Post by marinersmedia on May 20, 2009 18:30:43 GMT -5
The Weekly Match-Up Report
The Baltimore Mariners continue their weekly match-up report by previewing and breaking down the team’s upcoming game against the Columbus Lions.
Baltimore Mariners (4-4) vs. Columbus Lions (7-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 23rd, 7:00 PM
Place: 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Mariners Last Outing:
The Mariners closed out a span of five of six games on the road by losing a heartbreaker to the Erie RiverRats 53-50.
Columbus Lions Last Outing:
The Lions won for the second week in a row against division rivals, the South Carolina Force, by topping them on the road 52-49.
Series:
Lions lead 2-0. The Lions mauled the Mariners 82-19 back in early April in Columbus.
Baltimore Mariners Profile:
Baltimore meet the Mariners, Mariners meet Baltimore. The Mariners have been road warriors playing only one home game since March 22nd. Now they are home for four of the next six weeks to close out the 2009 regular season.
Columbus Lions Profile:
Despite their 7-2 record the Lions are in the midst of a dog fight with the Florence Phantoms (6-3) and Fayetteville Guard (5-3) right on their heels.
When the Mariners have the ball:
The Mariners have now moved to 6th in the league in scoring offense (43.9 points per game) and have maintained their hold as the league’s #1 rushing team. Driving the offense is QB E.J. Nemeth (6’3", 245, Sacred Heart) who ranks 8th in the AIFA with 170.5 yards of total offense per game, Isiaih Greer (6’1", 215, Rhode Island) who leads the league in rushing, and a corps of solid receivers led by WR Jamaal Stokes (6’1", 185, Alcorn St.) who ranks sixth in the league in receptions per game. Baltimore faces a Columbus defense which ranks fourth in the AIFA in scoring defense (35.8 PPG) and total defense (179.3 yards per game). The Lions also lead the league in takeaways and pass defense efficiency.
When the Lions have the ball:
If you thought the Mariners had their hands full on offense, the Baltimore defense will be challenged equally. Columbus ranks #1 in scoring offense (54.4 PPG). Heading the Lion offense is QB Kevin Huff (6’3", 220, Tuskegee) who took over the starting reigns two games ago after Bill Ashburn was traded to Harrisburg. Huff will be countered by a Mariners’ defense, which ranks seventh in the league in pass defense, second in takeaways, and third in passing defense efficiency. DB Armar Watson (5’11", 180, Duquesne) leads the Mariners, and ranks 11th in the league, in tackles with 31 (28 solo, 6 assisted) and leads the AIFA with nine interceptions.
Game Outlook:
Baltimore has survived a brutal early season schedule playing five of the last six games on the road and playing one home game in two months. Now they return to the welcome confines of 1st Mariner Arena and the rabid Baltimore fans. Their season has been marked by highs (two wins over Reading) and lows (the loss to Columbus), but they are in the thick of the playoff hunt with four of their final six at home. The Lions’ one Achilles heel has been the road where they are 3-2 and their three wins have come by a combined six points. Win or lose, should be a tight one.
The Baltimore Mariners continue their weekly match-up report by previewing and breaking down the team’s upcoming game against the Columbus Lions.
Baltimore Mariners (4-4) vs. Columbus Lions (7-2)
Date/Time: Saturday, May 23rd, 7:00 PM
Place: 1st Mariner Arena, Baltimore, MD
Baltimore Mariners Last Outing:
The Mariners closed out a span of five of six games on the road by losing a heartbreaker to the Erie RiverRats 53-50.
Columbus Lions Last Outing:
The Lions won for the second week in a row against division rivals, the South Carolina Force, by topping them on the road 52-49.
Series:
Lions lead 2-0. The Lions mauled the Mariners 82-19 back in early April in Columbus.
Baltimore Mariners Profile:
Baltimore meet the Mariners, Mariners meet Baltimore. The Mariners have been road warriors playing only one home game since March 22nd. Now they are home for four of the next six weeks to close out the 2009 regular season.
Columbus Lions Profile:
Despite their 7-2 record the Lions are in the midst of a dog fight with the Florence Phantoms (6-3) and Fayetteville Guard (5-3) right on their heels.
When the Mariners have the ball:
The Mariners have now moved to 6th in the league in scoring offense (43.9 points per game) and have maintained their hold as the league’s #1 rushing team. Driving the offense is QB E.J. Nemeth (6’3", 245, Sacred Heart) who ranks 8th in the AIFA with 170.5 yards of total offense per game, Isiaih Greer (6’1", 215, Rhode Island) who leads the league in rushing, and a corps of solid receivers led by WR Jamaal Stokes (6’1", 185, Alcorn St.) who ranks sixth in the league in receptions per game. Baltimore faces a Columbus defense which ranks fourth in the AIFA in scoring defense (35.8 PPG) and total defense (179.3 yards per game). The Lions also lead the league in takeaways and pass defense efficiency.
When the Lions have the ball:
If you thought the Mariners had their hands full on offense, the Baltimore defense will be challenged equally. Columbus ranks #1 in scoring offense (54.4 PPG). Heading the Lion offense is QB Kevin Huff (6’3", 220, Tuskegee) who took over the starting reigns two games ago after Bill Ashburn was traded to Harrisburg. Huff will be countered by a Mariners’ defense, which ranks seventh in the league in pass defense, second in takeaways, and third in passing defense efficiency. DB Armar Watson (5’11", 180, Duquesne) leads the Mariners, and ranks 11th in the league, in tackles with 31 (28 solo, 6 assisted) and leads the AIFA with nine interceptions.
Game Outlook:
Baltimore has survived a brutal early season schedule playing five of the last six games on the road and playing one home game in two months. Now they return to the welcome confines of 1st Mariner Arena and the rabid Baltimore fans. Their season has been marked by highs (two wins over Reading) and lows (the loss to Columbus), but they are in the thick of the playoff hunt with four of their final six at home. The Lions’ one Achilles heel has been the road where they are 3-2 and their three wins have come by a combined six points. Win or lose, should be a tight one.
