Turfcats vs. Mudbugs Game Notes
Posted on June 28, 2009
QUICK FACTS:
Austin Turfcats (6-2) vs. Acadiana Mudbugs (5-3)
Date: Monday, June 29, 2009, 7:05 p.m. CT
Site: Blackham Coliseum, Lafayette, La.
Capacity: 7,000
National Anthem: Sweet Adeline Bayou Blend Chorus
Prayer: NA
Coin Toss: Team captains
Officials: NA
Podcast: Kasey Johns and Jenna Weynand
Series Record: Turfcats 0 – Mudbugs 1
Last Meeting: Saturday, April 18, 2009
Coaches:
Turfcats: Chris Duliban (6-2, First season in the SIFL)
Mudbugs: John Fourcade (5-3, First season in the SIFL)
Media Contacts:
Turfcats:
Jenna Weynand – Office (866) 969-8228,
Mobile (512) 757-3882, jenna@turfcats.com
Mudbugs:
THE STAKES: The Turfcats are looking to continue to improve their record in order to secure home field advantage for the playoffs. If the Turfcats lose they will be tied for second with the Mudbugs.
THE SERIES: This is the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Mudbugs won the first game 37-29 on April 18, 2009.
THE IFs:
If the Turfcats defeat the Mudbugs, it would …
· Make the Turfcats the undisputed second place team in the league
· Give the Turfcats a 7-2 record in 2009.
· Give the Turfcats a 1-1 series record with the Mudbugs.
· Give the Turfcats a 2-1 road record in 2009.
· Give the Turfcats a 2-game winning streak.
· Give Coach Duliban a 7-2 record as an SIFL head coach.
2009 Turfcats Schedule
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Time
|
Score
|
|
|
4/18
|
Acadiana Mudbugs
|
6:30 PM
|
37-29
|
L
|
|
4/26
|
@ Houma Conquerors
|
5:00 PM
|
64-32
|
W
|
|
5/2
|
BYE
|
|
|
|
|
5/9
|
La. Swashbucklers
|
6:30 PM
|
53-56
|
W
|
|
5/16
|
Houma Conquerors
|
6:30 PM
|
55-27
|
W
|
|
5/23
|
Texas Hurricanes
|
6:30 PM
|
20-38
|
W
|
|
5/30
|
@ Texas Hurricanes
|
Postponed
|
to 7/7
|
|
|
6/6
|
North Texas Crunch
|
6:30 PM
|
15-71
|
W
|
|
6/15
|
@ La. Swashbucklers
|
6:30 PM
|
43-60
|
L
|
|
6/20
|
Texas Hurricanes
|
6:30 PM
|
41-34
|
W
|
|
6/29
|
@ Acadiana Mudbugs
|
7:05 PM
|
|
|
|
7/7
|
@ Texas Hurricanes
|
7:00 PM
|
|
|
|
7/11
|
@ Texas Hurricanes
|
7:00 PM
|
|
|
2009 Mudbugs Schedule
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Time
|
Score
|
|
|
4/18
|
@ Austin Turfcats
|
6:30 PM
|
37-29
|
W
|
|
4/ 25
|
Texas Hurricanes
|
7:05 PM
|
12-38
|
W
|
|
5/ 02
|
BYE
|
|
|
|
|
5/ 09
|
Houma Conquerors
|
7:05 PM
|
23-31
|
W
|
|
5/16
|
@ La Swashbucklers
|
6:30 PM
|
35-56
|
L
|
|
5/23
|
BYE
|
|
|
|
|
6/01
|
@ La Swashbucklers
|
6:30 PM
|
35-56
|
L
|
|
6/06
|
La Swashbucklers
|
7:05 PM
|
21-27
|
L
|
|
6/13
|
Houma Conquerors
|
7:05 PM
|
33-35
|
W
|
|
6/20
|
North Texas Crunch
|
7:05 PM
|
6-45
|
W
|
|
6/29
|
Austin Turfcats
|
7:05 PM
|
|
|
|
7/05
|
@ Texas Hurricanes
|
7:00 PM
|
|
|
|
7/11
|
@ Houma Conquerors
|
7:00 PM
|
|
|
DID YOU KNOW? This game will determine second place in the league. The Turfcats are now 6-2 while the Mudbugs are 5-3. If the Turfcats lose it will make the teams tied at 6-3. With the playoffs right around the corner the and the first and second place teams having home field advantage, securing second place is increasingly important for these two teams.
