Week 5 Recaps
April 29, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
Jacksonville Tomcats (1-2) 46, Charleston Swamp Foxes (2-1) 34
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jacksonville QB RASHARD CASEY used a strong second-half effort to lead the Tomcats past the Charleston Swamp Foxes 46-34 Friday night before 5,168 fans at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
After completing only 5-of-10 passes in the first half, Casey completed every pass he threw in the second, going 8-for-8 for 136 yards and three touchdowns. Game MVP LAWRENCE PULLEN caught three passes for 31 yards and one score. He also had a 56-yard kickoff return for touchdown.
Charleston's DWAYNE WILMOT led all receivers with 11 catches for 108 yards and one touchdown. ADT Defensive Player of the Game RUSSELL PARKER had 8.5 tackles (7UT-3AT) and one pass defended for the Tomcats.
QBs RAY ISAAC and MIKE BATH split time under center for the Foxes. Isaac completed 9-of-25 for 94 yards, while Bath hit 6-of-10 for 92 yards and two scores.
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Pensacola Barracudas (1-2) 72, Mobile Wizards (0-4) 6
PENSACOLA, Fla. - Pensacola mauled Mobile 72-6 Friday before a crowd of 3.456 people at Pensacola's Civic Center. Mobile's six points equaled the third-lowest point total in af2 history.
Barracudas' FB BEN LABELLE (game MVP and Ironman) totaled 20 yards on six carries, including TD runs of nine, four, three and one yards. QB BOBBY CLAYTON enjoyed a near-perfect evening, completing 13-of-17 passes for 164 yards with no interceptions and four touchdowns. The Wizards were stifled by a Barracuda defense that allowed Mobile minus-16 yards rushing on six attempts. The passing game fared little better as Wizards' quarterbacks BILLY LUCKIE and JOHN HOLMES completed only nine passes in 44 attempts while throwing four interceptions.
Pensacola led 63-0 late in the game before Mobile's only touchdown, at the 3:47 mark of the fourth quarter. But the Wizards' misery continued when Pensacola's JACK WALKER returned the attempted 2-point conversion pass 46 yards to make the score 65-6. On the ensuing Wizards' kickoff, Pensacola's NICK IANO added the final points to the evening's tally, returning the kick 49 yards for a TD. In addition to the kickoff return TD, Pensacola scored eight of its touchdowns on drives of just one or two plays each.
JERRIAN JAMES, who nabbed three interceptions, shared game MVP honors with Labelle and also earned the ADT Defensive Player of the Game award.
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New Haven Ninjas (1-3) 51, Mohegan Wolves (2-2) 38
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The New Haven Ninjas earned their first victory Saturday night, beating the Mohegan Wolves 51-38 before 3,626 fans at the New Haven Coliseum.
Entering the second quarter down 10-0, the Ninjas rattled off 28 unanswered points and held off a late Mohegan rally to win the game. The Ninjas' defense made big plays throughout the game, scoring 14 points of its own.
RYAN BRADY blocked a field goal attempt and defensive lineman ERIC BOURIS pounced on the ball in the end zone for the third Ninjas' touchdown. DB VICTOR BENSON recovered a fumble, stripped by BILL GIPSON, and returned it 24 yards for the score. Three plays later, BRIAN WATSON pulled down Mohegan QB KEVIN CARTY in the end zone for the safety. Brady also intercepted a pass that led to a Ninjas' score.
The Ninjas swept the postgame awards as ANTHONY COMER was named the game's MVP, KERRY TAYLOR took the Ironman award and RYAN BLAND earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.
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Richmond Speed (5-0) 75, Norfolk Nighthawks (0-3) 12
RICHMOND, Va. - The Richmond Speed posted a single-game team-high 75 points en route to a 75-12 blowout victory over the visiting Norfolk Nighthawks. The win was the Speed's 15th straight at home at Richmond Coliseum and 26th in its last 31 games.
Game MVP OS JEFF TOWNSLEY had eight catches for 148 yards and four touchdowns and added 66 return yards. WR/DB KEVIN HARVEY was named the Ironman, posting 21 yards receiving with a touchdown and intercepting two passes. QB BOB BEES was 15-of-26 passing for 273 yards and five touchdowns.
FB/LB CHRIS FIELD earned ADT Defensive Player of Game, posting two sacks, one pass deflection, one block and two tackles (both for a loss).
