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Week Eleven: Saturday Night Matchups

June 5, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


CORPUS CHRISTI SHARKS (2-7) AT BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLEWINGS (4-5)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009- CenturyTel Center (12,500) 8:00 P.M. ET

Saturday's action begins with the Corpus Christi Sharks heading to Bossier City, La. to take on the BattleWings. The Sharks will be looking for their first win ever against Bossier-Shreveport, who are a perfect 5-0 all-time against Corpus Christi. The BattleWings shut down the Sharks offense in their last meeting, beating them 59-14. The Sharks leave home after splitting a two-game home stand, beating Oklahoma City in Week 9 and losing to Arkansas in Week 10. QB GARY COOPER had an up and down outing against Arkansas, throwing four interceptions in the first half, but also tallying a season-high 8 TDs. Cooper has 36 TDs on the season with 11 rushing TDs as well. WR BRANDON HUSSEY is the team's top receiver on the year with 69 grabs for 849 yards. Recent addition ANTHONY CLARK had a great night against Arkansas, with six catches for 115 yards and six touchdowns - a team record. Clark has nine receptions in two games played for the Sharks, all for touchdowns. However, the stellar offensive performance was overshadowed by the Shark's struggling defense. They couldn't find a solution to Arkansas' dynamic duo of QB KYLE ROWLEY and WR ROD HARPER, and gave up 407 passing yards and 10 TDs. The Sharks had five total turnovers in the game; they are currently third-worst in the league in turnover margin. The BattleWings are also coming off a tough loss last week at South Georgia, 63-56. Both teams' offenses had carte blanche in the first half, scoring a total of 90 points, but it was the defenses that stepped up in the second half. After Bossier-Shreveport's defense held the Wildcats scoreless in the third quarter, the South Georgia defense performed in kind in the fourth, shutting the BattleWings out and stopping them on fourth down in the final minutes of the game. Bossier-Shreveport QB ANDRICO HINES completed 18-of-30 passes in the game with six TDs, four of which went to WR CHAVIS MCCOLLISTER (7-108). FB JASON SCHULE is heading up the third-best rush attack in the league. He had 11 rushes for 79 yards and a pair of TDs against the Wildcats. Schule is averaging 6.2 yards per carry, and has a league-high 307 yards to go along with 10 TDs. Bossier-Shreveport is currently ranked No. 15 in the latest league coaches poll. The Sharks' defense will need to step up to limit the BattleWings aerial attack. Cooper will also need to play well if Corpus Christi hopes to hang with Bossier-Shreveport on the team's home turf.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS (5-3) AT AMARILLO DUSTERS (1-8)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - Amarillo Civic Center (4,875) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Dorados are rested up after their bye week and will be looking to get back on track after dropping their last two games before the break. They travel to Amarillo where the Dusters are hungry for their second win of the season. Rio Grande Valley put on a great offensive performance in Week 9 against Bossier-Shreveport, but couldn't contain the BattleWings in a 76-59 defeat. Dorados QB NICK HILL threw for a season-high 385 yards and nine TDs (2 INTs), connecting with star WR ROD WINDSOR 15 times for 224 yards and 7 TDs - a season-high for Windsor as well. WR/DB CRAIG TURNER put up big numbers on offense and special teams, with five catches for 88 yards and 218 yards on kickoff returns. DB DAHNEL SINGFIELD was good for 8.0 tackles in the game. The Dorados were just outgunned by a potent Bossier-Shreveport offense. Rio Grande Valley has one of the league's top offenses. The club ranks fourth in scoring at 61.8 points per game. The Dorados have had to score a lot of points, however, to make up for a defense that ranks 21st in points per game allowed (58.2) and 23rd in total defense (311 yards per game). Windsor is tied for the league lead in receptions with 107 and is also second in scoring with 204 points. He is also tied for second in the af2 in total touchdowns (33) and receiving touchdowns (33) and is third in receiving yards (1,328). Hill leads the league in passing yards per game (313.1) and is on pace for 110 TD passes. The Dorados are currently ranked No. 9 in the latest league coaches poll. Meanwhile the Dusters were outlasted by the Boise Burn last week, 51-40. Dusters QB MATT BASSUENER completed 20-of-33 passes for 209 yards and three TDs in the contest, but also tossed two interceptions. He had two rushing TDs in the second half as well. WR XAVIER HAIR had the sticky hands for the Dusters with nine receptions for 90 yards and one TD. Dusters DB MYRON NEWBERRY had one interception while JOHN KING added 4.5 tackles. They kept the game close until the second half, when the Burn heated up and led for the rest of the game. Overall, Amarillo has struggled offensively in 2009, averaging just 220.1 yards per game and 35.6 points per game. The Dusters may have found an answer to their offensive issues thanks to the return of former QB JULIAN REESE. Reese was a fixture in the Amarillo organization in 2005 and 2008. He is the team's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns. Last season Reese threw for 2,712 yards and 55 touchdowns (4 INTs) and rushed for 233 yards with four scores in 14 regular season games. He also guided the Dusters to an appearance in the National Conference Championship. He also spent time at linebacker when the team was in need and recorded two interceptions. He earned a spot on the 2008 All-Ironman Team for his efforts. The Dusters, however, will need to protect Reese if they want to turn their season around. Through the first nine games Amarillo has allowed 24 sacks, the second-highest total in the af2. If Reese has time to throw the ball this week, the Dusters dormant offense may finally wake up and give the Dorados defense all they can handle.

WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (8-1) AT TULSA TALONS (8-1)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - BOK Center (6,777) 8:00 P.M. ET

In one of the marquee matchups of the week, the No. 2-ranked Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers travel to Tulsa, Okla. to face the No. 3-ranked Tulsa Talons. It should be a great cross-conference battle as both teams had red hot first halves of the season and are sure-fire ArenaCup contenders. The Talons lead the all-time series 2-0. The last time these two teams met was at the 2007 ArenaCup. Tulsa won their second league title with a thrilling 73-66 victory in Bossier City, La. Last week the Pioneers hosted the Tennessee Valley Vipers and earned a 48-34 win, their 23rd straight regular season home victory at home. QB RYAN VENA had a solid game going 24-of-33 for 216 yards with four TD passes and two rushing TDs. Vena has just five interceptions overall and currently boasts the second highest passer rating in the league at 127.9. WR J.J. OUTLAW made 10 grabs in the game for 104 yards. K DAVID DAVIS has been automatic for the Pioneers this season, going 76-of-79 on PATs and 4-of-6 on FGs for 88 PTs - a league-high. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defense has also been stellar. DL JUSTIN PARRISH sacked Vipers QB KEVIN EAKIN twice last week and ranks second on the squad with 7.5. ROYCE MORGAN leads the Pioneers and ranks second in the league with 10. DB MICHEAUX ROBINSON has a league-best eight interceptions. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton has won six straight games overall. Tulsa has done one better as the Talons have won seven straight contests. Their most recent victory came last week at in-state rival Oklahoma City, 73-46. Tulsa was led by QB JUSTIN ALLGOOD. Allgood threw for a season-high nine TDs, seven of which found the hands of WR JEFF HUGHLEY (8-103). The Tulsa defense was outstanding, forcing six total stops (2 on downs, 2 fumbles, 1 safety, 1 INT). DL JAMES MCCLINTON had four sacks, including one in the third quarter that resulted in a safety. McClinton's sack total also tied a Tulsa single-game record. He is currently tied for fourth in the league in total sacks with seven. The Talons are scoring 64.6 points per game, the second highest in the league right now. Both clubs actually rank in the Top-5 in scoring offense and scoring defense and are tied for second-best in turnover margin at plus+14. Hughley is the af2 leader in all-purpose yards with 2,074. Fans in and around Tulsa should come out to the BOK Center on Saturday to see what is sure to be a real battle among two stellar ball clubs.

