The Spokane Shock have been the best team in the af2 all season long. And it is no doubt as to why. Spokane (17-1) has the league's second best offense and the seventh best defense. At just under 60 points per game, the Shock have routinely put up huge offensive numbers. Also with a defense giving up less than 45 points a contest, it's hard to argue who the best is.
Tennessee Valley counters with the eighth best offense and fifth best defense. Throughout the playoffs, however, the Vipers average giving up only 32 points per game, including contests against the regular season's best offense in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Florida.
In a game where strength meets strength, you have to wonder what will give. Will it be the 68 point offense of Spokane or the, "bend, but don't break" defense of Tennessee Valley.
Monday night will answer these questions.
Arena Cup 9, featuring the Shock and Vipers will be played at Spokane Arena at 7 p.m. PDT, 9 p.m. CDT and will be broadcast free on the internet by NiftyTV.
Spokane's high powered offense is led by quarterback Nick Davila. Davila, in the playoffs has been a force. He has completed 62 percent of his passes and 16 touchdowns to just one lone interception.
His favorite targets are Raul Vijil and Andy Olsen. The two both have five touchdown catches this post seasonm with only one total catch separating the two. Patrick Bugg has been a stellar third receiver, hauling in ten catches and four scores.
The defense is led by af2 Rookie of the Year, Sergio Gilliam. Gilliam has recorded 6.5 tackles and an astounding four interceptions in just three games. The defensive line, however has only garnered three sacks, but the offensive line has only given up three as well.
Considering the pride Tennessee Valley takes in it's pass rush, this should be where the game is decided. The Vipers have totaled 14 sacks in three games, including seven against Florida in the opening round.
Linemen Eric Scott and Terrance Ford lead the way with 4.0 and 4.5 respectively, but anyone can get to the quarterback on this defense.
Defense has been the saving grace for Tennessee Valley this post season. Giving up only 32 points per game and coming up with big stops to propel the offense, which has sputtered at times, yet other times looked like a well-oiled machine.
In the first quarter of last week's contest, Kevin Eakin and Alonzo Nix hooked up three times for touchdowns. But Eakin threw two interceptions as well during the game.
But a statistic that really jumps out is red zone scoring. The Vipers have scored every time they have been inside the opponents' 10 yard line. Only once have the Vipers not reached the end zone and settled for a field goal. Tennessee Valley's defense has held opponents to less than 50% inside the red zone.
Both teams have strengths that match the others strengths. What gives will not be known until Monday night when Arena Cup 9 kicks off.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Vipers back where they began
The year 2000 saw many new and exciting things happen around the USA. One of those new, exciting things was the creation of the af2. In August of the year, the af2 held its inaugural championship game featuring the Quad City Steamwheelers and the Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Vipers were on the short end of a 68-59 score, but the precedent was set. Tennessee Valley would be the af2's winningest team through 2004, before bolting to another indoor league. Since that time, the Vipers have been less than stellar. When they returned to the af2, the team saw a 3-13 record in their first season back, and witnessed a good turnaround last season finishing 7-9. However, those records were not acceptable by Vipers standards.
While attendance steadily declined, the Vipers kept fighting hard. Beginning the 2008 season with a dismal 0-3 record, it seemed to Huntsville fans that the Vipers were still on the uphill climb back to where they used to be.
Now, with just two teams remaining alive in the af2, the Vipers are once again back at the top. As the American Conference champions, Tennessee Valley has earned the right to play in Arena Cup 9 against the hosting and overall number one seed Spokane Shock.
The Shock sold out the contest before the week was up. Possibly over 10,000 af2 fans will see the league's championship game live, the projected largest crowd in the title game's history.
With good reason, the Shock come into the game with an astounding 17-1 record, it's only blemish a loss to South Georgia at home.
Tennessee Valley boasts a 13-6 record, including 13-3 since the 0-3 start.
Vipers players and coaches are aware of the magnitude of this game for Huntsville and the team's fans. Finally, the Vipers are back to the top, this time, however, they want to come out on the good side.
While attendance steadily declined, the Vipers kept fighting hard. Beginning the 2008 season with a dismal 0-3 record, it seemed to Huntsville fans that the Vipers were still on the uphill climb back to where they used to be.
Now, with just two teams remaining alive in the af2, the Vipers are once again back at the top. As the American Conference champions, Tennessee Valley has earned the right to play in Arena Cup 9 against the hosting and overall number one seed Spokane Shock.
The Shock sold out the contest before the week was up. Possibly over 10,000 af2 fans will see the league's championship game live, the projected largest crowd in the title game's history.
