Xplorers Weekly Update

Published on April 7, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss – The Xplorers kicked off the 2003 af2 season on the road in Columbus with a 26-25 last second loss. The Xplorers play the Bakersfield Blitz this Saturday night in the home opener at the DeSoto Civic Center, located just 15 minutes south of downtown Memphis. Game time is set for 7 p.m. For tickets call (662) 280-3737 or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com.

NEXT UP

· The Xplorers take on the Bakersfield Blitz. Last year Bakersfield went 9-7 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

ELECTRIYING

· Offensive Specialist Kevin Prentiss was outstanding in his af2 debut with the Xplorers on Saturday against Columbus. Prentiss totaled 156 all-purpose yards and had a 54-yard kick return for a TD.

SWEET REVENGE

· Columbus kicker Tommy Robinson was cut by the Xplorers last year, but then got the best possible revenge as he kicked the game-winning PAT with no time remaining in the Wardogs' 26-25 win over the Xplorers this past Saturday.

NEEDS SOME WORK

· The Xplorers offense mustered just 136 yards and totaled just 19 points offensively in the season opening loss in Columbus. The offense must improve in a hurry this week.

DEFENSE WAS TOUGH

· The Xplorers defense was solid against Columbus. Memphis stopped the Wardogs on five of nine possessions and allowed just 201 yards.

SEASON OPENER WOES

· The Xplorers are just 1-3 in season opening games. Their only win was on 2002 when they beat Louisville 60-46 at Freedom Hall.

COLUMBUS 26 – MEMPHIS 25 – 4/05/03 - SATURDAY

Former Memphis Xplorers kicker Timmy Robinson beat his old team with a PAT with no time left and Wardogs QB Mike Gluski had four TD passes as Columbus defeated the Xplorers 26-25 in the season opener for each team. The Wardogs drove the length of the field in the final 2:07 to tie the game with no time remaining in regulation.

FIRST HALF

The Xplorers got on the board first when Kevin Carty capped a seven play 27-yard drive with a six-yard TD pass to Adrian Burnette midway thru the first quarter. With Memphis up 7-0 the Xplorers got a big lift on the first play of the second quarter from Kevin Prentiss, a former Mississippi State Bulldog, who returned a missed FG 54 yards for a TD and a 13-0 lead. The Wardogs got back into the game when Mike Gluski threw a jump ball up the right side for James Dickerson who hauled it in for a 24-yard TD. The Wardogs tied the game at 13-13 when Charles Webb made a great one-handed catch on a 2-yard TD toss by Gluski. Late in the first half the Xplorers had first and goal at the one yard line, but ran out of time and the teams went to the locker room tied.

SECOND HALF

Late in the third after the Xplorers had a field goal blocked, Gluski right away went deep over the middle for Adrian Cockfield who made a tremendous diving catch for a 27-yard TD to give Columbus their first lead at 19-13. The Xplorers answered on their first possession of the fourth quarter as Carty hit Jesse Allen with a 21-yard strike down the right sideline. Memphis took the lead when they recovered the kickoff and Mike Smith punched it in from the Columbus two-yard line for a 25-19 lead after getting a pair of TDs in less than 60 seconds. With time ticking down, the Wardogs drove to the Xplorers two-yard line and Gluski found Cockfield in the right corner of the endzone for a TD with no time remaining to tie the game at 25-25. The Wardogs lined up for the PAT and former Xplorer kicker Robinson connected for the win for Columbus. FINAL SCORE Columbus 26, Memphis 25.

Score 1 2 3 4 F

Memphis 7 6 0 12 35

Columbus 0 13 6 7 26

Records

Memphis 0-1

Columbus 1-0

XPLORERS CAR GIVEAWAYS HOME OPENER

The Memphis Xplorers will give away a pair of cars this Saturday night when they take on the Bakersfield Blitz in the 2003 af2 home opener. Country Ford and Nichols Ford will be the sponsors as two lucky fans inside the DeSoto Civic Center are guaranteed to take home a new car.

XPLORERS SEASON TICKET PACKAGES

Season ticket packages are available right now starting as low as $84.95 for a pair of season tickets and two t-shirts. For ticket information and purchases call (662) 280-3737 or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com.

ON THE AIR

· The Memphis Xplorers will take on the Bakersfield Blitz this Saturday on Y96.1 FM WYYL. Catch the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

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