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (5-4) AT PEORIA PIRATES (2-7)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - Peoria Civic Center (9,873) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Green Bay Blizzard travel to Peoria, Ill. this weekend for a Midwest Division tilt against the Pirates. This is the second of two head-to-head meetings between the two clubs in 2009. The Blizzard, who lead the all-time series 5-2, won the first matchup this season in Week 8 in Green Bay, 55-34. Green Bay comes enters Week 11 ranked No. 11 in the latest league coaches poll. Last Friday night the Blizzard earned a hard-fought, 52-49, overtime victory against the Quad City Steamwheelers. K BOB FORSTROM nailed a 21-yard field goal in overtime to win the game for Green Bay. The Blizzard rank second in the league in rushing yards with 317. FB ORLANDO MEDLOCK leads the club individually and ranks fourth in yards per game (22.1). He also has a team-best eight rushing TDs. QB GINO GUIDUGLI is the club's leader under center. Through nine games he's had his share of ups and downs. He currently ranks last in the league in passer rating at 86.0. Last week, however, he was rock solid, with 327 yards and five total touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing) with just one interception. As a team, the Green Bay defense ranks second in sacks (25) and fourth in interceptions (15). DB TRACY BELTON leads the team with 48 tackles and five interceptions while DL ANTHONY HOKE leads the club in sacks (7). After a home win in their first outing under the guidance of longtime AFL coach MIKE HOHENSEE two weeks ago, the Pirates suffered a humbling loss in Week 10 at Iowa, 77-40. Peoria actually led after one quarter 20-13 before the Barnstormers outscored the Pirates 23-7 in the second quarter to take a 36-27 halftime lead. The second half was all Iowa as the Barnstormers outscored Peoria 41-13 over the final 30 minutes of play. The Pirates had four turnovers (2 fumbles, 2 INTs) in the contest. They were paced in defeat by QB Luke Drone (17-of-28 passing, 140 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT, 2 rush TDs) and WR Kevin Sanford (6-69-2 TDs). For the Pirates to keep things close with the Blizzard, they will have to limit their mistakes and protect the quarterback. So far this season they've struggled in those areas, ranking sixth in total turnovers (25) and second to last in sacks allowed (24). Peoria has also had problems on the defensive side as the club has allowed a league-high 64.1 points per game to opponents. Despite their deficiencies, expect the Pirates to rebound this week and test Green Bay with an inspired effort at home.

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (4-5) AT ARKANSAS TWISTERS (7-2)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - ALLTEL Arena (16,508) 8:05 P.M. ET

The Yard Dawgz travel this week to face the Arkansas Twisters for their 10th all-time matchup of the series. Arkansas currently owns a slim edge overall, 5-4. As their first encounter against the Twisters in the 2009 season, the Yard Dawgz are looking to bounce back from a five-gave losing streak. Oklahoma City enters Week 11 ranked No. 12 in the latest coaches' poll, while the Southwest Division-leading Twisters rank fifth overall. Last week, the Yard Dawgz endured a tough matchup against their division rivals, the Tulsa Talons, losing 73-46. Although the Yard Dawgz lead the league in rushing offense (94-418), the Talons held their opponents to a single-digit score in both the first and third quarters. QB ROBERT KENT ranks first individually in pass efficiency (131.2) and in the top four in rushing, total offense, and passing average per game. Last week the veteran felt the pressure of the No. 2-ranked Talons defense, accounting for only two touchdowns while being sacked four times. WR/DB AL HUNT leads the team in receiving (52-760-20 TDs) and ranks No. 10 for scoring in the league. Hunt is also the league's all-time leading scorer with 1,208 points. As a team, the Yard Dawgz rank eighth overall in scoring, averaging nearly 58 points per outing (57.8). In conjunction with their strong offense, DB ANDRE BURNS has proven to be valuable to Oklahoma City's defense. He is currently tied for fifth in tackles with 56.5. Riding a three-game win streak, the Twisters are entering this week with confidence that they will tie the series against Oklahoma City at 5-5. The Twisters lead the league in pass offense (353-240-9) and total offense (182 rushing, 2796 passing). In Arkansas' last game against Corpus Christi, Arkansas dominated the game with 425 yards of total offense to the Sharks' 264. QB KYLE ROWLEY threw for 407 yards and 10 touchdowns with one interception and completed 24-of-30 passes. The veteran signal caller from Brown ranks No. 2 in total offense (315.8 ypg), No. 2 in TD passes (60) and leads the af2 in passing yards with 2,808. This week, however, the team will be without the services of standout WR ROD HARPER, who signed with the NFL's New Orleans Saints on Thursday. Harper was leading the league in a host of categories, including scoring (228 points - 38 receiving TDs). The Twisters will try to replace Harper with OLAN COLEMAN, who was activated off injured reserve. Coleman has 28 catches for 351 and nine scores in six games played in 2009. The rookie from Tarleton State also leads the club in kick return yards (568) and kick return TDs (2). As for their defensive game, the Twisters will look to leader WR/DB ANTHONY HAILSTOCK, who has a total of 32 tackles. Recent addition NEIL PURVIS, a defensive lineman, should help with the Arkansas pass rush. Purvis is a veteran who recorded five sacks for the Twisters a year ago. Arkansas might not be as potent as the team was a week ago without Harper, but the Twisters are still very talented. If the Yard Dawgz want to snap their streak, the defense will need to force Rowley into uncomfortable situations.

