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Week 2 Recaps

April 6, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


FRIDAY, APRIL 3

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS 70, Albany Firebirds 28 (Attendance: 5,067)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - The Pioneers improved to 2-0 with a convincing 70-28 home win against Albany (0-2) Friday night at Wachovia Arena. After a 14-14 first quarter, the seesaw battle continued into the second quarter with a 22-yard TD pass by Firebirds' QB Adam Bednarik. The Pioneers answers back with QB Ryan Vena's 2-yard TD run to cap a four-play drive. Bednarik came back with a score of his own to put Albany in the lead and make the score 28-21 with 5:13 left in the half. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton came back on the drive and scored on a J.J. Outlaw 13-yard catch. On that same drive, Vena passed the 20,000 career passing yards plateau with an 8-yard toss to Irving Campbell. Vena is just the third passer in league history to eclipse the 20,000-yard mark. The veteran signal caller's night also included another milestone. Vena's first TD pass of the evening was the 400th of his career. He is also just the third QB in af2 history to throw 400 TDs. The Pioneers defense capped the first half when LB Larry Kendrick intercepted a Bednarik pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Ahead 35-28 entering the second half, Pioneers LB Cory Lacek recovered a Bednarik fumble to give the ball back to the offense. Outlaw scored his third touchdown of the night to extend the Pioneers' lead to 42-28. Kendrick added his second interception on Albany's next possession which set up a 7-yard TD run on the next play. After the Pioneers defense held Albany on four plays, Griffin scored again to up Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's lead to 56-28. Albany's offense struggled the rest of the way under the Pioneers heavy pass rush and stifling pass coverage. Overall, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton held the Firebirds scoreless for the entire second half. The Pioneers swept the postgame awards led by Vena (Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game), Kendrick (Aaron's Defensive Player of the Game) and Lacek (JLS Ironman of the Game).

SPOKANE SHOCK 59, Stockton Lightning 42 (Attendance: 10,548)

SPOKANE, Wash. - For the fourth consecutive season, the Shock (1-0) came away with a 59-42 victory on opening night in front of a sold-out crowd. Spokane, which recorded its 20th straight regular season sell-out, overcame a game Stockton squad that saw its record slip to 1-1 in defeat. In a see-saw first half battle, the Lightning drew first blood on a 28-yard pass from QB Andy Collins to WR Troy McBroom. Collins added four more touchdown passes and ended the night with 311 total passing yards. Although Collins did not make many mistakes, he did make one crucial error at the end of the first half that proved to be a turning point for the Shock. The game-changing play came courtesy of LB Kevin McCullough who intercepted a Collins pass and returned it 40 yards for a touchdown. McCullough and the rest of his defensive teammates came up with a total of five stops against the Collins-led offense that proved to be the difference. The Shock's defensive efforts were well-complemented by the Shock's offense, led by Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game WR Raul Vijil. Vijil, who scored the Shock's first touchdown of the night, led the team in receptions (7), receiving yardage (107) and touchdown receptions (4). QB Nick Davila produced 228 passing yards with only one interception and six touchdown passes. In his rookie debut performance, WR Charles Dillon had four receptions - including two touchdowns - for 81 yards.

SATURDAY, APRIL 4

Milwaukee Iron 59, MAHONING VALLEY THUNDER 39 (Attendance: 3,465)

