2002 AF2 season

The 2002 AF2 season was the third season of the AF2. It was preceded by 2001 and succeeded by 2003. The league champions were the Peoria Pirates, who defeated the Florida Firecats in ArenaCup III. This is also the first time that both conferences have the same division name (in that case, the American Conference Southern Division and the National Conference Southern Division, respectively). It is also the only season where both conferences have four divisions each, a la the 2002–present era of the NFL.

2002 AF2 season
League	AF2
Sport	Arena football
Regular season
Season champions	Tulsa Talons
Playoffs
American champions	Florida Firecats
American runners-up	Cape Fear Wildcats
National champions	Peoria Pirates
National runners-up	Birmingham Steeldogs
ArenaCup III
Champions	Peoria Pirates
Runners-up	Florida Firecats

League info

New teams	Albany Conquest, Bakersfield Blitz, Cape Fear Wildcats, Fresno Frenzy, Hawaiian Islanders, Mobile Wizards, Mohegan Wolves, New Haven Ninjas, San Diego Riptide, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers
Renamed / Relocated teams	None
Defunct teams	Baton Rouge Blaze, Iowa Barnstormers, Lafayette Roughnecks, Lincoln Lightning
Total teams	34

Standings

Team	Overall			Division
	Wins	Losses	Percentage	Wins	Losses	Percentage
American Conference
Atlantic Division
Cape Fear Wildcats	13	3	0.812	6	2	0.750
Richmond Speed	12	4	0.750	7	1	0.875
Norfolk Nighthawks	8	8	0.500	4	4	0.500
Roanoke Steam	8	8	0.500	3	5	0.375
Greensboro Prowlers	3	13	0.187	0	8	0.000
Northeast Division
Albany Conquest	13	3	0.812	11	1	0.917
Rochester Brigade	7	9	0.437	6	6	0.500
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers	6	10	0.375	6	6	0.500
New Haven Ninjas	6	10	0.375	5	7	0.417
Mohegan Wolves	3	13	0.187	2	10	0.167
Eastern Division
Macon Knights	13	3	0.812	5	1	0.833
Augusta Stallions	13	3	0.812	5	1	0.833
Carolina Rhinos	5	11	0.312	1	5	0.167
Columbus Wardogs	4	12	0.250	1	5	0.167
Southern Division
Tallahassee Thunder	9	7	0.562	7	3	0.700
Florida Firecats	9	7	0.562	5	6	0.455
Jacksonville Tomcats	8	8	0.500	7	3	0.700
Charleston Swamp Foxes	7	9	0.437	2	4	0.333
National Conference
Southern Division
Tennessee Valley Vipers	13	3	0.812	5	1	0.833
Birmingham Steeldogs	11	5	0.687	5	2	0.714
Pensacola Barracudas	8	8	0.500	6	6	0.500
Mobile Wizards	0	16	0.000	0	12	0.000
Central Division
Tulsa Talons	14	2	0.875	4	2	0.667
Arkansas Twisters	11	5	0.687	4	2	0.667
Bossier City Battle Wings	9	7	0.562	3	3	0.500
Memphis Xplorers	5	11	0.312	1	5	0.167
Midwest Division
Peoria Pirates	11	5	0.687	6	0	1.000
Quad City Steamwheelers*	10	6	0.625	3	3	0.500
Wichita Stealth	6	10	0.375	3	3	0.500
Louisville Fire	2	14	0.125	0	6	0.000
Western Division
Bakersfield Blitz	9	7	0.562	7	2	0.778
San Diego Riptide	7	9	0.437	5	4	0.556
Hawaiian Islanders	5	11	0.312	4	5	0.444
Fresno Frenzy	4	12	0.250	2	7	0.222

• Green indicates clinched playoff berth
• Purple indicates division champion
• Grey indicates best regular season record

* The Steamwheelers were banned from the playoffs for rule violations.

Playoffs

	Division Championships					Conference Semifinals					Conference Championships					ArenaCup III
	2	Florida	43
	1	Tallahassee	31
						SD2	Florida	44
						ED1	Macon	28
	2	Augusta	41
	1	Macon	57
											SD2	Florida	43
	American Conference
											AD1	Cape Fear	23
	2	Rochester	26
	1	Albany	31
						ND1	Albany	30
						AD1	Cape Fear	46
	2	Richmond	48
	1	Cape Fear	57
																AC7	Florida	47
																NC3	Peoria	65
	2	Birmingham	65
	1	Tennessee Valley	51
						SD2	Birmingham	53
						CD1	Tulsa	34
	2	Arkansas	32
	1	Tulsa	34
											SD2	Birmingham	33
	National Conference
											MD1	Peoria	79
	2	San Diego	40
	1	Bakersfield	27
						WD2	San Diego	12
						MD1	Peoria	22
	2	Wichita	36
	1	Peoria	37