IOWA BARNSTORMERS (6-3) AT QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (4-5)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - i wireless Center (9,315) 8:05 P.M. ET

Iowa storms into Moline, Ill. this week looking to add to its three-game winning streak against division rival Quad City. The Barnstormers, who hold the top spot in the Midwest Division and rank No. 8 overall, suffered a close 33-29 loss to the Steamwheelers during their first meeting of 2009 back in April. The victory allowed the Steamwheelers to widen their all-time series lead to 4-2. In the Barnstormers last matchup, they defeated the Peoria Pirates by a margin of 37 points, 77-40. Although the Pirates outscored the Barnstormers 20-13 in the first quarter, Iowa stepped up the competition, keeping their opponents under eight points per quarter for the remainder of the game. Iowa QB BRIAN VILLANUEVA completed 13-of-18 passes for 189 yards with five TD passes and no interceptions. WR TIM DODGE also led the Barnstormers with four total TDs (3 receiving, 1 kickoff return). He caught seven passes in total for 102 yards. As a team Iowa ranks No. 2 in rushing defense and No. 3 in sacks (22). DB TANNER VARNER leads the league with 75.5 tackles (8.4 per game). K JEFF GLAS will also prove to be a necessity for the team's success since he individually claims the No. 2 spot in field goals (11), scoring (51-62 PATs, 11-23 FGs), and field goal percentage (47.8%). The Steamwheelers enter this weekend's affair ranked No. 14 in the latest league coaches poll. Quad City lost a hard-fought divisional game last week in overtime at Green Bay, 52-49. The loss was the third in a row for the club. QB J.J. RATERINK, who ranks No. 5 individually in passing average per game and total offense, had a solid showing last week by completing 24-of-36 passes for 282 yards and five TDs. Quad City's offense, which ranks No. 7 in passing offense, will also look to WR JESSE SCHMIDT, who is ranked No. 3 with 105 receptions and tied for the No. 2 spot in receiving TDs with 33. His 1,444 receiving yards lead the af2. Quad City's mid-ranked defense, led by DB DARON BROOKER (37 tackles), held last week's opponent Green Bay without a point in the first quarter. If the Steamwheelers can get another inspired effort out of their defense this weekend, they may have a chance to get back on the winning track.

