2005 ARENACUP MATCHUP
LOUISVILLE FIRE (14-5) AT MEMPHIS XPLORERS (15-3)
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2005 - 1 P.M.
CENTURYTEL CENTER (11,100)
SHREVEPORT, La. The 2005 ArenaCup will be a game of firsts when the American Conference champion Louisville Fire (14-5) meets the National Conference champion Memphis Xplorers (15-3) at 1 p.m. Saturday at the CenturyTel Center.
The two teams’ scoring offenses ranked first and third in the league during the regular season. Memphis scored an average of 55.8 points per game and is just as strong on the defensive side of the ball, allowing 37.6 points per game. Louisville’s offense is just as potent, scoring an average of 55.6 points per game and 292.6 yards per contest. Both teams were tops in takeaways. Memphis led the league in turnover margin (plus-1.75), while Louisville ranked fifth (plus-0.62). With both offenses being very potent, the game could come down to a defensive stop or whoever wins the turnover battle.
The spotlight is on both team’s offenses, as the Fire sport af2 Jostens Offensive Player of the Year MATT SAUK (6-1, 225, Utah State), who broke three af2 single season records on the year. Sauk broke the records for passing touchdowns (99), passing yards (4,489) and completions (408). Sauk also broke a single-game postseason record for touchdown passes with 10 in the 70-40 American Championship win over Florida.
Hauling in all of Sauk’s passes were ROB MAGER (6-2, 200, Indianapolis) and DENNIS FRYZEL (5-11, 195, Valdosta State). Both receivers caught over 100 passes and had more than 975 receiving yards. Mager led the team with 125 receptions for 1,439 yards and 39 touchdowns. On the ground for the Fire is all-af2 second team fullback/linebacker DEMETRIUS FORNEY (6-0, 275, Campbellsville). Forney rushed for 98 yards and 21 touchdowns on 31 carries.
The Louisville defensive is headed by ROB GREEN (6-1, 200, Massachusetts). Green led the Fire with 62.5 tackles (51UT-23AT), 20 pass breakups and three fumble recoveries. He was second on the team with three interceptions.
On the other side of the ball, the Xplorers boast maybe the best return man in all of Arena Football. Memphis offensive specialist and all-af2 second teamer KEVIN PRENTISS (5-8, 155, Mississippi State) led the league in kick return average (26.3 yards per return), finished second in all-purpose yards (1,627 receiving yards, 58 missed field goal return yards, 1,419 kickoff return yards) and scored 44 touchdowns.
Guiding the aerial attack is quarterback BRIAN JONES (6-2, 205, Toledo). On the season, Jones completed 245 of 388 passes for 3,384 yards, 69 touchdowns with only seven interceptions and led the league in passer rating (123.1 rating). Jones led the team in rushing as well, as he rushed for 229 yards and 23 touchdowns on 75 carries.
The Memphis defense has some power to it, led by ADT Defensive Player of the Year DAHNEL SINGFIELD (6-2, 190, Buffalo) and Lineman of the Year KHREEM SMITH (6-4, 270, Oklahoma State). Singfield was tops in the league in interceptions (12) and passes defended (61), second in interception return yards (145) and ninth in tackles with 73 (58UA-30AT). Smith drove opposing quarterbacks crazy, as he led the league in sacks with 17 (15UA-4AT), fumbles forced (6) and tackles for loss (11.5).
---Below is a position-by-position breakdown---
HEAD COACH vs. HEAD COACH
Fire head coach Tommy Johnson vs. Xplorers head coach Danton Barto
Two former high school teammates will be going head to head in their first af2 championship game appearance on Saturday afternoon. They won a state championship together in 1988 and competed against one another when Johnson was at the University of Alabama and Barto was at the University of Memphis.
As head coaches, the two have faced each other three times with Memphis winning the first two games and Louisville winning the last meeting on May 8, 2004 by a score of 70-63.
Louisville
Tommy Johnson (26-24) overall, (4-1) post-season
Played college football at the University of Alabama and then moved on to an NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He began his arena football playing career with the Albany Firebirds and then moved to the Carolina Cobras. He currently holds the record for the longest interception return for a touchdown in AFL history. He began his arena football coaching career as the defensive coordinator for the Fire in 2001 and then took over as head coach three games into the 2003 season. Johnson led the team to their first winning season in 2004 going 9-7, and their first playoff appearance and playoff victory.
