Week #1 Recaps

Sunday March 31, 2002

Richmond Speed 50, Roanoke Steam 21 (Richmond Coliseum - Richmond, VA)

Game MVP Kevin Harvey rushed for two touchdowns and hauled in one more, helping the Richmond Speed to a 50-21 victory over the Roanoke Steam Saturday night before a crowd of 4,500 people at the Richmond Coliseum.

After swapping touchdowns with the Steam in the first quarter, the Speed took control in the second, scoring 21 unanswered points. Roanoke posted the only score of the third quarter, but a 22-point burst by the Speed in the fourth kept the game out of reach for the Steam.

Speed quarterback Bob Bees completed 20-of-29 passes for 215 yards and four touchdowns. His 215 passing yards pushed him over 6,000 for his Speed career.

Richmond defensive specialist Richard Holland (2UT-3AT, 1 INT) was named ADT Defensive Player of the game, and lineman Walter Shelton grabbed Ironman honors. The Speed defense sacked Steam quarterback Al Clark twice and had four blocked field goals

Hawaiian Islanders 50, Fresno Frenzy 47 (Neal Blaisdell Arena - Honolulu, HI)

Darnell Arceneaux tossed three touchdown passes and ran for three more, including the game-winning score, as the Hawaiian Islanders won their inaugural game 50-47 over the Fresno Frenzy. A crowd of 4,376 people witnessed the arenafootball2 debut for both teams.

Down 47-44 with 52 seconds left, Arceneaux drove the Islanders from their own 5-yard-line to the Frenzy with two completions to Darrell Jones (23 and 6 yards). Arceneaux then sneaked through the right side of the line for the go-ahead touchdown with seven seconds remaining.

Frenzy kicker Brian McCabe had two chances to send the game to overtime, but missed a 36-yard field goal attempt and a 31-yarder after an Islander penalty.

Jones caught 12 passes for 131 yards to earn game MVP honors. Frenzy wide receiver/defensive back Eddie Klaneski was the game`s Ironman with 53 receiving yards, 98 kick return yards and five tackles. Islander linebacker Sae Paogofie was selected as the ADT Defensive Player of the Game with five tackles and one blocked kick.