KENTUCKY HORSEMEN (5-4) AT TENNESSEE VALLEY VIPERS (6-3)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - Von Braun Center (6,642) 8:30 P.M. ET

Saturday's action continues with a key South Division battle as Kentucky travels to Huntsville, Ala. to take on Tennessee Valley. This is the first meeting of the season between the two clubs and second head-to-head matchup overall. The Vipers defeated the Horsemen last season in their only previous meeting. Kentucky is leading the league in scoring, averaging over 66 points per game. They are also allowing their opposition to put big numbers as well, giving up 58 points per game. Time under center has been split between JARED LORENZEN and JUSTIN RASCATI. Lorenzen has gotten the majority of the snaps. He leads the league with 16 rushing TDs. Lorenzen is also averaging 199.4 yards passing and has completed just under 60 percent of his passes. Kentucky is excelling in the red zone, making plays 86% of the time and scoring 54 touchdowns, the best in the af2. WR LONNELL DEWALT continues to be the favorite target of the quarterbacks, having made 71 catches so far this season, an average of 7.89 per game. He has a team-best 24 receiving scores. Defensively, there are three key players to watch: DBs WILLIAM MULDER and MATT FORBES and LB JAMUS MARTIN. Mulder has a team-high seven interceptions (2nd in af2) and 23 passes defended (2nd in af2). He also ranks fifth in the league in yards per kick return (23.6). Forbes has six interceptions and 30.5 total tackles in seven games played. Martin has 7.5 tackles-for-loss so far this season, and had a standout game last week against Mahoning Valley. Martin recorded 2.5 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in Kentucky's 61-39 victory. The Horsemen are currently ranked No. 10 in the latest league coaches poll. Tennessee Valley enters this weekend's game ranked No. 6 overall. Before last week's 48-34 loss at Wilkes/Barre-Scranton, the Vipers had won five straight games. The Vipers are led by QB KEVIN EAKIN, who averages nearly 239 passing yards per game with only six interceptions. Last week Eakin had an off night with just 19 completions in 45 attempts. He finished with four TD passes and no interceptions. All four were caught by WR JEREMY GRIER, who made eight catches for 89 yards overall. The Vipers defense ranks fourth overall in scoring, allowing opponents just 40.8 points per contest. DB DESMOND FOSTER leads the squad in tackles (56) and in pass breakups (14). Veteran DL ERIC SCOTT has a team-best 4.0 sacks. One missing person that Tennessee Valley will miss this week is WR/LB BRADLY CHAVEZ. Chavez, arguably the team's best overall player, was placed on team suspension earlier in the week. WR/DB LARRY SHIPP was activated to help take Chavez's place in the lineup. Shipp has caught 14 passes in three games played for the Vipers and has six receiving TDs. Tennessee Valley has been especially tough at home this year. The Vipers are a perfect 4-0 at the Von Braun Center and have limited their opposition to less than 29 points per game. Tennessee Valley will need another strong effort from its defense in order to contain the potent Horsemen.

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (3-6) AT BOISE BURN (7-2)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - Qwest Arena (5,006) 9:10 P.M. ET

