Week Eight Game Recaps
May 20, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
Macon Knights (5-2) 80, Pensacola Barracudas (2-4) 65
MACON, Ga. - JOHN RAYBORN completed 15-of-20 passes for 238 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Macon Knights to a 80-65 win over the Pensacola Barracudas Friday at the Macon Coliseum.
For Rayborn, who was named game MVP, it marked his first win as a Knight. OS JAQUEZ RUMPF caught six of Rayborn's passes for a game high 122 yards and two scores. WR/LB GABE AMEY caught three passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns, and WR/LB TREMAINE NEAL caught two passes for 51 yards and one touchdown.
The Knights' defense also made several big plays. FB/LB BYRON DOUZART was named Ironman of the Game and ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Douzart blocked a 52-yard field goal attempt that bounced through the back of Pensacola's end zone for a safety. Macon DS ELTON DAVIS had a 50-yard interception return for TD that pushed Macon's lead to 74-51 late in the fourth quarter.
The Barracudas dominated the Knights statistically, running 52 plays for 323 total yards of offense. Pensacola was led by OS NICK IANO (six receptions for 77 yards) and QB CHARLIE PETERSON (26-of-50 for 328 yards, seven TDs and one interception). WR/LB ROBERT STROMAS caught five passes for 41 yards and three touchdowns and WR/DB JACK WALKER caught five passes for 67 yards and two TDs.
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Rochester Brigade (4-3) 53, Mohegan Wolves (2-5) 50
UNCASVILLE, Conn. - The Rochester Brigade withstood a 26-point third quarter by the Mohegan Wolves to hold on for a 53-50 win Friday night before 2,289 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Rochester moved over the .500 mark for the first time this season, while the Wolves dropped their fourth straight contest.
Leading the offense for the Brigade was QB MATT D'ORAZIO, who completed 29-of-41 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns. D'Orazio also rushed the ball six times for 23 yards and three scores, setting a team record for rushing touchdowns in a single game. D'Orazio's main targets were WR/DB DEREK BAKER (Ironman of the Game) and OS MARTINO THEUS. Baker caught 11 passes for 125 yards and three touchdowns, registered three rushes for 11 yards - including a two-yard touchdown - and registered eight solo tackles on the night to lead the team. Theus led the team with 12 catches for 123 yards.
Offensively, the Wolves were led by QB CABLE DAVIS' 23 completions for 373 yards (af2 season high) and six touchdowns. His main target was game MVP OS BRANDON BURNSIDE, who caught nine passes for 205 yards and five touchdowns, four coming in the second half. Burnside also returned eight kickoffs for 127 yards. Brigade OL/DL WILLIE WATSON led the Brigade defensively with 5.5 tackles, two for a loss of four yards, and one pass defended, earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors. For the Wolves, DS HERON O'NEAL registered 8.5 tackles, one interception and two passes defended to lead the team defensively.
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Bossier City Battle Wings (4-3) 47, Mobile Wizards (0-7) 12
MOBILE, Ala. - A week after routing Mobile 65-7, the Bossier City Battle Wings completed the back-to-back sweep with a 47-12 road victory over the Wizards. Bossier City spotted Mobile a 9-0 lead, but scored 47 of the game's last 50 points, shutting out the Wizards 20-0 in the second half.
Mobile jumped to its early lead on the strength of the kicking game. The Wizards' MICHAEL VAUGHN made his first field goal of the season and newly-assigned speedster KENDRICK LEE returned a SCOTT TYNER missed field goal 48 yards for a touchdown.
Bossier City took the lead for good on a pair of TD runs by JASON JOHNIGAN (one yard) and game MVP SHERARD POTEETE (36 yards). After another Vaughn field goal to trim Mobile's deficit to 13-12, it was all Battle Wings, with a Poteete touchdown run and three Poteete TD passes helping Bossier City pull away.
Poteete completed 16-of-21 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns in addition to his two rushing scores. Bossier City WR/DB KEVIN STEVENSON, the game's Ironman, caught seven balls for 94 yards and a touchdown. Mobile's quarterback duo of KENTEN EVANS and TERRANCE LEVY combined for 12 completions in 31 attempts for 74 yards and no touchdowns, but no interceptions. Battle Wings DS CEDRIC ROBINSON totaled 7.0 tackles to be named ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
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Charleston Swamp Foxes (3-3) 67, Jacksonville Tomcats (2-4) 63
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Veteran QB RAY ISAAC returned to the starting lineup for the Charleston Swamp Foxes and passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more, helping his club to a 67-64 win over the Jacksonville Tomcats Saturday night before 3,786 at North Charleston Coliseum.