With good reason, the Shock come into the game with an astounding 17-1 record, it's only blemish a loss to South Georgia at home.
Tennessee Valley boasts a 13-6 record, including 13-3 since the 0-3 start.
Vipers players and coaches are aware of the magnitude of this game for Huntsville and the team's fans. Finally, the Vipers are back to the top, this time, however, they want to come out on the good side.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Vipers topple top seed Pioneers
Tennessee Valley Vipers fans had not seen the playoffs since 2004. Fans had not seen a playoff win since 2003. Now, in 2008, Vipers fans have seen both the playoffs and playoff wins. The biggest win of the playoffs and the season came with the defeat of American Conference top seed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday night at the Wachovia Arena in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Tennessee Valley (12-6) held the Pioneers (15-3) to a season low 30 points in the 34-30 win.
Alonzo Nix's fade route touchdown catch with seven seconds remaining in the game proved to be the winning score capping off an 8-play, 45-yard drive.
Vipers quarterback Kevin Eakin was nowhere near flawless, but made the plays necessary to send the Vipers to the conference championship for the first time since 2003. Eakin threw four touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. However, the Pioneers signal caller, 2007 af2 Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Vena was held to an unimpressive 16-of-29 performance for just 158 yards, two touchdowns an interception and fumble lost.
After both teams failed to score on their opening possessions, Tennessee Valley took advantage of the Vena fumble and marched 41 yards and Eakin hit Maurice Brown for the first points of the night. But the Pioneers answered right back with a Vena pass to Larry Kendrick from 14 yards out.
The second quarter began with Travis Blanchard rushing one yard for a tough touchdown, and Wilkes-Barre responding with Vena's second and final touchdown pass to Rich Musinski to tie the game again at 14.
On the first half's final play, Vipers head coach Dean Cokinos sent his field goal unit onto the field, however, after a time out from the Pioneers, Cokinos elected to try for the touchdown. A touchdown was scored, unfortunately for Tennessee Valley it was Barry Drakeford of the Pioneers intercepting Eakin and returning the pass for a Pioneers touchdown. The score at halftime was 20-14 in favor of the Vipers after a failed Vena rushing attempt for a two-point conversion.
After halftime the Vipers defense stepped up again to force a David Davis field goal, but Wilkes-Barre still led 23-14. Eakin engineered another 40-plus yard drive ending with a Brown touchdown catch, cutting the lead to 23-20 after Nick Hayes extra point failed.
14 minutes and 40 seconds passed before another score would be made thanks to just over an 8 minute drive by the Vipers that ended with a Blanchard touchdown catch, putting the Vipers up 27-23 with just over two minutes to go.
Larry Kendrick then took the ensuing kickoff 56 yards for a score to put the Pioneers back on top. However, Nix's grab with seven seconds left would prove to be the difference.
Wilkes-Barre did not go out without a fight, though. After allowing the kickoff to hit the wall, the Pioneers started at their own five yard line. After a completion to Musinski, he lateraled to Kendrick who found his way to the Vipers three yard line before being brought down by Blanchard preserving the win for Tennessee Valley.
After the game, Vipers faithful were watching with close eyes to the result of the Green Bay Blizzard vs. Manchester Wolves contest to see who the Vipers opponent would be. The seventh-seeded Wolves escaped with a 55-54 win on a two-point conversion.
The Manchester win gives Tennessee Valley the right to host the conference finals on Saturday, August 16.
Hosting a conference championship game is nothing new for the Vipers. In 2003, the Vipers hosted Macon for the conference championship game, in which the Knights defeated the Vipers 51-48.
Alonzo Nix's fade route touchdown catch with seven seconds remaining in the game proved to be the winning score capping off an 8-play, 45-yard drive.
Vipers quarterback Kevin Eakin was nowhere near flawless, but made the plays necessary to send the Vipers to the conference championship for the first time since 2003. Eakin threw four touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. However, the Pioneers signal caller, 2007 af2 Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Vena was held to an unimpressive 16-of-29 performance for just 158 yards, two touchdowns an interception and fumble lost.
After both teams failed to score on their opening possessions, Tennessee Valley took advantage of the Vena fumble and marched 41 yards and Eakin hit Maurice Brown for the first points of the night. But the Pioneers answered right back with a Vena pass to Larry Kendrick from 14 yards out.
The second quarter began with Travis Blanchard rushing one yard for a tough touchdown, and Wilkes-Barre responding with Vena's second and final touchdown pass to Rich Musinski to tie the game again at 14.