Central Valley heads to Idaho this week to take on the Boise Burn in their second meeting of the season. Boise won the first head-to-head matchup by a touchdown back in Week 5, 52-45, in Fresno, Calif. Statistically, Central Valley ranks in the Top-10 across the league, including having the fifth-best pass defense. However, the Coyotes are sitting at three games under .500 on the season. Injuries have hurt Central Valley. The one that hurt the most is the loss of QB JASON MURRIETTA. Murrietta has missed the team's last two contests, both losses. He has been replaced by QB rookie RYAN O'HARA. Last week against the Lightning, O'Hara completed 20-of-35 passes for 285 yards and six touchdowns with two interceptions. Overall, O'Hara has thrown for 13 touchdowns and 614 yards in five appearances this season. Despite having a ranked defense overall, Central Valley does not have any standalone defenders ranked in the league. DB CHARLES EALY leads the team with 36 tackles, but FB/LB TYLER BIRKLEY also plays a significant part in the defense. Against Stockton, Birkley had 1.5 tackles and one sack. The team's most impressive statistics come at the hands of the WRs LAMONTE JONES and JOHN ROBERSON. Jones is averaging 10.22 receptions per game for 112.9 yards and an average of 168.7 all-purpose yards while also scoring nearly two touchdowns a game (13.8 ppg). Roberson is grabbing 92.3 receiving yards and 130.9 all-purpose while scoring almost 12 points per game (11.6). The No. 7-ranked Boise Burn will be looking for their fourth win in a row this weekend. Boise's only two losses so far this season have been against No. 1 Spokane, of which they lost only by an average of five points. Boise has proven they are an effective contender heading into the second half of the season. On offense, they are scoring over 57 points per contest while having the least time of possession in the league (26:29 per game). Boise has also been making sure key opportunities have been capitalized on, converting on 57.1% of their third downs (No. 2 in the league) and only losing 41.9 yards per game to penalties. The Burn are led by rookie QB TAYLOR THARP, who is averaging 210 yards per game passing with a 66.4% completion rate. Tharp's one Achilles heel so far has been interceptions. He has a league-high 15 so far this season. WRs JOMO WILSON and NICHIREN FLOWERS are two of the team's top receivers. Wilson has 570 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns this season, while Flowers has a team-high 19 receiving TDs. Defensively, the Burn rank third overall in scoring defense, allowing opponents only 40.2 points per contest. Individually the group is led by DB TERRANCE SANDERS. Sanders leads the Burn with six interceptions and 54.5 tackles. He also has 10 pass breakups and a league-high five kick return TDs. If O'Hara plays well, the Coyotes should be able to keep things close with the Burn this weekend.

TRI-CITIES FEVER (1-8) AT STOCKTON LIGHTNING (3-6)

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 2009 - Stockton Arena (9,737) 10:00 P.M. ET

A West Division battle concludes Saturday's action as the Tri-Cities Fever trek to Stockton, Calif. to take on the Lightning. This will be the second matchup between the two clubs this season. Tri-Cities won its only game of the season at Stockton's expense in Week 7, 43-42. Overall, the Fever have had a disappointing year to date. The currently rank at the bottom of the league in scoring (31.9 points per game), rushing (8.2 yards per game) and total offense (212.1 yards per game). They have also allowed their opponents to score nearly 62 points per game (61.6). An area where Tri-Cities has found success is stopping the rush, only allowing 16.6 rushing yards per game on average, third lowest in the league. Some of Tri-Cities' troubles have come from inconsistency from the quarterback position. The Fever have used four different signal callers so far, JOE AYOOB, JIMMY COLLINS, RYAN PORTER and Tomotsuna INOUE (INTL-Japan). Collectively, the Fever have the worst pass efficiency in the league, completing just 49.6% of their passes while throwing 18 interceptions. Last week in a 61-20 home loss to Spokane, Inoue completed 14-of-26 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Porter, who got the start, completed 5-of-12 passes for 41 yards and one touchdown and one interception. All three touchdown passes were caught by WR TREMAYNE KIRKLAND, who had eight receptions for 137 yards overall. Kirkland might be one of the team's few bright spots in 2009 as the rookie receiver has 60 catches for 699 yards and 13 TDs. The Lightning are coming into Week 11 play on the heels of an exciting one-point victory over Central Valley, 57-56. Like Tri-Cities, the Lightning have found their best defense to be stopping the rush, holding their opponents to less than 10 yards per game (9.6). However, the Lightning are allowing 282.4 passing yards per game to their opponents, fourth most in the league. Stockton has also had issues with pass protection as the club has allowed 22 sacks on the year. Rookie QB CHAD CAVENDER, who began the season as a backup, is completing 58.8% of his passes with 32 TDs and only six interceptions. His favorite target by far has been WR JUSTIN TAPLIN. Taplin is averaging nearly 10 receptions per game for 129 yards and nearly 20 points. Last week against the Coyotes, WR ETU MOLDEN also made his presence felt with eight catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. While neither of these teams are having the most successful of seasons, the Lightning would love to string together its first win streak of the year and get a bit of revenge against a team that earned its only victory of the season against Stockton.



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