Wichita Stealth Game Notes
May 12, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Wichita Stealth (4-2) at Hawaiian Islanders (4-2)
Date: Friday, May 16, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 in Hawaii (12:30 a.m. in Wichita)
Site: Neal Blaisdell Center (6,443)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: Frank White (Referee), Phil Akana (Umpire), George Gusman (Head Linesman), Matt Sumstine (Line Judge), Mike Goshima (Back Judge)
Radio: None
TV: None
Series Record: Wichita Leads the series 2-0
Last Meeting: May 3, 2003 â WICHITA 36, Hawaii 29
Streaks: 2003: Wichita L-1, Hawaii W-1
Coaches: WIC - Bob Cortese (4-2, First season) HAW â Cal Lee (4-2, Second season)
THE STAKES: Once again sole possession of first place in the West Division is up for grabs for both teams.
THE SERIES: Wichita leads the series 2-0.
THE Ifs:
If Wichita defeats Hawaii, it would ...
⢠Give Wichita a 3-0 series record with the Islanders
⢠Give Wichita a 5-2 record in 2003
⢠Give Wichita a 2-1 road record in 2003
⢠Give Bob Cortese a 5-2 record as an af2 coach
⢠Give Wichita a one game win streak
⢠Give Wichita a two-game road win streak
⢠Give Wichita sole possession of first place in 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 29, WICHITA 36 (5-3-03) â The Stealth squeaked by the Hawaiian Islanders on a 57-yard missed field goal return by Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein. The Stealth defeated the Islanders 36-29 to gain possession of first place in the west Division.
WICHITA STEALTH INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status OL/DL
Chris Enneking Knee LONG TERM IR OL/DL
John Hesse Knee LONG TERM IR
DROPBACK: Hawaiian 29, WICHITA 36 (5-3-03) â The Stealth squeaked by the Hawaiian Islanders on a 57-yard missed field goal return by Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein. The Stealth defeated the Islanders 36-29 to gain possession of first place in the West Division.
FORWARD MOTION: The Stealth will finish their two game road swing with a visit to the place where their season ended last year, Peoria, Illinois. Wichita will face the Pirates on May 24th and then return to the Kansas Coliseum on May 31st versus the Green Bay Blizzard.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
RUNNING THE BALL: These two teams enter this week ranked first and third in rushing offense. Hawaii comes into the game ranked first averaging 62.7 yards per game. The Stealth enter the game averaging 34.8 yards per game. The last time these two teams met on May 3rd, the Islanders ran for 63 yards on 13 carries and the Stealth had 41 yards on 11 carries.
PUTTING UP THE POINTS: This weeks game features two of the top ten scoring teams in the league in non-kick scoring. Wichita enters the game ranked 8th and Hawaii is 10th with 222 points. Michael Dritlein leads the Stealth and af2 in scoring with 116 points. The Islanders are led in non-kick scoring by fullback/linebacker Josh White who has scored 48 points.
NOT A PLEASURE TRIP: This week marks the first time that the Wichita Stealth will travel to Hawaii, but it is not for pleasure it is all business. The Stealth need a victory to re-gain sole possession of first place in the West Division and to stay undefeated against the Islanders.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Stealth rushing defense versus the Islanders trio of Chris Paogofie, Darnell Arceneaux, and Josh White: The Stealth come into the game ranked fifteenth in rushing defense only allowing 20.2 yards per game, while the trio for the Islanders average a combined 49.6 yards per game.
THE REMATCH: Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein and Hawaii's Eddie Klaneski: The last time that these two players met, Klaneski held Dritlein without a catch and without a touchdown. Klaneski was honored as the ADT Defensive Player of the Game for his efforts. It marked the first time that anyone has held Dritlein without a reception all year.
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.
May 3, 2003 − The Stealth defeated the Hawaiian Islanders 36-29 to take over sole possession of the West Division lead.
ALL-TIME STEALTH VERSUS THE ISLANDERS â WICHITA LEADS THE SERIES 2-0
May 3, 2003 --- WICHITA 36, Hawaiian 29
STEALTH SQUEAK BY ISLANDERS
Dritlein returns missed field goal 57 yards for winning TD
Wichita, Kans. − Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein didn't have a pass reception all night, but the one time he touches the ball he returns it 57-yards for the game winning score, as the Wichita Stealth (4-1) downed the Hawaiian Islanders (3-2) 36-29 in front of 6,549 fans at the Kansas Coliseum.
The Stealth came into the game averaging 245.2 yards of total offense per game, but were held to 142 by the Islanders. Stealth quarterback Anthony Buich was held to a season low of 101 yards passing and two touchdowns. Stealth fullback/linebacker Brian Goolsby was voted as the Game MVP by the media for his performance on the night. Goolsby finished the night with eight yards rushing and two unassisted and two assisted tackles. He also added a field goal block.
The turning point of the game came in the fourth quarter with the Islanders deep in Wichita territory. On third and two from the Wichita 7-yard line, Stealth fullback/linebacker John Norman tipped Islanders' quarterback Darnell Arceneaux's pass at the line and it was intercepted by Stealth fullback/linebacker Daren Williams at the Wichita 11-yard line and returned 4 yards to the Wichita 15. On the ensuing drive, Buich found wide receiver/defensive back Ty Ardoin for a 19-yard touchdown reception to pull the Stealth even with the Islanders.
On Hawaii's final drive they began at their own 9-yard line and were only able to gain fourteen yards to bring it to near midfield. They brought on kicker Kimo Naehu for a 43-yard attempt, which was returned by Dritlein 57 yards for the game winning score, handing the Islanders their second loss of the season.
The Islanders' were led by wide receiver/defensive back Nian Taylor. Taylor had 10 receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown. Taylor also had 72 yards of returns on the night. Islanders' defensive specialist Eddie Klaneski was voted as the ADT Defensive Player of the Game for his defensive effort on Michael Dritlein.
April 27, 2002 --- WICHITA 31, Hawaiian 27
STEALTH GET FIRST WIN OF 2002 VERSUS HAWAII
Wichita comes back from a 14-point deficit to beat Islanders
Wichita, Kans. − It wasn't pretty, but it ended as a 31-27 victory for the Wichita Stealth over the expansion Hawaiian Islanders in front of 4,702 fans at the Kansas Coliseum. With the win, the Stealth get their first win of the 2002 season.
The Stealth were led by quarterback Matt Hicks who was honored as the Game MVP. Hicks completed 30-of-45 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns. Wichita also received a stellar performance from kicker Dylan Pohlman. Pohlman was 4-of-4 on point after attempts and nailed a 26-yard field goal to end the first half.
Wichita's Corey McCoy was selected as the Ironman of the Game. He ended the game with 5 receptions for 58 yards and one touchdown. On defense, he had one tackle, one pass defense and what proved to be the game winning interception that he returned for a 20-yard gain.
2003 Milestones
⢠March 29, 2003 â Stealth kicker Jason Corse sets a new team record for longest field goal with his 45-yarder versus Arkansas.
⢠April 26, 2003 â Stealth offensive specialist Michael Dritlein sets a new Stealth single game record with 202 yards receiving.
⢠April 26, 2003 â Dritlein ties a Stealth record for touchdown receptions in a game with 5.
⢠April 26, 2003 â The Stealth set a new team record for attendance with 7,138.
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