2002 AF2 season

2002 AF2 season
LeagueAF2
SportArena football
Regular season
Season championsTulsa Talons
Playoffs
American championsFlorida Firecats
  American runners-upCape Fear Wildcats
National championsPeoria Pirates
  National runners-upBirmingham Steeldogs
ArenaCup III
ChampionsPeoria Pirates
  Runners-upFlorida Firecats
AF2 seasons

The 2002 AF2 season was the third season of the AF2. It was preceded by 2001 and succeeded by 2003. The league champions were the Peoria Pirates, who defeated the Florida Firecats in ArenaCup III. This is also the first time that both conferences have the same division name (in that case, the American Conference Southern Division and the National Conference Southern Division, respectively). It is also the only season where both conferences have four divisions each, a la the 2002–present era of the NFL.

League info

New teams Albany Conquest, Bakersfield Blitz, Cape Fear Wildcats, Fresno Frenzy, Hawaiian Islanders, Mobile Wizards, Mohegan Wolves, New Haven Ninjas, San Diego Riptide, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
Renamed / Relocated teams None
Defunct teams Baton Rouge Blaze, Iowa Barnstormers, Lafayette Roughnecks, Lincoln Lightning
Total teams 34

Standings

Team Overall Division
Wins Losses Percentage Wins Losses Percentage
American Conference
Atlantic Division
Cape Fear Wildcats 13 3 0.812 6 2 0.750
Richmond Speed 12 4 0.750 7 1 0.875
Norfolk Nighthawks 8 8 0.500 4 4 0.500
Roanoke Steam 8 8 0.500 3 5 0.375
Greensboro Prowlers 3 13 0.187 0 8 0.000
Northeast Division
Albany Conquest 13 3 0.812 11 1 0.917
Rochester Brigade 7 9 0.437 6 6 0.500
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers 6 10 0.375 6 6 0.500
New Haven Ninjas 6 10 0.375 5 7 0.417
Mohegan Wolves 3 13 0.187 2 10 0.167
Eastern Division
Macon Knights 13 3 0.812 5 1 0.833
Augusta Stallions 13 3 0.812 5 1 0.833
Carolina Rhinos 5 11 0.312 1 5 0.167
Columbus Wardogs 4 12 0.250 1 5 0.167
Southern Division
Tallahassee Thunder 9 7 0.562 7 3 0.700
Florida Firecats 9 7 0.562 5 6 0.455
Jacksonville Tomcats 8 8 0.500 7 3 0.700
Charleston Swamp Foxes 7 9 0.437 2 4 0.333
National Conference
Southern Division
Tennessee Valley Vipers 13 3 0.812 5 1 0.833
Birmingham Steeldogs 11 5 0.687 5 2 0.714
Pensacola Barracudas 8 8 0.500 6 6 0.500
Mobile Wizards 0 16 0.000 0 12 0.000
Central Division
Tulsa Talons 14 2 0.875 4 2 0.667
Arkansas Twisters 11 5 0.687 4 2 0.667
Bossier City Battle Wings 9 7 0.562 3 3 0.500
Memphis Xplorers 5 11 0.312 1 5 0.167
Midwest Division
Peoria Pirates 11 5 0.687 6 0 1.000
Quad City Steamwheelers* 10 6 0.625 3 3 0.500
Wichita Stealth 6 10 0.375 3 3 0.500
Louisville Fire 2 14 0.125 0 6 0.000
Western Division
Bakersfield Blitz 9 7 0.562 7 2 0.778
San Diego Riptide 7 9 0.437 5 4 0.556
Hawaiian Islanders 5 11 0.312 4 5 0.444
Fresno Frenzy 4 12 0.250 2 7 0.222
  • Green indicates clinched playoff berth
  • Purple indicates division champion
  • Grey indicates best regular season record

* The Steamwheelers were banned from the playoffs for rule violations.

