Week four Saturday night matchups
Published on April 22, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
MANCHESTER WOLVES (1-1) AT ALBANY CONQUEST (0-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - PEPSI ARENA (13,901) 7:30 P.M. ET
The Manchester Wolves look to make it two in a row as they head to Albany to face the Conquest on Saturday night. Manchester beat the Green Bay Blizzard last week and QB JAKE EATON earned Offensive Player of the Week honors for his seven passing touchdown effort. The Conquest have not found the win column yet, but are poised to break out their slump. With 39 career wins, it's hard to keep a RICHARD DAVIS team down for long. The conquest offense is capable of big numbers and QB D. BRYANT has found a true star receiver in MANWELL TALBERT. So for this season, the duo has hooked-up for eight touchdowns. Along with solid offensive play, the Wolves have been stingy of defense thus far in 2005. The team is among the league leaders allowing only 36.5 points per game and ALLISTAIR SEBASTIEN is tied fort he league lead with three interceptions. The history of this series is one of close games. Seven points decided the last meeting. This is the first of three games they'll play this season. The next meeting is May 14 at Albany.
SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS (0-2) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (3-0)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - GERMAIN ARENA (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET
The 2004 ArenaCup Champion Florida Firecats have upheld their title in the first three games of 2005, going 3-0 and holding the top ranking in the weekly coaches poll. Already matching their best start since 2002 (a year they went to ArenaCup), they can head off to a franchise best 4-0 start with a win over the South Georgia Wildcats on Saturday night. Despite an 0-2 record, the Wildcats have shown glimpses of greatness. With QB BOBBY PESAVENTO at the controls on offense, look for the Wildcats points per game average to keep climbing. Pesavento's favorite target is Adrian Cockfield. The speedy OS has already hauled in seven touchdowns this season. He grabbed 12 passes last week for 119 yards and three scores. The Firecats recipe for success continues to be defense, defense, defense. Holding opponents under 30 points per game so far, opposing teams are finding it difficult to penetrate the Firecats experienced defense. On offense, the Firecats have been efficient. MAGIC BENTON continues to haul in the timely touchdowns and STEVE GORRIE keeps chugging with his ground assault. This is the sixth all-time meeting between these two teams. The Wildcats won the last game and also won against these Firecats in Week 4 of last season here at Germain Arena. They'll meet once more on June 11 at Albany.
MEMPHIS XPLORERS (3-0) AT BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (0-2)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - BJCC (16,000) 8:00 P.M. ET
With the ArenaCup champion Firecats off to a 3-0 start, it would be easy to brand them as the team to beat in af2. But some may argue that the Memphis Xplorers can lay claim to that distinction. Off to a 3-0 start of their own, Memphis can set a team record with another win this week. They face the Birmingham Steeldogs on Saturday night. Through their first three games of the season, the Xplorers have offered the complete package. They lead the league in scoring offense and defense. QB BRIAN JONES has tossed 17 touchdowns without a single interception so far on the year. On the receiving end of 11 of Jone's strikes has been KEVIN PRENTISS. Prentiss is the type of player that presents a threat anytime he takes the field. Along with his receiving numbers, the speedster has racked up 258 yards on kick returns, including two touchdowns. Defensively, the Xplorers could very well have the best pass-rusher in the league in Jamaican native KHREEM SMITH. Smith has recorded sacks in each game he's played and has six for the season. The Steeldogs are still trying to get head coach BOBBY HUMPHREY his 50th career win. Offensively, the team has had little trouble putting points on the board. And with a one-point and three-point loss, this team is much better than their record indicates. A little home cooking could be just what the 'Dogs need to get on the right side of those close games. This teams meet again on June 18.
AMARILLO DUSTERS (1-1) at BOSSIER-SHREVEPORT BATTLE WINGS (0-3)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - CenturyTel Center (12,500) 8:00 P.M. ET
The Amarillo Dusters return from a bye week and face the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings Saturday night at the CenturyTel Center. For an expansion team the Dusters couldn't have asked for a tougher start to a season, having to face two of the league's top teams in Tulsa and Memphis. This week won't be any easier as they have to face a re-vamped Bossier-Shreveport team that is hungry for its first win of the season. Having struggled on offense, head coach KEITH BAREFIELD made a change at QB by bringing in 2004 All-af2 First Teamer TIM HICKS in a trade with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Having an QB with a history of success should help the Battle Wings add points in a hurry, especially with the deep-threat of BO SMITH. Last week in Moline, IL, Smith lit up the Steamwheelers for four first-half touchdowns. Amarillo QB JULIAN REESE poses a threat with his arm and his legs. He scored three rushing touchdowns against the Xplorers defense in Week 2. With both team's defenses struggling in the early going, this game has all the makings of a shootout. This is the first of two scheduled meetings for these team in 2005. They play again on June 25 at Amarillo.