Awards and honors

Regular season awards

Award	Winner	Position	Team
Offensive Player of the Year	Mitch Allner	Quarterback	Tulsa Talons
Defensive Player of the Year	Kelly Snell	Defensive Specialist	Tennessee Valley Vipers
Ironman of the Year	Kevin Harvey	Wide receiver/Defensive back	Richmond Speed
Lineman of the Year	E. J. Burt	Lineman	Cape Fear Wildcats
Built Ford Tough Man of the Year	Jeff Cogell	Lineman	Mohegan Wolves
Rookie of the Year	Lincoln Dupree	Defensive Specialist / Kick Returner	Peoria Pirates
Coach of the Year	Ron Selesky	Head Coach	Albany Conquest

ArenaCup III

III
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Tot Florida Firecats 7 6 12 22 47 Peoria Pirates 6 17 13 29 65
Date	August 23, 2002
Arena	Carver Arena
City	Peoria, Illinois
Attendance	7,552
MVP	Cornell Craig
Offensive Player of the Game	Cornell Craig
Defensive Player of the Game	Lincoln Dupree
Ironman of the Game	Titcus Pettigrew
Winning Coach	Bruce Cowdrey
Losing Coach	John Fourcade

ArenaCup III was the 2002 edition of the AF2's championship game, in which the National Conference Champions Florida Firecats were defeated by the American Conference Champions Peoria Pirates in Peoria, Illinois by a score of 65 to 47.

Scoring Summary

^[1]

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Florida Firecats Peoria Pirates 1 10:34 2 38 1:45 Florida Firecats Anthony Dixon 28-yard touchdown reception from Bryan Sparacino, Brandon Kornblue kick Good 7 0 1 5:23 7 31 5:11 Peoria Pirates Cornell Craig 19-yard touchdown reception from Jerome Hurd, Kraig Baker kick Failed 7 6 2 9:37 7 39 4:08 Peoria Pirates 28-yard field goal by Kraig Baker 7 9 2 6:17 5 45 3:20 Florida Firecats Dedric Maffet 3-yard touchdown run, Brandon Kornblue kick Failed 13 9 2 4:41 1 55 0 Peoria Pirates Lincoln Dupree 55 yard Kickoff Return Touchdown, Kraig Baker PAT 13 16 2 0:20 1 26 0:08 Peoria Pirates Cornell Craig 26-yard touchdown reception from Jerome Hurd, Kraig Baker kick Good 13 23 3 11:04 5 13 3:56 Florida Firecats 29-yard field goal by Brandon Kornblue 16 23 3 9:29 - - - Florida Firecats Interception returned 12 yards for touchdown by Anthony Dixon, Brandon Kornblue kick Good 23 23 3 8:51 Florida Firecats Deryl Lynn Safety 25 23 3 6:59 2 9 1:04 Peoria Pirates Jason Short 3-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass failed 25 29 3 1:44 3 45 1:42 Peoria Pirates Brandon Campbell 22-yard touchdown reception from Walter Church, Kraig Baker kick Good 25 36 4 14:54 Peoria Pirates Ken Bouie Safety 25 38 4 11:35 5 40 3:19 Peoria Pirates Cornell Craig 5-yard touchdown reception from Walter Church, Kraig Baker kick Good 25 45 4 7:31 2 10 1:04 Peoria Pirates Jason Short 4-yard touchdown run, Kraig Baker kick Good 25 52 4 4:14 4 45 3:17 Florida Firecats Magic Benton 39-yard touchdown reception from Josh Rogers, 2-point rush succeeds 33 52 4 3:38 Peoria Pirates Lincoln Dupree 10 yard kickoff return Touchdown, Kraig Baker PAT Blocked 33 58 4 2:30 1 31 1:08 Florida Firecats Magic Benton 31-yard touchdown reception from Josh Rogers, 2-point Kevin Huntley pass from Josh Rogers succeeds 41 58 4 0:55 3 16 1:35 Peoria Pirates Walter Church 12-yard touchdown run, Kraig Baker kick Good 41 65 4 0:25 5 30 0:30 Florida Firecats Kevin Huntley 11-yard touchdown reception from Josh Rogers, 2-point pass from Josh Rogers fails 47 65 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. Florida Firecats Peoria Pirates