Xplorers prepare for biggest game in team history

August 5, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release


SOUTHAVEN, MS- The Memphis Xplorers of af2, having finished their best regular season in franchise history, will play their first-ever playoff game this Saturday, August 7 at 6:30 pm CST, as they travel to the gulf coast to take on the Florida Firecats.

The Xplorers, who won 6 out of their last 7 games to finish 10-6 on the year, enter the playoffs as the lowest-seeded team, but one that is playing some of the best football in the league. They take on a Florida Firecats team that also finished the season 10-6, but is the third seed in the playoffs by virtue of winning the South Division.

Memphis and Florida have played twice this season, with the Xplorers defeating the Firecats 54-51 at the DeSoto Civic Center on April 17th. Florida triumphed over the Xplorers in TECO Arena, knocking off Memphis 43-20 on May 29th.

The Xplorers have relied on the success of their offensive stars as well as a defense that seems to make the key stops when they matter the most. Memphis QB Michael Wall, who was acquired in a mid-season trade from the Tulsa Talons, finished the season as the top-rated quarterback in af2. OS Kevin Prentiss broke several team records for receiving, and finished near the top of the league in all-purpose yards. The defense, led by hard-charging lineman Joseph Crear and DS Dahnel Singfield, has come on strong in the second half of the season.

That being said, the Xplorers' coaching staff has tried to impress on their young team that the post-season brings heightened expectations and pressure.

"In the playoffs, big plays are glorified and bad plays are magnified," said Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Chad L. Lindsey.

Memphis will attempt to limit the bad plays, something they've been relatively successful in doing in recent contests. The Xplorers have only committed two combined turnovers over the past three games.

The Xplorers enter Saturday's game on a three game winning streak. Two of those wins have been on the road, with victories at Arkansas and at Columbus. Florida lost their final game of the regular season to Tennessee Valley, 76-60. A win in that contest would have given the Firecats a first round bye.

If the Firecats win this weekend, they will travel to Tennessee Valley to take on the 2nd-seeded Vipers next weekend. An Xplorers victory would pit Memphis against the top-seeded Wilkes Barre-Scranton Pioneers.

Game time is set for 6:35 PM CST. All Xplorers playoff games can be heard throughout the Mid-South on SportsPlus 790 WMC, and worldwide on SportsJuice.com. Fans can also watch the Xplorers during selected games on AF2TV.com, which offers live streaming video and audio on a pay-per-view basis.



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