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The expansion Iron took advantage of a lethal running game en route to a 59-39 road win over Mahoning Valley. Milwaukee's rushing game racked up 59 yards and an eye-opening five scores as the first-year af2 franchise recorded its first victory. The Iron took an early lead, scoring on their first drive of the game when QB Tyler Donovan hit Kellen Allen from eight yards out. Mahoning Valley would answer with a 23-yard Davon Vinson to Quorey Payne TD strike on to tie the game at 7-7. Milwaukee added a late first quarter field goal and never looked back. Vinson threw four touchdown passes-a feat he's accomplished in all five games he's played as a member of the Thunder-and rushed for another score but it wasn't enough. Vinson finished 19-of-30 for 182 yards with two interceptions. Both of Vinson's interceptions were hauled in by Aaron's Defensive Player of the Game Lavar Stepter, including a third-quarter theft that was returned 30 yards for a score. Donovan completed 20-of-29 passes for the Iron for 219 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Donovan also added two rushing scores. At the end of the night, the Milwaukee rushing attack proved to be the difference. Aside from Donovan's two scores, Tyre Young, Antoine Burns and JLS Ironman of the Game Scott Burnoski also recorded rushing TDs. The lone Thunder bright spot was WR C.J. Brewer who caught 10 passes for 101 yards and two TDs in his Thunder debut. Both Milwaukee and Mahoning Valley now have 1-1 records on the season.

Arkansas Twisters 45, AMARILLO DUSTERS 24 (Attendance: 2,448)

AMARILLO, Texas - The Twisters took advantage of Amarillo's second half offensive struggles on Saturday night and pulled away from the Dusters, 45-24, at the Amarillo Civic Center. The game began well for Amarillo, who forced a turnover on the opening kickoff. Arkansas DB/KR Lawrence Richardson caught the ball in his own end zone, but a Blair Boynton hit jarred the ball loose. Brent Craft recovered the fumble at the Arkansas 1-yard line, setting the Dusters up in the red zone just 11 seconds into the game. Kyle Wilson rushed the ball into the end zone moments later, putting Amarillo on top, 7-0. After the Dusters score, Arkansas answered with a 10-play, 49-yard drive that took 6:25 off the clock, culminating in a Kyle Rowley 1-yard pass to WR Roderick Harper. Amarillo answered with a Matt Bassuener TD toss to Wilson to put the Dusters back on top, 14-7. With just seven seconds remaining in the first quarter, Rowley and Harper hooked up again to score, this time on a 34-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 14-14 heading into the second quarter. Bassuener and the Dusters rushed out to the lead again, with the Amarillo signal caller leading a 5-play, 24-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard quarterback sneak. With the score 21-14, Arkansas struck again on a Rowley 1-yard run that topped off a 7-minute drive to knot the game at 21-21. The visiting Twisters would gain momentum moments later, as Brandon Freeman picked off a Bassuener pass to set up his team at the Arkansas 21. Rowley would again score on a 1-yard sneak to give the Twisters their first lead of the game. Following another Freeman interception, Arkansas drove to the Dusters' 1-yard line before Sean Raftery wrapped up Robert Johnson on the doorstep of the goal line as time expired in the first half. Arkansas entered halftime with a slim 28-21 lead. Though the Dusters got possession to begin the third quarter, the Amarillo offense sputtered and was forced to settle for a 36-yard field goal to close the deficit to four, 28-24. The kick would be the last score for the Dusters, who suffered from poor execution in the third and fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Arkansas had two TDs in the third quarter and a field goal in the final period to extend their winning margin to 21. The Dusters (0-2) had just 144 yards of total offense. Meanwhile, Arkansas (2-0) had 303 yards of total offense and got six total touchdowns from Rowley (4 passing, 2 rushing).

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLEWINGS 59, Corpus Christi Sharks 14 (Attendance: 3,212)