Memphis
Danton Barto (34-31) regular season, (2-1) post-season
Played college football at the University of Memphis. Barto is in his fourth year as the head coach of the Xplorers. In each season, he has improved upon the overall team record of the previous year. He was named SFC af2 Coach of the Year by the media and his coaching colleagues for the 2005 season.
QUARTERBACKS vs. QUARTERBACKS
Fire quarterback Matt Sauk Vs. Xplorers quarterback Brian Jones.
The key to the game on Saturday night could be the play of the quarterback position. Both Sauk and Jones are among the tops in the league in several offensive categories and their offensive units are 2nd and 3rd in the league in scoring offense.
Louisville quarterback Matt Sauk, in his fourth af2 season, led his team to an 11-5 regular season record and was named Jostens af2 Offensive Player of the Year. Sauk was 2nd in the league in total offense (4,472 yards), 1st in passing average per game (280.6 YPG), 2nd in pass completion percentage (67.7%), 1st in pass attempts (603), 1st in passing touchdowns (99), 3rd in pass rating (118.0), 1st in pass completions (408), and 1st in passing yards (4,489).
Memphis quarterback Brian Jones, in his second af2 season, led his team to a franchise best 13-3 record. Jones finished the season 1st in pass rating (123.1), 2nd in pass yards per catch (13.8 YPC), 2nd in rushing touchdowns (23 TDs).
Louisville
#7 Matt Sauk 6-1, 225 (Utah State) Playing in his fourth af2 season, Sauk has rewritten the af2 single season record books during the 2005 season. Sauk set records in passing touchdowns, passing yards, and pass completions. Including the postseason, Sauk has garnered Offensive Player of the Game honors eight times. He also set the af2 playoff game record last week versus Florida with 10 touchdown passes.
Memphis
#10 Brian Jones 6-2, 205 (Toledo) Playing in his second af2 season. Jones played in nine games in 2004 and was 134-of-226 for 1,578 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 44 times for 99 yards and 12 touchdowns.
FULLBACKS vs. LINEBACKERS
Fire fullback/linebackers Demetrius Forney, Johnny Frost, and Marvin Constant Vs. Xplorers
fullback/linebacker Lavante Epson
Forney finished the season with 31 carries for 98 yards and nine touchdowns, while adding 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks on defense. On May 27th, he broke the Fire single game rushing touchdown record by rushing for five touchdowns against the Albany Conquest.
For Memphis, Lavante Epson has helped lead the Xplorers to the top rated scoring defense in the league this season. They are only allowing 37.6 points per game. Epson finished the season with 12 carries for 20 yards and four touchdowns, while adding 24.5 tackles, five tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks on defense.
Louisville
#40 Demetrius Forney 6-0, 275 (Campbellsville) Forney is playing in his fourth af2 season. Forney was named Ironman of the Week for his performance in week 9 of the 2005 season and ADT Defensive Player of the Week in week 4 of the 2004 season. He was also named to the All-af2 American Conference second team this season.
#44 Marvin Constant 6-2, 241 (Alabama) Constant is playing in second af2 season. Last season he played in 12 games, rushing the ball eight times for 17 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 27 tackles, four tackles for loss, and half a sack. This season he finished with 11 carries for 30 yards and added 30 tackles, two and a half sacks, and five pass defenses.
#20 Johnny Frost 6-2, 250 (Louisville) Frost is playing in his fifth af2 season. Joined the team in late June and played in six games compiling four tackles. Last week in the American Conference championship game he tallied two assisted tackles and one sack.
Memphis
#3 Levante Epson 6-0, 245 (Tennessee-Martin) Epson is playing in his second af2 season and also has seen time in the AFL with the Grand Rapids Rampage and Philadelphia Soul. Last season he played in six games rushing eight times for 27 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, he added 14 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. His best game this season was on July 16th versus Manchester when he had three carries for four yards and two touchdowns.
Key Match-up:
Fire fullback/linebacker Demetrius Forney vs. Xplorers fullback/linebacker Levante Epson
OFFENSIVE SPECIALISTS vs. DEFENSIVE SPECIALISTS
Fire offensive specialist Rob Mager vs. Xplorers defensive specialists Scott Cunningham and Dahnel Singfield.
Xplorers offensive specialist Kevin Prentiss vs. Fire defensive specialists Rob Green and Jabir Walker.
The match-ups in this area of the game could be the most interesting of all the match-ups. Fire offensive specialist Rob Mager is playing in his first full af2 season and was among the league leaders in several receiving categories, while the Xplorers’ defensive specialists helped lead them to the top ranked scoring defense, 4th ranked total defense, and 2nd in the league in interceptions.
