Week 9 arenafootball2 news & notes

by af2 Press Release
Published on May 24, 2001 under arenafootball2 (af2)

af2 Press Release

Columbus names Oglesby interim head coach
The Columbus Wardogs announced this week that Greg Oglesby will be the team's interim Head Coach, replacing Joe Campbell who was released Monday. The Wardogs are 0-7 this season following their 49-27 loss Saturday at Macon. Oglesby has served as an assistant coach this season under Campbell.

"This is a very difficult time for everyone in the organization and especially for Coach Campbell," said Wardogs President and GM Mike Sammond. "Coach Campbell is a terrific person, but we felt it was necessary to go in a different direction."

Oglesby joined the Wardog staff after a highly successful tenure as the Head Coach at Manchester High School. In six seasons at Manchester (1994-99), Oglesby led the Blue Devils to a 70-10-2 record, six straight playoff appearances, and the 1997 Class-A State Championship. Oglesby was twice named the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Coach of the Year (1994, 1997).

The Wardogs plan to name a permanent Head Coach within the next week.

Roanoke gets visit from Philadelphia Eagles running back Chris Warren
NFL star, and former Ferrum College great, Chris Warren will be in Roanoke this Friday to perform the coin toss before the Roanoke Steam-Rochester Brigade game at the Roanoke Civic Center.

A member of the Ferrum Sports Hall of Fame, Warren has starred in the NFL 10 seasons as a Seattle Seahawk, Dallas Cowboy, and Philadelphia Eagles. Warren is the Seattle Seahawk's all-time leading rusher, was twice selected team captain, and played in the Pro Bowl on four occasions. Warren has run for the third most yards in Pro Bowl history behind only Walter Payton and O.J. Simpson.

For the Record

With his eight Interceptions this season, Tulsa's WR/DB Jeremy Flowers only needs one more to tie former Tennessee Valley star David Knott for third place on the all time list.

FB/LB Randy Sullivan of the Carolina Rhinos currently has 189 yards rushing this season and needs only 15 more yards to become third on the all-time rushing list.

With three sacks this season, Quad City OL/DL Jamarr Ward needs only half a sack to tie and one sack to overtake former Norfolk Nighthawk OL/DL Silas Demary in the No. 2 spot on the all-time sack list. Ward currently has 11.5 career sacks. Demary had 12.0.

With one more pass deflected, DS Donveitious Franklin of the Carolina Rhinos will move into a tie for second on the all time list.

Milestones

QB Jay McDonagh of Quad City set a season record by throwing nine touchdown passes in Week 8 against Tennessee Valley. McDonagh is the fourth player in league history to throw for nine touchdowns.

With eight field goal attempts against Carolina last week, Greensboro K James Thomas tied teammate Bruce Reinecker and Columbus's Stan Witlock for the season record for most attempts in a game.

Quad City's K Brion Hurley of Quad City set the season record last week with nine successful extra-point attempts, extending his all-time league record to 167.

With 225 yards of total offense last week, Tulsa QB Craig Strickland surpassed former Arkansas QB Jon Nielsen to become the all-time leader in total offense. Strickland currently has 4,458 yards (2,783 last season). Nielsen had 4,417.

With 16 yards rushing last week, Baton Rouge QB Herb Tyler has 179 yards, which is the fifth-highest career total.

In both Quad City's 77-47 win at Tennessee Valley and Iowa's 68-56 win against Wichita last week 124 total points were scored, which tied for No. 10 all-time in most points scored in a game (Quad City 65, Arkansas 59, 5/19/00).

Quad City's 77 points last week was the 10th-highest total by one team in league history. The Steamwheelers possess five of the top 10 one-team scoring highs with Week 3's 97-7 against Memphis being the team's other top 10 total recorded this season.

Louisville WR/DB Brian McDonald had a kickoff return of 56 yards for a touchdown. It put him in a tie for sixth on the all time list along with Tennessee Valley OS Kelly Fields and former Carolina Rhino OS Lawrence Pullen, who both did it in 2000.