BOSSIER CITY, La. - The BattleWings looked impressive in notching their first win of the season, 59-14, Saturday night against Corpus Christi at the CenturyTel Center. The Sharks led early in the first quarter 7-0 when FB Wallace House rumbled one yard for a touchdown and led 14-6 heading into the second quarter on a Gary Cooper rushing score. Cooper's TD, however, would end up being the final one of the night for the Sharks. Bossier-Shreveport's defense was stifling throughout the final 45 minutes of play and finished with interceptions, two fumble recoveries and seven consecutive defensive stops overall. Not to be outdone by their defensive counterparts, the BattleWings' offense shined as well led by receivers P.J. Berry and Buchie Ibeh. Berry and Ibeh each scored three touchdowns. WR Chavis McCollister and FB Jason Schule added scores as well. Berry got into the scoring action first as he hauled in a 21-yard pass from QB Andrico Hines and then returned a kickoff 50 yards for a score. Berry's return TD was his second in as many weeks. Schule gave Bossier-Shreveport its first lead of the night (20-14) after he scampered 18 yards for a touchdown. Two minutes and twenty-five seconds later, Ibeh collected his first touchdown of the night on a 10-yard fade pattern in the right corner of the end zone. McCollister, making his 2009 debut after rehabbing an injury sustained in the 2008 playoffs, snagged an 8-yard scoring pass with 3:15 remaining in the first half which gave the BattleWings a 33-14 lead. Bossier-Shreveport's defense gave little doubt to its fans that the game was in hand when DB Roland Cola picked off Cooper at the goal line and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. Cola's score gave the BattleWings a 40-14 halftime lead. Cola and fellow DB Pierre Lee also recorded interceptions in the second half as Bossier-Shreveport's defense continued to stymie the Sharks. Ibeh caught touchdown passes in the third and fourth quarter while Berry scored on a 31-yard touchdown strike from Hines. Hines finished with six passing touchdowns. The BattleWings improved to 1-1 overall while Corpus Christi slipped to 0-2.

IOWA BARNSTORMERS 73, Tulsa Talons 68 (Attendance: 11,627)

DES MOINES, Iowa - A record-breaking crowd in Des Moines, Iowa witnessed an offensive explosion as Iowa starting QB Brian Villanueva threw seven touchdown passes and ran for two more as the Barnstormers (2-0) scored a 73-68 win over the visiting Tulsa Talons (1-1). A late Tulsa rally ended four yards short of the end zone as time expired. Saturday night's attendance of 11,627 is the largest crowd to ever witness an Arena Football game in the state of Iowa. Villanueva (24-39, 244 yards) and Talons QB Justin Allgood (31-42-406 yards, 9 TDs) both had impressive showings. The Talons struck quickly, jumping out to an early 13-3 lead on the strength of two Allgood TD strikes to WR Zac Edwards (11-143) for 11 yards and WR/KR Jeff Hughley (12-168) for 31 yards. The 'Stormers responded on the next play from scrimmage as Villanueva found WR Tim Dodge (11-124-3 TDs) streaking down the right sideline for a 45-yard scoring reception. Villanueva and Dodge connected again on a 6-yard score as the final quarter came to a close with the 'Stormers leading 24-20. The second quarter began with both teams trading scores as Villanueva ran in a one-yard score, while the Talons' Allgood and Hughley hooked up for the second score, this one from 15 yards, which closed the Barnstormers edge to 31-27. A turning point in the second quarter was a fumbled Talons' snap on a fourth-and-one on the Iowa 1-yard line. The Barnstormers took possession and marched methodically down the field before Villanueva found WR Errick McCown (8-73-3 TDs) in the back of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. The high-powered Talons quickly responded as Allgood threw his fourth score of the first half, a 17-yarder to Edwards. After the ensuing Barnstormers drive stalled, the Talons immediately answered as Hughley took a missed Jeff Glas field goal the entire length of the field for a 58-yard score. The 'Stormers responded as Dusty Kain took in a tipped Villanueva pass for a 17-yard score and Iowa took a 48-45 lead into the locker room at halftime. The second half continued the offensive outburst. Hughley and Edwards and McCown each hauled in two second half touchdown receptions while Dodge added his third with a 17-yard TD reception.

