Week 6 Game Preview: LOS ANGELES XTREME (3-2) @ BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS (2-3)

LOS ANGELES XTREME (3-2) @ BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS (2-3)
Sunday, March 11, 2001 – 7:00 p.m. (ET)
Legion Field
TV: UPN

LOS ANGELES XTREME NOTES:
OUTLOOK: The Xtreme will bring its aerial attack south this weekend to face the Eastern Division’s second-place team, the Birmingham Thunderbolts. The Xtreme enter this game after knocking off the New York/New Jersey Hitmen, 22-7, last week in Giants Stadium.
GAME PLAN: In a dominant and impressive performance against the Hitmen by Xtreme QB Tommy Maddox, the Xtreme offense appears to be back on track. Look for Maddox to go to WR Jermaine Copeland, who leads the league in receptions with 35, and WR Darnell McDonald, who is tied for first in touchdown receptions (4), often during this contest. But, if the Xtreme get its running game going, it has a chance at success against the Bolts’ defense, as Birmingham ranks last in the league in rush defense. On defense, look for the LA secondary, which features CB Terry Billups, to play a lot of zone against a Birmingham receiving corps which is led by Stepfret Williams, who leads the league in receiving yards, and is second in the league in receptions (30) behind Copeland.
INJURIES: QUESTIONABLE: DT Curtis Eason (Quad), WR Larry Ryans (Hamstring). PROBABLE: G Chris Brymer (Hand), T Jerry Crafts (Neck), TE Frank Leatherwood (Finger), RB Ken Oxendine (Ankle), S Ricky Parker (Wrist), LB Shawn Stuckey (Shoulder).
NEWS AND NOTES: Xtreme quarterback Tommy Maddox completed 23 of 37 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns at Giants Stadium last week. Maddox now leads the XFL in touchdown passes (8) and passing yards (1,149)… For the first time in three weeks, the Xtreme will not face a defense ranked overall in the top three in the XFL…Wideouts Jermaine Copeland and Darnell McDonald rank as the most productive receiving duo in the league, combining for 55receptions for 654 yards and six touchdowns. Cope and DMAC are also responsible for six of the Xtreme’s eight touchdown receptions…The Xtreme rank second in the league in sacks with 19 and second in the league in defensive takeaways with 11…Last week against the Hitmen, K Jose Cortez made 3 of 4 field goal attempts, extending his consecutive field goals made streak to eight (an XFL record) before missing from 45 yards before the end of the first half….Saturday vs. the Hitmen, Donnell Day was the Xtreme’s Scrambler for the second straight week., but lost the scramble for the first time to the Hitmen’s Donnie Caldwell. According to Day, Caldwell appeared to leave when the official said “Set!”
OFF THE FIELD: Xtreme starting center Jonathan Himebauch will be featured in the April issue of GEAR Magazine discussing his experience as an XFL player. The feature will hit newsstands in two weeks.

BIRMINGHAM THUNDERBOLTS NOTES:
OUTLOOK: Birmingham must wake up this week after being outscored 69-16 in the past two games. One week after suffering its worst defeat of the season at the hands of the San Francisco Demons, 39-10, Birmingham will seek to defeat its first Western Division team in the Los Angeles Xtreme.
GAME PLAN: The offense, which has been plagued by slow starts, as a whole has been struggling with dropped passes, penalties and fumbles. Thunderbolts QB Casey Weldon will get the nod this week, but if the offense struggles in front of the home crowd, Coach DiNardo may look to backup QB and hometown boy Jay Barker. Although WR Stepfret Williams continues to lead the league in receiving yards (445) and has set an XFL record with a 95 yard TD reception against the Demons, look for the offense to establish its running game with RB James Bostic. On defense, Birmingham ranks last in the league against the run.
INJURIES: OUT: C Justin Burroughs (Back), DE Kendrick Burton (Back), DT Eric Kerley (Tricep), WR Damon Gourdine (Fibula). QUESTIONABLE: C Matt Hogg (Concussion), TE Nicky Savoie (Shoulder), C Ryan Thomassie (Shoulder).
NEWS AND NOTES: Birmingham wide receiver/punt returner Stepfret Williams is the author of two of the XFL’s longest scoring plays. Williams’ 95-yard punt return for a touchdown at New York/New Jersey is the standard in that category, and his 92-yard touchdown reception from Jay Barker last week at San Fran is the longest scoring pass in XFL history… DB Chris Shelling leads the club in solo stops with 29. Answering to the nickname of “Shocker”, Shelling has established himself as the leader of the Birmingham secondary… The first quarter has been unkind to the Thunderbolts this season. Birmingham has been outscored 29-0 in the first period and out-gained 373 yards to 151.
OFF THE FIELD: While the XFL is a single entity, it doesn’t preclude team owners from playing in the league. Backup quarterback Jay Barker has part ownership in the Mobile Seagulls; franchise of the National Indoor Professional Football League…. The 2001 XFL season marks the second time tight end Ed Smith has taken a professional tour of duty in Birmingham. In 1990, Smith played third base for the Birmingham Barons, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

[Outlaws at Rage | Enforcers at Maniax | Hitmen at Demons | Xtreme at Bolts]

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