Playoffs

Division Championships Conference Semifinals Conference Championships ArenaCup III
            
2 Florida 43
1 Tallahassee 31
SD2 Florida 44
ED1 Macon 28
2 Augusta 41
1 Macon 57
SD2 Florida 43
American Conference
AD1 Cape Fear 23
2 Rochester 26
1 Albany 31
ND1 Albany 30
AD1 Cape Fear 46
2 Richmond 48
1 Cape Fear 57
AC7 Florida 47
NC3 Peoria 65
2 Birmingham 65
1 Tennessee Valley 51
SD2 Birmingham 53
CD1 Tulsa 34
2 Arkansas 32
1 Tulsa 34
SD2 Birmingham 33
National Conference
MD1 Peoria 79
2 San Diego 40
1 Bakersfield 27
WD2 San Diego 12
MD1 Peoria 22
2 Wichita 36
1 Peoria 37

Awards and honors

Regular season awards

Award Winner Position Team
Offensive Player of the Year Mitch Allner Quarterback Tulsa Talons
Defensive Player of the Year Kelly Snell Defensive Specialist Tennessee Valley Vipers
Ironman of the Year Kevin Harvey Wide receiver/Defensive back Richmond Speed
Lineman of the Year E. J. Burt Lineman Cape Fear Wildcats
Built Ford Tough Man of the Year Jeff Cogell Lineman Mohegan Wolves
Rookie of the Year Lincoln Dupree Defensive Specialist / Kick Returner Peoria Pirates
Coach of the Year Ron Selesky Head Coach Albany Conquest

ArenaCup III

III
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Tot
Florida Firecats 7 6 12 22 47
Peoria Pirates 6 17 13 29 65
Date August 23, 2002
Arena Carver Arena
City Peoria, Illinois
Attendance 7,552
Offensive Player of the Game Cornell Craig
Defensive Player of the Game Lincoln Dupree
Ironman of the Game Titcus Pettigrew
Winning Coach Bruce Cowdrey
Losing Coach John Fourcade

ArenaCup III was the 2002 edition of the AF2's championship game, in which the National Conference Champions Florida Firecats were defeated by the American Conference Champions Peoria Pirates in Peoria, Illinois by a score of 65 to 47.

Scoring Summary

[1]

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP Florida Firecats Peoria Pirates
1 10:34 2 38 1:45 Florida Firecats Anthony Dixon 28-yard touchdown reception from Bryan Sparacino, Brandon Kornblue kick Good 7 0
1 5:23 7 31 5:11 Peoria Pirates Cornell Craig 19-yard touchdown reception from Jerome Hurd, Kraig Baker kick Failed 7 6
2 9:37 7 39 4:08 Peoria Pirates 28-yard field goal by Kraig Baker 7 9
2 6:17 5 45 3:20 Florida Firecats Dedric Maffet 3-yard touchdown run, Brandon Kornblue kick Failed 13 9
2 4:41 1 55 0 Peoria Pirates Lincoln Dupree 55 yard Kickoff Return Touchdown, Kraig Baker PAT 13 16
2 0:20 1 26 0:08 Peoria Pirates Cornell Craig 26-yard touchdown reception from Jerome Hurd, Kraig Baker kick Good 13 23
3 11:04 5 13 3:56 Florida Firecats 29-yard field goal by Brandon Kornblue 16 23
3 9:29 Florida Firecats Anthony Dixon 12 yard interception return for a touchdown, Brandon Kornblue PAT 23 23
3 8:51 Florida Firecats Deryl Lynn Safety 25 23
3 6:59 2 9 1:04 Peoria Pirates Jason Short 3-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass failed 25 29
3 1:44 3 45 1:42 Peoria Pirates Brandon Campbell 22-yard touchdown reception from Walter Church, Kraig Baker kick Good 25 36
4 14:54 Peoria Pirates Ken Bouie Safety 25 38
4 11:35 5 40 3:19 Peoria Pirates Cornell Craig 5-yard touchdown reception from Walter Church, Kraig Baker kick Good 25 45
4 7:31 2 10 1:04 Peoria Pirates Jason Short 4-yard touchdown run, Kraig Baker kick Good 25 52
4 4:14 4 45 3:17 Florida Firecats Magic Benton 39-yard touchdown reception from Josh Rogers, 2-point rush succeeds 33 52
4 3:38 Peoria Pirates Lincoln Dupree 10 yard kickoff return Touchdown, Kraig Baker PAT Blocked 33 58
4 2:30 1 31 1:08 Florida Firecats Magic Benton 31-yard touchdown reception from Josh Rogers, 2-point Kevin Huntley pass from Josh Rogers succeeds 41 58
4 0:55 3 16 1:35 Peoria Pirates Walter Church 12-yard touchdown run, Kraig Baker kick Good 41 65
4 0:25 5 30 0:30 Florida Firecats Kevin Huntley 11-yard touchdown reception from Josh Rogers, 2-point pass from Josh Rogers fails 47 65
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. Florida Firecats Peoria Pirates

References

  1. ^ "ArenaCup III Boxscore". AF2. Archived from the original on 2002-10-02.