af2 arenafootball2

Week five af2 Saturday/Monday night matchups

Published on April 29, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (2-1) AT WILKES-BARRE/SCRANTON PIONEERS (3-1)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - FIRST UNION ARENA (7,950) 7:30 P.M. ET

After a disappointing 6-10 season in 2004, the Green Bay Blizzard and new coach Bob Landsee look to stay close to the division lead as they head to Pennsylvania to take on the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers. The Pioneers and QB KYLE ROWLY started the season hot with three straight victories before a difficult loss at home last week against the East Division leading Louisville Fire. In the Pioneer's loss ROCCO FORGIONE and J.R. THOMAS each caught two touchdowns as Wilkes-Barre continued to light up the scoreboard. The Pioneers' scoring offense is tied for third place as they average 57.0 points per game. Blizzard gunslinger JOHNNY TURMAN leads the offense and has proven to be efficient. Last week Turman completed 21-of-34 passes for 219 yards and four touchdowns in a low-scoring 28-18 victory over the Macon Knights. This is just the second all-time meeting between these two clubs, the first ended in a 75-39 Pioneers triumph in Green Bay last season. The two teams meet again in Green Bay during Week 10 of this season.

ALBANY CONQUEST (0-3) AT SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS (0-3)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - ALBANY CIVIC CENTER (8,034) 7:30 P.M. ET

It's been a tough-luck start to the season for the Albany Conquest and South Georgia Wildcats. Unable to get in the win column thus far in 2005, both these teams are hoping to reverse fortunes this Saturday night in Albany, Georgia. Both teams possess enough firepower to put up big numbers on offense. Wildcats' QB BOBBY PESAVENTO has found a valuable target in ADRIAN COCKFIELD who has 33 receptions for 341 yards and 8 touchdowns. Despite a loss last week to the defending ArenaCup Champion Florida Firecats, South Georgia gained some confidence in a late offensive charge which led to just a five point loss. The Conquest have found a lethal offensive weapon in CY BUTLER who last week led all receivers with 14 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown. The all-time series between these two teams has the Wildcats leading 5-0 including three victories last season. The Wildcats and Conquest will meet again this season on July 8 during Week 15 of the 2005 season.

BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (0-3) AT LOUISVILLE FIRE (3-0)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - FREEDOM HALL (15,646) 7:30 P.M. ET

Louisville hosts Birmingham and is looking for its fourth win of the season to secure its best start in team history. The Fire's 58-50 victory versus Wilkes-Barre Scranton last week only reinforced their claims as an af2 contender in 2005. Birmingham's fortunes so far in 2005 have not faired and favorably, with the Steeldogs enduring a 0-3 start to the season, its worst ever. History, however, favors Birmingham in this contest as the Steeldogs hold a 3-1 series lead, with two of those victories at Freedom Hall. Last week, the Steeldogs endured 60-24 defeat against a hot Memphis Xplorers team that is firing on all cylinders. The Alabama outfit will need to improve upon their defensive performance if they are to contain the Fire's QB, Matt Sauk. Offensively, Birmingham is looking for stability at the quarterback position and has utilized Andrew Zow and Ray Nelson. Neither has held onto the position, but Nelson has had the greater success completing 27-of-59 passes for 386 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Louisville's Sauk on the other hand has thrown for almost 700 yards and 14 touchdowns. Eldrick Hill is the Steeldog's most consistent defensive player, and has recorded 14 tackles and an interception to start the 2005 campaign. Detronn Harris leads all Birmingham receivers with 16 catches for 227 yards and three scores. For Louisville, Tony Stallings performs the Ironman roll to a "T", and has rushed for four touchdowns, caught four passes for 28 yards, and been a work horse on defense with seven tackles, half for a loss, and two interceptions. Cesare Manning is the Fire's deep ball threat, and has caught 15 passes for 233 yards, a 15.5 yard per reception average.