Richmond FB/LB Rodney Sledge had 4.0 sacks last week against Rochester, which is the fourth-highest total in league history trailing only the 4.5 sacks recorded in games this season by Pensacola FB/LB Derric Coakley, Arkansas FB/LB Reggie Cooley and Norfolk OL/DL Spencer Conley.

Notable & Quotable

Birmingham coach Bobby Humphrey, on the team's second loss: "I've never seen a game where all 19 guys had a bad game. Usually one or two have off nights but our entire team missed the wake-up call."

Iowa Barnstormers WR/DB Corey Hill on his team's 68-56 victory Saturday over Wichita: "Arena football is always back and forth action. You've got to hang in there. It's not over until the last second and this game came down to the last second which proves that."

Greensboro coach Gary Tufford on his team's performance against Carolina: "This game was proof that the heart is bigger than the body when it needs to be."

Norfolk DS Chris Pointer on the team's three-game winning streak: "There is a good feeling in the air around here right now. We are playing with some confidence offensively and defensively. We're still 3-4 so we're not cocky, just confident "

Pensacola's John Knust on his first win as a starting af2 QB: "It was an awesome feeling, getting my first win.I felt good in the pocket and I threw the ball well. Hopefully this win will get us back on the right track to competing for the division. I have a lot to learn as a pro quarterback, but simply winning games will take care of that. "

Roanoke DS Loren Johnson on the team's back-to-back wins after a 1-4 start to the season: "We're tired of losing. We're tired of being the bottom of the barrel. We want the Roanoke Steam to stay here. ?We want to be better than the team last year, and right now, we matched their wins."

Tennessee Valley OL/DL Andy Fuller on playing Peoria this week: "We will see what kind of team we are made of this week. I think we have the type of guys that can bounce back. I still feel like we are a championship team and that we are one of the teams to beat."

Iowa coach Earle Bruce on his team's win against Wichita: "We are finally learning what this team is made of. They continued to fight, and battle back and that is what football is all about."

Macon coach Kevin Porter on playing Columbus this week: "Columbus is a great football team. They've had some bad breaks and lost some key players recently. Once they get it all together they'll be a hard team to beat."

Swamp Foxes coach Jimmy Dunn on the team's kicking game: "The kicking game is still not improved. We are still trying to find a fix for the kicking game as well as a fix for kick returns."

Florida WR/DB Anthony Dixon on his efforts in the win against Jacksonville: "I just wanted a chance to make a play? I dropped the ball and it led to them getting a couple of scores. But I got my chance. I was running, and I thought if I cut it back, I'd have some room. I made a couple of moves and got a couple blocks and I felt pretty good about myself."

Lincoln coach Jose Jefferson on his team's upcoming game against Birming ham: "Birmingham is an established team in their conference. They are a great team and will be a great test for us. They are a high flying team, our defensive backs are going to have to be prepared and we need to get some pressure on their quarterback."

Rochester QB Mike Carubba on the team's struggles this season: "We just have to keep going. It's human nature to be down, but we have to keep working and fight our way through it because we have good players on this team."

Battle Wings coach Pat Tilley about his team's 44-25 win Saturday at Memphis: "Our defense was the key to the football game. To hold a team to only three points through three quarters in this league is a pretty impressive feat. We slacked off a little bit in the fourth quarter and let them score a few points, but overall our defense was strong."

Wichita WR/LB Willie Grissom on this weekend's game against Bossier City: "We're undefeated at home, so we need to take advantage of our home field, eliminate our mistakes and get ready for a war against Bossier City."

MEMPHIS XPLORERS (1-6) @ BATON ROUGE BLAZE (5-2)
THURSDAY, MAY 24 @ 8:30 PM ET

XPLORERS ... Memphis is the third-least penalized team in the league with 65 penalties for 320 yards. ... QB Tim Lester, who played for the XFL's Chicago Enforcers, made his Memphis debut last week completing 14 of 26 passes for 135 yards in limited action. ... Memphis is tied for first (Carolina Rhinos) in the league in rushing yards per game with 51.4. ... BLAZE ... Baton Rouge set team records last week for net yards passing (238) and total yards (255) thanks to team records by QB Herb Tyler in pass attempts (31) and completions (19). ... WR/DB Archie Turner is seventh in the league in kickoff return average (23.4) and in missed field goal return average (23.6). ... WR/DB Matt Butler played every play of last week's game against Lafayette, recording 79 yards on five catches including the game-winning touchdown.

