Stealth Defense Shines Early in Season
Chad Frey
Monday April 12, 2004
The Wichita Stealth, two-time play-off qualifiers in three seasons, are playing defense like never before in the young 2004 season.
In two games, the af2 team has held their opponents scoreless for five quarters. Opponents are averaging just 17.5 points per game against the Stealth, the best average for teams with two games played in the league. The team is also first in yards allowed, 162.0 per game, among teams with two games played.
It all starts up front, with a pass rush that has harried quarterbacks — collecting 10 sacks for 66 yards. Opposing quarterbacks have completed only 43 percent of their passes.
“The big thing you can do in the game is put pressure on the quarterback,” said head coach Sean Ponder.
In the Stealth’s last game, a 44-22 win over Laredo, seven players recorded a sack or an assist. They seemed to come from everywhere, on nearly every play. Lineman Cliff Holloman, Markevius Woods and Dustin Fish all recorded solo sacks and linebackers Christopher Highshaw and Daren Williams blitzed successfully all night long, each recording solo sacks.
“Those guys put pressure on the quarterback again,” Ponder said. “I think right now we have one of the best pass rushes in the league.”
It is the defensive line that has produced much of that rush. Holloman has been named the defensive MVP in both home starts. Opposing quarterbacks have not found a rhythm, spending as much time lying on their back as a light inspector for the Kansas Coliseum does.
“Our line with be the key to our success for the season,” said WR/DB Marc Bacote. “It is all on them, and we have one of the best in the league.”
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.
