Post by djh0722 on Mar 24, 2009 10:27:49 GMT -5
WEEKLY MATCHUP REPORT: BALTIMORE AT HARRISBURG
John Wolfe | Special to the Mariners | www.baltimoremariners.com
Baltimore Mariners (2-0) vs. Harrisburg Stampede (0-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, March 28th, 7:00 PM
Place: Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA
Baltimore Mariners Last Outing: Mariners roared past Reading 59-44
Harrisburg Stampede Last Outing: Stampede were stalled by the Phantoms 19-13
Series: First meeting. The “I-83 Series,” kicks off as these two neighboring cities, separated by a short drive up I-83 will face off three times in the Stampede’s inaugural season.
Baltimore Mariners Profile: “If you ain't first, you're last.” Well, maybe it’s not that extreme in a five team division, but first sure feels good to the Mariners right now. For the first time in their two-year existence the Mariners own sole possession of first in their division and have removed the three-game Reading losing streak from their backs.
Harrisburg Stampede Profile: The Stampede has a familiar feel as former Baltimore Mariners owners’ and AIFA owners’ John Morris and Mike Mink bring their brand of indoor football to central PA. Pennsylvania’s capital city has embraced the team as over 3,000 witnessed the Stampede best an AIFA All-Star team in a January exhibition. This will be the team’s first home regular game in Stampede history so the crowd should be pumped.
Players to Watch:
Baltimore Mariners:
Offense: With two more scores against Reading, RB Isaiah Grier (6’1”, 215) boosted his league leading touchdown total to six. Grier is also second in the league in rushing yards per game (40) and rushing yards per carry (4.7). After 13 of 32 passing for 118 yards versus the Express, QB E.J. Nemeth (6’3”, 245) is seventh in the league in yards per game (142.5) and passing efficiency (88.9). WR Jamaal Stokes (6’1”, 185) is now second in the AIFA with 14 receptions and fifth in the league with 154 receiving yards. WR Scorpio Brown (6’4”, 225) is right behind in the same category with 122 yards.
Defense: After stacking up eight tackles versus the Express, Morgan State’s own, DB/LB Joe Taylor (6’1”, 225) now ranks sixth in the AIFA with ten tackles, DB Richard Johnson (5’11”, 200) isn’t far behind with nine and also picked off two of Rob Flowers passes in the win over Reading. Armar Watson also contributed to the Mariner’s ball hawking defense with two int. grabs of his own. Howard Battle (6’2”, 300) and Marques Ogden (6’5”, 290) both bring heat off the line with 1.5 sacks each.
Special Teams: Baltimore fans’ “newest, bestest buddy, and big toe,” J.R. Cipra (5’9”, 170) continues to be the man, leading the league in scoring with 39 points. Against Reading he totaled 21 points with four field goals, five extra points, and four rouges. Armar Watson (5’11”, 180) leads the league in missed field goal return average yardage (24.0) and is third in kick return average yardage (22.5).
Harrisburg Stampede:
Offense: In Week 1 QB A.J. Roque (6’, 190), a two-time all conference selectee and honorable mention All-American out of Kean University, led the Stampede against the defending champion Florence Phantoms. In Week 2 Harrisburg will be led by former Dallas Cowboy and Atlanta Falcon Woody Dantzler (6’, 205”). Dantzler followed a record setting career as a quarterback at Clemson with three seasons in the NFL with Dallas (2002, 2005) and the Atlanta Falcons (2003, 2004) where he notched scores as a kick returner and running back. Dantzler also saw time as a DB with the Frankfurt Galaxy (2005) of NFL Europe and the Chicago Rush (2006, 2007) of the Arena Football League. The Stampede’s leading receivers are Mores Manoyrine (6'1" 200) out of South Carolina State (5 catches, 80 yards, one TD) and former Louisville Cardinal Rafael Cooper (6’, 205) who reeled in four receptions for 50 yards and a score.
Defense: In their week one loss to the Phantoms the Stampede were led on defense by their DBs, including two former Mariners (Leroy Kelly and Archie Smith). Kelly (5'11", 190), led Harrisburg with three solo tackles. Smith (6'1', 180) netted one tackle.