Charleston fought from behind almost the entire night, rallying from deficits of 14, 13, and 17 points. The Tomcats took their largest lead 1:49 into the third quarter, 50-33. However, the Swamp Foxes rallied with 27-straight points to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Isaac scored on an 11-yard bootleg with just over a minute remaining in regulation to seal the win.
Isaac, who started for the first time in three games, completed 12-of-29 passes for 288 yards and one interception. DWAYNE WILMOT led all Charleston receivers, catching six passes for 128 yards and two TDs. BEN CHRISTOPHER, who was named the Ironman of the Game, caught one pass for 49 yards for a score. It was the longest TD strike of the season for the Foxes. Defensively, Christopher added 3.5 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Jacksonville's LAWRENCE PULLEN was named the MVP of the Game. The 5-foot-6 OS/KR caught eight passes for 155 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for one score in addition to tallying 110 yards in kickoff returns, including a 48-yard return for TD.
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Columbus Wardogs (2-4) 34, Louisville Fire (0-6) 31
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Columbus OS PHIL TAYLOR caught a 44-yard touchdown pass from BILLY LUCKIE with 5:08 left in the game to power the Wardogs past the Louisville Fire Saturday in front of 9,241 fans at Freedom Hall.
The TD capped a Wardogs' rally from a 29-18 third-quarter deficit. Louisville QB MATT PIKE hooked up with OS CHARLES SHEFFIELD on touchdown passes of 13, three and 39 yards to give the Fire its 11-point edge. But Columbus WR/LB MIKE SCOTT scored on a two-yard run to pull the Wardogs within five points and, after the teams traded safeties, Luckie and Taylor connected on the game-winner.
Luckie passed for just 108 yards and two touchdowns, but also rushed for another score. Taylor caught six of Luckie's 10 completions for 87 yards and both TDs. Pike totaled 178 yards and four touchdowns through the air, but fumbled twice, including a crucial fumble in the final minute of the game. Sheffield caught seven passes for 86 yards.
Columbus FB/LB CHUCK WEBB, who scored the Wardogs' safety, blocked a kick, and had both a forced fumble and fumble recovery, was named the game MVP. Teammate CLIFTON ROBINSON was voted the game Ironman. Louisville's JAMES DAWSON, who totaled 1.5 sacks, earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.
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Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (1-6) 47, New Haven Ninjas (2-4) 43
NEW HAVEN, Conn. - BRYAN SNYDER completed 19-of-29 passes and the Pioneers' running game netted 59 yards and four touchdowns to give Wilkes-Barre/Scranton its first victory of the season, a 47-43 win over New Haven Ninjas in front of 3,745 fans Saturday night at the New Haven Coliseum.
The Pioneers held a 44-30 lead with just 56 seconds left in the game, but New Haven QB JARROD ROUANZOIN found ANTHONY COMER for a 35-yard touchdown to cut the lead to seven points. A Ninjas' onside kick attempt was ruled down and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton took over on the five-yard line with 45 ticks remaining. The Pioneers ran down the clock before JIMMY KIBBLE nailed a 22-yard field goal to push the lead to 47-37. On the first play of the following Ninjas' drive, Rouanzoin again connected with Comer for a 25-yard touchdown. New Haven attempted another onside kick, and recovered, but with only 16 seconds left, the Ninjas were unable to score again.
Snyder, who totaled 189 yards passing and two touchdowns, also rushed for two scores and was named the game's MVP. KEVIN NAGLE earned Ironman honors and RODRICK PRAYER was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game. Prayer had two tackles, one interception and three passes defensed.
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Tallahassee Thunder (4-2) 40, Florida Firecats (3-3) 38
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Tallahassee Thunder FB/LB MESIAH PORTER scored two touchdowns in the final 46 seconds to lead the Thunder to a 40-38 win over the Florida Firecats Saturday night before 2,868 at the Leon County Civic Center.
JASON CUE was named the game's MVP for his efforts off the bench in the fourth quarter. He led the final five-play, 48-yard drive that ended with MESIAH PORTER's eight-yard game-winning touchdown catch with nine seconds remaining in the game. Overall, Cue completed 7-of-16 passes for 83 yards and the game-winning TD. CHRIS PERKINS started for Tallahassee and had 13 completions for 141 yards and three scores.
