Xplorers Weekly Update
May 12, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss â The Xplorers suffered another heartbreaking loss 50-42 on the road against the Arkansas Twisters this past Saturday night. The Xplorers had a two-point try to win the game, but came up empty and the Twisters scored a late touchdown to finish the scoring. The loss dropped Memphis to 1-5 on the year. The Xplorers return home this Saturday against the Louisville Fire at the DeSoto Civic Center, located just 15 minutes south of downtown Memphis. For tickets call (662) 280-3737 or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com.
NEXT UP
· The Xplorers take on the Louisville Fire at the DCC. Memphis is 2-1 all-time against Louisville. In the last meeting the Xplorers lost 51-50 to Louisville on June 21st, 2002 at the DCC.
HAWAIIAN NIGHT
· Hawaiian Night debuts at the Desoto Civic Center this Saturday. All fans will receive a Hawaiian lei at the door and at halftime the University of Mississippi steel drum band will perform. Hawaiian themed food will be available in the Xplorers Club.
TOUGH STRETCH
· Memphis has lost 16 of their last 18 games dating back to the 2002 season.
EVEN TOUGHER STRETCH
· The five losses this year for the Xplorers have come by a total of just 26 points. The Xplorers lost by one point in the season opener to Columbus, two points in Week 4 at Tulsa, eleven points in Week 5 versus Florida, four points in Week 6 against Tulsa and eight points in Week 7 at Arkansas.
MEMPHIS DONE IN BY ARKANSAS
· With a 50-42 loss last Saturday the Xplorers are now 0-5 all-time against Arkansas. The Twisters are the closest af2 rival for the Xplorers, just a two and a half hour drive down the road in Little Rock, AR.
PRENTISS CONTINUES TO SPARKLE
· Kevin Prentiss continues his strong play this season. In the loss on Saturday against Tulsa, he caught three TD passes and totaled 114 yards receiving. Prentiss is second in af2 in scoring with 114 points and tied for first with 19 TDs. He is tied for fifth with 45 receptions.
SACKS
· After struggling to get pressure on the opposing QB as of late, the Xplorers broke loose in a big way on Saturday in the loss to the Twisters. Memphis totaled a season-high four sacks at Arkansas. OL/DL Thomas Herron had a sack in his 2003 Xplorers debut, while Patrick Heard, Paul Hunter and Steven Valdez all had one sack as well.
SEASON HIGH IN HITS
· Defensive specialist Kevin Cobb had a season-high eight tackles in the 50-42 loss to Arkansas on Saturday. The eight tackles in one game are the most recorded by a Memphis defender so far this year.
ARKANSAS 50 - MEMPHIS 42 - 5/10/03 â SATURDAY
The Memphis Xplorers suffered another heartbreaking loss as they dropped a 50-42 decision to the Arkansas Twisters. Memphis had a two-point try to win the game with less than a minute to go, but came up empty. The Twisters tacked on a late TD after an unsuccessful onside kick by the Xplorers. Memphis falls to 1-5 for the year and have lost four straight games.
FIRST HALF
The Twisters took the opening kickoff and marched 45 yards on 11 plays, helped out by a pair of crucial penalties on the Xplorers, the final four yards of the drive came on a Ricky Hebert pass to Anthony Eubanks. The Xplorers answered with a four play 26 yard drive with Rod Robinson connecting with Kevin Prentiss for a 21 yard TD pass. The Twister then came back with a seven play 37 yard drive with a four yard pass from Hebert to Ted Alford finishing the drive. With the PAT the Twisters led 14-6. Robinson was picked off on the next Memphis drive by Kahlil Carter and the Twisters promptly marched into the Xplorers end. Memphis stiffened and forced a turnover on downs and then rallied to tie the game with a three play 35 yard drive that Robinson finished off with a six yard QB keeper. Steven Green's drop kick tied the game at 14-14. The Xplorers then surged ahead for the first time with a seven play 30 yard drive in the final minute of the half that was finished off by a four yard pass from Robinson to Adrian Burnette, the drop kick PAT made it 22-14. The Twister had the last gasp in the half as Matt Norris connected from 39 yards out for a field goal as time expired to make it a 22-17 Memphis lead.
SECOND HALF
The Xplorers got off to a disastrous start in the second half as Reggie Cooley sacked Robinson for a safety to cut the Xplorers lead to 22-19. The Twister then took the free kick and marched 45 yards on four plays and went ahead 26-22 on a five yard run by Reggie Cooley. On the next Xplorers possession Robinson was intercepted by Bruce Bailey who returned the ball inside the Xplorers one yard line. Cooley cashed in up the middle and with the PAT it was 33-22 Twisters. The Xplorers then turned it over on downs and the Twisters capitalized again. Hebert found Eubanks for a 20 yard TD pass to make it 40-22 Arkansas. The Xplorers fought back as Prentiss returned a kickoff to the Arkansas three yard line and then Robinson ran the ball into the end zone to cut the lead to 40-30 with the drop kick PAT by Green. The Xplorers then mounted a drive that worked deep into Arkansas territory, but Memphis came up empty after losing 27 yards on a fumble that took them out of scoring range. A Norris 30 yard field goal made it 43-30, but Memphis would not go away. Robinson found Kevin Prentiss for a 16 yard TD catch to make it 43-36 with the drop kick try no good. Johnny Loper then intercepted Hebert with 90 seconds to go in the game to keep Memphis' hopes alive. With 45.3 seconds to go Robinson found Prentiss from 16 yards out to make it a 43-42 game. The Xplorers drop kick attempt for the lead was wide to the right and Arkansas added a late TD by Cooley to seal the game. FINAL SCORE Arkansas 50, Memphis 42.
Score 1 2 3 4 F Memphis 6 16 8 12 42 Arkansas 7 10 23 10 50
Records Memphis 1-5 Arkansas 3-3
MVP
Rickey Hebert - Arkansas
IRONMAN
Reggie Cooley - Arkansas
ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Sacha Lancaster - Arkansas
PRACTICE TIMES
· The Xplorers will practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday starting at 8 p.m. inside the DCC.
XPLORERS SEASON TICKET PACKAGES
· For ticket information and purchases call (662) 280-3737 or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com.
ON THE AIR
· Catch the Xplorers on the air this Saturday against the Louisville Fire on Y96.1 FM. The game will be broadcast tape-delayed and begins at 10 p.m.
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