af2 arenafootball2

Week eight af2 quick hitters

Published on May 18, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


A POINT ABOUT POINTS: Through 61 games played, af2 teams have combined to score 5,784 points for an average of 94.8 points per game. If that average holds up or increases by season's end, this season would have the highest per game scoring average on record. Last year's 94.3 points per game average is the current record. The lowest per game average was 83.6 during the 2002 season.

YEAR PPG AVG
2000 90.1
2001 88.6
2002 83.6
2003 90.0
2004 94.3
2005 94.8

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: With possessions so important in arena football the turnover battle often decides who wins or loses a contest. With this in mind it should be no surprise that the 5-1 Memphis Xplorers lead the league in turnover margin at +17. Memphis is first in takeaways with 24 (10 fumbles recoveries and 14 interceptions) and is second in fewest turnovers with only seven (4 fumbles and 3 interceptions). The Xplorers' total is eight better than the team ranked second, the Green Bay Blizzard, who have a +9 turnover margin.

PLAYING CATCH-UP: Leading the Rio Grande Valley Dorados at halftime has proved to be a bad thing this season. The Dorados are 3-1 when trailing at halftime, meaning all their wins this season have come when trailing at the half.

GOTTA LOVE THE DROP KICK: One of the unique aspects of af2 is the drop kick. For a successful drop kick the kicker needs to drop the ball and let it touch the turf. The kicker may then kick it through the goal posts. A field goal performed by a drop kick is worth four points, and a drop kicked extra point is worth two points. Due to the difficulty of the drop kick it is rarely attempt in either the af2 or AFL, but this past week saw three drop kick extra points attempted. Bossier-Shreveport's BRIAN HAZELWOOD connected on an extra point by drop kick in the third quarter against Florida. In Memphis, STEVEN GREEN tried two drop kick extra points against Amarillo. He made one. For the Pioneers in Quad City, DAVID DAVIS tried a drop kick extra point after a botched snap but had it blocked.

LAMB RETURNS TO HIS FLOCK: One of af2's best receivers, CAINON LAMB, returned to the Florida Firecats this week. Lamb retired after last season to focus on his music career. He is signed to Missy Elliott's Gold Mine Records label. But he isn't giving up on music, as he will produce songs in his time away from the field. Lamb also has his own production company, LamTank Productions. He produced a song for American Idol Fantasia called "Selfish" on her latest album. Lamb holds Florida team records in kickoff return yards (1,364) and combined return yards (1,507). Lamb's 2003 season of 110 receptions for 1,291 yards and 31 touchdowns are all single season Firecats records. He is expected to play at Louisville on Saturday.

ONLY IN ARENA FOOTBALL: Last week South Georgia's ROB KEEFE opened the game with big plays in all three areas of the game. The Arkansas' returner couldn't handle opening kickoff so the ball hit the turf, bounced up and hit the net again. When the ball came down again it was a wild scramble for the ball, with Keefe coming up with it for a South Georgia touchdown. On the next possession Arkansas faced a fourth down and went for it. Quarterback TRAVIS MOTLEY's pass went incomplete with the pass defended by Keefe. The Wildcats then took over the ball and moved down field. Keefe finished the drive with a run from one-yard out for a touchdown, giving the Wildcats an early 14-0 lead, a lead they would never give up.

THE NAME GAME: The Blitz Dance Team has a new name. Selected as a part of an online "Name the Blitz Girls" contest on the team's official website, www.bakersfieldblitz.com, the Blitz Girls were officially introduced as "The Bombshellz" at last week's game. Over 30 different names were submitted before The Bombshellz was selected. Other names included the Blitz Beauties, the Blitzettes, the Blitzing Belles of Bakersfield, the Super Sexy Sack Squad and the Hypnotix. The Bombshellz have their own page on the website, complete with photos and bios of each member. Their next public appearance will be this Thursday at the Bakersfield Downtown Street Faire, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

af2 IN THE AFL: Former af2er MATT DORAZIO completed 28 of 43 passes for 283 yards and six touchdowns with zero interceptions in the Columbus Destroyers' 55-52 upset over the Philadelphia Soul. Dorazio also rushed for a touchdown ... Former Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz kicker PETER MARTINEZ made clutch kicks all afternoon in the Grand Rapids Rampage's 51-40 upset of the Chicago Rush. Martinez connected on three of four field goals and all six extra point tries. He made kicks from 29, 22 and 17 yards with his only miss being a 59 yard attempt. His 17-yard field goal came with only 12 seconds left in the game and stretched the Rampage lead from eight to 11 points to clinch the game. On the season Martinez has hit 76 of 85 extra point attempts and 18 of 43 field goal tries for 130 total points ... Former Macon Knights offensive specialist JACQUES RUMPH scored three touchdowns in the New Orleans VooDoo's big 69-68 win over the Austin Wranglers. Rumph caught seven passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed in from three yards out with 7:55 remaining in the game to give the VooDoo a 63-62 lead. It was their first lead since the game's opening minute. Rumph also excelled on special teams, returning six kickoffs for 120 yards.

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arenafootball2 Stories from May 18, 2005


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