Chris Duliban (Turfcats): Duliban was the head coach for the Centex Barracudas of the Intense Football League in 2008 before being named head coach of the Austin Turfcats in 2009. Before that he coached indoor football in 1999 as the defensive coordinator for the Texas Terminators of the Indoor Professional Football League. Duliban’s coaching career started in 1996 at Hyde Park Baptist High School in Austin.
In 1986 Duliban was drafted by Tom Landry of the Dallas Cowboys and spent a year with the Buffalo Bills in 1988. Prior to his professional career he played outside linebacker for the University of Texas and was an all-city running back at Spring Woods High School in Houston, Texas.
John Fourcade (Mudbugs) has played for more teams in more leagues than anyone in the history of football but was most successful for the New Orleans Saints of the NFL. In 1987 he led the Saints to a 2-1 strike game record which earned him a spot on the regular roster where we led the Saints to their first postseason berth. During his time with the Saints he passed for 2,312 yards in 24 games with a passer rating of 70.1.
Fourcade began his coaching career in 1994 and once again worked for several different teams in several different leagues but most recently for the Intense Football League’s Fairbanks Grizzlies of Fairbanks, Alaska.
LAST SERIES MEETING:
The Mudbugs won the first matchup 37-29 on April 18, 2009 in Austin.
FAMILIAR FACES:
The Turfcats newest member, Gary Cooper, played the beginning of this season with the Corpus Christi Sharks of the af2 along with Turfcats lineman James Cardenas. Cardenas and Cooper will reunite Monday when Cooper quarterbacks for the Turfcats.
TALE OF THE TAPE:
Here’s how the Turfcats and the Mudbugs stack up against each other:
|
STATISTICAL
|
TURFCATS
|
MUDBUGS
|
||
|
CATEGORY
|
Rank
|
Stat
|
Rank
|
Stat
|
|
Scoring Offense
|
1
|
49.6
|
3
|
33.9
|
|
Scoring Defense
|
6
|
34.8
|
3
|
28.8
|
|
Total Offense
|
3
|
178.0
|
2
|
197.0
|
|
Total Defense
|
5
|
170.8
|
6
|
179.0
|
|
Pass Offense
|
3
|
96.5
|
2
|
155.9
|
|
Pass Defense
|
7
|
142.4
|
6
|
131.8
|
|
Rushing Offense
|
1
|
81.5
|
2
|
41.1
|
|
Rushing Defense
|
3
|
28.4
|
6
|
47.2
|
|
Kickoff Returns
|
2
|
19.2
|
3
|
17.6
|
|
FG Returns
|
1
|
51.2
|
5
|
22.0
|
LEAGUE TOP 10s:
Players from this week’s matchup who rank among SIFL statistical leaders:
|
TURFCATS
|
|||
|
Player
|
Rank
|
Category
|
Stat
|
|
Deron Ellis
|
4
|
Total Offense
|
138.0
|
|
Darrick Wallace
|
2
|
All Purpose
|
107.7
|
|
Darrick Wallace
|
4
|
Scoring (TDs)
|
8.6
|
|
Deron Ellis
|
5
|
Scoring (TDs)
|
7.5
|
|
Deron Ellis
|
1
|
Rushing
|
38.1
|
|
Keith Clay
|
3
|
Rushing
|
20.2
|
|
Robert Quiroga
|
5
|
Yards Per Catch
|
30.9
|
|
Darrick Wallace
|
3
|
Kick Returns
|
24.8
|
|
B. Dallmeyer
|
3
|
Sacks
|
3.0
|
|
Joseph Turner
|
4
|
Sacks
|
2.0
|
|
Tim Cook
|
5
|
Sacks
|
2.0
|
|
B. Dallmeyer
|
5
|
Tackles for loss
|
3.5
|
|
MUDBUGS
|
|||
|
Player
|
Rank
|
Category
|
Stat
|
|
Bo Bartik
|
2
|
Total Offense
|
160.5
|
|
Anthony Parks
|
3
|
Scoring (TDs)
|
10.3
|
|
Antonio Logan
|
4
|
Rushing
|
15.6
|
|
Antony Parks
|
3
|
Receptions/Game
|
4.86
|
|
Johnnie Williams
|
3
|
Receive Yards/Game