NORFOLK NIGHTHAWKS (3-4) @ CAROLINA RHINOS (5-2)
FRIDAY, MAY 25 @ 7:30 PM ET

NIGHTHAWKS ... Since coach Mike Buck took over the team two games ago, not only has Norfolk won both games but the team has improved in every offensive statistic. ... OS Anthony Stringfield, WR/DB Jay Clarke and WR/DB Henry Baker have caught at least one reception in every game this season. ... FB/LB Darnell Wilson leads Norfolk in sacks with 6.0, helping the team post the third-highest total in the league with 22. ... RHINOS ... Opposing quarterbacks have just a 59.2 passer rating against Carolina, the second-best in the league (Quad City). ... Last week's game was Carolina's first in the last five that the team hasn't recorded at least 10 after being flagged for just six.

CHARLESTON SWAMP FOXES (4-3) @ JACKSONVILLE TOMCATS (4-3)
FRIDAY, MAY 25 @ 7:30 PM ET

SWAMP FOXES ... OS Antoine Calloway is fourth in the league in receiving yards (787) and sixth in receptions (54). ... WR/DB Rychard Dykes earned his second Ironman of the Game award of the season last week after recording a 31-yard touchdown on his lone catch and two tackles. ... With one sack last week, OL/DL Preston Vinson tied the team record for sacks in a season with 4.5. ... TOMCATS ... Last week Schad Freeman set the team record for rushes in a game (5) and tied the team record for longest run (8). ... QB Jeff McCool set the team record for attempts in a game last week with 39. ... WR/DB David Thomas set the team record for longest missed field goal return with a 49-yarder.

ROCHESTER BRIGADE (1-6) @ ROANOKE STEAM (3-4)
FRIDAY, MAY 25 @ 7 PM ET

BRIGADE ... Surrendered three safeties last week against Richmond while recording just 37 yards on 44 plays. ... OS Derek Baker leads the league with 1,388 all-purpose yards. ... Rochester's lone win this season was against Roanoke. ... STEAM ... The team's third QB this season, Al Clark has led Roanoke to back-to-back wins against Charleston, the team's first back-to-back wins in team history. ... K Josh Jones set the Roanoke season record with his 40-yarder last week. ... DS Loren Johnson set the Roanoke season record with his 28-yard missed field goal return last week.

LAFAYETTE ROUGHNECKS (2-5) @ LOUISVILLE FIRE (2-5)
FRIDAY, MAY 25 @ 8 PM ET

ROUGHNECKS ... QB Bryan Sparacino set the team record for longest run last week with his 25-yarder. ... OS Donald Richard tied his own team record for longest kickoff return last week with his 36-yard return. ... In his first af2 game last week, DS Jimmy Parker had an interception, 11 tackles and four passes defensed, including one that preserved the victory. ... FIRE ... Last week, QB Matt Pike set team records for touchdown passes (6), passing yards (295) and longest completion (40). ... Brian McDonald set the team record for the longest kickoff return last week with a 56-yarder. ... Anthony Payton set the team record last week with two interceptions.

TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (6-1) @ PEORIA PIRATES (4-3)
FRIDAY, MAY 25 @ 8 PM ET

VIPERS ... QB Matt Sauk leads the league in touchdowns (41), completions (141) and total offense per game (266.7). ... WR/LB Dedric Parham leads the league in fumbles recovered (6) and is tied for second in fumbles forced (2). ... Tennessee Valley has scored at least 50 points in all but two games this season, scoring 47 in the other two. ... PIRATES ... Peoria set a team record for total offense (329) last week in its win against Tulsa, which was undefeated prior to last week. ... QB Sean Hoolihan set the team record for yards passing (304) last week. ... Eldren Milton had 126 yards receiving last week, a team record.

