Richmond And Albany Renew Spirited Rivalry--Times Two
David Chappell
Friday April 4, 2003
Albany caught Richmond’s eye quickly last season on June 1, 2002, the first ever meeting between the teams. On that night in Richmond, the expansion Conquest entered the game at 6-1, with a number of nail biting victories, but still untested against the af2’s elite. Richmond entered the game 7-0 and appeared to be the most dominant team in the league. Some Speed fans were even dreaming of an undefeated season. The Conquest turned that dream into a living nightmare, shocking the Speed 33-30 on a late Chris Drennan field goal. The Conquest defense was outstanding in the fourth quarter, forcing Speed quarterback Bob Bees into several uncharacteristic miscues.
Richmond won last year’s rematch four weeks later in Albany, in a classic 66-59 shootout. 2003 Speed returnees Jeff Townsley and Damon “Redd” Thompson both had terrific nights receiving in that game. The rematch was emotion filled, which resulted in several post-play altercations and a large number of penalties on both sides. A rivalry between these two squads was clearly taking off. The teams narrowly missed meeting for a third time in the 2002 af2 playoffs.
According to Speed Head Coach Richard Davis, the two games with the Northeast Division Champion Conquest last season were ”knock down drag outs.” Clearly the two battles with Albany last year, an area with a rich tradition of Arena Football, but an af2 expansion team last season, made a significant and positive impression on Davis. “We have a lot of respect for what they’ve accomplished early on, “ said Davis. The Speed’s headman also appreciates the tough style of play exhibited by the Conquest. “They are as physical a team as we’ve ever played, and that includes Cape Fear and Tennessee Valley,” Davis said.
What concerns Davis most about Saturday’s opener is that many of the Conquest that impressed him so in 2002 will be back in Albany uniforms on Saturday night. In sharp contrast, the Speed have had a massive overhaul in personnel and Davis is concerned about a possible “a lack of continuity” on the Richmond side of the field. “They had 16-17 guys come back, and we’ve got a bunch of new guys,” Davis explained. Of those members of the Conquest have returning this season are steady and efficient QB Ryan Vena, 2002 af2 leading receiver Corey Hill, rugged FB/LB Matt Vittengl and lineman Mike Levy particularly bear watching. New addition FB/LB Ron Perry figures to step in and make an immediate impact for Albany.
Richmond will likely rely on several new and talented, but untested, linemen to attempt to protect rookie QB Joel Gordon Saturday night. If Gordon gets adequate time to throw, he has a slew of talented receivers who can catch the football, including Damon Thompson, Jeff Townsley and Kevin Harvey. On the other side of the ball, the Speed figures to be tough to throw on Saturday, with Richard Holland, “Nip” Henderson and speedy newcomer Dashane Dennis forming an impressive core in the defensive backfield. The Speed appear to have a clear size advantage, but if the game comes down to kicking, Albany has the edge with the veteran Drennan.
Neither Albany nor Richmond appears particularly enamored with having to play the other in the season opener, let alone twice within six days. First year Conquest coach Pete Costanza was quoted in a recent Albany press release as saying “[t]hese two games are going to test our character right from the start. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have a division game out of the gate, but for a non-divisional match-up, this one ranks up there with the best of them in af2.”
Richmond’s Davis describes the opening games with Albany as “two heavyweights going at each other.” While admitting that his young team opening with the veteran Conquest was probably not the best draw he could have gotten from the schedule makers, Davis says his bunch is ready to “line up and play.” Commenting on the fast approaching back-to-back games with the Conquest, Davis said, “We may end up 0-2, and have a good team and not even realize it.” But he quickly added, “I don’t expect to be 0-2.”
Odds and Ends; This and That
Davis currently leads all active af2 coaches in regular season victories with 32…The Speed have won 19 of their last 20 games at the Richmond Coliseum, the lone loss in that span being to Albany…Under Davis, the Speed are 19-4 at home…The Conquest did not return a single kick for a touchdown during the 2002 season…Albany FB/LB Ron Perry was AFL Rookie of the Year in 1997 while playing for the Florida Bobcats.
David Chappell is a native of Richmond, Virginia. He has closely followed local sports in Richmond and vicinity for over thirty years, and Arena Football 2 since its inception. David currently writes extensively for a website that he co-founded which documents professional wrestling in Virginia and surrounding areas from 1974-1986. A former elected prosecutor, David is currently a practicing attorney in a large downtown Richmond law firm.
