Wranglers Can`t Start Winning Streak
Mick Cornett
Tuesday June 26, 2001
San Jose had to play most of the game without its kicker. Carlos Huerta pulled a quad muscle in the second quarter and did not return to the game. The SaberCats’ Barry Wagner took over the kicking duties and performed miserably but Oklahoma could never take advantage.
Ironman Tom Briggs and offensive specialist Lamont Cooper continue their incredible seasons. Briggs has sacked opposing quarterbacks five times. He is tied for the league lead in that category with Tampa Bay’s Rod Williams. Cooper is on pace to break the league’s all time record for all-purpose yardage in a season. He is among the league leaders in receiving and kick returns. He’s returned five kicks for touchdowns, running his career total to 19, which is tops in AFL history.
Playoff Picture
If the season ended today, the Wranglers would watch on TV. They would be seeded 16th out of 19 teams and only the top 12 qualify for the postseason. However, the Wranglers are one of five teams that have collected four victories and at least a couple of those teams figure to make the playoffs. Oklahoma has three games remaining and would need to win all three to safely assure a playoff spot. If they win two of the three games, they would likely find themselves in a tie-breaking situation. It could very likely come down to the final week of the season when the Wranglers host Los Angeles, another team on the bubble.
This week
The Nashville Kats will come to Oklahoma City for a 7:30 game in the Myriad. Nashville is 7-4 but only 2-3 on the road. Ironically, Nashville plays its home games in the Gaylord Entertainment Center and the east side of the Myriad faces E.K. Gaylord Avenue. Last week, the Kats whipped Buffalo 87 to 48 in front of over 11,000 fans at the GEC. Former Oklahoma Sooner lineman Bruce McClure plays for the Kats. He lettered four years for OU (1994-’97).
Mick Cornett was a writer for ArenaFan Online from 2000 to 2001.
