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World Bowl Champion Thunder Get Week One Rematch with Claymores

April 22, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Berlin Thunder News Release


The two time defending World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder (0-3) get a second chance against the Scottish Claymores (1-2) this Sunday, April 27th at Berlin's historic Olympic Stadium. The Thunder are looking to avenge a 62-31 setback against the Claymores in Scotland back in Week 1. Scotland scored 41 unanswered points to erase a 10-point Berlin lead to oust the Thunder in that contest.

TV:

Sunday's contest will be broadcast in the United States on Direct TV at 10:00am EST. The play-by-play will be handled by veteran announcer Nick Halling, with color commentary coming from Green Bay Packer fullback William Henderson. Kick-off at Olympic Stadium is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. local Berlin time.

THE SERIES

With Berlin sweeping the 2002 season series with victories of 31-23 and 24-23, and then this year's loss in Glasgow, 62-31, the team's record against the Claymores stands at 5-4.

Berlin's Largest Margin of Victory: 18; 28-10 (May 30, 1999) in Scotland
Scotland's Largest Margin of Victory: 39; 42-3 (May 7, 2000) in Scotland
Most Recent Tie: There has never been a tie
Current Winning Streak: 1; Claymores, (April 6, 2003 - Present)

LAST TIME VS. SCOTLAND

For the second straight season the Claymores set an opening day mark for the largest margin of victory during Week 1. Scotland, behind Buffalo Bills allocated running back Ken Simonton's four-touchdown performance, doubled up the Thunder 62-31 in a game that saw more than 16 NFLEL records set or tied.

The Claymores racked up 556 total yards of offense on their way to their record breaking win. Along with Simonton's 4 touchdowns, Scotland also received offensive contributions from Chicago Bears' allocated running back Maurice Hicks, who gained 149 yards on 12 carries including a record-setting 93-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. Packers' allocated quarterback Craig Nall was steady and consistent completing 10 of his 14 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown.

The Thunder, who were unable to keep pace with the Claymores, were led by the quarterback tandem of Phil Stambaugh and Henry Burris (Chicago Bears), who combined for 357 yards while completing 31 of their 43 passes, including two touchdowns. Miami allocated running back Sedrick Irvin helped balance the Thunder attack as he totaled 123 total yards which included seven catches for 70 yards.

A THUNDER VICTORY WOULD...

- Improve Peter Vaas's career coaching record to 17-17 in the regular season and to 5-3 against the Claymores.

- Improve the franchise overall record to 22-24.

- Give the Thunder their first victory at Berlin's historic Olympic Stadium.

HEAD COACHES

PETER VAAS: Peter Vaas completed his third season in 2002 as head coach of the Berlin Thunder by leading his squad to the team's season best-tying record at 6-4 and their second consecutive World Bowl title. Vaas finished his fifth year of coaching in NFL Europe, having joined the league in 1998 as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach for the Barcelona Dragons. In 1999 as offensive assistant he helped the Dragons to a league best 7-3 record and a World Bowl berth. Under his guidance running back Lawrence Phillips rushed for 1,021 yards and 14 touchdowns and was named the league's Offensive MVP. Vaas began his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant at Allegheny College and from 1979-85 worked as offensive coordinator at the University of New Hampshire. In 1986, Vaas returned to Allegheny as their head coach, guiding a team that had not posted a winning record in seven years to two North Coast Athletic Conference championships. In his second season he led the Gators to an undefeated 9-0-1 regular season record. Vaas went on to become running backs and then quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. There he coached players such as Rick Mirer, Jerome Bettis, and Ricky Watters, all of who became top-flight NFL players. He was head coach at Holy Cross from 1992 to 1995 before becoming the offensive coordinator for the Montreal Allouettes of the Canadian Football League. Peter Vaas is married to Rosann and they have two daughters, Katelyn and Kelly and reside in Hampton, New Hampshire.

GENE DAHLQUIST: Gene Dahlquist enters his third season at the helm of the Claymores after succeeding long-running head coach Jim Criner in 2001. The 60-year-old head coach brings 30 years of college coaching experience to the Claymores and, before moving to NFL Europe, most recently held the position of Offensive Passing Game Coordinator at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. A native of Mount Prospect, Illinois, he has a strong reputation for his development of quarterbacks and has been instrumental in developing the talents of National Football League quarterback JEFF GEORGE, running back RICKY WILLIAMS and former World League and NFL quarterback DAVE ARCHER. He commands considerable experience as a former Offensive Coordinator with five major college football programs in the United States. Gene is married to Toni and the two are parents to four - Stacey and Bret Dahlquist, Nicole Rudolph and Devin Crane. He and his wife currently reside in Las Vegas, Nevada.