On the first half's final play, Vipers head coach Dean Cokinos sent his field goal unit onto the field, however, after a time out from the Pioneers, Cokinos elected to try for the touchdown. A touchdown was scored, unfortunately for Tennessee Valley it was Barry Drakeford of the Pioneers intercepting Eakin and returning the pass for a Pioneers touchdown. The score at halftime was 20-14 in favor of the Vipers after a failed Vena rushing attempt for a two-point conversion.
After halftime the Vipers defense stepped up again to force a David Davis field goal, but Wilkes-Barre still led 23-14. Eakin engineered another 40-plus yard drive ending with a Brown touchdown catch, cutting the lead to 23-20 after Nick Hayes extra point failed.
14 minutes and 40 seconds passed before another score would be made thanks to just over an 8 minute drive by the Vipers that ended with a Blanchard touchdown catch, putting the Vipers up 27-23 with just over two minutes to go.
Larry Kendrick then took the ensuing kickoff 56 yards for a score to put the Pioneers back on top. However, Nix's grab with seven seconds left would prove to be the difference.
Wilkes-Barre did not go out without a fight, though. After allowing the kickoff to hit the wall, the Pioneers started at their own five yard line. After a completion to Musinski, he lateraled to Kendrick who found his way to the Vipers three yard line before being brought down by Blanchard preserving the win for Tennessee Valley.
After the game, Vipers faithful were watching with close eyes to the result of the Green Bay Blizzard vs. Manchester Wolves contest to see who the Vipers opponent would be. The seventh-seeded Wolves escaped with a 55-54 win on a two-point conversion.
The Manchester win gives Tennessee Valley the right to host the conference finals on Saturday, August 16.
Hosting a conference championship game is nothing new for the Vipers. In 2003, the Vipers hosted Macon for the conference championship game, in which the Knights defeated the Vipers 51-48.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Number one awaits
The Tennessee Valley Vipers have had their hills and their valleys this season. Luckily for the Vipers (11-6) the biggest hill peaked at a seven game winning streak and helped the club to secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2004.
Unfortunately, however, awaiting the Vipers this week is the team that stopped that seven game winning streak.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton comes into this week's quarterfinals match up with a 15-2 record and the 2007 af2 Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Ryan Vena.
Vena is 13-1 as the Pioneers starter this season and is statistically one of the top quarterbacks again this season.
With a plethora of capable receiving options, Vena threw for 87 touchdowns in the regular season. J.J. Outlaw led the talented trio of receivers with 31 touchdown grabs, but Ruch Musinski hauled in 28, while Larry Kendrick caught 26 touchdowns of his own.
The offense averages 63.6 points per game and the stingy defense allows under 40 points a contest. The Pioneers beat their opponents by an average of 26 points.
When the Vipers traveled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier this season, the Vipers held a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter before a barrage of miscues led to 28 unanswered points for the Pioneers to blow open a 77-49 win.
While Tennessee Valley has prided itself on the dominance of it's defensive line this season, Wilkes-Barre quietly recorded 54 sacks on the season--second most in af2 history and nine more than the Vipers this season.
Countering the Pioneers on the side of Tennessee Valley will be quarterback Kevin Eakin. Eakin has been less than stellar as of late, but has played against the toughest of defenses. Against the Pioneers in their first match up, Eakin threw for 351 yards and seven touchdowns, but had two costly interceptions and lost two fumbles.
One area the Vipers are definitely better is the rushing attack. Travis Blanchard now holds the Vipers franchise record for most rushing scores in a season and Tennessee Valley has punched in 35 scores this season on the ground.
The key to the game for the Vipers will be controlling the line of scrimmage and keeping mistakes to a minimum.
To beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, teams must play perfectly.
A group of Vipers fans will be at Indigo Joe's in Huntsville to watch the game on a big screen television. Join the Vipers' fans as they cheer on your hometown team!
Unfortunately, however, awaiting the Vipers this week is the team that stopped that seven game winning streak.
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton comes into this week's quarterfinals match up with a 15-2 record and the 2007 af2 Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Ryan Vena.
Vena is 13-1 as the Pioneers starter this season and is statistically one of the top quarterbacks again this season.
With a plethora of capable receiving options, Vena threw for 87 touchdowns in the regular season. J.J. Outlaw led the talented trio of receivers with 31 touchdown grabs, but Ruch Musinski hauled in 28, while Larry Kendrick caught 26 touchdowns of his own.
The offense averages 63.6 points per game and the stingy defense allows under 40 points a contest. The Pioneers beat their opponents by an average of 26 points.
When the Vipers traveled to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier this season, the Vipers held a 1-point lead in the fourth quarter before a barrage of miscues led to 28 unanswered points for the Pioneers to blow open a 77-49 win.
