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Week nine af2 Saturday night matchups

May 27, 2005 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


RIO GRANDE VALLEY DORADOS (4-3) AT SOUTH GEORGIA WILDCATS (2-5)

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2005 - ALBANY CIVIC CENTER (8,034) 7:30 P.M. ET

The suddenly red hot Rio Grande Valley Dorados hit the road to face the South Georgia Wildcats at the Albany Civic Center. The Dorados have to be feeling good. After starting the season 1-3 Rio Grande Valley has pulled off three straight victories. A win this week would keep the pressure on Tulsa who sits at first place in the West Division. Veteran af2 quarterback JOSH KELLETT has done a solid job this season of getting all of his receivers involved. MARQUIS FLOYD has caught a touchdown pass in all seven Dorados games. DWIGHT COUNTER has grabbed a touchdown pass in every game but one. CRAIG COLE has come on strong during the Dorados' win streak, catching six touchdown passes in the last three games. Last week it was a newcomer grabbing headlines for the Dorados. NORMAN MASON started the season with South Georgia but was acquired last week by Rio Grande Valley and made an immediate impact. Mason won ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors for his 12 solo tackles, one tackle for loss and two interceptions last week against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. His last interception came with under ten seconds left and in the endzone to clinch the win over the Pioneers. South Georgia comes back home after a loss to Manchester last week. The Wildcats will be adjusting to a new quarterback as BRIAN ZBYDNIEWSKI will make his first start of the season for injured BOBBY PESAVENTO. While at Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, Zbydniewski was the 2003 Offensive Player of the Year for the Mid-South Conference. He will have two new targets in KEVIN BEARD and CARL WALKER, two members of Miami's Orange Bowl victory in 2003.


DORADOS WILDCATS SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST MEETING NA
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. WB/Scranton 52-49 Lost at Manchester 46-21
2005 STATISTICS DORADOS WILDCATS PASSING Kellett: 245-132-7; 1647; 30 TDs Pesavento: 255-160-10; 1570; 35 TDs
RECEIVING Floyd: 41-614; 9 TDs Cockfield: 40-406; 8 TDs
RUSHING Robinson: 28-107; 4 TDs Iorio: 7-30; 0 TDs
TACKLES Brown: 35.5 McKinney: 25.0
SACKS Robinson: 2.0 Scott: 2.5
INTERCEPTIONS Floyd: 4 Fenceroy: 4
KICKING Houle: 26-34 PAT; 9-19 FG 53 PTs Virgilio: 26-33 PAT; 0-4 FG 26 Pts
TEAM OFFENSE 49.3 PPG (6); 258.7 YPG (12) 45.0 PPG (7); 271.3 YPG (7)
TEAM DEFENSE 53.3 PPG (16); 277.7 YPG (16) 47.6 PPG (11); 214.4 YPG (1)


AMARILLO DUSTERS (5-2) AT FLORIDA FIRECATS (6-1)

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2005 - GERMAIN ARENA (7,128) 7:30 P.M. ET

It is a battle of contrasting styles when the Florida Firecats face the Amarillo Dusters. The Firecats are the defending champion and have four years of af2 experience under their belts while the Dusters are the upstart expansion team. Florida's defense is based on sure tackling and a veteran leadership. ROY STABLER, who needs just six tackles to be the only player in af2 history to record 300 tackles, and KELLY SNELL, who ranks second in the league in tackles with 52.0 (43UA 18A), lead the Florida defense. The Firecats offense is based on three dangerous receivers. MAGIC BENTON leads the team with 49 catches for 577 yards and 17 touchdowns. BRENT BURNSIDE has six touchdowns and 284 yards on 23 catches. The third in this dangerous trio is CAINON LAMB. After retiring following last season Lamb returned last week to score three receiving touchdowns and one on the ground. The Dusters offense relies on speed. Amarillo quarterback JULIAN REESE is just as likely to beat you with his feet as he is with his arm. Reese has rushed 45 times for 93 yards and 16 touchdowns. Through the air Reese has racked up 1,886 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. CHAVIS MCCOLLISTER has come on strong after not playing in the first two games. He leads the Dusters with 48 catches for 739 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is averaging 147.8 receiving yards per game, best in the league. The Dusters already had one of the better rushing games with Reese threatening to pull the ball down on any play, but last week DEWAYNE MILES joined the team and made a big impression. On seven carries Miles ran for 39 yards and two touchdowns. The Firecats know the run game better than anyone else. FB/LB STEVE GORRIE became the first af2 player to rush for 500 yards last season. This season through seven games Gorrie has totaled 203 yards and three touchdowns. Gorrie and Reese are tied for most rushing attempts in the league with 45. It is going to be a battle of offense against defense as the Amarillo offense leads the league in scoring, averaging 57.7 points per game while the Firecats defense ranks third in points allowed at 35.1. They say defense wins championships and offense wins games. The Firecats proved the first part true last season, now Amarillo looks to prove the second part correct this week.


