 advantage with 16 seconds left on JACK WALKER's 13-yard reception from CHARLIE PETERSON. But after COREY SMITH returned DAVE ADAMS' squib kick to the Pensacola 24-yard line, the Knights needed just one play to win the game.
The Barracudas led most of the second half, going up 30-20 on a 57-yard kickoff return for touchdown and a 43-yard missed field goal return for TD by WILL PETTIS. Pensacola led 44-32 when Macon rallied, going on top 46-44 with a five-yard touchdown catch by JAQUEZ RUMPH and a one-yard plunge by QB JOHN RAYBORN. Just 39 seconds remained following Rayborn's score, setting the stage for the wild finish.
Rayborn completed 21-of-37 passes for 277 yards and six touchdowns in the game. Wesley was the Knights' top receiver with eight catches for 122 yards and four TDs. Peterson was 20-of-33 for 230 yards and three touchdowns. Walker had six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
Pettis had 3.5 tackles and his ninth interception of the year to go along with his kick return scores and one receiving TD to earn the Ironman and game MVP awards. Barracudas' DS KENNY HILL was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game with 8.5 tackles and two defended passes.
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Bossier City Battle Wings (9-5) 60, Peoria Pirates (9-5) 40
PEORIA, Ill. â The Bossier City Battle Wings handed Peoria its third consecutive loss Saturday, defeating the Pirates 60-40 in front of a crowd of 6,157 fans. Bossier City, which allowed Peoria only 92 yards of offense, won its third straight game to remain a half-game ahead of Arkansas for the second and final playoff spot out of the Central Division.
Bossier led the entire game after an early 6-0 deficit, taking a 34-18 lead just before halftime on a LARRY HOLLOWAY four-yard TD run. Peoria twice cut the lead to eight points, the last time on a five-yard pass from RONNIE GORDON to TONY HARTLEY with 4:34 left in the third quarter. But the Battle Wings responded with touchdown runs by SHERARD POTEETE and LARRY NIXON to go up by 21 and ice the game.
Poteete, the game MVP, ran for four touchdowns and threw for two more. He completed 18-of-31 passes for 223 yards with one interception. DENNIS SHORT and KEVIN STEVENSON both had 66 receiving yards for Bossier City. CORNELL CRAIG led the Pirates with 63 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. Gordon passed for 82 yards and three TDs with two interceptions.
Peoria DS/KR LINCOLN DUPREE had four kickoff returns for 165 yards and two first-half touchdowns of 54 yards and 57 yards. He also had an interception, raising his season total to 12. Peoria FB/LB JASON SHORT was selected the Ironman of the Game with five solo tackles. Bossier City's ROD PERNETTER was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
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Quad City Steamwheelers (8-5) 27, Bakersfield Blitz (7-6) 19
MOLINE, Ill. â Game MVP BRENT BROWNER intercepted four passes and the Quad City Steamwheelers overcame four turnovers of their own to hold off the National Conference Western Division-leading Bakersfield Blitz 27-19 in front of 5,368 fans at The Mark of the Quad Cities. Both teams scored the fewest points in their respective histories. The Blitz still clinched a playoff spot due to Fresno's loss at Arkansas.
Browners' four pickoffs tied an af2 single-game record to set by Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE in the same building earlier this year. Browner, also named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, added a team-leading four tackles and seven pass breakups. Bakersfield played without starting quarterback CHAD ELLIOTT, the league leader in passing yards per game, who stayed in California for the impending birth of his first child. Replacement JASON BROWN completed only nine passes in 36 attempts for 112 yards.
Steamwheelers' QB MIKE CAWLEY accounted for all four Quad City touchdowns, rushing for two and throwing TD passes of 30 and 37 yards to IRA GOOCH. The second Gooch score pushed Quad City's lead to 27-13 less than a minute after Bakersfield cut the deficit to seven points on a 35-yard strike from Brown to STEVE WOFFORD, the Blitz's only offensive touchdown of the game.
Bakersfield threatened late. TEDDY WILSON returned a Cawley fumble 27 yards for a score to make it 27-19, then J'SHARLON JONES intercepted a Cawley pass off the net with 42 seconds remaining. But Browner returned the favor three plays later, getting his fourth pick and sealing the Steamwheelers' win. Cawley completed 19 of a team-record 46 attempts for 200 yards and two TDs with three interceptions, all by Jones. Quad City's CHRIS ANTHONY, voted the Game Ironman, caught 10 passes for 75 yards and broke up two passes. Wofford led the Blitz with six catches for 86 yards.
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Tulsa Talons (11-2) 58, Memphis Xplorers (5-9) 32
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. â The Tulsa Talons shut out Memphis in the first and third quarters on their way to a 58-32 victory Saturday, clinching the Central Division championship in front of 3,981 fans at the DeSoto Civic Center.
