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Week Three Friday Night Matchups

April 9, 2009 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


FLORIDA FIRECATS (0-2) AT ALBANY FIREBIRDS (0-2)

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009 - Times Union Center (13,901) 7:00 P.M. ET

Broadcast via af2TV Online

The Firecats and Firebirds get Week 3 underway when they face off Friday evening in Albany, N.Y. Florida, a team that has won at least 10 games for seven straight seasons, has stumbled a bit to start the 2009 season, opening 0-2 (both losses to South Division rival South Georgia). The Firecats haven't begun a season with two consecutive defeats since 2001, the team's very first af2 season. That year the squad lost its first three games, finished 7-9 and missed the playoffs. After a bye in Week 2, the Firecats will look to buck their current trend this week. In Florida's most recent outing in Week 1, a 56-41 loss at South Georgia, Wildcats rookie QB DARNELL KENNEDY threw for 250 yards and recorded eight total TDs (6 passing, 2 rushing) in his first start with the team. In comparison, Florida QB CHRIS WALLACE went threw for 240 yards with just three scores and one interception. Despite leading throughout most of the first half, the Firecats fell behind the Wildcats, 26-28, just before halftime and were unable to surpass their foe again. They got within two points midway through the third, but South Georgia exploded for three scores in consecutive possessions to take a 56-33 lead going into the fourth. WR CHRIS MCKINNEY (8-84) led Florida in receiving touchdowns with two. He currently leads the squad in receiving and rushing. Also helping Florida's cause this week will be the recent addition of team veterans OL RAYMOND JAMES, LB GEORGE LEWIS and OL GREG WALLS. Lewis had 35.5 tackles and four forced fumbles for the Firecats last season. Albany has also struggled in the early part of its 2009 campaign. The Firebirds are coming off a humbling, 70-28, road loss last week at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Albany kept things close in the first half but the Pioneers put the game away in the final 30 minutes. The Firebirds were held scoreless in the second half after scoring 28 in the first half. Rookie QB ADAM BEDNARIK, getting his first start for Albany, had a solid start but a shaky finish under a heavy Pioneers pass rush. Bednarik completed just 18-of-43 passes on the evening for 225 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and was sacked six times. He also had 15 carries for 34 yards and two scores. Rookie receiver CHRISTIAN WISE had 10 catches for 116 yards while PATRICK HORNE had 4.0 tackles and an interception on defense. If Albany wants to keep this game close, the Firebirds will need to keep Bednarik on his feet.

FIRECATS FIREBIRDS SERIES LEADER Florida leads 3-0

LAST MEETING Florida won 64-41 on 6/23/07

LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 1-4

LAST GAME Lost 41-56 vs. South Georgia Wildcats Lost 28-70 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

LEADERS FIRECATS FIREBIRDS PASSING Wallace: 40-60-1; 473; 7 TDs Bednarik: 37-78-4; 442; 5 TDs

RECEIVING McKinney: 17-185; 3 TDs Wise: 18-244; 1 TD

RUSHING McKinney: 7-46; 1 TD Bednarik: 18-37; 3 TDs

TACKLES Tisdale: 8.5 Horne: 8.5

SACKS Chapman: 1 Paramoure: 1

INTERCEPTIONS N/A Horne: 1

KICKING Rivas: 5-8 PAT; 0-2 FG 5 PTs Umstead: 4-5 PAT; 0-1 FG 4 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 47 PPG; 268.5 YPG 31 PPG; 259 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 55 PPG; 278.5 YPG 57 PPG; 235 YPG

IOWA BARNSTORMERS (2-0) AT PEORIA PIRATES (0-1)

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009 - Peoria Civic Center (9,873) 8:00 P.M. ET

Broadcast via af2TV Online

The undefeated Barnstormers travel to Peoria, Ill. for a Friday night Midwest Division matchup against the Pirates In four previous head-to-head meetings, these two clubs have each won twice. Iowa is currently ranked No. 5 in the latest league coaches poll. BRIAN VILLANUEVA, in his fourth af2 season, led the Barnstormers to a 73-68 Week 2 upset victory at home against No. 3-ranked Tulsa. In his first start for Iowa, the Fort Valley State alum completed 24-of-39 passes (61.5 percent) in the contest for 244 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. He also added two rushing touchdowns as the Barnstormers have raced out to a 2-0 start, their best beginning to a season in team history. WRs TIM DODGE (11-124) and ERRICK MCCOWN (8-73) were Villanueva's top targets with three TD grabs apiece. DB JORDAN DAVIS had 9.0 tackles and two pass breakups to lead the defense. DB TANNER VARNER also played a big part in the victory with 8.5 tackles, including the stop on Tulsa's JEFF HUGHLEY inside the Iowa 5-yard line on the last play of the game. Through two games, Dodge leads the Barnstormers in receiving (170 yards, 5 TDs). K JEFF GLAS is also off to a strong start to the season with a league-high 25 points (16-of-18 PATs, 3-of-6 FGs). In the win last week against Tulsa, Glas hammered home a 57-yard field goal and converted on all 10 of his extra points. The Pirates enter this Week 3 tilt well-rested after having a bye in Week 2. Peoria opened its season on the road two weeks ago at Quad City. The Pirates looked strong for three quarters of play but stumbled late against the Steamwheelers and lost, 72-56. Rookie QB LUKE DRONE had a solid af2 debut with 296 yards passing on 24-of-39 passing and a team-record eight touchdowns. He wasn't without mistakes in his first start, however. Two big miscues by the rookie signal caller included a costly interception that was returned for a score in the third quarter and an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone that resulted in a safety in the fourth quarter. Two other rookies who showed well for the Pirates in their Week 1 defeat were receivers MOSES HARRIS (13-101-2 TDs) and BRIAN ALLBROOKS (4-78-4 TDs). If Peoria's first game is any indication, Drone and his receivers will be busy bees, but it's the Pirates defense that will need to come up with a sweet effort this week if the team wants to score an upset in their home opener.