|
57.0
|
|
Johnnie Williams
|
4
|
Yards Per Catch
|
17.0
|
|
Andre Kelly
|
4
|
Kick Returns
|
18.1
|
|
Kimmie Lewis
|
2
|
Interceptions
|
1.43
|
|
Stephen Barrett
|
3
|
Tackles for loss
|
6.0
|
|
Rudy Johnson
|
4
|
Tackles for loss
|
5.0
|
|
Mitch Craft
|
5
|
Tackles for loss
|
3.5
|
THIS WEEK’S QUOTES:
Chris Duliban, Turfcats head coach: “This game and the next are vital for our playoff position. We need to win the next two to secure second place. We also need this win to regain our confidence against the Mudbugs since it’s likely we will see them in the playoffs.
MILESTONES:
The Turfcats secured their first five game home winning streak with a 41-34 win over the Texas Hurricanes on June 20.
DROPBACK: The Turfcats control the clock better than any other team in the league. They are ranked first for time of possession. The Turfcats are also ranked first in the league for field goal returns, punt returns, punt returns for touchdowns, kick returns for touchdowns and fumble returns for touchdowns.
FORWARD MOTION: The Turfcats will travel to College Station to take on the Texas Hurricanes on July, 7 and July, 11. The Turfcats do not have any regular season home games left.
TEAM NOTES/TRENDS: The Turfcats will attempt to become the undisputed second place team in the league.
PLAYERS/MATCHUPS TO WATCH:
Robert Quiroga - #7 - WR – 6’3" – 205 lbs – Baylor University
Robert Quiroga received the most recent Southern Indoor Football League’s Player Of The Week award. In the Turfcats most recent game, Quiroga had five catches for 60 yards and a touchdown.
For the season, Quiroga has 22 catches for 247 yards and seven touchdowns. He is ranked fourth in the league for receiving touchdowns with seven for the season, fifth for yards per catch with 11.2, eighth for touchdowns with eight for the season and ninth for receiving yards per game with 30.9.
Quiroga is sure to have a good game against the Mudbugs since they are ranked sixth in the league for pass defense.
TURFCATS LAST GAME IN REVIEW:
Hurricanes 34 – Turfcats 41 - Austin, TX – The Austin Turfcats dug themselves a hole early, but came raging out of it in the fourth quarter to win the game in the last minute of regulation. The Turfcats defeated their in-state rivals, the Texas Hurricanes, 41 to 34.
The Hurricanes were up early by two touchdowns after a 47 yard fumble return and a 12 yard blocked field goal return. The Hurricanes started the second quarter with a Michael Bishop 11 yard touchdown pass to Joe Townsend. The Turfcats then narrowed the gap when Reggie Smith returned a kickoff 44 yards for a score and Deron Ellis threw a 29 yard touchdown pass to Smith. The teams then traded touchdowns with Ellis rushing in for the score. The half ended with the Turfcats trailing 27-21.
The third quarter was scoreless, but the Turfcats got right down to business in the fourth. It took them only one play to score on their first possession when Ellis threw a 27-yarder to Robert Quiroga to take the lead for the first time in the game. The Hurricanes answered on their next possession regaining the lead but the Turfcats tied the score with a Kelly Hancock rushing touchdown.