For Norfolk, OS GARY BRIGGS totaled 144 yards on six kickoff returns and contributed 21 yards receiving. QB ROY JOHNSON passed for 97 yards (11-of-31) and a touchdown and ran for 37 yards. WR/DB RICHARD BROWN led the Nighthawks with five tackles and also added a fumble recovery.
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Rochester Brigade (2-2) 32, Albany Conquest (3-1) 24
ALBANY, N.Y. - The Rochester Brigade handed the Albany Conquest its first loss of the season Saturday night, winning 32-24 in front of 7,137 fans at Pepsi Arena. The win puts the Brigade one game behind the Conquest for the Northeast Division lead.
Brigade QB MATT D'ORAZIO completed 22-of-39 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scores went to game MVP MARTINO THEUS, who led all receivers with 14 receptions for 181 yards. DB VONKEITH SPENCER was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game, totaling four tackles (3UT-2AT), one interception and five passes defensed. Spencer was able to keep Albany's COREY HILL in check, holding him to six catches for 70 yards and only one score.
Brigade WR/LB RODNEY BUSH earned Ironman honors, pulling in two receptions for 48 yards and recovering a RYAN VENA fumble for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Overall, the Brigade defense tallied four sacks on the night.
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Augusta Stallions (3-0) 47, Carolina Rhinos (0-3) 35
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Augusta Stallions remained perfect Saturday night, getting past the slumping Carolina Rhinos 47-35 before 4,188 fans at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.
Stallions' QB GLEN GAUNT was named the game's MVP as he completed 21-of-38 for 274 yards and six scores. WR/DB TIM DUMAS caught two of those TD strikes and led all receivers with eight catches for 110 yards. He also had 4.5 tackles (4UT-1AT) and one pass defended, earning Ironman honors for the game.
The Rhinos got a solid outing from QB CALEC SLOVER, who had a hand in all five Rhino touchdowns. Solver completed 24-of-48 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores.
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Greensboro Prowlers (2-2) 64, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (0-4) 31
GREENSBORO, Va. - The Greensboro Prowlers ended a two-game losing streak Saturday night, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 64-31 in front of 2,106 fans at the Greensboro Coliseum.
QB CHRIS WEIBEL went 15-for-25 for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for two scores. One of Weibel's primary targets was OS ANTOINE CALLOWAY, who led all receivers with eight catches for 93 yards and one score.
Pioneers' QB TYLER TOMICH recorded 16 completions on 41 attempts for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Tomich also added two rushing scores. AMAM ABYE lead all Pioneers' receivers with six receptions for 99 yards and one score.
Greensboro's 64 points set a team record for most points in history, breaking the record of 56 points set just last week at Roanoke.
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Tennessee Valley Vipers (3-0) 50, Macon Knights (3-1) 47
MACON, Ga. - The Tennessee Valley Vipers proved to be one punch better than the Macon Knights in a 50-47 thriller Saturday night at the Macon Coliseum. With the win, Tennessee Valley tied the af2 record for most consecutive road victories with 10.
Tennessee Valley led most of the way, though Macon knotted the score three times during the game. The Knights had a chance to tie it once more as time expired, but kicker WESLEY WILSON was wide right on his 52-yard field goal attempt.
Vipers' QB WES COUNTS won game MVP honors, completing 17-of-29 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns. PAT HOUSE was named the Ironman with one rushing touchdown, one scoring reception and four solo tackles. REGGIE WORTHY earned the nod as the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
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Roanoke Steam (2-2) 61, Louisville Fire (0-4) 41
ROANOKE, Va. - Roanoke QB CHRIS SANDERS completed 21-of-32 passes for 257 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Steam past the Louisville Fire 61-41 Saturday night at the Roanoke County Civic Center.
Sanders also rushed for two scores and didn't throw any interceptions. Game MVP honors went to OS ANTHONY HINES, who had eight catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns. MARIO KELSO was named the game's Ironman. He had two receptions for 18 yards and one score, adding two interceptions and four passes defended on defense. ADT Defensive Player of the Game KENNY WOJCIECHOWSKI recorded 4.5 tackles (3UT-3AT), 1.5 sacks and recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown.
Fire QB MATT PIKE went 19-of-49 for 280 yards and five touchdowns, but he also threw three picks and was sacked five times. Louisville's CARL LYLES led all receivers with seven catches for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
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Arkansas Twisters (3-1) 75, San Diego Riptide (1-3) 51
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Behind QB RICKY HEBERT's eight touchdown passes and a opportunistic defense that allowed San Diego only 228 yards, the Arkansas Twisters beat the visiting San Diego Riptide 75-51 Saturday in front of 8,574 fans at Alltel Arena.
