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Wichita Stealth game notes

March 30, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Wichita Stealth News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Peoria Pirates (0-0)
at Wichita Stealth (0-0)
Date: Saturday, April 3, 2004
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CST
Site: Kansas Coliseum (9,686)
National Anthem: Vernon Smith
Coin Toss:
Officials: Brian Chamberlin (Referee),
Mike Wilmoth (Umpire), Frank Whitmer (Head Linesman), Rick Smith (Line Judge), Craig Helser (Back Judge)
Radio: 96.3 KRZZ (Jay Sanderson and CJ)
Series Record: Peoria leads the series 3-1
Last Meeting: WIC 52, PEO 49; at Peoria, 5/24/03
Streaks: 2003: Wichita L-2; Peoria L-1
Coaches: WIC: Sean Ponder (4-4-1; 0-1 playoffs, 2nd season) PEO: Bruce Cowdrey (23-25, 4-0 playoffs, 4th season)


THE STAKES: This is the first game of the season for both clubs.

THE SERIES: Peoria leads the all-time series 3-1. Wichita won the last meeting between the two teams by a score of 52-49 in Peoria.

THE IFs:
If Wichita defeats Peoria, it would ...
· Give Wichita a 3-2 series record with Peoria
· Give Wichita a 1-0 home record in 2004
· Give Sean Ponder a 5-5-1 career record as head coach
· Snap Wichita's five game winless streak dating back to June 21, 2003.
· Give Wichita a 3-1 record on opening night
· Give Wichita their second consecutive win over the Pirates


WICHITA (0-0, First Game)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/3 PEORIA 7:00 ---
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/10 LAREDO 7:00 First Meeting
4/16 @ Peoria 7:00 PEO 3-1
4/24 GREEN BAY 7:00 WIC 2-0
5/8 @ Rio Grande 7:30 First Meeting
5/15 @ Quad City 7:30 QUA 4-1
5/22 @ Oklahoma City 7:30 First Meeting
5/29 LAREDO 7:00 --
6/5 @ Tulsa 7:30 TUL 5-1
6/12 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:00 --
6/19 TULSA 7:00 --
7/3 @ Rio Grande 7:30 --
7/10 @ Tulsa 7:30 --
7/17 OKLAHOMA CITY 7:00 --
7/24 @ Laredo 7:30 --
7/31 RIO GRANDE 7:00 --

PEORIA (0-0, First Game)
Date Opponent Result Score
4/3 @ Wichita 7:00
Date Opponent Time Streak Series
4/9 ARKANSAS 7:00 PEO 2-0
4/16 WICHITA 7:00 PEO 3-1
4/23 @ Tulsa 7:30 TUL 4-0
5/1 @ Central Valley 9:30 PEO 2-1
5/7 QUAD CITY 7:00 QUA 4-2
5/15 Wilkes-Barre 7:00 First Meeting
5/29 ALBANY 7:00 First Meeting
6/5 @ Green Bay 7:30 PEO 2-0
6/12 LOUISVILLE 7:00 LOU 4-2
6/19 @ Louisville 6:30 --
7/2 @ Quad City 7:30 --
7/9 @ Bossier City 7:00 BOS 3-0
7/17 COLUMBUS 7:00 PEO 2-0
7/24 @ Birmingham 6:30 BIR 2-1
7/31 GREEN BAY 7:00 --

HEAD COACHES: Sean Ponder begins his second season in arena football. He took over the Stealth last season after seven games. Ponder led the Stealth to their second consecutive playoff berth in af2. He brings over five years of college coaching experience to Wichita. He previously served as the offensive coordinator at Orange Coast Community College in California. At Orange Coast, he helped turn around a program that had not won over two games the past three seasons into a junior college powerhouse.
Pirates' coach Bruce Cowdrey returns for his 3rd season as head coach of the Pirates and his 4th in af2. In 2002, Cowdrey led the Pirates to an 11-5 record and a 4-0 postseason record to claim the 2002 ArenaCup championship. Prior to the af2, Cowdrey spent time as head coach for the Pirates when they were in the Indoor Football League and led them to a 17-0 record and the IFL's Gold Cup championship.

LAST SERIES MEETING: Wichita 52, PEORIA 49 (5/24/03) – The Stealth offense came out and put up 31 first half points on their way to a 52-49 victory in front of 5,490 fans at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois. Daren Williams led the Stealth rushing attack with two touchdowns on the night.

FAMILIAR FACES: Stealth wide receiver/defensive back Anthony Griffin played in five games with Peoria during the 2003 season.

