Wichita Stealth Game Notes
April 28, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Hawaiian Islanders (3-1) at Wichita Stealth (3-1)
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 CDT
Site: Kansas Coliseum (9,686)
National Anthem: Misty Coldwell
Coin Toss:
Officials:
Radio: Z-FM 90.7 (Jay Sanderson and Phil Stephenson)
TV: None
Series Record: Wichita leads the series 1-0
Last Meeting: April 27, 2002 â WICHITA 31, Hawaiian 27
Streaks: 2003: Wichita W-2, Hawaiian W-1
Coaches: WIC - Bob Cortese (3-1, First season) HAW - Cal Lee (3-1, First season)
THE STAKES: Sole possession of first place in the West Division is on the line for both teams.
THE SERIES: Wichita leads the series 1-0
THE Ifs:
If Wichita defeats Hawaiian, it would ...
· Give Wichita a 2-0 series record with the Islanders
· Give Wichita a 4-1 record in 2003
· Give Wichita a 3-0 home record in 2003
· Give Bob Cortese a 4-1 record as an af2 coach
· Give Wichita their first divisional win in 2003
· Put Wichita alone atop the West Division
HEAD COACHES: Bob Cortese begins his first season as an af2 head coach for Wichita. Cortese has spent 4 years in the Arena Football League with the Portland Forest Dragons and the Oklahoma Wranglers before coming to Wichita in 2002 as Director of Football Operations. Cortese engineered the offensive turnaround that helped the Stealth garner a berth in the af2 playoffs in 2002.
Islanders' coach Cal Lee is the most prolific football coach in Hawaii high school history. In 21 years as a head coach his teams have compiled a 241-32-5 record and have won 14 Oahu Prep Bowl titles.
LAST SERIES MEETING: Hawaiian 27, WICHITA 31 (4-27-02) - The Stealth fell behind early but battled back from a 14-point deficit to win their first game of the 2002 season.
The Stealth were led by quarterback Matt Hicks. Hicks completed 30 of 45 passes for 279 yards and 4 touchdowns on his way to garnering Game MVP honors.
FAMILIAR FACES: Islanders' kicker Kimo Naehu was in training camp with Wichita last season and is a graduate of Bethel College in Newton, Kansas.
WICHITA STEALTH INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
OL/DL Chris Enneking Knee Long Term IR
THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:
Stealth head coach Bob Cortese On the victory over Tulsa: "It was a huge win for us. Tulsa is a great team and it was an exciting game for us all"
On the play of Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein:"Michael has done an outstanding job for us so far and he will get better. He hasn't played in two years and he still is not in top form."
On this weeks game with Hawaii: "Anytime you play a division game it weighs much heavier than the rest, because you are fighting for playoff spots."
DROPBACK: Tulsa 49, WICHITA 56 (4-26-03) â In a game filled with career highs for Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein, the Stealth defense was the one who came up big with a defensive stop of the Tulsa Talons in overtime to secure a 56-49 victory.
Dritlein had career highs in receiving yards with 202, (a new Stealth team record), touchdowns with 5, (tying a Stealth record), and kickoff returns with 69, on his way to earning Game MVP honors for the second time in two weeks.
FORWARD MOTION: The Stealth will conclude their three-game home stand next week against the Quad City Steamwheelers. Wichita will begin a two-game road swing, first to Hawaii on May 16th and then at Peoria on May 24th.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
RUNNING GAME: The Islanders come into the game averaging 65.0 yards per game rushing, which ranks them first in the league. The Stealth rushing defense is currently ranked 9th in the league only giving up 14.0 yards per game.
MAGIC NUMBER: In the three Wichita victories, they have accumulated over 201 yards of total offense each time. The only loss on the season against Tulsa on April 12th, the Stealth only had 200 yards.
SIX ON SIX: The Stealth come into this game ranked sixth in scoring defense at 36.5 points per game. The Islanders come into the game with the leagues sixth ranked scoring offense at 48.8 points per game.
PASSING IT UP: The Stealth continue to make their climb up the passing offense charts by improving on their passing yardage each week. They come into the game this week averaging 231.8 yards per game. They will have a chance to continue that trend this week versus the Islanders. The Islanders come into the game ranked 26th in the league in pass defense giving up 255.8 yards per game.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Stealth quarterback Anthony Buich: Buich is ranked sixth in the league in passing yards and fourth in total yardage. On the current pace he is at, he would have his best season ever, ending the season with 3,788 yards passing.
Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein: Dritlein continues his sensational start in af2. If Dritlein continues his pace he will break the af2 single season record for receiving yards in a season. (2,086 by Carl Bond of Tallahassee in 2000. Dritlein has now had three consecutive 100-yard receiving games.
KEY DATES IN TEAM/LEAGUE HISTORY:
March 12, 2003 â Key Sports, LLC takes over as Operator of the Wichita Stealth.
March 29, 2003 â The Wichita Stealth begin the Cortese era by defeating the Arkansas Twisters 46-28.
April 19, 2003 - The Stealth beat the Green Bay Blizzard, 41-26 for their first road win since June 29, 2002
April 26, 2003 - The Stealth defeated the Tulsa Talons 56-49 in overtime. This was the first time ever that Wichita has defeated the Talons.
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