Fire Ants weekly update

05/14/01 Fire Ants press release
Huntington game highlights, players of the week, tickets online information and more Ants news

The Tupelo Fire Ants lost this past weekend against the River Cities Locomotives, 33-20, in Huntington, WV.

Bobby Hill was credited with two touchdowns on the evening, with one coming on a kickoff return in the third quarter along with a pass reception in the fourth quarter.

Henry Daniels connected on two field goals, from 31 and 28-yards out.

The Fire Ants are now 1-4 on the season. Tupelo wraps up their six-week road swing this week in Lake Charles before opening at home, May 26th.

Players of the Week

Offensive Players of the Week: ##22 Shalando Jones & #32 Mario Gray
Both Jones and Gray made outstanding catches in critical situation during the game.

Defensive Player of the Week: #9 Chris Gunn
Gunn lead the way in tackles this past week. He is having a very good game from the linebacker position.

Lineman of the Week: #51 Carnell Houston
Houston had a solid game at defensive end. He led the defensive line in tackles.

Special Teams Player of the Week: #1 Bobby Hill
Returned a kickoff for a touchdown with great individual effort.

Big Hit of the Week: #76 Andrew Aldridge

Season Tickets Online

You can now purchase Fire Ants season tickets on the world wide web! Just go to www.fireantsfootball.com and click on "tickets." 

On Radio

Monday, May 14th...6:30-7:30pm-Fire Ants Fever
Listen to Fire Ants Fever, every Monday on WCNA 95.9FM. Join your host, Jerry Bowman, along with Head Coach Steve Fickert as they recap and preview Fire Ants Football excitement. Listen live or come on down to TM's Restaurant from 6:30-7:30pm.

Saturday, May 19th...7:00pm-Fire Ants at Lake Charles Land Sharks
Join Jerry Bowman as he brings you all of the play-by-play action of Fire Ants Football live on WCNA 95.9FM. This week, the Ants take on the 4-1 Landsharks in Louisiana.

Locos Win Over Fire Ants, 33-20

05/12/01 Fire Ants press release
TUPELO, MS-The Tupelo Fire Ants lost to the River Cities Locomotives, 33-20, Saturday night in Huntington, WV.

The Locomotives got off to an early start in the game, scoring twice in the first quarter of play. The Locos game plan was simple...plenty of "run up the middle" plays, with very few passes mixed in. Tupelo, unable to convert offensively in the first, had some good defensive stops against River Cities. The score at the end of the first, Tupelo-0 and River Cities-14.

In the second quarter, the Fire Ants finally put some points on the board on a 31-yard field goal kick by Tupelo's Henry Daniels. With the game 14-3 in favor of the Locos, River Cities would run back a 45-yard kick return for a touchdown. With the point after try good, the Locomotives would lead the Ants, 21-3. After another Tupelo drive, Henry Daniels would again use that leg in a 28-yard field goal attempt. With the attempt good, the Locomotives would continue their lead, 21-6. With the final seconds ticking down, River Cities would again increase their lead on a field goal of their own to end the half. The score at the end of the second, Tupelo-6 and River Cities-24. The Locomotives had a combined 4-yards passing in the first half.

Third quarter action began in Tupelo's favor, on a Bobby Hill kickoff return for a touchdown. With the score 24-13 in favor of the River Cities, the Locos would score again on the run. With the extra point no good, River Cities would gain six points for the 30-13 lead. The Locomotives would top off the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal. The score at the end of the third, Tupelo-13 and River Cities-33.

Fourth quarter play saw a tough River Cities team hungry for their first win, falling a part at the seams. Plenty of penalties and messy play dominated the final stanza. After a failed field goal attempt by Henry Daniels, and a good Tupelo defensive stop, Fire Ants QB Ted Robison set his sights on touchdowns. After several attempts, finally the Ants connected on a touchdown pass to Bobby Hill at the 3:01 mark to edge the Locos lead, 33-20. But, that marker would not be enough. The Locomotives would stop the Fire Ants offensive on any further attempts for their first win of the season. At the end of the fourth quarter, River Cities would win, 33-20 over the Tupelo Fire Ants.

Saturday's tilt marks the fifth road game for the Fire Ants this season. The Fire Ants drop to 1-4 on the season while the River Cities Locomotives gains their first win of the year, and improves to 1-5 after tonight's game. 

The Fire Ants take to the turf next week as they face the Lake Charles Land Sharks. The game kicks off at 7:07pm on the road. Listen to all of the away game action with the Voice of the Fire Ants, Jerry Bowman, on your home for indoor football action, WCNA 95.9FM or via the internet at www.fireantsfootball.com. 

Fire Ants weekly update

05/07/01 Fire Ants press release
Bayou Beast game highlights, players of the week, dance team information and more Ants news

Both the Bayou Beast and Fire Ants were looking for their first win of the 2001 National Indoor Football League season this past weekend. With records of 0-3, the Beast and Ants both needed a win...but only one team would come away with the victory. 

The Ants did march down to victory, winning 43-34 in Monroe, LA.

Top Fire Ants running back, Chris Rainey, rushed for 125 yards on the evening, coming up with three touchdowns in the process. Former Buffalo Bills/Tupelo High standout, Russell Copeland, also had a great night, scoring two touchdowns on feeds from Ants QB Ted Robison. Matt Wyatt showed off his skills as a receiver, as well, and jumped into the scoring action on a 1-yard diving reception for the final TD of the evening (and only score of the quarter) before relieving Robison at the helm. 

The Ants improve to 1-3 on the season, while the Bayou Beast drop to 0-4.

