Stealth Look To Get Back Into Flight
Chad Frey
Thursday June 12, 2003
Both are needed following the team’s loss to 9-0 Tennessee Valley, in which the Stealth turned the ball over six times in the game. Wichita lost DS Lee Vaughn for the season with an ACL injury. The Stealth also lost WR/DB Dan Dawson and OL/DL Noah Drucker.
This weekend the Stealth will try and get back into flight, taking on the San Diego Riptide on the road in a divisional game. It’s a game Wichita needs to win to stay in the play-off hunt. "This is a big game for both teams," said Wichita coach Sean Ponder.
And despite Wichita resembling a M*A*S*H unit as of late, Ponder likes Wichita’s chances as they hit the road for the second time in as many weeks.
"Execution is the key to this game," Ponder said. "We have had a good week of practice. Guys have really paid attention because they are doing some new things."
And the Stealth has an ace in the hole, so to speak. Wichita was assigned OL/DL Henry Stevens. Stevens will be in uniform this week to play line, but his real value has come as a scout. Steven started the year with San Diego.
"He brings with him some real insight as to what they like to do with their line," Ponder said. "And we have been tapping into that this week."
Getting to QB Cane Claunch, who has hit 157 of his 280 passing attempts for 2170 yards this season, will be key to the defensive scheme this week. But stopping his receivers from getting open will be just as important.
Wichita will face a talented pair of receivers, Lamont Webb averages 131 yards receiving, paced by Steve Papin at 73.5 yards per game.
"We need to stop them when those two guys are on the field," Ponder said. "They will have about four times during the game when those guys can be on the field together. We need to stop them at least twice when they are paired up."
To achieve that, and to deal with the loss of Lee Vaughn, Wichita will activate Derrik Yates. Yates is a familiar name for Kansas State fans, as he played two seasons for the Wildcats.
"Yates is a good defensive back that has been waiting his turn here," Ponder said. "We is a very good cover guy. I think he will help us at that position."
To make up for the loss of Dan Dawson, Wichita will call on rookie David Castleton from BYU.
"He runs good routes," Ponder said. "We will play him two ways and see what he can do. He has very good hands, some of the best hands on the team."
Somari Buchanan, who has played WR/LB all season, will move to offensive specialist.
"We are not putting people in positions they are uncomfortable with," Ponder said. "When you lose as many people as we have, sometimes that is the case."
Notes—WR/DB Greg Kyler is serving a voluntary two game suspension. Kyler had family issues to deal with. The suspension allows Wichita to keep his rights while
filling the roster hole created by Kyler’s absence…OL/DL John Hesse was activated off of the injured reserve this week…FB/LB John Norman was activated off of the short term IR this week…Golden Goodwin played in his first game for the Stealth against Tennessee Valley, catching six balls for 86 yards and a touchdown. Melvin Phillips also played his first game for Wichita that night, catching four balls for 46 yards and a touchdown…Following this weekend, Wichita has one game remaining on its current road swing, June 21 at Arkansas. Wichita will return to home action June 28 against San Diego.
Chad Frey has been a fan of arena football since seeing a game on late-night ESPN many moons ago, and seeing Kurt Warner succeed with the Barnstormers after a career under his favorite football coach, Terry Allen, at the University of Northern Iowa. Chad, known to his close friends as Frey Guy, moved from Iowa to Kansas three years ago. Chad is a full-time newspaper reporter in Newton, Kan., reporting on education and family issues.