DUSTERS FIRECATS SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST MEETING NA
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1
LAST GAME Win vs. Central Valley 68-61 Won at Louisville 47-43
2005 STATISTICS DUSTERS FIRECATS PASSING Reese: 225-143-4; 1886; 33 TDs Wallace: 217-132-6; 1487; 36
RECEIVING McCollister: 48-739; 14 TDs Benton: 49-577; 17 TDs
RUSHING Reese: 45-93; 16 TDs Gorrie: 45-203; 3 TDs
TACKLES Gaston: 37.5 Snell: 52.0
SACKS Hunnicutt/Massey: 2 Morant: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Davis: 3 Stabler: 2
KICKING Hershey: 45-56 PAT; 1-8 FG 48 PTs Kornblue: 32-40 PAT; 1-9 FG 35 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 57.7 PPG (1); 306.9 YPG (1) 44.1 PPG (7); 258.0 YPG (13)
TEAM DEFENSE 53.3 PPG (17); 262.0 YPG (11) 35.1 PPG (3); 259.9 YPG (10)

ARKANSAS TWISTERS (1-6) AT MACON KNIGHTS (2-5)

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2005 - MACON COLISEUM (7,182) 7:30 P.M. ET

Two teams looking to get back in the playoff race battle when the Macon Knights host the Arkansas Twisters this Saturday. The coaching matchup in this game is particularly interesting. Arkansas coach JOHN GREGORY took over the Twisters in the middle of the season but brings quite an Arena Football resume. He holds a 73-51 career record as an AFL head coach including winning the AFL Coach of the Year award twice. He coached the Iowa Barnstormers from 1995 to 2000 and led the Barnstormers to division championship in five of six years. With Iowa he coached current NFL quarterback KURT WARNER and advanced the Barnstormers to two ArenaBowls. On the other sideline is DEREK STINGLEY who coached his first ever game last week. Stingley played eight years in the AFL at defensive specialist. He won the ArenaBowl with Albany in 1999 and was named to the All-AFL First Team. His 443.5 career tackles rank ninth in the AFL. He retired in 2004, took on the defensive coordinator with Macon to start the season and was stepped up to head coach after MIKE HOLD was let go of. Now he is coaching against one of the best minds in Arena Football. But going for Stingley is an improving receiving corps. After not playing in the Knights first two games, CHRIS JOHNSON has put up big numbers in the last five contests. He is averaging 132.6 receiving yards and two touchdowns per game with three games of ten catches or more. Johnson leads the Knights in all-purpose yards with 761. Gregory has a hot player as well in ROBERT KILOW who won U.S. Army Ironman of the Week honors this past week. Kilow scored three touchdowns with three at receiver, one on a kickoff return and one fumble return. Arkansas plays Macon one more time this season, Week 16 in Arkansas.

TWISTERS KNIGHTS SERIES LEADER Macon leads series 2-0
LAST MEETING Macon won at Arkansas 57-45 on 7/19/03
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 1-4
LAST GAME Won vs. Birmingham 61-60 Lost at Tulsa 61-39
2005 STATISTICS TWISTERS KNIGHTS PASSING Motley: 188-95-6; 1176; 23 TDs Hayes: 241-146-7; 1786; 28 TDs
RECEIVING Kilow: 30-435; 6 TDs Johnson: 48-663; 10 TDs
RUSHING Windsor: 11-31; 1 TD Lloyd: 14-43; 1 TD
TACKLES Jackson: 20.5 Laney: 49.5
SACKS Small: 1.5 Wangler: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Four players tied: 1 Jackson: 4
KICKING Nance: 29-33 PAT; 3-9 FG 38 PTs Wilson: 13-19 PAT; 4-7 FG
TEAM OFFENSE 42.3 PPG (16); 250.8 YPG (16) 39.6 PPG (19); 262.0 YPG (9)
TEAM DEFENSE 62.0 PPG (19); 246.3 YPG (6) 46.1 PPG (9); 256.6 YPG (8)