The Fire Ants take on the River Cities Locomotives this Saturday in Huntington, WV. The Locos are currently 0-5 on the season. The game will kick off at 6:00 CST live on WCNA 95.9FM. 

Players of the Week...

Offensive Player of the Week: #4 Chris Rainey
Rainey had an explosive game, scoring three touchdowns and gaining 125 yards rushing.

Defensive Player of the Week: #8 Robert Hammond
Hammond came up with an outstanding interception late in the game.

Lineman of the Week: #61 Vincent Hunt
Hunt had a great game as a contributor on a tough Ants Offensive Line.

Big Hit of the Week: #28 Kenzaki Jones

Dancers Needed...

The Tupelo Fire Ants is looking for interested College and High School ladies to join our Dance Squad! Two try-out dates have been set, Thursday, May 10th and Friday, May 11th. Interested girls must have dance experience, attend select practice sessions at Tupelo Cheer Academy, and must be able to attend six out of seven Fire Ants home games this season.

If you are interested, come on down to Tupelo Cheer Academy, located at 783 Poplarville Street in Tupelo either Thursday, May 10th or Friday, May 11th starting at 7:00pm. 24 ladies and 2 alternates will be selected to join the squad!

On Radio...

Monday, May 7th...6:30-7:30pm-Fire Ants Fever
Listen to Fire Ants Fever, every Monday on WCNA 95.9FM. Join your host, Jerry Bowman, along with Head Coach Steve Fickert as they recap and preview Fire Ants Football excitement. Listen live or come on down to TM's Restaurant from 6:30-7:30pm.

Saturday, May 12th...6:00pm CST-Fire Ants at River Cities Locomotives
Join Jerry Bowman as he brings you all of the play-by-play action of Fire Ants Football live on WCNA 95.9FM. This week, the Ants take on the 0-5 River Cities Locomotives in Huntington, WV.

Russell Copeland: Fire Ant with plenty of sting

05/04/01 Gene Phelps DJ Journal 
Saturday night, Russell Copeland knew he was a Tupelo Fire Ant, not a Buffalo Bill.

He knew this was going to be a National Indoor Football League regular-season game, not the Super Bowl.

He knew the guys coming out of the other tunnel were the Louisiana Rangers, not the Dallas Cowboys.

He knew the arena wasn't a newer, plush Georgia Dome. Instead, the playing field was an older, smaller Rapides Coliseum in Alexandria, La.

None of it really mattered. It was football. Russell Copeland was ready to play.

"I was nervous," said the former Tupelo High, University of Memphis and NFL standout wide receiver. "I felt like I did when I was in high school. I had butterflies. I was ready to get out there." Full story>>

Fire Ants enter record book in debut season

05/01/01 Gene Phelps Daily Journal
Tupelo's 94-70 loss to Louisiana highest point title in professional history

The Tupelo Fire Ants' 94-70 loss Saturday night to the Louisiana Rangers in Alexandria, La., was the highest-scoring game in professional football history.

The 164 points scored surpassed the previous high of 161 points recorded by San Jose (85) and New England (76) last season in their Arena Football League game.

The third highest total, 160 points, was recorded last season in an Arena Football2 game between Birmingham (85) and Tallahassee (74).

"It would be great fun if we had been on the winning side," said Fire Ants coach Steve Fickert, whose team saw its record fall to 0-3 in National Indoor Football League play. "If we could change three, four, maybe five plays, we could have been on the winning end of that history-making game." Full story>>

Tupelo announces players of the week and other Ant news

04/30/01 Fire Ants Press release
The Tupelo Fire Ants lost their third National Indoor Football game on Saturday, April 28th against the Louisiana Rangers, 97-70 in Alexandria.

Top Fire Ants Wide Receiver, Russell Copeland, made his first start of the season versus Alexandria, scoring four touchdowns in the process.

The 'Ants will now spend this week reviewing game tape and continuing practice as their extended road trip continues in Monroe this Saturday versus the Louisiana Bayou Beast. Listen to all of the away game action on your home for indoor football on WCNA 95.9FM or via the internet at www.fireantsfootball.com starting at 7:00pm.

Players of the Week

Offensive Player of the Week: #3 WR Russell Copeland
Russell had four receptions for 73 yards. He gained four touchdowns in the process as well!

Defensive Player of the Week: #28 DB Kenzaki Jones
Kenzaki's efforts proved strong this week, with three unassisted tackles on the night, as well as five assisted tackles. He gains the distinction as the "emotional leader of the defense."

Special Teams Player of the Week: #76 OL Andrew Aldridge
Aldridge was outstanding on long snaps on point after touchdowns and field goal attempts.

Lineman of the Week: #75 OL Paul Mooney
Mooney had an outstanding game against the Rangers, with his run and pass blocking definitely key throughout the game.

Big Hit of the Week: #9 LB-RB Chris Gunn

Dancers Needed

The Tupelo Fire Ants is looking for interested College and High School ladies to join our Dance Squad! Two try-out dates have been set, Thursday, May 10th and Friday, May 11th. Interested girls must have dance experience, attend select practice sessions at Tupelo Cheer Academy, and must be able to attend six out of seven Fire Ants home games this season.

If you are interested, come on down to Tupelo Cheer Academy, located at 783 Poplarville Street in Tupelo either Thursday, May 10th or Friday, May 11th starting at 7:00pm. 24 ladies and 2 alternates will be selected to join the squad!

Home Opener On the Way!

The Fire Ants will hit home turf on Saturday, May 26th versus the Ohio Valley Greyhounds. Don't miss out on the action...individual tickets are now available at the BancorpSouth Center Box Office or by calling 841-6528. Season and group ticket discounts are available as well! Just call the Fire Ants at 620-BITE to order today!

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