While Tennessee Valley has prided itself on the dominance of it's defensive line this season, Wilkes-Barre quietly recorded 54 sacks on the season--second most in af2 history and nine more than the Vipers this season.
Countering the Pioneers on the side of Tennessee Valley will be quarterback Kevin Eakin. Eakin has been less than stellar as of late, but has played against the toughest of defenses. Against the Pioneers in their first match up, Eakin threw for 351 yards and seven touchdowns, but had two costly interceptions and lost two fumbles.
One area the Vipers are definitely better is the rushing attack. Travis Blanchard now holds the Vipers franchise record for most rushing scores in a season and Tennessee Valley has punched in 35 scores this season on the ground.
The key to the game for the Vipers will be controlling the line of scrimmage and keeping mistakes to a minimum.
To beat Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, teams must play perfectly.
A group of Vipers fans will be at Indigo Joe's in Huntsville to watch the game on a big screen television. Join the Vipers' fans as they cheer on your hometown team!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Vipers win first playoff game since 2004
Tennessee Valley entered the 2008 playoffs after a three year hiatus. The visitors would be the arch nemesis, Florida Firecats. After three previous meetings between the two South Division rivals, the Vipers (11-6) led the season series 2-1, but trailed 6-7 in the overall series. The overall series is now tied as the Vipers dismantled the Firecats (10-7) 48-33 in front of a small, but rowdy Von Braun Center.
The last home playoff game the Vipers played, Florida came into the VBC and handed the Vipers a 62-58 loss en route to the 2004 Arena Cup championship. This year, however, would lead to an early first round exit and long trip back to Fort Myers, Florida.
The Firecats came out striking. With an interception that slipped through Maurice Brown's hands on the first drive, Florida took an early 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the Vipers' Travis Blanchard had just one defender to beat before walking to the end zone when he was hit hard from behind and fumbled. The Firecats recovered the fumble and used just three plays to find Magic Benton in the end zone. After Garrett Rivas missed the extra point, the Firecats led 13-0.
Tennessee Valley finally got on the scoreboard on their next possession. On fourth down, Eakin found Gary Elliot in the corner of the end zone. Elliot ran into the wall and almost fell over, but was able to hang on to the ball, despite losing his helmet. Nick Hayes added the extra point and the Vipers trailed just 13-7.
Florida's next drive would eat up almost seven minutes before a fourth down miracle touchdown. Firecats quarterback Chris Wallace was chased out of the pocket to his left and before being brought down tossed a Tim Tebow-esque basketball pass to the back of the end zone where Benton came down with the jump ball amidst three Vipers defenders. Florida then led 20-7.
The Vipers would answer quickly using four plays to find Alonzo Nix from 18 yards out to cut the lead back to 6.
Momentum then began to swing in favor of Tennessee Valley. After a holding penalty, Wallace was looking for Chris McKinney and instead Desmond Foster intercepted the pass and returned it 15 yards to pay dirt. The Vipers then led 21-20 after Hayes' successful point after.
The ensuing drive for Florida took the Firecats deep into Vipers territory. On fourth down with :09 seconds on the clock before halftime, Wallace fired a pass intended for Ethenic Sands, but ended up in the third row, resulting in a turnover on downs.
With just :05 seconds remaining in the half, Eakin tossed a pass across the middle to Maurice Brown who then faked a hook and lateral pitch and streaked down the sideline into the end zone, leaving the Vipers ahead 28-20 on the last play of the first half.
Tennessee Valley held the Firecats to a 50-yard field goal attempt on the first drive of the second half. Rivas missed the field goal and the Vipers took over at their own 23 yard line.
On the Vipers next drive, penalties were plentiful. A holding call followed immediately by a false start penalty brought the Vipers back to their own 17 yard line and set up 3rd-and-16. Eakin's next pass was intercepted by former Viper Carlos Campbell, but the Firecats Clint McMillan hit Eakin a little too late and gave the Vipers an automatic first down after the roughing penalty. Two more penalties would be called, one against each team, before Elliot took a hand off and walked into the end zone for the touchdown to put the Vipers up 34-20 after Hayes' failed extra point.
Just two plays later, Wallace found a wide open Sands for the score, cutting the lead back to seven points.
That would be the last time the Firecats saw the end zone until the final play of the game.
Tennessee Valley got scores from Blanchard on a 2-yard plunge. Elliot scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from 14 yards out around the right end, going untouched to pay dirt.
