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.
| 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
|
- 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.
| 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
| |
Regular season awards
edit
| 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
|
| 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.
[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
|
Anthony Dixon 12 yard interception return for a touchdown, Brandon Kornblue PAT
|
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
|
|