FLORIDA FIRECATS (4-0) AT ARKANSAS TWISTERS (0-3)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - ALLTEL ARENA (16,058) 8:00 P.M. ET

Ranked number one in the coach's poll, the Florida Firecats have a target on their back, but will the struggling Arkansas Twisters be the team to knock them off? Saturday's meeting marks the first time these two teams have squared off. With Florida's stingy defense allowing just 31.2 points per game the Twister's offense is going to have to awaken and start scoring more than its 34.0 average. While Florida's offense may not be leading the league, it faces a favorable match-up against the Twister's 20th ranked unit that has averaged 65.3 points against per game. Chris Windsor has his best start under center for the Twister's last week at Central Valley despite the 71-41 losing effort. The af2 veteran completed 25-of-48 passes for 300 yards and five scores. For the season Windsor has passed for 513 yards and seven scores. Kevin Williams was his favorite target versus the Coyotes, catching nine passes for 102 yards and a score. Darnell Small leads the Twister's defense with 1.5 sacks. For Florida, Chris Wallace has been effective, completing 60 percent of his tosses for 708 yards and 19 scores. Magic Benton has always been a threat at the offensive specialist position and has 273 yards and nine touchdowns to his credit. Florida's reputation for running the ball in af2 continues with Steve Gorrie racking up 124 yards so far this season. On defense, the Firecats get contributions from a number of different players, but Kelly Snell has stood out with his tackling ability and has a total of 28.0 so far.

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (2-2) AT TULSA TALONS (2-1)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - TULSA CONVENTION COMPLEX (7,111) 8:00 P.M. ET

Oklahoma bragging rights are on the line as Tulsa entertains Oklahoma City Saturday evening at the Tulsa Convention Complex. The Yard Dawgz hold a slight 2-1 series advantage, but the Talons won the last meeting between the two sides, a 51-44 tilt on July 23rd, 2004. Oklahoma's offense (52.2 PPG) faces a close match-up with the Talon's defense (50.0 PPG). In contrast, the Talons' bring their third ranked offense (57.0 PPG) to the table versus the Yard Dawgz' 14th ranked defense (52.2 PPG). Craig Strickland leads af2 in total offense, contributing 296.0 yards per game. He's also second in touchdown passes with 24. Tulsa's Josh Blankenship has played in just two games for the Talons, but threw for seven scores in each contest. Donovan Morgan is Tulsa go-to-guy out wide and has caught 21 passes for 347 yards and 14 scores this year. Oklahoma City's offensive specialist, Jarrail Jackson has 35 receptions and 468 yards to his credit. On defense for Tulsa, former NFL defensive back Chris Canty leads the team with 11.5 tackles. For Oklahoma City, Gana Joseph has two interceptions and Cliff Holloman has 1.5 sacks.

MEMPHIS XPLORERS (4-0) AT QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (2-1)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - THE MARK OF THE QUAD CITIES (9,437) 8:30 P.M. ET

Memphis heads to Quad City with its 4-0 start to the season on the line versus one of af2's most storied teams. The Xplorers are off to the best start in team history after handedly defeating Birmingham 60-24 last weekend. With the league's second ranked offense (60.8 PPG), the Xplorers will look to expose a Steamwheeler's defense that is allowing 45.3 points per game. While Quad City may not have the stingiest defense in the league, they do have clutch playmakers and the potential to score. The 'Wheeler's Matt Forbes earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after his performance against Oklahoma City. Forbes had another amazing fourth quarter performance in which he intercepted two passes and returned both for touchdowns. Xplorer's QB, Brian Jones, has had a great start to the season throwing for 807 yards and 21 touchdowns with only one interception. Kevin Prentiss leads Memphis receivers with 429 yards and 15 scores. For Quad City, Sam Clemons remains the starting quarterback after completing 59-of-89 passes for 673 yards and 13 scores so far this year. Offensive Specialist Travis Burns has caught 21 passes for 215 yards to lead Quad City. Defensively for Memphis, Khreem Smith has recorded nine sacks in his first four games to lead all of af2.