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ 66, South Georgia Wildcats 58 (Attendance: 4,952)

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Yard Dawgz gave their crowd something to cheer about with a 66-58 victory against South Georgia Wildcats in Oklahoma City's home opener Saturday night at Cox Convention Center. The victory gave Oklahoma City its second win of the season and South Georgia its first loss. After defensive stops on the first two series of the game, Yard Dawgz DB Travis Seaton intercepted a tipped pass which led to a Matt Fields' 21-yard touchdown catch from QB Robert Kent. Veteran WR Al Hunt rushed for a 2-point conversion to take an 8-0 lead. The Wildcats responded on the next series with a touchdown of their own to make the score 8-7 to finish the first quarter. The second quarter provided the fans more of the up tempo pace af2 is known for with the two squads trading touchdowns throughout the quarter. Oklahoma City began the second with a Freddie Rollins 1-yard TD run. The Wildcats answered with a rushing score of their own to close the Yard Dawgz lead to one. After trading touchdowns, Oklahoma City WR Agim Shabaj scored the final touchdown of the half on a 15-yd pass from Kent. The half didn't end without another big play, as Yard Dawgz DB Fred Shaw came up with a fumbled snap with less than fifteen seconds left to solidify a Yard Dawgz lead at 29-21. The third quarter was all Oklahoma City as the team extended their lead to 49-21. The Wildcats fought back in the final quarter but to no avail as the Yard Dawgz had already built an insurmountable lead. South Georgia managed to score six times including two touchdowns from former University of Oklahoma player Antwone Savage. Oklahoma City had the big defensive play of the night when DE Colin Bryant recovered a fumble in the end zone for a TD with 23 seconds left. The Yard Dawgz swept the major player awards of the night as Shabaj (Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: 9-110-1 TD, 214 all-purpose yards), Seaton (Aaron's Defensive Player of the Game: 4.5 tackles, 1 INT) and Hunt (JLS Ironman of the Game: 4-72-2 TDs, 1 tackle) were honored for their efforts.

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS 74, Quad City Steamwheelers 20 (Attendance: 3,995)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - On a night when the Vipers unveiled their 2008 ArenaCup Championship banner, they looked nearly unbeatable as they easily handled the Quad City Steamwheelers, 74-20, at the Von Braun Center. Tennessee Valley win evened the team's record at 1-1. Quad City slipped to 1-1 in defeat. Vipers QB Kevin Eakin overcame a shaky start that saw the club's first drive end with an interception in the end zone. Eakin quickly heated up to hit WR/LB Bradly Chavez on a 4-yard touchdown pass midway through the first quarter for a 7-0 Tennessee Valley lead. Sparked by inspired special teams play, the Vipers surged to a 30-7 first quarter lead. DL Marcus White recorded a safety on a kickoff and the ensuing kick was returned for a Vipers touchdown by WR/KR Chris Bocage. After a Quad City touchdown, the Vipers offense got in gear using short passes to Bocage and Chavez. Chavez took a lateral pass and dove in the end zone for Eakin's second TD pass. Eakin finished the first half with five TD passes. Tennessee Valley got a stop by the defense when DB Desmond Foster recorded a pass breakup followed by an interception. Vipers' international player Hiroki Haseagawa got into the act with a tackle in the end zone on a kickoff to record another safety. Tennessee Valley's veteran secondary led by Foster and Travis Blanchard played tight man coverage all night as Quad City QB J.J. Raterink found few windows to throw through. It took a leaping catch by WR Jack Walker to record Quad City's second touchdown. Vipers K Nick Hayes had a perfect night going 9-for-9 on extra points. Backup QB Tony Colston finished up in the second half with a touchdown pass to WR Michael Johnson. Tennessee Valley swept the major player awards of the night as Eakin (Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Game: 20-of-26 passing, 194 yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT), Eric Crosby (Aaron's Defensive Player of the Game: 6.0 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 1 PBU) and Bocage (JLS Ironman of the Game: 11-100-3 TDs, 58-yard KR TD, 201 all-purpose yards) were honored for their efforts.

*HOME TEAM LISTED IN CAPS



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