Porter, who was the game's Ironman, added two tackles along with his two touchdowns. ADESOLA BADON was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game. He contributed four tackles (including one for a loss) and had a game high seven passes defensed.
KENNY CAUSEY had another solid performance for the Firecats, catching five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns. He also returned two kickoffs for 39 yards and three missed field goals for 72 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown return. JOHNNY FROST tallied 35 yards on six carries to lead all rushers in the game.
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Albany Conquest (5-1) 37, Roanoke Steam (4-3) 32
ALBANY, N.Y. - RYAN VENA threw for a season-high 283 yards to lead the Conquest past the Roanoke Steam 37-32 Saturday night before 6,103 people at Pepsi Arena. For Roanoke, the loss snapped a four-game winning streak.
Vena, who was voted the game's MVP, turned in his best performance of the year, completing 24-of-35 for three touchdowns. He also rushed for 28 yards and one score. WR JOHN STUART and OS COREY HILL led the receiving attack for the Conquest. Stuart had six catches for 102 yards and one touchdown while Hill grabbed 10 balls for 97 yards. MICHAEL GUAZZO (Ironman) had five receptions for 63 yards and one score along with three tackles and one pass defensed.
Roanoke signal-caller MIKE VOLARVICH completed 22-of-42 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns. KENAN McWHORTER led all receivers with 10 catches for 106 yards and three scores. DESEAN WILLIAMS led all tacklers with 12.5 on the night. Conquest FB/LB MATT VITTENGL contributed one solo tackle, two sacks and three QB hurries, earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors.
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Cape Fear Wildcats (4-2) 57, Norfolk Nighthawks (1-5) 32
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Cape Fear Wildcats picked up its second straight win with a 57-32 victory over the Norfolk Nighthawks in front of 4,200 Saturday at the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum. The Wildcats swept the two-game regular season series with the Nighthawks, winning the two games against their Atlantic Division rivals by a combined score of 126-51.
The Wildcats' top-ranked defense shined again as af2 sack leader E.J. BURT registered two sacks for the second straight game and won ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors for the second time this season. Game MVP MIKE GLUSKI completed 19-of-33 passes for 239 yards and four touchdowns. EDDIE MILLER was named Ironman of the Game with five catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The rookie also led the Wildcats' defense with five tackles. MITCHELL GALLOWAY led all Wildcats' receivers with six grabs for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Norfolk gunslinger CHIRS WALLACE completed 16-of-35 for 213 yards and five touchdowns. TRAVIS BURNS led all receivers with seven receptions for 108 yards and two scores. GARY BRIGGS added three catches for 37 yards and two touchdowns for the Nighthawks.
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Augusta Stallions (6-0) 56, Carolina Rhinos (2-4) 32
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The Augusta Stallions remained perfect on the season Saturday night as they beat the Carolina Rhinos 56-32 before 5,143 fans at the BI-LO Center. For the Rhinos, the loss snapped a two-game winning streak.
GLEN GAUNT led the Augusta attack, completing 18 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns. Gaunt also rushed for one touchdown. Chris Johnson hauled in five receptions for 104 yards and three touchdowns, while UNDRE WILLIAMS and TIM DUMAS posted receiving totals of 69 yards and two touchdowns and 64 yards and one TD, respectively, for the Stallions.
CALEB SLOVER completed 15 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns, but also was intercepted twice. ROBERT GARTH, CLIFF SHAVERS and MAL LAWYER caught one touchdown apiece while RASHEED CULLER rushed for a score for the Rhinos.
Gaunt was named the game's Most Valuable Player, Williams took the Ironman award and teammate LAVAR RAINEY was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
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Richmond Speed (7-0) 66, Greensboro Prowlers (2-5) 57
GREENSBORO, N.C. - The Richmond Speed used a 30-point fourth quarter to come from behind and beat the Greensboro Prowlers 66-57 Saturday night before 2,633 at the Greensboro Coliseum. It was the first time this season that the Speed trailed entering the fourth quarter of a game.
JEFF TOWNSLEY hauled in seven passes for 147 yards (game high) and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors, but it was Ironman winner KEVIN HARVEY who made the difference in the game. Harvey had 10 receptions for 146 yards and four scores, including two touchdown grabs in the final minutes to put Richmond out in front for good. Defensively, Harvey added 3.5 tackles. Speed QB BOB BEES completed 20-of-32 for 349 yards and seven scores.