Special Teams: Kicker Seth Miller (6'0", 210) netted only one point in the battle against the Phantoms going 1 for 1 on extra points, but 0 for 4 on field goal attempts with misses from 27, 41 and two from 44 yards. Cooper and Dave Dawson (5’8”, 180) each had one kick return. Cooper’s for 30 yards and Dawson’s for 22.
When the Mariners have the ball: Baltimore continues to produce the league’s most balanced attack resulting in the AIFA’s number one scoring offense (59.5 ppg). The Mariners lead the league in rushing offense with 61 yards per game and nine rushing touchdowns, while the passing offense ranks seventh with 142.5 yards per game. Overall, the team ranks sixth in total offense (203.5 yards per game). The Stampede rank second in scoring defense allowing only 19 points in their lone game against the Phantoms, but Florence was able to move the ball totaling 203 yards against Harrisburg. Look for the Mariners to continue to emphasize the run as Florence did experience some success (37 yards on 14 carries) against the Stampede D.
When the Stampede have the ball: The Mariners have become a very opportunistic group on defense with ten takeaways in two games and the team now holds a +8 turnover ratio; as the Mariners offense has become equally good at protecting the ball. The tenth ranked Stampede scoring offense squares off against the Mariners fourth ranked scoring defense. Harrisburg also ranks tenth in total offense with 119 yards per game, but look to get a spark with the addition of Dantzler. Look for the Mariners to pressure Dantzler while trying to limit long, breakaway runs.
Game Outlook: Despite Baltimore’s 2-0 start there is no rest for the weary as the Harrisburg game kicks off a stretch of five of six on the road running through May 10th. Included are games at Columbus (2-0), Reading (1-1) and a second trip to Harrisburg. The lone break, if you can call it that, is home on April 24th against the Florence Phantoms. For the Stampede, the home fans will be pumped as pro football comes to Harrisburg. This will be the first of a three game home stand, which sees the Mariners, expansion South Carolina Force, and Columbus come to town. A win by Baltimore and they own an early season 2 ½ game lead over Harrisburg. The Stampede wins and the race continues to be wide open.
John Wolfe | Special to the Mariners | www.baltimoremariners.com
Baltimore Mariners (2-0) vs. Harrisburg Stampede (0-1)
Date/Time: Saturday, March 28th, 7:00 PM
Place: Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA
Baltimore Mariners Last Outing: Mariners roared past Reading 59-44
Harrisburg Stampede Last Outing: Stampede were stalled by the Phantoms 19-13
Series: First meeting. The “I-83 Series,” kicks off as these two neighboring cities, separated by a short drive up I-83 will face off three times in the Stampede’s inaugural season.
Baltimore Mariners Profile: “If you ain't first, you're last.” Well, maybe it’s not that extreme in a five team division, but first sure feels good to the Mariners right now. For the first time in their two-year existence the Mariners own sole possession of first in their division and have removed the three-game Reading losing streak from their backs.
Harrisburg Stampede Profile: The Stampede has a familiar feel as former Baltimore Mariners owners’ and AIFA owners’ John Morris and Mike Mink bring their brand of indoor football to central PA. Pennsylvania’s capital city has embraced the team as over 3,000 witnessed the Stampede best an AIFA All-Star team in a January exhibition. This will be the team’s first home regular game in Stampede history so the crowd should be pumped.
Players to Watch:
Baltimore Mariners:
Offense: With two more scores against Reading, RB Isaiah Grier (6’1”, 215) boosted his league leading touchdown total to six. Grier is also second in the league in rushing yards per game (40) and rushing yards per carry (4.7). After 13 of 32 passing for 118 yards versus the Express, QB E.J. Nemeth (6’3”, 245) is seventh in the league in yards per game (142.5) and passing efficiency (88.9). WR Jamaal Stokes (6’1”, 185) is now second in the AIFA with 14 receptions and fifth in the league with 154 receiving yards. WR Scorpio Brown (6’4”, 225) is right behind in the same category with 122 yards.
