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Week five af2 game recaps

Published on May 2, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


FRIDAY, APRIL 29

Manchester Wolves 56, MACON KNIGHTS 31 (Attendance: 3,019)

MACON, Ga. - After a slow start to the game, the Manchester Wolves (3-1) rallied to score 50 points in the final three quarters for a 56-32 victory over the Macon Knights (2-3) on Friday night. Wolves QB Jake Eaton took Offensive Player of the Game honors completing 19-of-26 passes for 204 yards and four touchdowns with one interception. In addition to his performance through the air, Eaton also rushed five times for 14 yards and two touchdowns. Macon was led by Chris Johnson who caught 13 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown. ADT Defensive Player of the Game was William Haith of the Wolves who dominated with 13.0 tackles (12 Solo) and breaking up three passes. U.S. Army Ironman of the Game honors went to J.J. McKelvey who hauled in six passes for 46 yards and two touchdowns to go along with his 25-yard interception return for a touchdown.

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Green Bay Blizzard 48, WB/SCRANTON PIONEERS 40 (Attendance: 4,846)

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Green Bay (3-1) continued to show their defensive prowess in a 48-40 battle with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (3-2). Pioneers kicker Dave Davis effectively executed an onside kick following a 25-yard touchdown pass by Kyle Rowley, which brought his team within eight. But the dramatic comeback ended when Blizzard FB/LB Matt Huebner intercepted Rowly at the line of scrimmage with just 14 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Offensive Player of the Game honors went to Pioneer receiver Rocco Forgione who had 10 receptions for 139 yards and three touchdowns. The ADT Defensive Player of the Game award went to Huebner for his end of the game heroics. Blizzard WR/LB Robert Garth had four receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown on offense and a 49-yard fumble recovery returned for a touchdown on defense to earn distinction as the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game.

Albany Conquest 48, SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS 39 (Attendance: 6,896)

ALBANY, Ga. - The Albany Conquest (1-3) defense recorded four interceptions as they won their first game of the season in a 48-39 victory over the South Georgia Wildcats (0-4). Conquest receivers Jeremiah Pope and Manwel Talbert each pulled in two touchdown passes from QB D. Bryant. Albany's DS Travis Coleman earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game intercepting Wildcats QB Bobby Pesavento twice, returning both for touchdowns. Wildcats OS Matt Burnstein led all receivers on the night with 10 catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns earning him the distinction of Offensive Player of the Game. WR/DB Jeff Higgins brought a kickoff return back 51 yards for a touchdown to give the Conquest the 41-39 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Higgins also had one reception for eight yards and three tackles to earn him U.S. Army Ironman of the Game honors.

LOUISVILLE FIRE 48, Birmingham Steeldogs 46 (Attendance 9,151)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Louisville Fire (4-0) remained undefeated in a 48-46 barnburner against the Birmingham Steeldogs (0-4). The stingy Fire defense shutout the Steeldogs offense in the first frame but a late game surge by Birmingham and QB Ray Nelson fell just short as an unsuccessful onside kick by Vinyl Cirrincione secured victory for Louisville. ADT Defensive Player of the Game DS Terrance Harris of the Steeldogs had4.5 tackles and one broken up pass in the contest. Offensive Player of the Game honors went to Fire receiver James Scott for his 8 catch, 123-yard and two-touchdown performance. Fire QB Matt Sauk led his team to victory going 17-of-31 for 270 yards and 5 touchdowns along with just one interception.

Florida Firecats 68, ARKANSAS TWISTERS 50 (Attendance: 6,167)

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Despite an impressive performance by the Arkansas Twisters (0-4) offense, the Florida Firecats (5-0) and QB Chris Wallace were simply too much to handle for the Twisters defense. Wallace, who earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, completed 18-of-25 pass attempts for 253 yards and nine touchdowns with no interceptions in the 68-50 victory on the road. Firecats playmaker Magic Benton continued with his impressive season hauling in nine catches for 132 yards and five touchdowns. The Twisters were led offensively by QB Travis Motley who went 21-of-43 for 262 yards and four touchdowns with just one interception.

TULSA TALONS 47, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz 34 (Attendance: 6797)

TULSA, Okla. - The Tulsa Talon (3-1) scored the last two touchdowns of the game to insure their 47-34 victory over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz (2-3) on Saturday night. The Talons were led on defense by Defensive Player of the Game Chris Canty who broke up four passes to go along with his 4.0 tackles on the night. Tulsa QB Joe Blankenship went 23-of-33 for 218 yards and four touchdowns in an impressive outing against their in-state rivals. Donovan Morgan shined for the Talons by gaining 171 all-purpose yards including a 56-yard field goal return for a touchdown to give Tulsa the 14-7 lead in the first quarter. Oklahoma City was led by U.S. Army Ironman of the Game B.J. Barre. Barre had five receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown to along with his 126 all-purpose yards, 5.5 tackles, and three pass break-ups.

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS 45, Memphis Xplorers 42 (Attendance: 6,122)

MOLINE, Ill. - Nick Gatto's last second, 45-yard field goal pushed Quad City (3-1) into second place in the Midwest Division and just a half game behind the division leading Xplorers (4-1). The kick closed out an astonishing final 54 seconds in which a set of off-setting penalties gave Gatto and replacement long snapper Pete Traynor another chance at the game winning kick. 'Wheelers QB Sam Clemons hit Jack Walker Jr. for his second touchdown of the night to tie up the score at 42-42. Memphis receiver, and af2 leading scorer with 102 points coming into the game, Kevin Prentiss was able to catch 10 balls for a game-high 87 yards but only got into the endzone once due to the swarming Quad City defense.

Amarillo Dusters 49, SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE 31 (Attendance: 3,190)

SAN DIEGO - Offensive Player of the Game and Amarillo Quarterback Julian Reese continued to dominate with 181 yards on 20-of-36 passes for three touchdowns to go with his four touchdowns rushing. Despite holding the expansion Dusters (3-1) scoreless in the third quarter, the Riptide (1-3) couldn't keep up with the consistent overall play of Amarillo. Riptide WR/DB Ryan Smith was honored as the ADT Defensive Player of the Game and Riptide WR/DB Nakoa McElrath took home Ironman of the Game honors. Defensively, Riptide stopper Trayvon Waller led both teams with 6.5 tackles and Jess Hunnicut of the Amarillo Dusters recorded two sacks.

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES 40, Bakersfield Blitz 21 (Attendance: 1,150)

FRESNO, Calif. - The Central Valley Coyotes (3-1) matched their 2004 victory total in a 40-21 route of the Bakersfield Blitz (1-3) on Saturday night. Coyote QB Juston Wood went 17-of-34 for 185 yards and four touchdowns to go along with his one touchdown on the ground to earn Offensive Player of the Game honors. Despite their inability to get into the endzone often, the Blitz were able to move the ball well on the ground as the team ran for 91 net yards on just 11 attempts for two touchdowns. Central Valley receiver DeRonn Finley led all players with six receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Also leading the Coyotes to victory were Michael Duncan with 5.0 tackles and one interception and Joshua Robinson who earned ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors for his 4.0 tackle, four passes defensed performance.

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