Hebert's eight touchdown passes were the most in a single game this year (Quad City's TONY ZIMMERMAN equaled Hebert's feat later Saturday at Fresno). The 75 points racked up by the Twisters matched Richmond's 75 points Saturday against Norfolk as the most points scored in a game this year.
DARNELL SMALL's one-yard TD run early in the third quarter gave Arkansas a 48-27 lead, and San Diego drew no closer than 15 points after that. Hebert completed 22-of-32 passes for a season-best 325 yards. Wide receivers KEVIN WILLIAMS, JOHN DOLLAR and LENNIE JOHNSON caught two touchdown passes each for the Twisters. Twister OL/DL GREG TAYLOR got his sixth sack of the season to take the league lead.
The Twister defense limited Riptide quarterback KANE CLAUNCH to 15-of-29 passing for 199 yards. Marcus Campbell intercepted him once. San Diego WR/DB RYAN SMITH returned eight kickoffs for 227 yards (sixth-best in af2 history), caught two touchdown passes and had an interception, broke up two passes and recorded two tackles.
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Birmingham Steeldogs (3-1) 69, Columbus Wardogs (1-2) 26
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - DS/KR TERRANCE HARRIS returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and was named the game's MVP as the Birmingham Steeldogs defeated the Columbus Wardogs 69-26 in front of 6,280 fans at the BJCC Arena.
Harris' first touchdown came with 1:07 remaining in the first quarter on a 52-yard kickoff return. His second TD came in the second quarter on a 56-yard return of a missed field goal. Defensively, Harris made a game-high 7.5 tackles.
Steeldogs QB MONTRESSA KIRBY had another solid night under center, finishing 15-of-20 for 199 yards, one interception and seven touchdown passes. WAYNE THOMAS caught four passes for 80 yards on the night, two of those for scores. Wardogs QB JEROME WEAKS faced constant pressure and finished 19-of-48 for 195 yards and had one touchdown pass. He threw two interceptions. Columbus' leading receiver was OS MIKE SCOTT, who caught seven passes for 80 yards and also ran for a touchdown.
The game's Ironman was Birmingham's ANTHONY JORDAN, who had an interception return for touchdown and caught a 39-yard TD pass from Kirby. The ADT Defensive Player of the Game was Steeldogs OL/DL JACKIE ROWAN.
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Bossier City Battle Wings (2-2) 45, Peoria Pirates (2-2) 36
BOSSIER CITY, La. - Bossier City's SHERARD POTEETE ran for three touchdowns and threw for three more Saturday in a 45-36 win over the Peoria Pirates. The second-year QB went 19-of-34 for 249 yards.
Poteete's biggest play of the game came in the opening minute of the second half when he threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to DENNIS SHORT to give the Battle Wings a 33-17 lead. Bossier City kept at least a nine-point cushion for the remainder of the night en route to its second straight home win of the season.
Poteete, the game MVP, led all rushers with 25 yards on seven carries while Bossier City's KEVIN STEVENSON was the top receiver with 80 yards on six catches and one touchdown. Peoria quarterbacks WALTER CHURCH and RONNIE GORDON were a combined 19-of-33 passing, with Church throwing for 176 of the team's 211 yards.
Bossier City's IVAN ODOM (sack for seven-yard loss) was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
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Florida Firecats (3-0) 30, Memphis Xplorers (3-1) 25
DESOTO, Miss. - Memphis QB TIM LESTER couldn't hold on to the final snap of the game, and it might have cost the Xplorers a victory, as the Florida Firecats went on the road for the first time this season and won, 30-25.
After BRANDON KORNBLUE's 40-yard field goal gave Florida a five-point cushion with 32 seconds left, the Xplorers drove for a potential game-winning score, only to see the botched snap at the Firecats' 3-yard line allow the clock to expire. Kornblue, the game MVP, also made field goals of 33 and 39 yards.
Lester completed 20-of-38 passes for 226 yards, two TDs and one INT. Florida QB DERRICK TAITE hit on 12-of-28 passes for 171 yards, one TD and three picks. RUSSELL COPELAND caught eight passes for 133 yards and a touchdown, but Florida's ANTHONY DIXON scooped up his third-quarter fumble and returned it 22 yards for a TD, capping a 17-point rally that gave the Firecats a 24-17 lead.
Dixon was the game's Ironman, catching two passes for 27 yards on offense in addition to his fumble return for score. Memphis defensive back GENO HENDERSON intercepted two passes to earn ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.
