Week 9 Game Preview: LOS ANGELES XTREME (6-2) @ MEMPHIS MANIAX (3-5)
       
 


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LOS ANGELES XTREME (6-2) @ MEMPHIS MANIAX (3-5)
Sunday, April 1, 2001 – 4:00 p.m. (ET) 
Liberty Bowl
TV: TNN 

LOS ANGELES XTREME TEAM NOTES
OUTLOOK

The LA Xtreme, who clinched a playoff spot in the West by defeating the Las Vegas Outlaws, 35-26, at the LA Coliseum, will travel to Memphis with the hopes of clinching the Western Division title. The Xtreme can also clinch the Western Division title if the Demons lose to the Outlaws. 

GAMEPLAN
The Xtreme is looking for revenge from the team who last beat them at home. The Xtreme hope to avenge the loss with the arm of QB Tommy Maddox, who tossed four touchdowns on the Outlaws number one ranked defense last week. The Xtreme game plan has not and will not change this week in Memphis. Look for Maddox with 1,867 passing yards to throw often to WR Jeremaine Copeland, who continues to lead the league in receptions (52) and Darnell McDonald , who leads the league with eight touchdowns. LA’s running game is led by RB Saladin McCullough, who has been a pleasant surprise. On defense, LA is second is takeways and will look to cause turnovers in Memphis’ passing attack and force the Maniax to run with Brent Moss or Rashaan Salaam. 

NEWS AND NOTES
The Xtreme’s loss to the Maniax in Week Four has turned into a rallying point for Xtreme. Since that 18-12 defeat in the pouring rain, the Xtreme have won four straight…. WR’s Jeremaine Copeland and Darnell McDonald combine for the most lethal 1-2 receiving punch in the XFL. The top two leading receivers on the team have combined for 12 of the Xtreme’s 17 touchdown catches…. Tommy Maddox has thrown at least one touchdown pass in his last five games….LBs Shawn Stuckey and Juan Long each had a message on the back of their jerseys for the Outlaws Rod Smart a.k.a “He Hate Me.” Stuckey and Long each had “Still Hate He” and “Still Hate He2” as nicknames on the back of each of their jerseys.…K Jose Cortez has now made a remarkable 15 of his last 16 field goal attempts after missing 3 of his first 4 to start the season. Cortez leads the league in field goals made and accuracy hitting on 17 of his 21 attempts (81%). Cortez is also 7 for 8 from 40 yards and beyond. 

OFF THE FIELD
Xtreme CB Clifton Abraham runs a non profit organization called “Poor Soldiers,” whose mission is “to serve the poor, oppressed and the unfortunate.” 

MEMPHIS MANIAX TEAM NOTES
OUTLOOK

Looking to improve on 1-3 records in both home and divisional games, the Maniax host the West-leading Xtreme in their final regular-season home game. Memphis handed LA its second loss of the season, 18-12, when they last met in week four in a downpour at the LA Coliseum. 

GAMEPLAN
With Memphis RB Rashaan Salaam still questionable with a bruised shoulder, QB Jim Druckenmiller has been forced to throw the ball more the past two games. Look for that trend to continue against LA if Salaam is unable to play and back up Brent Moss starts. Since Salaam has been out, Druckenmiller has had success throwing to WR’s Charles Jordan and Darryl Hobbs, who has caught 22 balls while filling in nicely for injured wideout Kevin Prentiss. On defense, the Maniax are anchored by DE Shante Carver and LB Richard Hogans. If DE Shante Carver and the Maniax defense can put pressure on QB Tommy Maddox and force the Xtreme into running the ball, the Maniax have a shot at winning the game, as LA is only averaging 65 yards per game on the ground. 

NEWS AND NOTES
For the sixth time in the last eight weeks, the Maniax face a team that is coming off of a victory… The Maniax are the only team in the league to average more than 300 yards of offense per game (311)….QB Jim Druckenmiller last week returned to San Francisco where he began his pro career as a No. 1 draft choice of the 49ers and completed 14 of 30 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns vs. the Demons…. Despite playing less than a half vs. Chicago and missing the NY/NJ and San Francisco games, RB Rashaan Salaam remains near the top of the XFL rushing stats … He is second to Chicago’s John Avery in total rushing yards (Avery 733, Salaam 528),…. The Maniax have outscored their opponents, 95-66, in the first half this year but have been outscored, 85-29, in the second half … In the third quarter of the first eight games, Memphis has been outscored 48-6…. 

OFF THE FIELD
Sunday is fan appreciation day at Memorial Stadium. If the Maniax win their game against LA, one lucky season ticket holder will win a players bonus of $2,500.

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

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