A strong second quarter helped the Xplorers close from down 19-0 to within 25-16 at halftime, but an efficient Tulsa offense and a neck strain that sidelined Memphis starting QB TIM LESTER swung the momentum back to the Talons. Game MVP ANTHONY BUICH threw four straight touchdown passes, two to SEAN LOVE, as Tulsa went up 51-16 midway through the final period to put the game away.
Buich completed 26-of-34 passes for 262 yards and seven touchdowns. Love was named the game Ironman, catching nine passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and breaking up four passes on defense. Tulsa's LARRY HOLLINQUEST was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game with an interception and five pass deflections.
For Memphis, KENTON EVANS completed 5-of-11 passes for 91 yards and two TDs in relief of Lester. CARLOS McNEARY caught just two passes for 80 yards, but both went for late touchdowns. KEITH SPANN had a team-high 5.0 tackles and an interception for the Xplorers.
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Wichita Stealth (6-8) 42, San Diego Riptide (7-7) 37
VALLEY CENTER, Kan. â The Wichita Stealth clinched a playoff spot with a 42-37 win over the San Diego Riptide in front of 3,983 fans Saturday. Despite the loss, San Diego also qualified for the postseason thanks to Fresno's loss at Arkansas.
Wichita shot out of the gates, scoring on its very first play. Game MVP RON LOPEZ connected with offensive specialist COREY McCOY for a 35-yard touchdown pass that put the Stealth on top 6-0. A safety by CHRIS ENNEKING, three more Lopez TD passes and a BRUCE HENDERSON four-yard run boosted Wichita to a 36-10 halftime lead.
WESLEY PHILLIPS relieved starter KANE CLAUNCH, who was sacked four times, at quarterback, leading a San Diego comeback. Down 36-17 entering the fourth quarter, the Riptide rattled off 20 points and pulled within five after Phillips plunged in for a one-yard score, then hooked up with RYAN SMITH on scores of 42 and seven yards, the latter with 57 seconds left in the game. An offsides penalty nullified a successful onside kick by the Riptide after the final TD, allowing Wichita to run out the clock.
Lopez completed 17-of-26 passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns. Wichita's top receiver was WILLIE GRISSOM, who ended with seven receptions for 122 yards and one touchdown. Enneking was the Ironman of the Game while San Diego's RYAN CUTHBERT (1.5 tackles) earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors. Phillips completed 13-of-24 passes for 211 yards with four TDs, no interceptions and a rushing score.
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Cape Fear Wildcats (11-2) 33, Albany Conquest (10-3) 25
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. â Cape Fear forced four turnovers and held the Conquest to just two offensive touchdowns en route to a 33-25 victory over Albany before 4,003 fans at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum.
With the score knotted up 10-10 at halftime, WILMONT PERRY rumbled in from 10-yards out to spark a 17-0 Cape Fear run that did not end until Albany's RYAN VENA snuck into the end zone for a one-yard score with 3:37 left in the game. JEFF HIGGINS pushed Cape Fear's lead to 33-17 with 1:42 to play.
JOHN STUART pulled in a 47-yard grab for a touchdown with three seconds left, giving the Conquest a glimmer of hope, but Cape Fear recovered the onside kick and ran the final seconds off of the clock.
Perry earned game MVP honors after finishing the game with 34 yards rushing and two touchdowns. ADT Defensive Player of the Game E.J. BURT forced a fumble and tied an af2 single-game record with 4.5 sacks. Higgins was the game's Ironman with seven yards rushing, a touchdown, two receptions for 21 yards, four assisted tackles and a fumble recovery.
Vena completed 24-of-35 passes for 215 yards and one TD and COREY HILL caught seven passes for 60 yards to lead Albany's receivers.
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THIS WEEK IN af2 HISTORY
7/11/00: Ft. Myers, Fla., announces its team name will be the Florida Firecats and that the team will begin play in 2001.
7/13/01: At Pensacola's home game against Rochester, 12-year-old BRIAN MARTIN becomes the one millionth fan to pass through the turnstiles during the 2001 season. af2 becomes the only current professional football league to reach the one million mark in just its second season.
7/14/01: Charleston WR/DB KENYATTA SPRUILL rushes for 96 yards and Baton Rouge FB/LB LEONARD HOLMES rushes for 93 yards as both break the af2 record for most rushing yards in a game (79) ... Richmond DS TYRONE LASTER becomes the first and only player in af2 history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a game. One of his returns (57 yards) sets an af2 record for longest interception return.
arenafootball2 Stories from July 8, 2002
- Week 15 Recaps - af2
- Nighthawks hold off Prowlers for fourth straight, 39-32 - Norfolk Nighthawks
- Week 16 playoff ins & outs - af2
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