af2 arenafootball2

Week three af2 game recaps

Published on April 18, 2005 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


THURSDAY, APRIL 14

MACON KNIGHTS 67, Birmingham Steeldogs 50 (Attendance: 2,327)

MACON, Ga. - The Macon Knights (2-1) took an early lead and never looked back as they cruised past the Birmingham Steeldogs (0-2) 67-50 Thursday night in front of 2,327 fans at the Macon Coliseum. In his debut with the Knights, Chris Johnson (Offensive Player of the Game) set a team single-game record for receiving yards with 216. Johnson hauled in 11 passes, four for touchdowns, to go along with his record-setting yard total and he tied the Knights' single-game records for longest reception (46 yards) and most receiving touchdowns (4). Much of Johnson's success is credited to outstanding play of quarterback Lionel Hayes who threw for 274 yards and six touchdowns on 17-of-23 passing. Hayes also rushed for a score. The Steeldogs were led by Andrew Zow who completed 20-of-36 passes for 273 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Zow also rushed for 30 yards and one touchdown on seven carries.

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 55, ALBANY CONQUEST 37 (Attendance: 5,588)

ALBANY, N.Y. - Quarterback Kyle Rowley completed 22-of-27 passes for 266 yards and seven touchdowns to lead the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (3-0) to a 55-37 win over the division rival Albany Conquest (0-2) Friday night before 5,588 at the Pepsi Center. Rowley, who earned Offensive Player of the Game honors, also rushed for a touchdown. He threw four of his touchdowns to J.R. Thomas, who led the Pioneers with eight receptions for 83 yards. Manwel Talbert paced the Conquest offense with eight catches for 77 yards and one score. Jeff Higgins returned a kickoff for a 54-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the Conquest, and he led his team with 7.5 tackles on defense. The Pioneers have started the season at 3-0 for the second straight year.

LOUISVILLE FIRE 48, South Georgia Wildcats 46 (Attendance: 7,079)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -Danny Kight converted a 42-yard field goal at the buzzer to lift the Louisville Fire (2-0) to 48-46 win over the South Georgia Wildcats (0-2) Friday night before 7,079 fans at Freedom Hall. Kight's game-winning kick erased the one-point lead the Wildcats took just seven seconds earlier when quarterback Bobby Pasavento orchestrated a seven-play, 45-yard drive in the game's final minute culminating with a three-yard touchdown reception and two-point conversion both to Adrian Cockfield. Voted Offensive Player of the Game, Cockfield led all receivers with 12 receptions for 119 yards and three touchdowns. Louisville's Tony Stallings earned Ironman of the Game due in part to his play on special teams. Stallings had a 56-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter and a 29-yard return at the end of the game to put the Fire in position for the game-winning field goal.

MEMPHIS XPLORERS 54, Arkansas Twisters 13 (Attendance: 3,570)

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - By holding the Arkansas Twisters (0-2) scoreless in the second half, the Memphis Xplorers (3-0) cruised to a 54-13 win on Friday night in front of 3,570 fans at the DeSoto Civic Center. Quarterback Brian Jones was named Offensive Player of the Game after completing 13-of-23 passes for 145 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for another score. Jone's threw three touchdowns to Kevin Prentiss, who totaled five catches for 55 yards to lead the Xplorers. Teammate Adam Terrell grabbed four receptions for 38 yards and two touchdowns. The Xplorers have matched the best start in team history. The 2002 team also began the season 3-0.

BAKERSFIELD BLITZ 57, San Diego Riptide 30 (Attendance: 3,024)

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Chad Elliott threw five touchdowns and ran in for another to lead the Bakersfield Blitz (1-1) to a 57-30 win over the San Diego Riptide (1-1) before a crowd of 3,024 at the Rabobank Arena on Friday night. Elliott completed 23-of-33 passes for 296 yards and was named Offensive Player of the Game. He threw touchdowns to four different receivers, including two to Eric Mahanke who recorded nine receptions for a game-high 95 yards. Nian Taylor led the Riptide with 10 catches for 82 yards and two touchdowns. The Blitz's Khree Shorter registered nine solo tackles, including three for a loss, along with two pass break-ups to earn ADT Defensive Player of the Game accolades. The Blitz and Riptide are two of four teams in the West Division with a 1-1 record to start the season.

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

OKLAHOMA CITY YARD DAWGZ 48, Central Valley Coyotes 41 (Attendance: 6,527)

OKLAHOMA CITY - Yard Dawgz OS Jarrail Jackson returned a kickoff 57-yards for a touchdown with just 1:14 remaining in the fourth quarter putting Oklahoma City (2-1) up for good against the Central Valley Coyotes (1-1) on Saturday night at the Ford Center. Oklahoma City WR/LB Brandon Daniels earned Offensive Player of the Game honors by hauling in six receptions for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Central Valley's Clint Merz continued to show his ability as a game breaker by recovering a fumble in the end zone which earned him the title of ADT Defensive Player of the Game. U.S. Army Ironman of the Game honors went to the Yard Dawgz Al Hunt who had five catches for 45 yards along with his 4.5 tackles.

MANCHESTER WOLVES 59, Green Bay Blizzard 41 (Attendance: 7,432)

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Wolves QB Jake Eaton had a stellar performance leading his team to a victory over the Green Bay Blizzard (1-1) in front of a crowd of 7,432 at the Verizon Wireless Arena on Saturday Night. Eaton threw for seven touchdowns and 304 yards earning him Offensive Player of the Game honors. Former af2 Rookie of the Year and Blizzard QB Johnny Turman looked impressive with 267 yards passing but a few key turnovers caused his team to fall just a bit short. The Wolves (1-1) were led by J.J. McKelvey who caught 12 passes for 99 yards and four touchdowns making him the co-winner of the U.S. Army Ironman of the Game award along with the Wolves' William Ferguson. ADT Defensive Player of the Game for the second straight week was Manchester's Allistair Sebastien.

FLORIDA FIRECATS 63, Rio Grande Valley Dorados 30 (Attendance: 5,978)

ESTERO, Fla. - The defending af2 ArenaCup Champion Florida Firecats (3-0) continued their dominance with a decisive victory over the Rio Grande Valley Dorados (0-2) on Saturday night in front of 5,978 fans at the Germain Arena. The Firecats cruised to victory by scoring four touchdowns on their final four possessions and a near perfect performance from Florida offensively. Offensive Player of the Game honors went to OS Magic Benton who had three receiving touchdowns. Firecats' FB Steve Gorrie rushed for 41 yards off nine carries. WR Marquis Floyd led the Dorados with nine receptions for 121 yards.

QUAD CITY STEAMWHEELERS 36, Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings 29 (Attendance: 5,216)

MOLINE, Ill. - In front of 5,216 fans at OS Field at The MARK of the Quad Cities the hometown Steamwheelers (1-1) were able to pull off a 36-29 triumph over the Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings (0-3). Steamwheelers DS Matt Forbes insured the Steamwheelers of their first victory of the season with two clutch interceptions in the fourth quarter. Battle Wings OS Bo Smith had an impressive night with eight catches for 155 yards while becoming the team's all-time leader in touchdown receptions with 47. After being held scoreless in the second half of last week's season opener at Wilkes-Barre/Sranton, the Steamwheelers put up a second half shutout of their own against the Battle Wings. The U.S. Army Ironman of the Game went to Steamwheeler Jack Walker, Jr.

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