FROM COACH VAAS

(on what he is looking for this weekend)

"We have hurt ourselves in the first three games by not taking care of the ball. The important thing is that we still feel confident going into every game and I believe we do. We are looking forward to playing in front of our home crowd again at Olympic Stadium and hopefully we will give them a better show than two weeks ago."

(on the keys to the game)

"I think the keys are obviously taking care of the ball, causing turnovers on defense, and producing in the red zone, all things that have been lacking thus far. Scotland was impressive the last time we played them to open the season and I expect the same this time around. Three straight turnovers in the third quarter of that game led to our downfall. Neither team can afford another loss so this is going to be a hard fought, physical contest."

WHAT TO LOOK FOR THIS WEEK FROM THE CLAYMORES

The Scottish Claymores have had an up and down 2003 through three contests. They currently stand in fourth place in NFL Europe with a record of 1-2, and have lost two consecutive games, most recently a 34-17 decision at Rhein last week.

The leaders of the offense for the Claymores are quarterback Craig Nall, an allocate of the Green Bay Packers, who has completed 38 of 69 passes (55.1%) for a league best 565 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. The running back tandem of Ken Simonton (Buffalo Bills) and Maurice Hicks (Chicago Bears) have rushed for a combined seven touchdowns through the first three weeks. The Claymores have a trio of top receivers in Scott McCready (New England Patriots, 10 catches, 165 yards, 2 TDs), Edell Shepherd (Chicago, 12 receptions, 159 yards) and John Minardi (Houston Texans, 8 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD). Fullback Mike Malan is a triple threat out of the backfield as a blocker, runner (2 carries, 23 yards) and a pass receiver (9 receptions, 88 yards).

Leading the defense is defensive end Radell Lockhart, who has three sacks in the first three games, linebacker Darnell Robinson, the team's leading tackler with 18 who also has a sack and a fumble recovery, and free safety James Rooths, whose 15 tackles lead all Claymores defensive backs. Strong safety Robbie Robinson tallied two interceptions in the season opener and is among the league leaders.

Special teams are highlighted by English barefoot kicker Rob Hart, who has made 14 consecutive field goals since week nine of the 2001 season, and has never missed a PAT in his career, holding the record with 132 successful attempts in a row. Rooths is the top kick returner, averaging 26.5 yards on eight returns thus far. He is also the leading tackler on special teams with five. Source: Dave Lawrence

THUNDER OFFENSIVE NOTES

-Quarterbacks Henry Burris (Chicago Bears) and Phil Stambaugh will split time this season, Coach Vaas decided following a closely contested battle throughout training camp.

-Both Burris and Stambaugh looked impressive in Tampa and were therefore rewarded with leading the team every other quarter. Burris will play during the first and third quarters and Stambaugh will get the nod for the second and fourth periods.

-Stambaugh is the league's second-rated passer with a rating of 84.6 and trails only Nall from Scotland in that category.

-Running backs Sedrick Irvin (Miami Dolphins) and David Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars) provide the ground game with an effective variety of styles. Irvin is a power runner that can get the team those much-needed extra yards while Allen uses his quickness to make opposing defenders miss and has great breakaway speed.

-Irvin, a former Michigan State star, leads the league in receptions with 17 catches for 174 yards through three games. He is also the eighth leading rusher with 122 yards on 24 carries.

-Allen is the league leader in combined net yards gained with a total of 568 yards. The speedster from Kansas State is seventh in rushing with 124 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown.

-Wide receiver Elijah Thurmon (Chicago Bears) ranks ninth in the league with 11 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown while Pierre Brown (Detroit Lions) serves as the team's deep threat and is fourth in NFL Europe with 13 grabs for 184 yards and a score.

-Brown had the longest reception of the day against Scotland when he hauled in a 44-yarder from Burris on the third play of the game. His final stats included 6 grabs for 97 yards, tops on the team. The wideout from Wayne State also caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Stambaugh in the second quarter.

-Center Josh Warner (Chicago Bears) and tackle Freddie Moore return for their second seasons with the Thunder and help anchor one of the biggest offensive lines that the organization has had in its five years of existence.

-German national wide receiver Jörg Heckenbach is in his seventh year in the league, fifth with the Thunder, and already has two touchdowns through the first three games. He finished with 12 catches for 205 yards in 2002, including a 66-yard reception and started off the 2003 campaign with a 20-yard touchdown snag against the Claymores in Week 1.