BAKERSFIELD BLITZ (3-4) AT TULSA TALONS (5-2)

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2005 - TULSA CONVENTION CENTER (7,111) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Bakersfield Blitz are looking to avenge a 31-41 Week 7 loss to the Tulsa Talons. Bakersfield features the best defense in the league, allowing only 34.0 points per game. Tulsa's 41 points two weeks ago is their lowest output in any game this season. The Blitz defense limited Tulsa quarterback JOSH BLANKENSHIP to just three touchdown passes, fewest for Blankenship in a game this season. Despite the Blitz defense, ROBERT REED had a solid game the last time these two teams met, catching seven passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. Quickly coming on as one of af2's most dangerous receivers is DONOVAN MORGAN. The rookie leads all of af2 in scoring with 29 touchdowns for 174 points. Morgan's 806 receiving yards ranks second in the league. Instead of one main guy the Blitz use a trio of talented receivers. RENNARD REYNOLDS leads the team in receptions (32) and receiving yards (450). Veteran ERIC MAHANKE leads the team in touchdown catches with eight. Another veteran, NATHAN MUNSON rounds out this group with 23 catches for 252 yards and six touchdowns. Munson also contributes to Bakersfield's defense, grabbing two interceptions this season. ALEX WALLACE leads the team in interceptions (5) and pass breakups (10). Last week KIKA KAULULAAU registered one tackle for a loss and blocked a field goal resulting in a safety. This game will set the pace for the rest of the season for both teams. A win by Bakersfield gets them back in the playoff chase and pulls them to .500. A win by Tulsa keeps them ahead of the Dorados and Coyotes who are right behind them in the standings. The game may end up being in the hands of Blitz quarterback JASON THOMAS. If Thomas can find the stride that he hit in Week 6 when he threw for seven touchdown passes and finished with a completion percentage of 85.7% the Blitz have to be feeling good about their chances. This is the final meeting of the season between the two clubs.

BLITZ TALONS SERIES LEADER Tulsa leads series 1-0
LAST MEETING Tulsa won at Bakersfield 41-31
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 4-1
LAST GAME Won vs. San Diego 25-14 Won vs. Macon 61-39
2005 STATISTICS BLITZ TALONS PASSING Thomas: 133-66-6; 785; 12 TDs Blankenship: 204-126-4; 1603; 36 TDs
RECEIVING Reynolds: 32-450; 5 TDs Morgan: 54-806; 28 TDs
RUSHING Thomas: 31-106; 6 TDs Martin: 20-83; 4 TDs
TACKLES Shorter: 44.5 Davis: 36.0
SACKS King: 3.0 McIver: 4.0
INTERCEPTIONS Wallace: 5 Davis: 3
KICKING Burnett: 27-34 PAT; 4-17 39 PTs Browne: 33-43 PAT; 1-6 FG 36 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 37.3 PPG (20); 206.7 YPG (20) 54.7 PPG (3); 276.3 YPG (5)
TEAM DEFENSE 34.0 PPG (1); 223.0 YPG (2) 45.4 PPG (7); 267.9 YPG (13)

GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (6-1) AT BIRMINGHAM STEELDOGS (0-7)

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2005 - BJCC (16,000) 8:00 P.M. ET

The Green Bay Blizzard, ranked second the af2 Coaches Poll, travel into SEC country when they face the Birmingham Steeldogs. Green Bay is out to their best start in franchise history (6-1) and are not just thinking playoffs, but thinking ArenaCup. Consistency at the quarterback spot can go far in Arena Football and Green Bay has that with JOHNNY TURMAN. The Rookie of the Year in 2003 has AFL experience and knows the importance of making good decisions in the 50-yard game. When Turman is able to get the ball to Green Bay's playmakers, Green Bay wins. TROY MASON was out for the Arkansas and Louisville game, but in every other game but against Manchester Mason has caught at least two touchdowns. When Manchester stopped Mason, they stopped the Blizzard. This is what the Steeldogs defense will try to do. GEORGE WILLIAMS proved last week he knows how to change the momentum in a game. With Arkansas driving Williams returned an interception 50 yards for a Steeldogs touchdown. ELDRICK HILL from Alabama State leads the Steeldogs in passes broken up with ten. Speaking SEC country, WR/LB DRE FULGHAM, who once wore the crimson numbered helmet of Alabama, is one of Birmingham's best two-way players. He ranks second in receiving with 26 catches for 381 yards and four touchdowns. On defense he has registered 6.5 tackles (3UA), one pass broken up and recovered two fumbles. Despite their record the Steeldogs have a talented roster, including last week's Offensive Player of the Week DETRONN HARRIS. Against Arkansas Harris scored five touchdowns, three receiving, one rushing and one on a kickoff return. The kick return touchdown came in the first quarter Birmingham and kick started the Steeldog offense. Harris' 314 all-purpose yards is the third best performance this season. Birmingham repays the visit by playing at Green Bay in Week 13.


