af2 arenafootball2

Week eight af2 Friday night matchups

May 20, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (5-1) AT MANCHESTER WOLVES (3-3)
FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2004 - VERIZON WIRELESS ARENA (9,500) 7:30 P.M. ET

The Birmingham Steeldogs make the trip north to take on Manchester Wolves. Manchester is coming off of a bye last week and has won three last of their last four games. The Steeldogs are the hottest team in the af2, owning a five game win streak, the longest currently in the league and in Steeldog history. Look for a few passes to be picked off for both teams, the Wolves and Steeldogs are one and two in the af2 in interceptions. Manchester has recorded thirteen and Birmingham has recorded twelve. Two weeks ago ANTHONY JORDAN of the Steeldogs had three interceptions against the Macon Knights, last week he added another to total seven interceptions on the season to lead the af2. Birmingham runs the ball more than most af2 teams and DONTAE WALKER leads this rushing attack. He leads the Steeldogs with 98 rushing yards on the season, averaging 5.2 yards per rush. On defense Walker has recorded two forced fumbles, which also leads the team. Whether rushing or passing the ball, Birmingham looks for the big play as they average 7.7 yards per play, second most in the af2. ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN and MARVIN OWENS both have three interceptions to lead the Wolves. After them, seven different players have recorded one interception on the season, meaning nine different Wolves players have recorded an interception this season. The Wolves offense goes through GEORGE WILLIAMS and REGGIE ROBINSON, they are the only Manchester receivers with double digit receptions. This is the only meeting between the Steeldogs and Wolves this season.

COLUMBUS WARDOGS (1-5) AT BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (2-5)
FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2004 - CENTURYTEL CENTER (12,500) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Columbus Wardogs take the trip to Louisiana to play the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings. This game will finish up a stretch of four of five games on the road for Columbus. So far the Wardogs have lost all four games in this stretch after winning their home opener against Cape Fear. Despite Bossier-Shreveport's record they have two quality wins. They beat the Islanders three weeks ago and are the only team to have defeated Birmingham, doing so the first week of the season at home, but last week's loss at Tennessee Valley was a setback. Both the Battle Wings and the Wardogs would like to use a win this week as a springboard to rejuvenate their season. If Columbus is going to pull out the victory they will do so in the hands receiver ADRIAN COCKFIELD. Cockfield's 62 receptions leads the league and his 12 touchdown catches leads the team. He also has 419 kickoff return yards. Columbus quarterback KYLE ROWLEY has put up big numbers the last two weeks, throwing 11 total touchdowns and 557 yards. It will be the responsibility of JAWAN DILL to stop these two. Dill leads the Battle Wings with 33.0 tackles (25UA-16AT) and interceptions with two. He has also broken up three other passes while recovering one fumble. His teammate SHADRICK MCAFEE has 28 tackles, second on the team, and has forced two fumbles while recovering five fumbles. His five recovered fumbles leads the league. This is the first of back-to-back games for the Wardogs and Battle Wings, they face each other again next week in Columbus.



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