Knights Win; Stay Unbeaten with Big Test Next Week
Keith Murphy
Sunday April 21, 2002
The Knights struck early and held a 38 – 19 lead with less than twelve minutes to play. Then the Knights’ offense stalled and starting QB Mike Gluski was benched. “We pulled him. It had kind of been building . . .it looked like we were being ineffective so we tried to charge ‘em up. But it didn’t work.”
Gluski’s replacement, Renotto Solomon, proved to be equally ineffective. Porter says Solomon’s problems were due to nerves and the fact that this was his first time under center at full game speed. “It’s easier in practice but the game’s pace is so much different. The first time out is kind of a shock.” Porter said that Solomon committed the same cardinal sins that many quarterbacks commit their first time under center including not knowing when to just throw the ball away. Don’t expect a quarterback controversy this week at Macon as Porter says that Gluski will “absolutely” be his starter against Tennessee Valley.
In the fourth quarter of the game, Carolina managed to close the gap and even had a chance to steal a victory in the game’s closing seconds, but Porter doesn’t feel that the Rhinos exposed any weaknesses in the Macon Defense. “No. We played well pretty much the entire game. They had two big plays when our people got knocked down in coverage. In Arena Football if you can hold a team to 30 points you should win.”
Porter was quick to commend one aspect of the Knight’s game: “Our big guys up front, the fullbacks, and the linebackers have been very consistent. Good line play, in any league, is going to give you a chance to win.”
Next up for the Knights is perennial AF2 power Tennessee Valley. Porter sees this game as a chance for the Knights to test their mettle. “They’re pretty good. The biggest thing they have going for them is their consistency. They change head coaches every year, but they have stayed consistent with their offensive coordinator and line coach. Consistency and good players and a good team is a program for success.”
The Vipers will be coming to Macon fresh off a 72 – 28 dismantling of the Mobile Wizards. “We have our work cut out for us. Our guys are looking for the opportunity to see how we really match up with one of the elite teams – we aren’t there yet.” This match up of unbeatens should be the premier game this weekend. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 Saturday April 27 at the Macon Coliseum.
Dr. Murphy has nearly 20 years of media experience ranging from radio to the Internet. He has served as webmaster for two AF2 teams and the football team at Fort Valley State University. He is a professor at FVSU and directs www.bunniwerks.org, a non-profit rabbit rescue organization. He has been commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel. Murphy is also serving as a first party editor of af2 stories for ArenaFfan. For more information about Dr. Murphy see: www.keithmurphy.info