BLIZZARD STEELDOGS SERIES LEADER Birmingham leads series 1-0
LAST MEETING Birmingham won vs. Green Bay 56-54 on 6/12/04
LAST FIVE GAMES 5-0 0-5
LAST GAME Won vs. Quad City 56-49 Lost at Arkansas 61-60
2005 STATISTICS BLIZZARD STEELDOGS PASSING Turman: 223-133-8; 1566; 32 TDs Nelson: 115-63-5; 836; 8 TDs
RECEIVING Mason: 32-495; 11 TDs Harris: 44-543; 8 TDs
RUSHING Huebner: 34-85; 7 TDs Nelson: 15-71; 3 TDs
TACKLES Bowers: 46.0 Hill: 29.5
SACKS Eggleston: 3.0 Jackson: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Bowers: 7 Hill: 2
KICKING Juul-Nielsen:39-47 PAT; 2-11 FG 45 PTs Cirrincione: 18-28 PAT; 1-7 FG 21 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 47.9 PPG (9); 239.0 YPG (17) 47.1 PPG (11); 266.3 YPG (8)
TEAM DEFENSE 41.6 PPG (5); 287.0 YPG (19) 62.9 PPG (20); 248.0 YPG (7)

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ (3-4) AT QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS (3-4)

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2005 - THE MARK OF THE QUAD CITIES (9,437) 8:30 P.M. ET

Both the Quad City Steamwheelers and Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz sit at 3-4 and tied for third in the Midwest Division. With similar records this looks like an evenly matched game, and it is, but these are two different 3-4 teams. Oklahoma City snapped a three-game losing streak last week with a convincing 52-17 victory over the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings to regain momentum in their season. Quad City is looking for any momentum they can get after losing their last three games. After defeating then undefeated Memphis in Week 5 the Steamwheelers looked like their helmets, golden. They were sitting at 3-1 and holding all the cards in the division race, then the breaks started to go against them. They've lost their last three by an average of only 8.3 points to there teams with above .500 records. But this is Arena Football and former AFL coach RICK FRAZIER knows as quickly as things can go against you, they can go for you. Talented teams usually start to get the breaks eventually and Quad City is a talented team. Quarterback SAM CLEMONS has AFL experience and moves the ball around to four main receivers. TRAVIS BURNS, TIM DODGE and JACK WALKER all have 40 or more receptions while JEFF HEWITT has seven touchdowns on 22 catches. DS MATT FORBES is always a threat to pick off a pass, and has already turned two picks into touchdowns this season. But the Yard Dawgz know all about turning takeaways into points. Last week against the Battle Wings the Yard Dawgz recorded 21 defensive points, with three interceptions returned for a touchdown, all in the second half. The Yard Dawgz rank sixth in the league in scoring defense, allowing only 45.1 points per game. Yes, that's right, the same team that finished second in scoring offense last season averaging 56.8 points per game and had three 1,000-yard receivers is now a defensive team. That doesn't mean they won't score points though. 2003 ArenaCup MVP CRAIG STRICKLAND is still one af2's most dangerous gunslingers, leading the af2 in career completions (1,241) and passing yards (16,180) among other categories. As the season goes these numbers just keep going up. Quad City knows he will get his numbers, but they are most concerned with the numbers on the scoreboard.


