Wichita Stealth Game Notes

July 28, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release


Wichita Stealth (8-7-1) at Hawaiian Islanders (10-6)
Date: Friday, August 1, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (12:30 a.m. Central Time)
Site: Neal Blaisdell Center (6,443)
National Anthem: TBA
Coin Toss: TBA
Officials: TBA
Radio: Z-FM 90.7 (Jay Sanderson)
Webcast: www.wichitastealth.com
Series Record: Wichita leads the series 2-1
Last Meeting: May 16, 2003 − Wichita 55, HAWAIIAN 61
Streaks: 2003: Wichita L-1, Hawaiian L-1
Coaches: WIC – Sean Ponder (4-4-1, First season) HAW – Cal Lee (10-6, First season)

THE STAKES: The winner of this week's game will advance to the second round of the 2003 arenafootball2 playoffs.

THE SERIES: Wichita leads the series 2-1.

THE Ifs:

If Wichita defeats Hawaii, it would ...
• Give Wichita a 3-1 series with the Islanders
• Give Wichita a 9-7-1 record in 2003
• Give Wichita a 5-4 road record in 2003
• Give Sean Ponder a 5-4-1 record with Wichita
• Give Wichita their first ever playoff victory

HEAD COACHES: Sean Ponder takes over for Bob Cortese who resigned as head coach due to health issues on May 20, 2003. This is Ponder's first experience in a head coaching position, but he brings numerous years of coaching experience to Wichita. Prior to his stint in Wichita he served as the offensive coordinator at Orange Coast Community College in California. Ponder played college football at Emporia (Kan.) State University.

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.

DROPBACK: Cincinnati 61, WICHITA 59 (7-26-03) – The Stealth were stung early by the Cincinnati Swarm offense and were unable to complete a comeback as they fell to the Swarm by a score of 59-61. Stealth quarterback Anthony Buich led the Stealth going 20-39 for 310 yards and eight touchdowns.

FORWARD MOTION: With a win this week, the Stealth will advance in the playoffs and travel to take on the top seeded Quad City Steamwheelers next weekend.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:

ON THE RUN: These two teams enter this week ranked first and third in rushing offense. Hawaii comes into the game ranked first averaging 50.7 yards per game. The Stealth enter the game averaging 29.4 yards per game. The last time these two teams met on May 16th, the Islanders ran for 40 yards on 7 carries and the Stealth had 27 yards on 8 carries.

PLAYOFFS: With the loss to Cincinnati last week and the Bakersfield win at Hawaii the Stealth dropped from the fourth seed in the playoffs and a first round playoff game to the sixth seed and a road trip to take on the third seeded and National Conference West Division champions, the Hawaiian Islanders.

STEALTH ALL-TIME IN THE PLAYOFFS: The Wichita Stealth will be making their second appearance in the af2 playoffs. Last season, they took on the Peoria Pirates in the first round and nearly pulled off the upset. The Stealth led most of the game, but fell behind late in the game and lost on a 19-yard missed field goal by Phil Aguilar.

THE ROAD TO THE CUP: This week's game marks the first step in the road to the 2003 ArenaCup. The Stealth will have to win their next four games, all of which will be on the road, to claim the af2 championship. Last season, the Florida Firecats won their first three playoff games all on the road, but lost in the ArenaCup to the Peoria Pirates by a score of 65-47.

PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

Stealth quarterback Anthony Buich: In the last five games, Buich has gone 92-of-169 for 1,243 yards and 26 touchdowns. Buich now ranks among the league leaders in a number of categories.

Stealth kicking game: The Stealth get kicker Jason Corse back after a two-week stint on injured reserve. In his absence, the Stealth only converted on 50% of their extra point attempts (4-of-8) and missed the only field goal attempt. Corse comes into the game 6-of-32 in field goals, his longest being a 45-yarder, and he is 65-of-80 in extra point attempts on the season.

Stealth offensive specialist Shomari Buchanan: In his last five games, Shomari has caught 39 passes for 544 yards and 13 touchdowns. Shomari now has 77 receptions for 970 yards and 18 touchdowns.



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