The Fire offense is one of the best in the league and the Memphis defense is one of the best in the league, so this game may come down to a battle of who wants it more and the desire to become a champion.
On offense for the Xplorers, they will look to offensive specialist Kevin Prentiss. Prentiss has proved time after time that he is a big time player. He has put up over 100 yards receiving in nine of the 16 regular season games for the Xplorers this season as well as adding seven games with 100 or more kick return yards. The Fire defensive secondary is led by two veterans that will look to continue the level of play that they have put up during the first three games of the 2005 playoffs. Rob Green has intercepted a pass in every playoff game this season for the Fire, which equals his entire total from the regular season.
Key Match-up:
Fire OS Rob Mager vs. Xplorers DS Dahnel Singfield
Louisville
OS - #2 Rob Mager 6-2, 200 (Indianapolis) Playing in his first full af2 season, Mager has put up league leading numbers in several receiving categories. He finished the season ranked 5th in scoring (236 points), and 3rd in receptions (125).
DS - #3 Rob Green 6-1, 200 (Massachusetts) Playing in his fourth af2 season, led the team in tackles on the year with 62.5 and 20 pass defenses. During the playoffs, he has intercepted a pass in all three games.
DS - #28 Jabir Walker 5-11, 280 (Murray State) Playing in his third af2 season and was a member of the Colorado Crush practice squad in 2005. He saw action in the Fire’s final five games totaling 10.5 tackles, four pass defenses and one interception.
Memphis
OS #12 Kevin Prentiss 5-8, 155 (Mississippi State) Playing in his third af2 season. Finished the season 4th in scoring (264 points), 2nd in all purpose yards (3,104 yards), 4th in yards per catch (15.8), 5th in receiving yards per game (101.7).
DS - #4 Scott Cunningham 5-9, 180 (Tennessee State) Playing in his rookie year of af2, he finished 3rd on the team in tackles with 46.5, 2nd in interceptions with seven, and 2nd in pass defenses with 18.
DS - #21 Dahnel Singfield 6-2, 190 (Buffalo) Playing in his second af2 season. Singfield was named ADT Defensive Player of the Year for his performance this season. He finished the season with 12 interceptions (1st in af2), 73 tackles, and 62 pass defenses (1st in af2).
WIDE RECEIVERS vs. DEFENSIVE BACKS
Louisville’s wide receivers Dennis Fryzel, Nate Green, Cesare Manning, Lawrence Matthews, Michael Larkin vs. Terrell Adams, Stephen Battle, Deon Giddens, Elgin Hicks, Sale’ Key, Terrance Quattlebaum
With two of the league’s top quarterbacks going head-to-head, someone has to catch all of the passes both of them will be throwing. Dropped passes and interceptions could be a difference in this game. With three receivers with over 100 receptions on the season, seeing dropped balls might not happen that often.
Key Match-up:
Louisville WR Dennis Fryzel vs. Memphis WR Terrell Adams
Louisville
#8 Dennis Fryzel 5-11, 195 (Valdosta State) Playing in his third af2 season, Fryzel was second on the team in receiving with 105 receptions for 979 yards and 17 touchdowns. Fryzel averaged 61.2 yards per game rushed for a pair of touchdowns as well. On the defensive side of the ball, Fryzel had 25.5 tackles (18UT-15AT), three interceptions and a fumble recovery. He was named U.S. Army Ironman of the Game on two occasions. In a 69-61 win at Birmingham, Fryzel had 10 receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns while adding an interception on defense. Two weeks later at Albany, Fryzel helped the Fire to a 73-63 win with four receptions for 52 yards and a rushing touchdown.
#4 Nate Green 5-10, 195 (Georgetown) Playing in his first af2 season with the Fire, Green was sixth on the team in receiving with 23 receptions for 290 yards and three touchdowns. On the other side of the ball, he was second on the team in tackles with 47.5 (40UT-15AT) and had three interceptions, 11 pass breakups, two tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble. Green was named the ADT Defensive Player of the Game in a 62-40 win over San Diego when he recorded a touchdown reception on offense and had seven tackles (6UT-2AT), an assisted tackle for a loss and five pass breakups.
#26 Cesare Manning 6-1, 200 (Indianapolis) Playing in his first full af2 season this year, Manning was second on the team in touchdown receptions with 24 while hauling in 66 passes for 855 yards. On the defensive side Manning accounted for 18 tackles (13UT-10AT), 1.5 tackles for loss, an interception, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. In Week 13 against Albany, he caught 12 passes for 152 yards and seven touchdowns to earn af2 Offensive Player of the Week honors. Manning was named Offensive Player of the Game in the opening game of the Fire’s season and won U.S. Army Ironman of the Game honors.
