Xplorers Weekly Update

June 3, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release


SOUTHAVEN, Miss – The Memphis Xplorers continue to surge towards the ..500 mark as they hammered the Bossier City Battle Wings 62-35 this past Friday night. Memphis has now won back-to-back games and improved to 3-5 on the year. The Xplorers are on the road this weekend, traveling to Florida to tangle with the Firecats. Memphis returns home on Saturday, June 14th, to host the Birmingham Steeldogs 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 travel to Florida to take on the Firecats at TECO Arena this Saturday night. Memphis lost earlier this season at the DCC to Florida 61-57 on April 26th. The Xplorers are 1-2 all-time against the Firecats.

LONG TIME COMING

· With a 62-35 win over Bossier City, the Xplorers have strung together back-to-back wins for the first time in over a year. The last time Memphis recorded back-to-back victories was when they captured the opening three games of the 2002 af2 season from April 6th – April 20th, 2002.

WELCOME

· Will Burch got the start at QB for the Xplorers after Rod Robinson was a late scratch. Burch filled in nicely completing 20 of 33 attempts for four TDs and 202 yards. Burch struggled early, but was outstanding in the second half to help Memphis post back-to-back wins for the first time in more than a year.

ON THE GROUND

· The Xplorers rushed a season high 17 times in their 62-35 win over Bossier City.

WHAT A RUN

· The Xplorers closed the game on Friday night with a 48-13 run. Memphis was trailing 22-6 in the second quarter when they exploded thanks to special teams play and ran away with the game.

STICKY FINGERS

· Xplorers defensive specialist Kevin Cobb is tied for 3rd in af2 with four interceptions. Cobb is also 2nd in af2 in pass defenses with 23.

BIG LOSS

· The Xplorers placed offensive specialist Kevin Prentiss on long term injured reserve on Monday. Prentiss broke his right leg in the second quarter of the Xplorers' 62-35 win over Bossier City.

MEMPHIS 62, BOSSIER CITY 35, May 30th, DESOTO CIVIC CENTER

Friday night the Memphis Xplorers hammered the Bossier City Battle Wings 62-35 at the DeSoto Civic Center in front of 3,096 fans. The Xplorers have won back-to-back games for the first time in more than a year and improve to 3-5. Special teams accounted for 18 points as the Xplorers closed the game with a 48-13 run to come from behind and run away with the game. The Xplorers fell behind 16-0 early as Battle Wings QB Payton Perrett, who was making his af2 debut, threw a couple of early TD passes. The Xplorers got on the board when Johnny Loper swept the right side and hurdled his way into the end zone from the one yard line to make it 16-6 with 10 minutes to go in the second quarter. Perrett threw a 30 yard TD pass to Shadrick McAfee to make it 22-6, but then the Xplorers exploded. OL/DL Patrick Heard recovered a missed field goal in the endzone to get the Xplorers within 22-14. Perrett answered with another TD pass to make it 29-14 Bossier City. Memphis closed to within seven points when QB Will Burch, who was making his first start of the year for the Xplorers, gunned a five yard strike to WR/LB Adrian Burnette with 19 seconds to go in the half. Bossier City drove to midfield and tried a 33 yard field goal, but OL/DL Joseph Crear blocked the kick attempt and scooped up the ball then returned it for a TD with no time left in the half to stun the Battle Wings. Steven Green added a drop kick PAT to give Memphis a 30-29 lead at halftime. The Xplorers came out smoking the in third quarter. Burch connected with Loper who made a leaping catch for an 18 yard TD to make it 36-29 on the opening possession of the third. Then Green added a drop kick field goal worth four points to make it 40-29 with 6 minutes to go in the third. FB/LB Ed Smith chipped in with a one yard TD run and then the special teams went to work again. WR/DB Terrell Adams forced a fumble on the kickoff and OL/DL Kenny Jackson recovered at the Bossier City seven yard line. Burch then found Adams with a TD pass to make it 54-29 with twelve minutes to go in the game. The Xplorers go on to rout the Battle Wings. FINAL SCORE Memphis 62, Bossier City 35.

Records

Memphis 3-5

Bossier City 3-6

MVP

Joseph Crear - Memphis

IRONMAN

Ed Smith - Memphis

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME

Patrick Heard - Memphis

XPLORERS TICKETS

· 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 all season long on Y96.1 FM. Pre-game this Saturday night begins at 6:15 p.m. with the kickoff at Florida set for 6:30 p.m.



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