Defense: After stacking up eight tackles versus the Express, Morgan State’s own, DB/LB Joe Taylor (6’1”, 225) now ranks sixth in the AIFA with ten tackles, DB Richard Johnson (5’11”, 200) isn’t far behind with nine and also picked off two of Rob Flowers passes in the win over Reading. Armar Watson also contributed to the Mariner’s ball hawking defense with two int. grabs of his own. Howard Battle (6’2”, 300) and Marques Ogden (6’5”, 290) both bring heat off the line with 1.5 sacks each.
Special Teams: Baltimore fans’ “newest, bestest buddy, and big toe,” J.R. Cipra (5’9”, 170) continues to be the man, leading the league in scoring with 39 points. Against Reading he totaled 21 points with four field goals, five extra points, and four rouges. Armar Watson (5’11”, 180) leads the league in missed field goal return average yardage (24.0) and is third in kick return average yardage (22.5).
Harrisburg Stampede:
Offense: In Week 1 QB A.J. Roque (6’, 190), a two-time all conference selectee and honorable mention All-American out of Kean University, led the Stampede against the defending champion Florence Phantoms. In Week 2 Harrisburg will be led by former Dallas Cowboy and Atlanta Falcon Woody Dantzler (6’, 205”). Dantzler followed a record setting career as a quarterback at Clemson with three seasons in the NFL with Dallas (2002, 2005) and the Atlanta Falcons (2003, 2004) where he notched scores as a kick returner and running back. Dantzler also saw time as a DB with the Frankfurt Galaxy (2005) of NFL Europe and the Chicago Rush (2006, 2007) of the Arena Football League. The Stampede’s leading receivers are Mores Manoyrine (6'1" 200) out of South Carolina State (5 catches, 80 yards, one TD) and former Louisville Cardinal Rafael Cooper (6’, 205) who reeled in four receptions for 50 yards and a score.
Defense: In their week one loss to the Phantoms the Stampede were led on defense by their DBs, including two former Mariners (Leroy Kelly and Archie Smith). Kelly (5'11", 190), led Harrisburg with three solo tackles. Smith (6'1', 180) netted one tackle.
Special Teams: Kicker Seth Miller (6'0", 210) netted only one point in the battle against the Phantoms going 1 for 1 on extra points, but 0 for 4 on field goal attempts with misses from 27, 41 and two from 44 yards. Cooper and Dave Dawson (5’8”, 180) each had one kick return. Cooper’s for 30 yards and Dawson’s for 22.
When the Mariners have the ball: Baltimore continues to produce the league’s most balanced attack resulting in the AIFA’s number one scoring offense (59.5 ppg). The Mariners lead the league in rushing offense with 61 yards per game and nine rushing touchdowns, while the passing offense ranks seventh with 142.5 yards per game. Overall, the team ranks sixth in total offense (203.5 yards per game). The Stampede rank second in scoring defense allowing only 19 points in their lone game against the Phantoms, but Florence was able to move the ball totaling 203 yards against Harrisburg. Look for the Mariners to continue to emphasize the run as Florence did experience some success (37 yards on 14 carries) against the Stampede D.
When the Stampede have the ball: The Mariners have become a very opportunistic group on defense with ten takeaways in two games and the team now holds a +8 turnover ratio; as the Mariners offense has become equally good at protecting the ball. The tenth ranked Stampede scoring offense squares off against the Mariners fourth ranked scoring defense. Harrisburg also ranks tenth in total offense with 119 yards per game, but look to get a spark with the addition of Dantzler. Look for the Mariners to pressure Dantzler while trying to limit long, breakaway runs.
Game Outlook: Despite Baltimore’s 2-0 start there is no rest for the weary as the Harrisburg game kicks off a stretch of five of six on the road running through May 10th. Included are games at Columbus (2-0), Reading (1-1) and a second trip to Harrisburg. The lone break, if you can call it that, is home on April 24th against the Florence Phantoms. For the Stampede, the home fans will be pumped as pro football comes to Harrisburg. This will be the first of a three game home stand, which sees the Mariners, expansion South Carolina Force, and Columbus come to town. A win by Baltimore and they own an early season 2 ½ game lead over Harrisburg. The Stampede wins and the race continues to be wide open.