AMARILLO DUSTERS (2-1) AT SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (1-2)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA (12,920) 10:00 P.M. ET

Amarillo travels to San Diego with a new man at the helm, as Steve Perdue assumed Don Carthel's responsibilities as head coach. In his first game as head coach, Perdue will look toward af2 Offensive Player of the Week Julian Reese to continue his sparkling form and pick apart the Riptide's 14th ranked defense (56.3 PPG). Whereas, the Duster's boast af2's highest scoring offense (63.0 PPG), the Riptide have only managed to average 41.7 points a contest. The Duster rebounded from their first loss of the season to defeat Bossier-Shreveport 86-66 last week behind the af2 record-breaking performance of Reese. The rookie QB amassed 447 yards of total offense and accounted for 11 touchdowns. The Riptide enters the game on a two game losing streak after a 55-37 loss to Tulsa. Anthony Buich started under center for the Riptide last week versus Tulsa but was replaced by Kevin Feterik in the fourth quarter. Feterik threw one touchdown in the final quarter of that game. Nian Taylor is a triple threat for San Diego with the ability to score on offense, defense and special teams. Taylor returned a missed PAT for a score and had two receiving touchdowns against Tulsa. The Riptide have af2's second leading pass rusher in Asi Faoa who has recorded 6.5 so far this year. The Dusters are led defensively by Jimmy Gaston, who has recorded 14 tackles and an interception.

BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (1-2) AT CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (2-1)

SATURDAY, APRIL 30, 2005 - SELLAND ARENA (8,911) 10:30 P.M. ET

Bakersfield heads to Central Valley looking to avenge its 33-20 opening day loss to the Coyotes. In that game the Coyotes, defense stifled the Blitz and racked up two safeties, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and three and a half sacks. Defense continues to be a Coyotes' strong suit, as the team is ranked fourth in the league with 36.3 points per game against. Bakersfield's defense is actually ranked higher allowing just 34.3 points per game, but offensively, the Blitz are mismatched scoring 36.3 points per game versus the Coyotes' 48.3. Juston Wood has been efficient under center for Central Valley, completing 60-of-108 passes for 640 yards and 12 scores. Wood has completed passes to eleven different receivers as the Coyotes' are still trying to find their go-to-guy offensively. On defense, eight different players have recorded takeaways, and additional four have recorded at least half a sack. For Bakersfield, Eric Mahanke leads all receivers with 14 receptions for 170 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, af2 rookie, Alex Wallace has recorded three interceptions.

BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (0-4) AT RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS (1-2)

MONDAY, MAY 2, 2005 - DODGE ARENA (5,500) 8:30 P.M. ET

Bossier-Shreveport travels to Rio Grande Valley in search of its first victory of the season and end an eight game losing streak that date's back to last season. They will be looking to Tim Hicks to find his rhythm in his second game as a Battle Wing after a mixed performance in his debut. The second year signal caller threw for 220 yards and four touchdowns but was picked off twice in the 86-66 loss to Amarillo. Defensively, the Wings are ranked 17th in the league by allowing 61.5 points per game and must find a way to stop their opponents from scoring if they are to return to winning ways. The Dorados are fresh off of their first victory of the season and will be looking to take advantage of Bossier-Shreveport's porous defense. Josh Kellet has had a slow start to the season by his standards, and will be looking to help the Dorados even up their record at 2-2. Through three games, Kellet has thrown for 558 yards and nine scores. Bossier-Shreveport's Bo Smith is a dynamo on offense and special teams, recording 676 all-purpose yards for an average of 169.0 per game. Smith has 10 receiving touchdowns and one on special teams. Rio Grande Valley's Chris Robinson was af2 Ironman of the Week for his effort last week against Bakersfield. The fullback/linebacker recorded two sacks, one for a safety, 3.5 tackles, 44 yards rushing, and a touchdown.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



arenafootball2 Stories from April 29, 2005


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central