MACON KNIGHTS (3-4) @ FLORIDA FIRECATS (2-5)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 7:30 PM ET

KNIGHTS ... QB Mike Gluski set the Macon record for longest run from scrimmage with his 17-yard scamper last week. ... WR/DB Troy Esprit set the team record for receptions (8) and receiving yards (146) last week. ... FB/LB Elton Davis tied his own team record last week with tackles. ... FIRECATS ... K Victor Ramirez set the team record last week for longest field goal with his 33-yarder. ... DS Robert Hall set the team record last week with three interceptions. ... Florida set a team record last week for most points scored in its 53-34 win against Jacksonville.

TALLAHASSEE THUNDER (3-4) @ RICHMOND SPEED (6-1)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 7:30 PM ET

TALLAHASSEE...Coming off of a 3-point loss at home last week to Pensacola...OS James Dickerson continues to lead af2 in receiving yards (850) and leads all receivers in touchdown catches (18)...Early season candidate for lineman of the year Ernest Certain is 2nd in tackles for a loss (4) and tied for 1st in sacks (9.0)...13 of the 24 Tallahassee PAT's have been of the 2-point kick variety, the most attempted in af2...Have returned 2 kickoffs for a touchdown (tied for 2nd in af2)...Thunder quarterbacks have been intercepted 15 times on the season (tied for 3rd most in af2)...RICHMOND...Speed defeated Rochester for the 2nd time in as many weeks to stay atop the Northeast division...Recorded a league record 11 sacks against the Brigade...Have won 6 consecutive home games...FB/LB Rodney Sledge recorded 4.0 sacks in the win last week (2nd highest single game total)...OS Jeff Townsley leads af2 in all-purpose yards (1392)...DS Tyrone Laster is tied for 6th in af2 with 18 passes defended, he also leads the team with 6 interceptions...Speed defense leads af2 in pass defense (158.7 ypg).TULSA

TALONS (6-1) @ IOWA BARNSTORMERS (3-4)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 8:00 PM ET

TULSA...Wound up with their second lowest scoring output in team history last week in their road loss at Peoria...Have won 6 straight home games dating back to last season, and are 4-0 at home this season...FB/LB Andrel Waddle has a team high 3 tackles for a loss on the season (tied for 3rd in af2)...DS Itis Atkinson ranks 5th in af2 in passes defended (19)...OL/DL Charlie Higgins ranks 8th in af2 in tackles with 40...The Talons defense has held their opponents to only 1.2 ypc on the ground and a total of 69 yards total...Are 7th in the league in scoring (280 points)...IOWA...Have won 2 games in a row for the first time in af2...OL/DL Garry Howe recorded a team high 2.0 sacks last week vs Wichita and leads the team with 4.0 (8th in af2)...Are averaging 63 points per game in their 3 wins this season and 30.5 PPG in their 4 losses...Head Coach Earle Bruce earned his first af2 coaching victory...QB Anthony Buich is 3-1 since joining the Barnstormers...OS Corey Hill has had 14 receptions in his first 2 games of the season with the Barnstormers and 184 yards receiving.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (5-2) @ LINCOLN LIGHTNING (2-5)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 8:00 PM ET

BIRMINGHAM...Are 2-0 this season versus Midwest division opponents...Steeldogs were intercepted 3 times (most this season) and were outscored 30-7 in their loss last week...QB Chris Windsor is now the af2's all-time leading passer, surpassing Jon Nielsen of Arkansas...K Brian Holmes 2 successful field goal attempts last week was a personal best...Steeldogs special teams gave up their first kickoff return for a score last week against Arkansas...OL/DL Reginald King has forced 2 fumbles on the season (tied for 3rd)...DS Terrance Harris leads the team in tackles with 34 (27 unassisted)...LINCOLN...Have now lost 4 games in a row...QB Josh Luedtke has completed 55% of his pass attempts on the season...Are averaging only 1.3 yards per carry while surrendering 3.1 yards on defense.