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Tulsa Talons (3-1) 48, Bakersfield Blitz (3-1) 27
TULSA, Okla. - MITCH ALLNER caught 10 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown and added 67 yards on three kickoff returns to lead Tulsa to a 48-27 victory over the previously-undefeated Bakersfield Blitz before 4,369 fans Saturday. It was the 12th consecutive regular-season home victory for the Talons.
Tulsa's ANTHONY BUICH and JOE PHEARS rotated at QB. Buich was 10-of-14 passing for 113 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. Phears was 10-of-15 passing for 138 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Phears' one-yard TD run gave Tulsa a 21-7 lead with 10:07 left in the second quarter, and the Talons led by at least two touchdowns the rest of the way. WR/DB SEAN LOVE scored two of his three TDs in the first half, helping the Talons build a 35-14 halftime lead.
The Talons picked off three CHAD ELLIOTT passes and sacked the Blitz QB four times. Elliott was 24-of-40 passing for 259 yards and three TDs. GERRICK BIVINS led Bakersfield receivers with eight receptions for 107 yards and two TDs. DS LARRY HOLLINGQUEST led the Talons' defense with 10.5 tackles (nine unassisted) and an interception.
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Wichita Stealth (1-3) 31, Hawaiian Islanders (1-3) 27
WICHITA, Kan. - Game MVP MATT HICKS fired a 26-yard touchdown pass to COREY MCCOY with 9:05 remaining to give the Stealth a 31-27 win over the Hawaiian Islanders before 4,702 people at the Kansas Coliseum.
Down 21-7 in the second quarter, the Wichita Stealth rallied for 17 unanswered points to take a 24-21 lead entering the final period. Hicks, the game MVP, passed for 270 yards (156 yards in the second half) and four touchdowns to lead the charge. The Islanders finally answered, going back on top 27-24 when CHRIS PAOGOFIE scored from two yards out with 12:56 left in the fourth quarter.
But the Stealth clinched the win with McCoy's TD and interceptions on Hawaii 's last two possessions. Islanders' QB DARNELL ARCENEAUX completed only 11-of-30 passes for 167 yards. Paogofie totaled 54 offensive yards and two touchdowns for Hawaii, also making seven tackles, intercepting a pass and recovering a fumble on defense.
McCoy was selected the Ironman of the game, totaling five receptions for 58 yards and one touchdown on offense and making the game-clinching interception on defense. The ADT Defensive Player of the Game was Wichita DS WILL SULLIVAN (interception, two passes defensed).
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Quad City Steamwheelers (4-0) 62, Fresno Frenzy (0-4) 54
FRESNO, Calif. - The Quad City Steamwheelers earned their 17th consecutive victory Saturday, winning 62-54 over the Fresno Frenzy in front of 5,983 fans at Fresno's Selland Arena.
The teams combined for almost 600 yards of offense and 16 touchdowns, scoring on every possession of a game that featured nine first-half lead changes. Quad City clinched the win with a 3:07 drive capped by TONY ZIMMERMAN's 2-yard run with two seconds remaining. Zimmerman was named the game's most valuable player, completing 18-of-26 passes for 312 yards. His eight touchdown passes equaled the af2 season high set by Arkansas' RICKY HEBERT earlier Saturday.
Steamwheelers' OS IRA GOOCH caught nine passes for 215 yards with five touchdowns. His one-yard TD catch late in the first half gave Quad City the lead for good at 39-34, but the biggest lead the visitors mustered was nine points.
Frenzy quarterback RICKY RAY connected on 23-of-32 passes for 245 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Fresno offensive specialist LAMONT WEBB snared 10 passes for 142 yards with one touchdown.
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THIS WEEK IN af2 HISTORY
5/4/01: The Quad City Steamwheelers defeat Bossier City 55-43 to raise their all-time record to an unprecedented 24-0. The 24-game streak is the longest winning streak in professional football history and ties the second-longest undefeated streak in pro football history.
5/5/00: Charleston Swamp Foxes' kicker TOM SELLERS successfully drop kicks a 25-yard field goal, worth four points. He becomes the first kicker to accomplish the feat since St. Louis' TOM WHELIHAN did so in an AFL game in 1996.
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arenafootball2 Stories from April 29, 2002
- Ninjas Game Notes - New Haven Ninjas
- Wolves Game Notes - Mohegan Wolves
- Week 5 Recaps - af2
- Nighthawks Game Notes - Norfolk Nighthawks
- Bob Cortese Named Director of Football Operations for Stealth - Wichita Stealth
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