Wildcats, Speed Battle for Crown

Published on July 18, 2002 under arenafootball2 (af2) News Release

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. â The Cape Fear Wildcats (12-2) and Richmond Speed (11-3) already know they will see each other in two weeks in the first round of the 2002 ArenaCup playoffs. What they don't know is where the game will take place. On Friday night in Fayetteville, the Wildcats hope to provide the answer.

Cape Fear currently holds a one-game advantage over the 2001 ArenaCup finalists in the Atlantic Division standings. A win against the Speed would clinch the division title and ensure a Richmond return to Fayetteville on Aug. 3. Should the Speed beat the Wildcats, it would give Richmond a 2-0 sweep of the season series and put it in position to control its own destiny. The Speed would own the tiebreaker edge over the Wildcats and simply would need a win or a Cape Fear loss in Week 18 to capture the division title and bring Round 1 of the postseason to Richmond.

The first time these clubs hooked up, in Richmond on May 2, the Speed used a strong ground effort and timely defense to hand Cape Fear its second loss of the season. BRIAN EDMONDS rushed for two scores and BOB BEES added another as the Speed earned a 36-28 victory. That was the last time the Wildcats lost a game.

Riding a 10-game win streak, the longest current run in af2, the not-so-secret secret to the Wildcats' success has been defense. They lead the league in total defense, the only team to hold opponents under 30 points (29.4 ppg) and 200 yards (179.5 ypg) a game. They've allowed just 412 points through 14 games and could challenge the record for fewest points allowed in a season (453 by Quad City, 2001). Cape Fear has recorded 42 sacks as a team (first in af2), led by new af2 single season sack king E.J. BURT's 26.5 QB takedowns. The Wildcats also have a solid secondary featuring KENTON RICKERSON, who is in af2's top 10 with eight interceptions on the season.

Not to be outdone, the Speed also boasts one of the league's top defenses, holding foes to 33.2 points per game (second in af2). The Speed pass rush has netted 37 sacks on the year, good for third in af2. Strong defense aside, the Speed's ability to explode on offense has been the main ingredient for its success. Averaging 55.3 points per contest, the Speed offense ranks third in the league.

Bees (55 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions) eclipsed 3,000 yards passing last week and is closing in on 60 touchdowns for the season. KEVIN HARVEY (2001 af2 Ironman of the Year) and JEFF TOWNSLEY have been on the receiving end of 42 of Bees' 55 scoring strikes and have combined for 2,077 receiving yards this year. Probably one of the most telling stats of the Speed offense is the fact that it has allowed only 13 sacks all season (tied for fourth in af2). The Wildcats' offense (45.4 ppg) isn't as potent as Richmond's, but it is efficient, and features a QB in MIKE GLUSKI who hasn't lost a start all season (13-0 with Macon and Cape Fear). Gluski's passing numbers might be modest (2,090 yards, 39 TDs, 10 INTs), but just like Richmond, the Wildcats' protection is stellar (just 12 sacks against), so Gluski has the time to make the smart plays.

If Cape Fear wins this game and the regular season finale next week at Charleston, the Wildcats potentially could finish with the best record in the conference and become the first expansion team in af2 history to be guaranteed homefield advantage throughout the postseason.