BARNSTORMERS PIRATES SERIES LEADER Tied 2-2

LAST MEETING Iowa won, 42-33 on 6/21/08

LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 0-5

LAST GAME Won 73-68 vs. Tulsa Talons Lost 56-72 vs. Quad City

LEADERS BARNSTORMERS PIRATES PASSING Villanueva: 32-57-0; 332; 9 TDs Drone: 27-41-1; 304; 8 TDs

RECEIVING Dodge: 17-190; 5 TDs Moses: 13-101; 2 TDs

RUSHING Payne: 9-19; 0 TD Hughes: 2-8; 0 TD

TACKLES Varner: 15 Phinisee: 5

SACKS Ripke: 2 Young/Lingard: .5

INTERCEPTIONS Davis: 1 N/A

KICKING Glas: 16-18 PAT; 3-6 FG 25 PTs Palkovic: 8-8 PAT; 0-1 FG 8 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 66.5 PPG; 188.5 YPG 56 PPG; 293 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 53 PPG; 315.5 YPG 72 PPG; 352 YPG

MANCHESTER WOLVES (0-1) AT GREEN BAY BLIZZARD (1-0)

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2009 - The Resch Center (7,695) 8:30 P.M. ET

Broadcast via af2TV Online

The Green Bay Blizzard host the Manchester Wolves at the Resch Center in Friday's final matchup of the evening. This will be the ninth time these two clubs have met overall. Manchester currently owns the all-time edge, 5-3. Both teams are coming into this week's contest after enjoying a bye in Week 2. Manchester lost its season opener in Week 1 at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, 59-28. The Wolves were in the game for three quarters before the Pioneers outscored them 28-7 over the final 15 minutes of play. Manchester QB JAMES PINKNEY didn't have the start he had hoped for, completing just 21-of-38 passes for 233 yards and three scores. He also threw three interceptions, including two in the second half. WR DEYON WILLIAMS stood out in a positive way for the Wolves in the loss as the first-year receiver caught 10 passes for 125 yards and two scores in his af2 debut. DB AL PHILLIPS had four tackles and four pass breakups to pace the Manchester defense. Green Bay, currently ranked No. 6 in the latest league coaches poll, had a notable season-opening win at home two weeks ago against the defending ArenaCup Champion Tennessee Valley Vipers, 53-40. Blizzard veteran QB GINO GUIDUGLI completed 19- of-33 passes for 223 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. WR NATE FORSE was Guidugli's top target with nine catches for 109 yards and three TDs. The Green Bay defense was also a big factor in the victory as the group forced the Vipers into three turnovers (2 INTs, 1 fumble) and a safety. DBs RASHAUN KIZER (11.5 tackles, 1 PBU) and TRACY BELTON (4 tackles, 1 INT) and LB ROBERT GARTH (3 tackles, 1 INT) stood out for the squad individually. Manchester may hold the advantage in the all-time series, including last year's huge playoff win at Green Bay, but the Blizzard have traditionally been one of the toughest teams to handle at home. Pinkney will need to play much better this week if the Wolves hope to keep things close.

WOLVES BLIZZARD SERIES LEADER Manchester leads 5-3

LAST MEETING Manchester won 55-54 on 8/9/08

LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 4-1

LAST GAME Lost 28-59 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Won 53-40 vs. Tennessee Valley

LEADERS WOLVES BLIZZARD PASSING Pinkney: 21-37-3; 233; 3 TDs Guidugli: 19-33-1; 223; 4 TDs

RECEIVING Williams: 10-125; 2 TDs Forse: 9-109; 3 TDs

RUSHING Jefferson: 3-7; 0 TD Medlock: 15-55; 1 TD

TACKLES Phillips: 4 Kizer: 11.5

SACKS N/A N/A

INTERCEPTIONS N/A Garth: 1

KICKING Koepplin: 4-4 PAT; 0-1 FG 4 PTs Forstrom: 6-6 PAT; 3-3 FG 15 PTs

TEAM OFFENSE 28 PPG; 223 YPG 53 PPG; 276 YPG

TEAM DEFENSE 59 PPG; 276 YPG 40 PPG; 330 YPG

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