#1 Lawrence Matthews 6-4, 190 (Western Illinois) Playing in his second af2 season with the Fire, Matthews was fourth on the team in receiving with 43 receptions for 445 yards and nine touchdowns. Matthews added a rushing touchdown as well. On the defensive side, Matthews led the team in interceptions (4) and had 34.5 tackles (21UT-27AT), one tackle for a loss, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
#6 Michael Larkin 5-7, 175 (Miami, Ohio) Playing in his first af2 season this year, Larkin played four games for the Fire and had five receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown. On defense he recorded 3.5 tackles (2UT-3AT) and had two fumble recoveries.
MEMPHIS
#1 Terrell Adams 5-9, 190 (Mississippi Valley State) Adams is playing in his second af2 season and is second on the team in receiving. During the regular season he caught 57 passes for 779 yards and 15 touchdowns. Adams was fourth on the team in tackles with 37 (28UT-18AT) and had five interceptions 13 pass breakups, three tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. In Week 17, Adams was named af2 U.S. Army Ironman of the Week after scoring three different ways. Adams started the game off with a touchdown reception and later would add a rushing score and returned an interception for a touchdown as well. He hauled in five passes for 55 yards and had two interceptions and a pair of tackles on defense. He was named U.S. Army Ironnman of the game on six times during the regular season.
#9 Stephen Battle 6-2, 195 (Valley City State) Playing in his first af2 season, Battle played in eight games for the Xplorers and ranked third on the receiving charts. He had 27 receptions for 337 yards and eight touchdowns. On defense, he had 25 tackles (21UT-8AT), had five pass breakups and an assisted tackle for a loss. In Week 11 Battle was named Offensive Player of the Game when he caught nine passes for 117 yards and three touchdowns in an overtime win over Quad City.
#8 Deon Giddens 5-10, 190 (Tennessee State) Playing in his first af2 season, Giddens played in all 16 games for the Xplorers and caught 12 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown. He was second on the team in tackles with 52.5 (44UT-17AT), interceptions with five and pass breakups with 18. He also forced a fumble and had a fumble recovery.
#6 Sale’ Key 6-4, 220 (Idaho State) Playing in his first af2 season, the former Cincinnati Bengal training camp invitee played in four regular season games for the Xplorers and had 15 receptions for 195 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he 4.5 tackles (4UT-1AT) and a pass breakup.
#5 Terrance Quattlebaum 5-10, 180 (West Virginia State) Playing in his third af2 season, Quattlebaum caught 18 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns while ranking sixth on the team in tackles with 31 (25UT-12AT). He had two interceptions and seven pass breakups to go along with one fumble recovery.
OFFENSIVE LINE vs. DEFENSIVE LINE
Louisville’s offensive line Brian Kmitta, Justin Ard and Andrew Brewster vs. Memphis’ defensive line Khreem Smith, Treveco Lucas, Joe Crear
Both coaches have stressed one thing that they feel will be the difference in the game and it boils down to who wins the battle up front. The question will be if the Louisville offensive line will be able to stop af2 Lineman of the Year Khreem Smith. Smith has wrecked havoc on opposing quarterback’s forcing them into a lot of mistakes. At the same time, Louisville has done a tremendous job of protecting quarterback Matt Sauk, allowing him enough time to find his receivers. It’s when Sauk is forced to scramble is when he makes mistakes. If Smith can get to Sauk and force him to make mistakes, Memphis has a good shot, but if you give Sauk time, he will burn you.
Key Match-up:
Memphis DE Khreem Smith vs. Louisville OL Brian Kmitta
Louisville
#79 Brian Kmitta 6-3, 315 (Anderson) Playing in his first af2 season, Kmitta played in all 16 regular season games and all three playoff games for the Fire this season. Known mostly for his offensive skills contributed 4.5 tackles (3UT-3AT) as well as three pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.
#77 Justin Ard 6-5, 320 (Murray State) Playing in his first af2 season, Ard joined the team midway through the season and accounted for 4.5 tackles (2UT-5AT) as well as a sack, a tackle for a loss, and pass breakup. The center on this line has been a force the second half of the season.
#35 Andrew Brewster 6-2, 280 (North Texas) Playing in his first af2 season, Brewster joined the team late in the season and has been a top contributor to the offensive line, spending time at both guard and center. On defense he has one assisted tackle.
