Post by AZ Adrenaline Junkie on Jun 28, 2008 2:57:02 GMT -5
Home finale won't slow Adrenaline
Special to the Courier
Friday, June 27, 2008
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Adrenaline head coach Andrew Moore doesn't hesitate when asked how he's viewing Saturday night's regular season finale against Wyoming at Tim's Toyota Center.
It's full speed ahead.
The outcome of the game will have no bearing on who goes where come playoff time as the Adrenaline will travel to Casper for a Fourth of July kickoff regardless of how Saturday night's game comes out.
And the Adrenaline have virtually clinched the tie-breaker with Columbus and would get a second-round home game should the two teams get that far. But Moore doesn't feel this is any time to rest his starters, especially since a win would result in a co-West Division title in the team's first year of existence.
"Hey, Quincy, you want to take this game off," Moore said to star receiver Quincy Jackson at practice earlier this week.
"Nah, not this game," Jackson answered.
"I don't think any of these starters would even want to miss a game with Wyoming," Moore added. "Especially when we have an opportunity to call ourselves champions in our first year. Of course our goal is to win the league championship, but even a division championship in a team's first year ... I don't think people realize how much of an accomplishment that is."
However, as of Friday afternoon starting wide receiver Maurice Bryant said he probably would not play tonight. Bryant had to come out of last week's game at Utah in the fourth period with a slightly twisted ankle.
Wyoming head coach Dan "Majic" Maciejczak could not be reached for comment regarding how he would handle his roster Saturday, but one Adrenaline player who will have plenty of incentive is linebacker/defensive end Warren Lott. Lott played for Maciejzcak and the Cavalry the first seven games of the season before asking for his release in seeking a move to Arizona.
Lott made a significant impact in his Adrenaline debut last week at Utah and could be Arizona's X-factor the next two weeks.
"As far as recognizing tendencies and knowing their personnel, I do think I can help us from that standpoint," Lott said. "But it's like poker ... it's drawing for the king of spades for a royal flush. Until the two teams get out there, you never know what is going to happen."
Despite the Adrenaline's success on both sides of the ball in their 55-40 win in Casper three weeks ago, Moore has enough respect for Maciejczak to know that he'll need to mix things up a bit this week.
"I'm sure Coach Majic and his staff will look at the film from last time we played them and scheme a step or two ahead. So we'll have to mix things up a little bit to keep pace."
Due to injuries, the Adrenaline have already used three different quarterbacks in the three games against the Cavalry. Chad DeGrenier was sidelined with an injury the first time the two teams met early in the year, giving way to Jason Swanson. DeGrenier played in the second meeting before Keith Poole pulled off the win in Game 3 when both DeGrenier and Swanson were out.
This week it will be DeGrenier, the league-leader in passing accuracy who is coming off a 270-yard, 4-TD passing game over Utah.
EXTRASThe Fourth of July game in Casper will be a 5 p.m. start Arizona time ... Last week's game at Utah was the first time this season that an AIFA team had two receivers on the same team that both caught 10 or more passes for 100 or more yards in the same game. Maurice Bryant and Quincy Jackson accomplished the feat last week. Both are also over the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the season.
Special to the Courier
Friday, June 27, 2008
PRESCOTT VALLEY - Adrenaline head coach Andrew Moore doesn't hesitate when asked how he's viewing Saturday night's regular season finale against Wyoming at Tim's Toyota Center.
It's full speed ahead.
The outcome of the game will have no bearing on who goes where come playoff time as the Adrenaline will travel to Casper for a Fourth of July kickoff regardless of how Saturday night's game comes out.
And the Adrenaline have virtually clinched the tie-breaker with Columbus and would get a second-round home game should the two teams get that far. But Moore doesn't feel this is any time to rest his starters, especially since a win would result in a co-West Division title in the team's first year of existence.
"Hey, Quincy, you want to take this game off," Moore said to star receiver Quincy Jackson at practice earlier this week.
"Nah, not this game," Jackson answered.
"I don't think any of these starters would even want to miss a game with Wyoming," Moore added. "Especially when we have an opportunity to call ourselves champions in our first year. Of course our goal is to win the league championship, but even a division championship in a team's first year ... I don't think people realize how much of an accomplishment that is."
However, as of Friday afternoon starting wide receiver Maurice Bryant said he probably would not play tonight. Bryant had to come out of last week's game at Utah in the fourth period with a slightly twisted ankle.
Wyoming head coach Dan "Majic" Maciejczak could not be reached for comment regarding how he would handle his roster Saturday, but one Adrenaline player who will have plenty of incentive is linebacker/defensive end Warren Lott. Lott played for Maciejzcak and the Cavalry the first seven games of the season before asking for his release in seeking a move to Arizona.
Lott made a significant impact in his Adrenaline debut last week at Utah and could be Arizona's X-factor the next two weeks.
"As far as recognizing tendencies and knowing their personnel, I do think I can help us from that standpoint," Lott said. "But it's like poker ... it's drawing for the king of spades for a royal flush. Until the two teams get out there, you never know what is going to happen."
Despite the Adrenaline's success on both sides of the ball in their 55-40 win in Casper three weeks ago, Moore has enough respect for Maciejczak to know that he'll need to mix things up a bit this week.
"I'm sure Coach Majic and his staff will look at the film from last time we played them and scheme a step or two ahead. So we'll have to mix things up a little bit to keep pace."
Due to injuries, the Adrenaline have already used three different quarterbacks in the three games against the Cavalry. Chad DeGrenier was sidelined with an injury the first time the two teams met early in the year, giving way to Jason Swanson. DeGrenier played in the second meeting before Keith Poole pulled off the win in Game 3 when both DeGrenier and Swanson were out.
This week it will be DeGrenier, the league-leader in passing accuracy who is coming off a 270-yard, 4-TD passing game over Utah.
EXTRASThe Fourth of July game in Casper will be a 5 p.m. start Arizona time ... Last week's game at Utah was the first time this season that an AIFA team had two receivers on the same team that both caught 10 or more passes for 100 or more yards in the same game. Maurice Bryant and Quincy Jackson accomplished the feat last week. Both are also over the 1,000 yard receiving mark for the season.