YARD DAWGZ STEAMWHEELERS SERIES LEADER Quad City leads series 1-0
LAST MEETING Quad City won at Oklahoma City 61-43 on 4/23/05
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. Bossier-Shreveport 52-17 Lost at Green Bay 56-49
2005 STATISTICS YARD DAWGZ STEAMWHEELERS PASSING Strickland: 264-144-7; 1765; 35 TDs Clemons: 250-171-6; 1857; 35 TDs
RECEIVING Jackson: 50-615; 10 TDs Burns: 48-490; 10 TDs
RUSHING Williamson: 3-26; 0 TDs Novak: 17-58; 1 TD
TACKLES Davis: 28.0 Forbes: 37.0
SACKS Duncan/Holloman: 1.5 Barr: 3.0
INTERCEPTIONS Barre: 3 Forbes: 6
KICKING Pohlman: 20-28 PAT; 3-5 FG 29 PTs Gatto: 38-46 PAT; 2-12 FG 44 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 47.6 PPG (10); 261.4 YPG (11) 46.0 PPG (13); 283.7 YPG (2)
TEAM DEFENSE 45.1 PPG (6); 264.0 YPG (12) 50.7 PPG (14); 274.4 YPG (15)

CENTRAL VALLEY COYOTES (4-3) AT SAN DIEGO RIPTIDE (2-5)

SATURDAY, MAY 28, 2005 - SAN DIEGO SPORTS ARENA (12,920) 10:00 P.M. ET

Both the Central Valley Coyotes and San Diego Riptide are looking to get back on track. Saturday night in San Diego only one team will. The Coyotes were sitting at 4-2 tied for first place in the West Division just two weeks ago, but now two straight defeats have them tied with Rio Grande Valley for second. Their first loss in this stretch was a 51-61 loss to those Dorados at home. The Coyotes lost a heartbreaker in overtime on the road last week to Amarillo. The game went back and forth and in overtime Amarillo returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Coyotes moved the ball down field but had a fourth down pass batted away in the endzone. Much of the Coyotes success depends on quarterback JUSTON WOOD. In their five previous games Wood had thrown just two interceptions, but in the Coyotes' last two losses he has thrown four. Wood has the talent to be one of the best quarterbacks in af2 but he needs to make good decisions to put the Coyotes in a situation to win. Lucky for Wood, the Coyotes have a solid group of receivers. GEORGE WILLIAMS has caught a touchdown in every Coyotes game except the season opener when he did not play. DERONN FINLEY has three multiple touchdown games for the Coyotes. Finley has also returned a kickoff for a touchdown this season. The strength of the Coyotes' defense is up front. Veteran AHMAD BHATTI's 4.5 sacks leads a Coyotes defense that has 11 sacks on the season, tied for fourth on the season. The Riptide's last two games have been Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde like. Against Birmingham KANE CLAUNCH returned to af2 and threw nine touchdown passes, leading the Riptide to a 77-44 win. Last week the Bakersfield defense swarmed the Riptide and Claunch's only score was a rushing touchdown. Despite the 2-5 record the Riptide are only two games out of second place in the West Division and the playoffs are a possibility, and a win over the Coyotes will get things going again. The last time these two clubs met was the final week of the regular season last year. San Diego needed a win to advance to the playoffs, but it didn't happen, the Coyotes won 48-34 and San Diego missed the playoffs.

COYOTES RIPTIDE SERIES LEADER San Diego leads series 7-4
LAST MEETING Central Valley tied San Diego 48-48 on 7/30/04
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 1-4
LAST GAME Lost at Amarillo 68-61 Lost at Bakersfield 25-14
2005 STATISTICS COYOTES RIPTIDE PASSING Wood: 264-150-6; 1857; 36 TDs Buich: 126-58-3; 687; 11 TDs
RECEIVING Williams: 37-567; 12 TDs Taylor: 48-482; 11 TDs
RUSHING Notoa: 19-86; 3 TDs Macrea: 19-33; 6 TDs
TACKLES Robinson: 34.5 Griffin: 19.5
SACKS Bhatti: 4.5 Faoa: 6.5
INTERCEPTIONS Brown/Robinson: 2 Smith: 2
KICKING Gockman: 36-43 PAT; 7-11 FG 57 PTs Naehu: 27-33 PAT; 4-11 FG 39 PTs
TEAM OFFENSE 51.6 PPG (5); 280.3 YPG (4) 41.7 PPG (17); 220.7 YPG (19)
TEAM DEFENSE 46.0 PPG (8); 257.9 YPG (9) 48.3 PPG (12); 224.7 YPG (3)



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