#47 Koby Clark 6-6, 280 (Louisville) Playing in his third af2 season, was another player who joined the team late in the season. Clark spends most of his time on defense. On the season he had 2.5 tackles (2UT-1AT), had a sack and tackle for a loss to go along with an interception and fumble recovery.
#90 Derrick Shepard 6-3, 330 (Georgia Tech) Playing in his fourth af2 season, Shepard recorded six tackles (3UT-6AT), two tackles for a loss and a pass breakup. Shepard only spent half of the season with the Fire, but has been a force on the defensive front the past two seasons.
#9 Andrew Tippens 6-2, 275 (Minnesota State) Playing in his second af2 season, was named to the all-af2 second team even though he only played in seven games. He had 11.5 tackles (9UT-5AT), was second in the league with five forced fumbles. He had five tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, a blocked kick and three pass breakups. He was named ADT Defensive Player of the Game in a Week 17 win against Manchester.
#91 Paul White 6-2, 300 (Hampton) Playing in his first af2 season, White joined the team at the midpoint of the season and made a quick impact. On defense he had 10 tackles (5UT-10AT), five pass breakups, five quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries an interception and an assisted tackle for a loss.
Memphis
#56 Khreem Smith 6-4, 270 (Oklahoma State) Entering his first af2 season, Smith quickly adapted to the game of Arena Football and was honored this season as the af2 Lineman of the Year. He led the league in sacks (17), forced fumbles (6) and tackles for a loss (11.5). On the season, Smith had 28 tackles, three pass breakups, four quarterback hurries, three fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and a safety. He was named ADT Defensive Player of the game six times.
#91 Treveco Lucas 6-0, 265 (Memphis) Playing in his first af2 season, Lucas was a force up front. He recorded five tackles (4UT-1AT), an assisted tackle for a loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
#44 Joe Crear 6-2, 260 (Mississippi Valley State) Playing in his second season, Crear was honored for the second consecutive season as a member of the all-af2 team. On the season, Crear recorded 11.5 tackles (9UT-5AT), 2.5 sacks, a tackle for a loss, three quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
#75 Nate Grace 6-6, 340 (Southern Mississippi) Playing in his second af2 season, Grace moved to center for the 2005 season. The Memphis fan favorite had 8.5 tackles (7UT-3AT), two tackles for a loss, two sacks, three breakups, four quarterback hurries and a blocked kick.
#95 Lavell Mann 6-1, 300 (Colorado State) Playing in his first af2 season, Mann saw action in 12 games and recorded eight tackles (5UT-6AT), 1.5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, forced four fumbles, recovered two and blocked two kicks.
#92 Philip Perry 6-2, 260 (San Jose State) Playing in his first af2 season, Perry recorded about every defensive stat that you could. He had eight tackles (7UT-2AT), had two sacks, a tackle for a loss, a pass break up, a forced fumble, fumble recovery and two blocked kicks in nine games this season.
#99 Lewis Powell 6-4, 305 (Utah) Playing in his first af2 season, Powell played in 10 games for the Xplorers and had 4.5 tackles (2UT-5AT) as well as an assisted tackle and assisted sack and a pass breakup.
#96 Delanio Taylor 6-2, 310 (Tennessee-Chattanooga) Playing in his third af2 season, Taylor is an accomplished af2 veteran. In eight games, he had 3.5 tackles (2UT-3AT), 1.5 tackles for a loss and one sack.
KICKERS vs. KICKERS
Fire kicker Danny Kight vs. Xplorers kicker Nick Hayes
Louisville
K - #12 Danny Kight 6-1, 215 (Augusta State) Playing in his second af2 season, Kight was named af2 American Airlines/American Eagle Kicker of the Year and All-af2 American Conference first team. Kight connected on a season long 61-yard field goal at Albany on June 24th. He finished 2nd in af2 in field goal percentage (45%) and fifth in points scored kicking with 199. Last week versus Florida he was 10-of-10 on extra point attempts.
Memphis
K - #11 Nick Hayes 6-0, 205 (Alabama-Birmingham) Playing in his first af2 season, Hayes finished the year 0-5 in field goals and 25-30 on extra points.
K - #13 Steven Azar 5-8, 192 (Northern Illinois) Playing in his first af2 season, Azar was 50% on field goals this season going 8-for-16 and was 57-of-72 on extra points. He finished the season 4th on the team in scoring with 81 points.
