Macon Faces Tough Test With New Leadership
Keith Murphy
Friday April 26, 2002
Now, that new quarterback, John Rayborn finds himself preparing to start for an undefeated Macon Knights team who just sent former starter Mike Gluski packing to Cape Fear. Knights coach Kevin Porter explains the rationale behind the trade: “Coming into the season we had great expectations for Mike. We told him it was his job to lose. Along with that comes the responsibility of leading and playing well. We had situations where we could have played better at that position [quarterback].” With Rayborn, Porter felt that the Knights, “had an opportunity to get a player who was very good, had good experience, and played in a good offense. So, I made the change. Mike didn’t want to be a backup, so we made the trade.”
Rayborn brings experience to the Knights’ offense. “He’s a very good player. John is going to do good things. He played in the Canadian Football League [with Saskatchewan] and he was a backup with Indiana.” That experience will be vital Saturday. “A good quarterback with no experience would find it more difficult [to walk into the starter’s role]. Having played at the Arena One level he should get in the game and do fine.” Porter’s biggest concern was that Rayborn will not be used to the Macon receivers and the way they run their routes. Porter expects Rayborn to be a good fit for the team, “Tres [Sullivan, Knights Offensive Coordinator] coached him in college [UTEP] and has a great deal of respect for him. We’re excited. He had a very good day of practice Wednesday.”
Rayborn will begin his career as a Knight facing one of the toughest teams in AF2, The 2-0 Tennessee Valley Vipers. The Vipers are ranked fourth in the league in total offense and are led by quarterback Wes Counts. Porter says that he is impressed with the Viper’s field leader; “Counts is very accurate. When you’re talking about Arena QBs that’s one of the things you’re looking for. That’s one of the things I have been most impressed about with him. He throws the ball where only his guy can catch it.”
Porter says that Tennessee Valley’s experience is their strong suit. “They are a veteran team that plays hard and knows how to win. They are well coached. They have a bunch of guys back from two successful seasons. With that kind of success they expect to go out and play well every night. We know they’re going to play good football.”
To win, the Knight’s offensive line must continue to protect the quarterback. The line has surrendered only two sacks in their opening three games and whether Rayborn or Renotto Solomon is under center, both will need all the time the line can give them as Tennessee Valley boasts the eighth ranked scoring defense in the league. On the other side of the ball, Macon’s defense must find a way to stop an offense that racked up 72 points against Mobile.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 Saturday 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