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (3-4) @ QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (6-1)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 8:00 PM ET

ARKANSAS...Have won 3 games in a row after starting this season 0-4...Quad City leads the all-time series 3-0...QB Ricky Hebert completed 25-31 passes for 285 yards and 4 touchdowns last week...Twisters defense shut out the Steeldogs for the final 24 minutes of the game...OL/DL Reggie Cooley's 8.5 sacks on the season ties a team record previously held by former Twister and current Nashville Kat star C.J. McClain...Twisters are tied for the league lead in sacks (24), Twisters led all of af2 last season in this category...WR/DB Ted Alford's 55-yard kickoff return for a score was Arkansas first of the season...Arkansas has 11 interceptions in the last four games...QUAD CITY...Got back on the winning track last week in defeating Tennessee Valley in a rematch of the ArenaCup 2000 game...QB Jay McDonagh earned af2 Player of the Week honors with his 308 yard and 9 touchdown performance last week, the 9 touchdowns set a team record...WR/DB Dennis Robinson had two interceptions last week and has 6 total on the season, good for third in af2...Quad City is 14-0 at home in its first two seasons.

GREENSBORO PROWLERS (4-3) @ AUGUSTA STALLIONS (6-1)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 7:00 PM ET

GREENSBORO...Moved into a tie for 3rd place in the Northeast division with their win last week over Carolina...OL/DL Orlando Atwaters leads af2 in fumbles forced (4)...DS Terry Moseby has defended 19 passes on the season, ranking him tied for 5th in af2...Prowlers rank 5th in af2 in turnover margin (+9)...Greensboro is the only af2 team this season to successfully convert on a 4-point drop kick field goal...AUGUSTA...Managed only 7 second half points in losing their first game of the 2001 season to Norfolk...Have won 11 straight games at home...OL/DL Clarence Williams is tied with Greensboro's Orlando Atwaters with 4 forced fumbles on the season...DS Maurice Blanding is 3rd in af2 with 47 tackles (26 unassisted)...K Keith Gispert has converted on 92% of his PAT attempts this season.

PENSACOLA BARRACUDAS (3-4) @ COLUMBUS WARDOGS (0-7)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 7:00 PM ET

PENSACOLA...Snapped their 3-game losing streak last week with a win at Tallahassee...Are 1-1 versus expansion teams this season...WR/LB Robert Stromas leads the team in tackles (39)...Barracudas have only scored 34 points in the third quarter this season...QB John Knust made his af2 debut last week and went 30 of 48 passes for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns...K Dennis Wuestkamp is tied for 1st in af2 with 9 field goals made...Barracudas are averaging 20.5 ypg on kickoffs (4th in af2) and 2nd in missed field goal returns (27.1 ypg)...COLUMBUS...Are the only af2 team still searching for their first victory...WR/LB Matt Burnstein returned his 3rd kickoff for a touchdown last week in their loss to Macon...QB Jerome Weaks leads the team in rushing and passing...Wardogs have committed 28 turnovers on the season (most in af2)...Are 4th in the league in field goal percentage (39%).

BOSSIER CITY BATTLE WINGS (2-5) @ WICHITA STEALTH (4-3)
SATURDAY, MAY 26 @ 8:30 PM ET

BOSSIER CITY...Notched their second win of the season last week in defeating Memphis on the road...K Marty Kent leads af2 in scoring amongst kickers (62 points)...DS Val Morris is tied for 5th in af2 with 4 interceptions...OL/DL Alex Mash and Michael Moncrief both are tied for 2nd in af2 with 4 tackles for a loss...Are 12th in the league in scoring with 272 points...Will look to win 2 consecutive games for the first time this season...WICHITA...Remain winless on the road after losing at Iowa last week...Wichita's 56 points last week was their highest output of the season...Their +14 turnover margin is good for 3rd best in af2...DS Michael Seahorn has won the Built Ford Tough Player of the game twice this season (most on the Stealth)...OL/DL Pat Norris is tied for 1st in af2 with 5 tackles for a loss on the season...Are looking for their 5th straight home win.

arenafootball2 Stories from May 24, 2001

• Week 9 arenafootball2 news & notes - OSC Original by af2 Press Release

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