LEAGUE TOP 10s: Players from this week's matchup who ranked among af2's statistical leaders in 2003:
STEALTH
Player Rank Category Stat


PIRATES
Player Rank Category Stat


TALE OF THE TAPE: Here's how WICHITA and PEORIA stacked up at the end of the 2003 season:
Statistical STEALTH PIRATES
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense T-13th 45.4 9th 46.2
Scoring Defense 15th 45.1 18th 46.8
Total Offense 12th 243.0 15th 233.1
Total Defense 16th 245.6 18th 250.5
Pass Offense 14th 213.6 13th 216.4
Pass Defense 14th 226.9 12th 226.1
Rushing Offense 3rd 29.4 16th 16.6
Rushing Defense 14th 18.7 22nd 24.4
Scoring 10th 45.4 9th 46.2
Scoring (Kicking) T-11th 5.5 15th 4.8
Pass Rating 17th 94.4 10th 105.2
Pass Def. Rating 12th 99.3 16th 103.1
Kickoff Returns 21st 17.5 4th 21.6
MFG Returns 6th 292 yds 22nd 124 yds
Turnover Margin T-17th -7 13th -3
Field Goals T-8th 6 T-7th 7
PAT Kicking 11th 70 18th 55
Sacks By 14th 15 T-6th 25
Sacks Against 3rd 9 14th 25
First Downs T-16th 224 9th 244
Opp. First Downs 6th 227 5th 226
Penalties 5th 47.8 7th 48.5
Opp. Penalties 14th 53.8 18th 59.1

WICHITA STEALTH INJURY REPORT:
Pos. Name Injury Status
OS Michael Dritlein Knee Short Term IR
FB/LB Jimmy Hamilton Groin Short Term IR
WR/LB Herman Gordon Short Term IR
QB Heath Ridenour Shoulder Long Term IR
DS Antoine Williams Ankle Long Term IR

THIS WEEK'S QUOTES:
SEAN PONDER, on the Pirates: "Peoria is a very good football team with some veterans at key positions."

On Aaron Sparrow: "Aaron is a veteran leader. He has a great handle on our offense and he knows how to find the open receiver."

On opening night: "This is a very exciting time of the year. As a coach, you get to see if the hard work that you put in during the off-season will pay off. It is also very exciting for me to experience my first opening night as a head coach."

MILESTONES: Stealth quarterback Aaron Sparrow is only 92 attempts shy of 1,000 career attempts. He is also only 2,094 yards away from 10,000 career yards.


FORWARD MOTION: Next week the Stealth will continue their home stand and face the expansion, Laredo Law. Laredo will be playing their second straight road game. Both teams are in the Southwest Division of the National Conference.

TEAM NOTES/TRENDS:
STEALTH IN SEASON OPENERS: All-time the Stealth are 2-1 in the opening game of the season. Here's a look at all three previous season-opening contests:

4/6/2001 43-6 win vs. Louisville
4/6/2002 21-30 loss vs. Peoria
3/29/2003 46-28 win vs. Arkansas

STEALTH RETURNERS: The Stealth return only eight members from a team that recorded the franchise record for wins last season. They return defensive specialist Ty Ardoin, offensive/defensive lineman Dustin Fish, offensive/defensive lineman Cliff Holloman, wide receiver/defensive back Brian Livingston, fullback/linebacker Jeff Macrea, fullback/linebacker Daren Williams, offensive/defensive lineman Markevius Woods, and offensive specialist Michael Dritlein.

Home Sweet Home and Road Woes: The Stealth are a combined 15-8-1(.646 win pct) at the friendly confines of the Kansas Coliseum in team history. On the other hand, the Peoria Pirates are 11-13 (.458 win pct) on the road in their history.


PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Stealth QB Aaron Sparrow: Sparrow brings two years of af2 experience to Wichita and looks to break the 10,000 yards passing mark for his career this season. Sparrow has also thrown for 129 touchdowns in his 32 game af2 career. Sparrow was named the offensive player of the year in 2000 as well as All-af2 quarterback.

Stealth WR/DB Brian Livingston: Livingston returns to Wichita for his second straight year. Last year, Livingston led the Stealth in tackles, interceptions, and forced fumbles. Along with Sparrow, Livingston was also named to the 2000 All-af2 team as a defensive specialist

STEALTH THIS WEEK:
Wednesday-Thursday: 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. –Practice (Kansas Coliseum)
Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. – Practice (The Sports Zone)

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