On the Hurricanes’ next possession the Turfcat defense denied the Hurricanes from getting a first down and the Turfcats offense took over with almost six minutes left on the clock. The Turfcats took the lead for good capping off a five minute, eight play drive with an eight yard touchdown run by Keith Clay. The Hurricanes took possession with less than a minute on the clock but once again the Turfcats defense came up with a crucial stop and the game ended with a final score of Turfcats 41, Hurricanes 34.
Ellis finished with 43 yards rushing, 110 yards passing, and three touchdowns. Quiroga caught five passes for 60 yards and one touchdown. Quiroga took the game’s Offensive MVP honors, while Barrett Dallmeyer and Smith took the Defensive and Special Teams honors respectively. The entire offensive line as a unit was selected as the line MVP.
KEY DATES IN TEAM HISTORY:
Turfcats:
November 24, 2009 – Turfcats franchise starts.
November 25, 2009 – Ronald Oswalt is named the Vice President/General Manager of the team.
January 8, 2009 – Chris Duliban is named head coach.
January 26, 2009 – The Turfcats are selected to host the inaugural game of the Southern Indoor Football League.
April 18, 2009 – The Turfcats open their season in front of 1,614 fans at adfirmative.com field at The Travis County Expo Center in a 37-29 loss to the Acadiana Mudbugs.
April 26, 2009 – The Turfcats play their first road game in team history at Houma, Louisiana in a 64-32 win over the Houma Conquerors.
May 9, 2009 – The Turfcats defeat the Louisiana Swashbucklers 56-53. The Swashbucklers had not be beaten since 2006.
May 16, 2009 – The Turfcats secure a three game win streak with a 55-27 win over the Houma Conquerors.
May 23, 2009 – The Turfcats improve their win streak to four games with a 38-20 win over the Texas Pirates.
June 6, 2009 – Turfcats improve their win streak to five games and score the most points in a single game in franchise history with a 71-15 win over the North Texas Crunch.
June 15, 2009 – The Turfcats and the Swashbucklers combine to score the most points in a half in the history of the SIFL with a first half score of 37-36 in the Swashbucklers favor who went on to win the game 60-43.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
|
Week
|
Player
|
Opponent
|
|
1
|
Darrick Wallace
|
Acadiana
|
|
2
|
Deron Ellis
|
Houma
|
|
3
|
BYE
|
|
|
4
|
Darrick Wallace
|
Louisiana
|
|
5
|
Deron Ellis
|
Houma
|
|
6
|
Darrick Wallace
|
Texas
|
|
7
|
POSTPONED
|
|
|
8
|
Deron Ellis
|
North Texas
|
|
9
|
Robert Quiroga
|
Louisiana
|
|
10
|
Robert Quiroga
|
Texas
|
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME AWARD
|
Week
|
Turfcats
|
Swashbucklers
|
|
1
|
Michael Catchings
|
Acadiana
|
|
2
|
Kevin Earvine
|
Houma
|
|
3
|
BYE
|
|
|
4
|
J.R. Turner
|
Louisiana
|
|
5
|
J.R. Turner
|
Houma
|
|
6
|
Kevin Earvine
|
Texas
|
|
7
|
POSTPONED
|
|
|
8
|
J.R. Turner
|
North Texas
|
|
9
|
Kevin Earvine
|
Louisiana
|
|
10
|
Barrett Dallmeyer
|
Texas
|
RECENT ROSTER MOVES (most recent first):
|
Date
|
Action
|
Player
|
Position
|
|
6/27
|
Signed
|
Gary Cooper
|
QB
|
|
6/27
|
Signed
|
Kamaron Young
|
OL
|
|
6/27
|
Signed
|
David Harley
|
DL
|
|
6/27
|
Signed
|
Bryan Oes
|
OL
|
|
6/18
|
Signed
|
Tim Blackwell
|
RB
|
|
6/18
|
Signed
|
James Cardenas
|
RB
|
