Win and Horsemen Are In
June 26, 2003 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Kentucky Horsemen News Release
With two games remaining in the season, the playoff picture for the Lexington Horsemen has become very simple: win and in. If the Horsemen (8-4, 5-3) can beat the Fort Wayne Freedom (7-5, 4-4) in one of their two back-to-back games, Lexington will make the Atlantic Conference playoffs as a wild-card team. If Fort Wayne defeats Lexington twice, then the Freedom will bounce the Horsemen from the postseason picture.
With victories last week, Ohio Valley (12-0, 10-0) and Lake Charles (11-2, 8-2) have locked up the Atlantic East and Atlantic South division titles, and will be the top two seeds in the Atlantic Conference playoffs, which are scheduled to begin on July 12.
Thanks to Myrtle Beach's win over Fort Wayne last week, Houma has made the playoffs as a wild card. The Bayou Bucks, can lock up the third seed with a win over Evansville (0-12, 0-10) on Saturday. (Last week's update erroneously reported that Lexington could earn the third seed with two wins â due to a misinterpretation of the NIFL wild-card tiebreak rules, that is not the case. The Horsemen can only obtain the third seed with two wins combined with a Houma loss.)
The current contenders for the postseason:
Ohio Valley 12-0 (East division champion, clinched playoff berth)
Lake Charles 11-2 (South division champion, clinched playoff berth)
Houma 9-4
Lexington 8-4
Fort Wayne 7-5
HORSEMEN STATISTICAL LEADERS
The Horsemen continue to put up impressive numbers in the NIFL, with a number of players among the league's statistical leaders. QB Dusty Bonner remains among the top quarterbacks in the league, and ranks fourth overall in total offense (202.6 YPG), third in passing yards (199.2 YPG), third in quarterback rating (108.1), and third in passing touchdowns (55).
RB Martez Johnson continues to improve upon his strong all-around season, as he is now second in the league in scoring (190 points), sixth in receptions (5.42 RPG), sixth in all-purpose yards (100.1 YPG), and ninth in rushing (43.5 YPG). WR Carlos Johnson ranks seventh in the league in receptions as well (5.00 RPG).
Defensively, Lexington's defensive backs are putting together top numbers as well. DB Ray McLaurin is third in the NIFL in passes defensed, with 19, leading teammate Champ Kelly, who is sixth with 17 passes defensed on the year.
K Brian Sivinski remains fourth in the league in PATs made, with 62 on the season.
A list of statistical categories containing Horsemen among the leaders is attached.
OTHER NEWS
The Horsemen game will be broadcast live at 7:30 PM EST on WLAP 630-AM.
Saturday's game will also be Fan Appreciation Night in Rupp Arena, featuring numerous prizes and giveaways to be awarded to fans in attendance. For tickets, please contact the Rupp Arena ticket office at 859-233-3535.
Arena Football League Stories from June 26, 2003
- Win and Horsemen Are In - Kentucky Horsemen
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