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Rochester (6-8) heads to Mohegan (3-11) Friday with the ability to clinch a playoff spot with a victory. The Brigade comes off a bye week and returns several of its injured stars for this crucial Northeast Division matchup. Mohegan, which lost 56-39 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last week, will be trying to play the role of spoiler. Rochester has the edge offensively, scoring an average of 43.5 points a game compared to the Wolves' 36.5. On defense, Mohegan fares slightly better with an average of 45.9 points against, whereas the Brigade gives up 46.1. The Mohegan offense is seventh in the league for passing yards per game with 235.8. The Wolves' pass defense ranks second in the league, allowing only 179.7 yards a contest. MATT D'ORAZIO comes into Friday's contest second in the league with 330 rushing yards. The Brigade quarterback has scored 19 times on the ground this season, also throwing 48 touchdown passes. MARTINO THEUS leads af2 receivers with 141 receptions and 1,538 yards. Mohegan has a star receiver of its own in BRANDON BURNSIDE, who has caught 91 passes for 1,413 yards and 29 touchdowns this season. KEVIN CARTY completed 13-of-20 passes for 162 yards and five touchdowns against the Pioneers last weekend. Defensively, CARLOS McLAURIN has registered 76.0 tackles this season and ranks among the league leaders in that category. HERON O'NEAL has six interceptions for the Wolves; Rochester's VONKEITH SPENCER also has six. ANTONIO DINGLE leads the Brigade pass rush with 9.0 sacks.

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Jacksonville (6-8) and Mobile (0-14) meet for the second consecutive week, with the Wizards looking for revenge after losing 64-41 in Jacksonville. This time, Mobile has homefield advantage and wants to post its first victory of the season. The Tomcats still harbor playoff hopes, needing to win their remaining two games of the season in addition to some other help to qualify. The Tomcats score 16.9 more points a game and give up 12.0 fewer than their Friday opponent. QB DAVID EDGERTON completed 11-of-22 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns in Jacksonville's win last weekend, but the star for the Tomcats was LAWRENCE PULLEN. On top of returning a kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown, Pullen caught six passes for 113 yards and two scores. Pullen has a team high 756 receiving yards on the season. OS/KR KENDRICK LEE was a bright spot for the Wizards against Jacksonville with a Week 16-high 197 yards receiving. Lee also scored four touchdowns. Mid-season addition MELVIN HILL has completed 53 percent of his passes for 1,176 yards and 20 scores to lead Mobile's pass attack. MARCELLE HOUGH and ROBERT POLLARD will try and match last week's performance, when each picked off two passes for the Tomcats. T.J. PERRY leads the Wizards defense with 70 tackles.

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PLAYOFF QUALIFIERS/SCENARIOS FOR WEEK 17

ALBANY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Northeast Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

AUGUSTA: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Tallahassee.

BAKERSFIELD: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Western Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Fresno OR San Diego loss vs. Arkansas.

BIRMINGHAM: Clinched playoff berth.

CAPE FEAR: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch Atlantic Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win vs. Richmond. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win vs. Richmond OR Albany loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

FLORIDA: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Columbus OR Charleston loss at Carolina AND Jacksonville loss at Mobile.

MACON: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched second-round home game (if victorious in first round). Can clinch Eastern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Macon OR Augusta loss vs. Tallahassee.

PEORIA: Clinched playoff berth and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch Midwest Division title with win at Louisville AND Quad City loss at Hawaii. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Louisville OR Bakersfield loss at Fresno AND San Diego loss vs. Arkansas.

RICHMOND: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch second-round home game (if victorious in first round) with win at Cape Fear AND Albany loss at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

ROCHESTER: Can clinch playoff berth with win at Mohegan OR Wilkes-Barre/Scranton loss vs. Albany AND New Haven loss vs. Norfolk.

SAN DIEGO: Clinched playoff berth.

TALLAHASSEE: Clinched playoff berth. Can clinch American Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs with win at Augusta OR Florida loss at Columbus.

TENNESSEE VALLEY: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched National Conference Southern Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs. Can clinch homefield advantage throughout National Conference playoffs (if victorious in first two rounds) with win vs. Memphis AND Tulsa loss at Wichita.

TULSA: Clinched playoff berth. Clinched Central Division championship and homefield advantage in first round of playoffs.

WICHITA: Clinched playoff berth.

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arenafootball2 Stories from July 18, 2002

Knights' Amey Invited to Workouts with Two NFL Teams - Macon Knights
Wildcats, Speed Battle for Crown - af2
Blitz to hold clinic before final home game - Bakersfield Blitz
Playoffs In Sight for Brigade - Rochester Brigade

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