Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Photo by: MT
Counts Has Memorable Debut with Tennessee Valley Vipers
4/19/2002 1:20:00 PM | Football
Former Middle Tennessee Blue Raider quarterback Wes Counts made his professional football debut memorable by leading the Tennessee Valley Vipers of the Arena Two League to a 37-28 win over the Arkansas Twisters on April 6.
Counts was 16-of-30 for 175 yards passing and threw two touchdowns and ran for one in the team's season opener. The televised game was at Little Rock, AR.
"(Wes) Counts performed very well for us in his first game out of college," said Vipers Head Coach Kevin Guy. "He will only get better as he is beginning to pick up the game easier as it is very differenent from outdoor football."
Dimension wise, playing arena football is quite different than playing football on a regular size field as it shortens the playing field and speeds up the game. The outdoor dimensions are 100x53 with 22 players, while the indoor version is 50x28 with 16 players on the field.
"I haven't noticed the speed factor much except inside the 10-yard line which I haven't adjusted to yet," Counts said. "Hopefully, I will be better this week than when people saw me on television against Arkansas."
On Saturday April 20, the Vipers (1-0) will make their home debut at the Von Braun Civic Center for the 2002 season against the expansion Mobile Wizards (0-1) at 7:30 p.m. The Wizards compete with the Vipers in the National Conference Southern Division that includes the Birmingham Steeldogs and the Pensacola Barracudas.
"Mobile is an expansion team that is trying to get up and moving," Guy said. "They will come in here looking for their first victory."
The Vipers have experienced past successes going to the Arena Cup in 2000 and finishing (15-3) in 2001, with a tough loss to the Richmond Speed in the semifinals ending the year. Could another successful year be in the cards with a new coach and a new quarterback?
"When we decide we want to be good we are as good as anybody, but if we go out and mess around then people will beat us whenever we step on the field." Counts said.
After Saturday's home opener the team will travel to Macon to take on the Knights on April 27 then return home on May 4th to take on the Arkansas Twisters for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at the VBC.
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