MACON KNIGHTS (2-1) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (1-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - THE RESCH CENTER (7,995) 8:00 P.M. ET
After a tough 3-13 record last season, many of the Macon faithful were worried when they started 2005 with a loss. But since that three-point decision to the defending league champions, the Knights have rattled off two straight wins and find themselves within striking distance of the division lead. On Saturday night they'll face the Green Bay Blizzard in what could end up being an important game down the road in the American Conference playoff picture. Green Bay is 1-1 and also has visions of a much-improved season from a year ago. They opened the year with a win over the Conquest, but couldn't keep pace with the Wolves last week. QB JOHNNY TURMAN leads the offense for the Blizzard. When he's on, he's one of the best gunslingers in the league. Knights QB LIONEL HAYES is quietly off to a sensational start to 2005. All he's done so far is throw for 712 yards and 14 touchdowns without a single interception. The Knights also have a superstar in the making with receiver CHRIS JOHNSON. In his Knights debut last week, he set three team records including racking up 216 receiving yards. Defensively, the Knights' MATT JACKSON already has two picks on the year. Blizzard lineman and former Northern Michigan Wildcat NICK ANDERSON appears to be on track for a career year with two sacks in two games. He totaled two all of last season and his career high was 4.5 with Albany in 2003. This is the only meeting of the season fort he Knights and Blizzard.
QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (1-1) AT OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (2-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - FORD CENTER (17,884) 8:30 P.M. ET
The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz look to make it three in a row when they host the Quad City Steamwheelers on Saturday night at the Ford Center. QB CRAIG STRICKLAND has the Yard Dawgz offense off and rolling in 2005, as the team is once again among the league leaders in scoring with a 55.3 points per game average. Strickland should surpass 1,000 yards and 20 touchdowns passing this week. The Steamwheelers offense is still looking to find its groove, but the return of 2004 Ironman of the Year TIM DODGE should quickly get the Steamwheelers back on track. On the other side of the ball, the Steamwheelers impressed last week by shutting out the Battle Wings in for the entire second half. MATT FORBES registered two fourth quarter picks and earned league honors for his efforts. This is the first time these two teams have ever played each other, but being in the same division this season should spark an immediate rivalry. Both teams made playoff appearances in 2004 and are looking for more in 2005. They'll meet again on May 28 in Illinois.
TULSA TALONS (1-1) AT SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (1-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA (12,920) 10:00 P.M. ET
The San Diego Riptide hope home cooking will be the difference as they try to beat the Tulsa Talons for the first time in team history Saturday night at the San Diego Sports Arena. Now playing in the same division, this game takes on immediate importance for both squads. The Riptide already lost one division game last week to the Bakersfield Blitz. For the Talons this is the first in-division matchup of the season and they are looking to make a statement to the rest of the West. The Talons emerging playmaker on offense is receiver DONOVAN MORGAN. In two games he has hauled in 15 balls for 234 yards and nine touchdowns. The Riptide's offense rests on the experienced arm of ANTHONY BUICH. In his fourth af2 season, the veteran signal-caller has only thrown one pick on the season. On defense these teams matchup rather evenly as both have allowed around 57 points per game. Expect both to be improved this game. This is one of two games these teams will play this season. The other matchup occurs on June 18 at Tulsa.
ARKANSAS TWISTERS (0-2) AT CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (1-1)
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2005 - SELLAND ARENA (8,911) 10:30 P.M. ET
The Central Valley Coyotes play at Selland Arena for the first time in 2005 when they host the Arkansas Twisters on Saturday night. The hometown crowd will be treated to a much-improved squad from 2004 looking for win No. 2 on the season. For the Twisters, it's time to bust out with a big game. Off to an 0-2 start, this experienced af2 club is capable of much better performances than they shown thus far on the season. CHRIS WINDSOR handles the quarterbacking duties for the Twisters and has done a good job of not turning the ball over. If he and ROBERT KILOW get hot, the Twisters can light up the scoreboard in a hurry. Coyotes' QB JUSTON WOOD has done a good job of spreading out the ball, but needs to establish a go-to guy in order for the Coyotes offense to explode. This inter-conference matchup is the only meeting of the season for these two teams. Arkansas's 2-0 record against this team should provide confidence for as they look to breakout of their early season funk.
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