For Greensboro, QB TRAVIS PENDER had 17 completions on 35 attempts for 281 yards and five touchdowns. JASON GIBSON led all Prowlers' receivers with five catches for 125 yards and three scores. RAFIK THOROSSIAN added two rushing touchdowns, 3.5 tackles (including two for a loss) and 1.5 sacks for Greensboro.
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Arkansas Twisters (4-3) 53, Memphis Xplorers (4-3) 29
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Twisters jumped out to a 26-0 lead on their way to a 53-29 win over Central Division rival Memphis before 10,059 fans at Alltel Arena.
Arkansas' VERNON ROBISKIE sacked Memphis quarterback TIM LESTER on the first play of the game, causing a fumble that was recovered by the Twisters. One play later, REGGIE COOLEY plunged in for the game's first score. The Twisters extended the lead on a two-yard run by FB/LB DARNELL SMALL and 45-yard pass from QB RICKY HEBERT to WR/DB LENNIE JOHNSON as well as a fumble recovery for TD by Cooley. Memphis finally scored on a 1-yard run by JOHNNY LOPER with 4:48 to go in the first half to make the score 26-7.
After a two-yard run by Loper trimmed Arkansas' led to 39-21 at the end of the third quarter, the Twisters responded with a 29-yard pass from Hebert to ANTHONY EUBANKS and a 56-yard missed field goal return by Johnson to clinch the victory.
Lester faced unrelenting pressure all night and was sacked six times for minus-33 yards. Small was Arkansas' leading tackler with six solo tackles and also had a sack. Hebert passed for 231 yards, going 19-for-32 with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Eubanks was the Twisters' leading receiver with 67 yards on seven catches. Memphis' DEUMAIN REEDER caught six passes for 76 yards to lead all receivers. Memphis played most of the game without RUSSELL COPELAND, one of arenafootball2's leading receivers, who suffered an ankle injury early in the first quarter.
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Quad City Steamwheelers (5-1) 68, Wichita Stealth (1-6) 36
MOLINE, Ill. - The Quad City Steamwheelers, behind 288 return yards from game MVP IRA GOOCH, leveled the Wichita Stealth 68-36 Saturday. The win kept the Steamwheelers perfect in their home arena, running their unbeaten skein at The MARK of the Quad Cities to 25 games.
Gooch hauled in four passes for 53 yards to give him 341 all-purpose yards. Four of his eight combined kick returns went for more than 50 yards, including a 57-yard kickoff return for touchdown that gave Quad City a 55-22 lead, one of three 33-point advantages the Steamwheelers enjoyed.
The Stealth led 9-0 early, thanks to a 31-yard touchdown pass from Matt Hicks (12-of-30, 175 yards) to COREY McCOY and a safety by BRYAN HENDERSON on his ninth sack of the season. The lead proved to be short-lived, as TONY ZIMMERMAN tossed four TD passes before halftime - three to WR/DB Chris Anthony - to give Quad City a 28-15 edge at intermission.
Zimmerman completed 15-of-21 passes for 158 yards and five touchdowns before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. Anthony had eight catches for 124 yards and four touchdowns. The tandem of McCoy (seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown) and GREG KYLER (four catches for 98 yards and two TDs) topped Wichita's receiving corps. Quad City FB/LB FRANK TRENTADUE was named the game's Ironman, rushing three times for 13 yards on offense while posting two sacks, one pass deflection and a fumble recovery on the defensive side of the ball. JEFF FOURDYCE was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game.
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Tulsa Talons (6-1) 73, Hawaiian Islanders (1-6) 48
TULSA, Okla. - KEONTA GOLSON caught a career-high four touchdown passes to help lead the Tulsa Talons to a 73-48 victory over Hawaii before 4,100 fans Saturday. The victory was Tulsa's fifth straight overall, 13th consecutive regular-season home victory and marked the third consecutive game the Talons have scored 70 or more points.
Tulsa broke the game open with QB JOE PHEARS throwing two TD passes to Golson and one to KAREEM WISE as the Talons built a 37-22 lead just before halftime. Golson, who caught a 16-yard scoring strike from ANTHONY BUICH in the first quarter, got his personal record on a nine-yard TD pass from Phears with 1:15 left in the game for a 66-42 lead. Phears, the top-rated passer in af2, was 13-of-16 for 181 yards and tied his career high with five TD passes for the second straight week. The Talons, who alternated Phears and Buich (121 yards, three TDs) at QB, scored touchdowns on 10 of their 12 possessions in the game.
