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Wizards Ready to Measure Progress

June 6, 2002 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release


MOBILE, Ala. - By all accounts, the Mobile Wizards have improved by leaps and bounds over the past few games, putting a fourth-quarter scare into Tallahassee, a first-place team, in Mobile two weeks ago.

ALAN RISHER, installed as Wizards' head coach May 14, has vowed that 0-9 Mobile will win . and win soon. Whether or not that first victory comes against Florida Friday, this Week 11 interconference matchup could provide the expansion Wizards with a progress report of how far they've come since the beginning of the year.

Florida scored the last 22 points of the game in defeating Mobile 47-23 in the season opener for both teams back on April 6. That victory started an early three-game winning streak for the Firecats, who come into Friday's game at 4-4. Florida edged Charleston 52-45 last week to end a frustrating four-game skid that had dropped the Firecats from first place to last place in the American Conference Southern Division. They currently are tied with Jacksonville for second in the division behind Tallahassee.

Mobile's recent offensive improvement resulted in a season-high 50 points in last week's 18-point loss to the Thunder. QB MELVIN HILL helped spark the turnaround in his first start, rushing for a touchdown and passing for 232 yards and four TDs with no interceptions. Ironman of the Game ANTOINE FLOWERS, who had 107 receiving yards and a touchdown in the opener at Florida, hauled in nine passes for 143 yards and two TDs last week. Newcomer KENDRICK LEE also caught two touchdown passes and totaled 82 receiving yards, adding his second kick return for touchdown in as many weeks. Despite playing in just three games, Lee already leads the team with 375 combined return yards and is second in scoring with 38 points, behind Flowers' 64.

Lee's emergence makes for an exciting special teams matchup, as Florida's KENNY CAUSEY ranks fourth in af2 in missed field goal returns (18.8 yards per return) and ninth in kickoff returns (23.5). Causey (496 receiving yards, nine TDs this season) did his damage on offense in the first meeting, totaling 106 receiving yards and three touchdowns. FB/LB JOHNNY FROST scored two rushing touchdowns in the opener and ranks second in the league with 183 rushing yards overall. He has eight rushing TDs to his credit. BRIAN SPARACINO has taken the Firecats' quarterback reins from DERRICK TAITE, who started against Mobile the first time. For the season, Sparacino has 736 passing yards and 11 touchdowns against just two interceptions. He totaled 200 yards and two TDs playing the entire way in last week's win.

Florida has the edge defensively, allowing just 37.5 points per game and ranking in the league's top 10 in most defensive categories. The kicking game also could favor the Firecats, who boast one of af2's most accurate and prolific kickers in BRANDON KORNBLUE (46.4 percentage and league-high 13 field goals made).

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Mohegan (3-6) hosts Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (2-7) Friday in the first of three meetings between the Northeast Division foes this season. The Pioneers have won two of their last three games heading into this weekend's contest, while Mohegan comes off of a heartbreaking 32-29 loss to New Haven. Mohegan holds a slight advantage on offense, scoring 39.3 points per game compared to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's 36.6. On defense, Mohegan has the upper hand, holding opponents to 40.9 points per game while the Pioneers give up 47.6. Injury problems could cost Mohegan, with the fitness of offensive spark plugs BRENT and BRANDON BURNSIDE in question. The Burnside brothers have combined for 99 receptions, 1,440 yards and 26 touchdowns. The Pioneers are fresh off of their most impressive offensive outing of the season in last week's 52-35 victory over Rochester. Opening-day starting quarterback JOHN KNUST lined up as a receiver and delivered, catching eight passes for 90 yards and four touchdowns. BRYAN SNYDER threw for 210 yards and six scores. CARLOS McLAURIN leads the Wolves' defense. McLaurin has recorded team highs of 50 tackles and four interceptions this season. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's defensive unit is led by RODRICK PRAYER, who has posted team highs in tackles (46.5), interceptions (two) and forced fumbles (two). Next weekend, Mohegan travels to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton for the second game between the teams. Their final meeting of the year is July 13, also in Pennsylvania.

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With both teams in the midst of three-game losing streaks, Roanoke (4-5) and Carolina (2-6) will be desperate to get their seasons back on track with a win on Friday at the BI-LO Center. Roanoke has an edge on defense, giving up 44.2 points to Carolina's 46.4. However, Carolina's offense, led by CALEB SLOVER, is scoring a hair under 40 points per game, while Roanoke musters 35.7. MAL LAWYER is the Rhinos' top Ironman, making big contributions on both sides of the ball. Lawyer leads the team's receivers with 514 yards and 11 scores, and has recorded a team-high three interceptions and 13.0 tackles on defense. Slover has passed for 1,248 yards and 24 touchdowns for Carolina since taking over the starter's job. For the Steam, the trio of ANTHONY HINES, KENAN McWHORTER and TACOMA FONTAINE have combined to lead the receiving corps. COREY CLARK lines up in the Roanoke secondary as the team leader in tackles with 39.0 and in pass breakups with 11. JOSE WHITE has a team-high four sacks for the Steam.

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Birmingham (6-2) welcomes Louisville (1-7) to the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center Friday for the first game between the two teams this season. The Steeldogs need to win to keep the pressure on Tennessee Valley in the American Conference Southern Division while Louisville looks to build upon last weekend's 31-28 victory over Carolina, its first of the season. MONTRESSA KIRBY poses a double threat to a Fire defense that is allowing 48.4 points a game. Kirby is dangerous with both his passing and running abilities, amassing 1,760 yards of total offense and scoring 41 TDs (35 pass, six rush) this year. A Birmingham defense that has held opponents to just 37.2 points a game tackles Louisville's offense, which averages 30.8 ppg. ANTHONY PAYTON has provided a glimmer of hope for the Fire's offense, catching 40 passes for 574 yards and 10 scores. Steeldog OS WAYNE THOMAS ranks fifth in the league in scoring with 20 touchdown receptions. Birmingham's offensive line has allowed only five sacks all season and will be working against an eighth-ranked pass rush. Louisville and Birmingham meet again July 27 in the regular-season finale.

Week 11 SCHEDULE (all times EST)

Friday, June 7
Roanoke at Carolina, 7:30 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at Mohegan, 7:30 p.m.
Louisville at Birmingham, 8:30 p.m.
Florida at Mobile, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 8
Norfolk at Charleston, 7:00 p.m.
Rochester at Richmond, 7:00 p.m.
New Haven at Albany, 7:30 p.m.
Jacksonville at Augusta, 7:30 p.m.
Cape Fear at Greensboro, 7:30 p.m.
Columbus at Macon, 7:30 p.m.
Bossier City at Arkansas, 8:00 p.m.
Tallahassee at Pensacola, 8:00 p.m.
Tennessee Valley at Quad City, 8:00 p.m.
Memphis at Tulsa, 8:30 p.m.
Fresno at Wichita, 8:30 p.m.
San Diego at Bakersfield, 10:00 p.m.
Peoria at Hawaii, 1:00 a.m. (7:00 p.m. local)

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