THUNDER DEFENSIVE NOTES

- Free agent acquisition Salem Simon has stood out at defensive tackle throughout the first few weeks together with his new teammates. The 6-3, 273 pounder from Northwestern plays a key role for a defensive line that has already suffered several injuries. -Defensive end Teto Simpson, in his second year in NFL Europe, has brought an array of energy to the Thunder defense since joining the team from Amsterdam during Week 1. Simpson spent time with the Barcelona Dragons in 2001 and played his college ball at the University of North Carolina. He has totaled 13 tackles through the first three games for Berlin. -Cornerbacks Tim Carter and Foad Ajdir, and safety Lelan Brickus are returning to the Thunder defense for the 2003 season. Brickus, a German national in his fourth season with Berlin, was named NFL Europe National Player of the Week in week 8 for his performance against Scotland last season.

-Defensive back Travis Coleman (Chicago Bears) has been one of the bright spots for Berlin. He picked off a pass thrown by Claymore quarterback Shane Stafford and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown in Week 1 and is second on the team with 18 tackles. He is also third in the league in kickoff return average with an average of 25.0 yards per return.

-Linebackers Joe Wesley (wrist) and Josh Symonette (shoulder), Berlin's veteran defensive leaders, have been sent to Birmingham, Alabama to rehabilitate their injuries. France national linebacker Phillipe Gardent is the latest to go down. He is scheduled to have surgery on his broken foot this week, an injury he suffered at Frankfurt last weekend.

-Tim Carter (19), T. Coleman (18), Jamal White (17), and Byron Thweatt (14) lead the team in tackles through three games.

THUNDER SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

-Kicker Axel Kruse looks to extend his consecutive PAT streak to 83.

-Steve Cheek (New York Giants) leads the league in punting. He was impressive throughout training camp and has been outstanding throughout the first three games of the season. He's punted 7 times, totaling 317 yards with a stellar average of 45.3 yards per boot.

ADDITIONAL THUNDER TIDBITS TO KNOW -Running Back Sedrick Irvin (Miami Dolphins) leads the team in yards from scrimmage. Rushed for 26 yards and caught 5 passes for 49 yards last week and gained 123 total yards against Claymores in Week 1

-Running back David Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars) rushed for 28 yards and 1 touchdown last week. Rushed for 30 yards vs. Scotland in previous meeting this year.

-Wide receiver Pierre Brown (Detroit Lions) caught 2 passes last week before sustaining a left ankle sprain that forced him out of action.

-Wide receiver Elijah Thurmon (Chicago Bears), born in Heidelberg, Germany, caught 3 passes for 26 yards and a touchdown last week before having to leave the game with a shoulder injury.

-National wide receiver Jörg Heckenbach caught 1 pass for 9 yards last week. Scored on a 20-yard reception in first meeting with Claymores this season and has 4 catches for 50 yards on the year.

-Receiver Sean Scott (Philadelphia Eagles) caught 7 passes for 53 yards last week. Caught 1 pass in first meeting with Claymores, gaining 5 yards.

-Tight end Bryan Fletcher (Chicago Bears) caught 1 pass for 5 yards last week and had 3 receptions for 34 yards in first meeting with Scotland.

-Tight end Chad Hayes (Tennessee Titans) caught 4 passes last week for 42 yards and a touchdown.

-Cornerback Travis Coleman (Chicago Bears) recorded 3 tackles last week, knocked down 2 passes, recovered a fumble and returned 2 kickoffs for 29 yards. Scored on a 38-yard interception return in Week 1 game against Claymores and added team-high 7 tackles.

-Defensive end Teto Simpson recorded 3 tackles vs. Frankfurt in Week 3. Made 2 tackles in opening day loss to Claymores.

-Linebacker Jamal White (Oakland Raiders) posted 5 tackles last week. Recorded 6 tackles and 1 interception in first game vs. Claymores.

-Linebacker Byron Thweatt had 3 tackles last week.

-Defensive end Reggie Grimes recorded 3 tackles last week and also added Berlin's first and only sack of the season.

-Defensive end Ryan Wingrove recorded 4 tackles and 1 pass defense last week.

-Linebacker Chris Ball made 4 tackles against Frankfurt last week. Was with Claymores for first meeting between two teams but did not record any statistics.

-Defensive back Tim Carter led the Thunder with 13 tackles last week.

-Safety Clint Finley recorded 5 tackles and 1 forced fumble last weekend.

-German kicker Axel Kruse is in his fifth season and is the Thunder's all-time leading scorer with 134 points, after adding 3 PATs last week. His 82 straight PATs is the second longest streak in NFLEL history.

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