AFL Matchups: ArenaBowl XVI
Published on June 11, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â The Tampa Bay Storm (14-4) will face ArenaBowl XVI runner-up Arizona Rattlers (13-6) at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, June 22 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC.
Arizona head coach DANNY WHITE looks for his third title â the second most in AFL history â while trying to beat the team with the most championships. The Tampa Bay Storm have four titles while head coach TIM MARCUM owns six championships with three different teams (Denver Dynamite, Detroit Drive and Tampa Bay).
Marcum (157 victories) and White (127 victories) are No. 1 and 2, respectively, on the all-time AFL coaching victory list.
Arizona's All-Arena First-Team QB SHERDRICK BONNER (67.0 completion percentage, 88 touchdowns in the regular season) guides the AFL's most efficient offense (76.0 scoring percentage) along with Ironman of the Year and All-Arena First-Team member WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD (69 receptions, 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the regular season). Led by the play of Gatewood, HUNKIE COOPER, ORSHAWANTE BRYANT and TOM PACE, the Rattlers offense has been impressive. The four receivers have combined for 676 yards and 17 touchdowns in three postseason games.
On the other sideline, Marcum has 10-year veteran QB JOHN KALEO (66.0 percent passing and 11 touchdowns in the postseason) guiding the offense in the Storm's first return appearance to the ArenaBowl since 1998. Kaleo's main targets are OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (106 receptions and 28 touchdowns in the regular season), WR/LB DAVID SAUNDERS and WR/DB T.T. TOLIVER. The trio combined for 26 receptions for 347 yards and 10 touchdowns in two postseason games.
NO. 6 ARIZONA RATTLERS (13-6) AT NO. 2 TAMPA BAY STORM (14-4)
SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 5 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC â TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN, LEWIS JOHNSON and MARTY SNIDER)
STORM RATTLERS
SERIES LEADER Series tied 5-5
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1
LAST GAME Won vs. Orlando, 60-50 Won at San Jose, 66-49
2003 LEADERS STORM RATTLERS
PASSING Kaleo: 53-35-1, 478, 11 TDs Bonner: 86-54-1, 786, 18 TDs
RECEIVING Solomon: 11-177, 5 TDs Bryant: 19-187, 5 TDs
RUSHING Bowden: 4-10, 0 TDs Kelly: 10-31, 3 TDs
TACKLES Smith: 12.0 Milligan: 13.0
SACKS Four players tied with one Trentadue: 3.0
INTERCEPTIONS Dell, Smith, Toliver: 1 Parker: 2
KICKING Stucker: 9-13 PAT, 1-3 FG 12 PTS Garner: 22-26 PAT, 3-7 FG 31 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 56.0 PPG (5th); 243.0 YPG (8th) 68.3 PPG (1st); 293.7 YPG (5th)
TEAM DEFENSE 49.0 PPG (3rd); 290.0 YPG (10th) 46.0 PPG (1st); 256.0 YPG (3rd)
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