af2 arenafootball2

Week 17 Friday night matchups

July 22, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MANCHESTER WOLVES (5-9) AT ALBANY CONQUEST (5-9)
FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2004 - PEPSI ARENA (13,901) 7:00 P.M. ET

Northeast Division rivals take to the field in Albany as the Conquest host the Manchester Wolves. This is Albany's final home of the season, they have gone 3-4 at Pepsi Arena this season. Likewise, this is Manchester's final road game this season. They stand at 2-5 on the road this season. Both teams are coming off of losses last week to the top two teams in the Northeast Division. Manchester was defeated by a very hot Cape Fear team 47-34 at home, while Albany lost to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the road 55-31. Manchester has won the two previous meetings this season and can sweep the season series with a win this week. The Wolves won the first contest between these two clubs this year on the play of REGGIE ROBINSON, who caught 11 passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for a score in their Week 3 matchup. Two weeks later Manchester won again, spurred on by an early 23-0 lead. J.J. MCKELVEY is a key player for the Wolves. Last week McKelvey registered four catches for 33 yards and two rushes for four yards and two touchdowns on offense. On defense this season McKelvey has registered three sacks, a tackle for loss and one forced fumble. Teammate ROBERT CAREY had a good game also last week and looks to do the same this week. Last week he totaled 10.5 tackles (7UA 7A), including .5 for a loss, and two interceptions he returned 38 yards. For Albany, TONY LOCKE is their offense. He has 32 receiving touchdowns while the next closest receiver, JAMIE WARE, has eight. Look for THOMAS HERRON to make an impact on the defensive side of the ball for Albany. He leads the team in sacks with 3.0. Herron has also registered an interception, two fumble recoveries and a blocked kick. This will be the final meeting this season between Manchester and Albany.

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (10-4) AT BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (5-9)
FRIDAY, JULY 23, 2004 - CENTURY TEL CENTER 12,500) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Mid-South Division Champions Tennessee Valley Vipers play hosts to the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. Last week the Vipers jumped out to a 26-6 only to have Macon score the next 31 points. The Vipers jumped back and scored the final two touchdowns of the game to defeat Macon by three points. The Battle Wings are coming off of a bye last week. This will be their final of four straight home games. They are 1-2 in the first three games, beating Rio Grande Valley in overtime and losing to Arkansas in overtime and Peoria in regulation. Bossier-Shreveport's two leading receivers, BO SMITH and SHADRICK MCAFEE, have played every game this season for the Battle Wings. Smith has 60 receptions to McAfee's 40, but McAfee makes up for it on defense as Bossier-Shreveport's second leading tackler with 50.5 (39UA 23A). McAfee also has six fumble recoveries to his name. Tennessee Valley's second leading tackler is MARQUIS FLOYD, who has 33.0 (23UA 20A) on the season along with twelve passes broken up and two fumble recoveries. On offense Floyd has one touchdown catch, but that one was a big one, as it was the game winning score against Macon last week. This game means a lot for the Vipers. Tennessee Valley can clinch a first round bye in the playoffs if they defeat the Battle Wings and both Florida and Birmingham loses. Also it is important for players like starting quarterback JOSH KELLETT to be playing well going into the playoffs. Bossier-Shreveport's lone victory over the Vipers came in 2001 when the Battle Wings beat the Vipers 60-56 at Tennessee Valley.



arenafootball2 Stories from July 22, 2004


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