Hawaii QB DARNELL ARCENEAUX (195 passing yards, four TDs) kept the Islanders in contention until late in the fourth quarter. His 10th rushing TD, tops in af2, came on a 10-yard scramble midway through the third quarter. He then connected with ISAAC WHITE on TD passes of 15 and 40 yards to pull Hawaii within 58-42 with 8:40 left in the game. The Talons then sealed the victory on Golson's fourth TD reception and a 45-yard interception return for TD by LARRY HOLLINQUEST.
Hollinquest was the ADT Defensive Player of the Game. In addition to his interception for TD, he made five tackles (all unassisted), broke up four passes and forced a fumble. Game Ironman SEAN LOVE caught six passes for a team-leading 101 yards and two touchdowns and broke up two passes on defense for the Talons. Tulsa OS MITCH ALLNER earned game MVP honors with six receptions for 82 yards and one TD, adding 85 yards on three kick returns.
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Peoria Pirates (5-2) 60, Bakersfield Blitz (4-2) 54 - overtime
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - WALTER CHURCH hit a wide-open CORNELL CRAIG for the game-winning 22-yard touchdown in overtime, helping Peoria escape with a 60-54 win at Bakersfield in front of 4,705 fans Saturday night.
The winning TD was set up by an improbable series of events in the closing seconds of regulation. Peoria led 54-48 when Bakersfield QB CHAD ELLIOTT fumbled with five seconds left. A defensive holding penalty gave the Blitz another chance, and Bakersfield made the extra play count when a pass intended for RYAN SLOTH and tipped by Peoria's LINCOLN DUPREE found its way into the hands of STEVE WOFFORD in the back of the end-zone, tying the game 54-54 with no time on the clock.
But the game went into overtime when kicker ROBERT NYCZ missed two extra point tries (the second coming after a Peoria penalty). An apparent touchdown in OT by Wofford was called back after a tripping penalty and Peoria's GERALD NEASMAN made Bakersfield pay with an end zone interception on the next play. Five plays and 45 yards later, Craig scored the winning TD.
There were four lead changes and three ties throughout the game, with a 30-20 Peoria advantage just before halftime representing the biggest lead of the contest.
Craig had eight catches for 157 yards and three touchdowns overall. Church passed for 325 yards and five touchdowns, but also tied a dubious league record with five interceptions in the game. Elliott totaled 283 passing yards and five TDs with three interceptions. Sloth was named the Game MVP and the ADT Defensive Player of the Game. He hauled in seven passes for 103 yards and one touchdown on offense and made two interceptions and a tackle on defense.
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Fresno Frenzy (2-5) 49, San Diego Riptide (3-4) 37
FRESNO, Calif. - Four sacks, two fumble recoveries and constant defensive pressure lifted the Fresno Frenzy to its second consecutive victory, beating the San Diego Riptide 49-37 in front of 4,087 fans at Selland Arena. The win avenges Fresno's loss to San Diego in Week 3.
Led by ADT Defensive Player of the Game AHMAD BHATTI, the Frenzy held the Riptide to 246 total yards and to 16 points below its scoring average. Bhatti had two sacks, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble late in the fourth quarter to seal the Frenzy's second straight win.
Fresno led just 35-31 midway through the fourth-quarter, but broke open the game with a two-yard run by OS LAMONT WEBB and 31-yard pass from QB RICKY RAY to Webb with 1:00 remaining.
Ray shook off two interceptions, completing 21-of-30 passes for 215 yards and five touchdowns. Webb racked up 223 all-purpose yards while scoring three touchdowns, earning recognition as the game's Most Valuable Player. San Diego QB KANE CLAUNCH completed 16-of-24 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns, all to MARTY GRAHAM (seven catches, 96 yards). San Diego WR/DB RICO CURTIS caught four passes for 51 yards and logged 9.0 tackles and an interception to earn Ironman of the Game honors.
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THIS WEEK IN af2 HISTORY
5/26/00: Quad City defeats host Greensboro 103-3. Quad City's 103 points are the most points ever scored in an Arena Football game and Greensboro's three points sets a then-league record for fewest points in a game. 5/24/01: Baton Rouge QB HERB TYLER breaks the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season (15). He finishes the season with 19, but is surpassed by Bossier City QB SHERARD POTEETE, who totals 23 to set the new record.
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