Chris Wallace was sacked three times in the drive following the Elliot rushing score. The Vipers couldn't muster up another score to reach the magical 50 points for cheesy bread, however.
Wallace then finished the game, and possibly his illustrious af2 career with a touchdown to Matt Burstein on the game's final play.
Wallace finished the game 25-of-41 for 266 yards and four touchdowns to one pick. Benton, the af2's all-time leading scorer probably also ended his career with 175 receiving yards on 14 catches and two touchdowns.
Eakin finished as the game's offensive player of the game with 18-of-28 for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Nix caught 9 passes for 96 yards and was awarded the Cutters Catch of the game.
Elliot rushed twice for 21 yards and two touchdowns as well as catching a fourth down touchdown while hitting the end zone wall at full speed, but was awarded no post game honors.
The last home playoff game the Vipers played, Florida came into the VBC and handed the Vipers a 62-58 loss en route to the 2004 Arena Cup championship. This year, however, would lead to an early first round exit and long trip back to Fort Myers, Florida.
The Firecats came out striking. With an interception that slipped through Maurice Brown's hands on the first drive, Florida took an early 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, the Vipers' Travis Blanchard had just one defender to beat before walking to the end zone when he was hit hard from behind and fumbled. The Firecats recovered the fumble and used just three plays to find Magic Benton in the end zone. After Garrett Rivas missed the extra point, the Firecats led 13-0.
Tennessee Valley finally got on the scoreboard on their next possession. On fourth down, Eakin found Gary Elliot in the corner of the end zone. Elliot ran into the wall and almost fell over, but was able to hang on to the ball, despite losing his helmet. Nick Hayes added the extra point and the Vipers trailed just 13-7.
Florida's next drive would eat up almost seven minutes before a fourth down miracle touchdown. Firecats quarterback Chris Wallace was chased out of the pocket to his left and before being brought down tossed a Tim Tebow-esque basketball pass to the back of the end zone where Benton came down with the jump ball amidst three Vipers defenders. Florida then led 20-7.
The Vipers would answer quickly using four plays to find Alonzo Nix from 18 yards out to cut the lead back to 6.
Momentum then began to swing in favor of Tennessee Valley. After a holding penalty, Wallace was looking for Chris McKinney and instead Desmond Foster intercepted the pass and returned it 15 yards to pay dirt. The Vipers then led 21-20 after Hayes' successful point after.
The ensuing drive for Florida took the Firecats deep into Vipers territory. On fourth down with :09 seconds on the clock before halftime, Wallace fired a pass intended for Ethenic Sands, but ended up in the third row, resulting in a turnover on downs.
With just :05 seconds remaining in the half, Eakin tossed a pass across the middle to Maurice Brown who then faked a hook and lateral pitch and streaked down the sideline into the end zone, leaving the Vipers ahead 28-20 on the last play of the first half.
Tennessee Valley held the Firecats to a 50-yard field goal attempt on the first drive of the second half. Rivas missed the field goal and the Vipers took over at their own 23 yard line.
On the Vipers next drive, penalties were plentiful. A holding call followed immediately by a false start penalty brought the Vipers back to their own 17 yard line and set up 3rd-and-16. Eakin's next pass was intercepted by former Viper Carlos Campbell, but the Firecats Clint McMillan hit Eakin a little too late and gave the Vipers an automatic first down after the roughing penalty. Two more penalties would be called, one against each team, before Elliot took a hand off and walked into the end zone for the touchdown to put the Vipers up 34-20 after Hayes' failed extra point.
Just two plays later, Wallace found a wide open Sands for the score, cutting the lead back to seven points.
That would be the last time the Firecats saw the end zone until the final play of the game.
Tennessee Valley got scores from Blanchard on a 2-yard plunge. Elliot scored his second rushing touchdown of the game from 14 yards out around the right end, going untouched to pay dirt.
Chris Wallace was sacked three times in the drive following the Elliot rushing score. The Vipers couldn't muster up another score to reach the magical 50 points for cheesy bread, however.
Wallace then finished the game, and possibly his illustrious af2 career with a touchdown to Matt Burstein on the game's final play.
Wallace finished the game 25-of-41 for 266 yards and four touchdowns to one pick. Benton, the af2's all-time leading scorer probably also ended his career with 175 receiving yards on 14 catches and two touchdowns.
Eakin finished as the game's offensive player of the game with 18-of-28 for 225 yards and three touchdowns. Nix caught 9 passes for 96 yards and was awarded the Cutters Catch of the game.
Elliot rushed twice for 21 yards and two touchdowns as well as catching a fourth down touchdown while hitting the end zone wall at full speed, but was awarded no post game honors.
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