Sports stats



AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL Matchups: Drive to Arenabowl XVIII heats up on NBC this Sunday

April 14, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Drive to ArenaBowl XVIII playoff positioning begins to heat up when Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB AARON GARCIA and the New York Dragons (5-4) host Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS DAMIAN HARRELL and the Colorado Crush (7-3) on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. While the Chicago Rush (7-2) travel to HP Pavilion to play the San Jose SaberCats (7-2) for a possible ArenaBowl preview on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Colorado head coach MIKE DAILEY, who has an ArenaBowl XIII title to his credit, has the Crush in contention for the top seed and could possibly host ArenaBowl XVIII while also on pace for the best single-season turnaround in AFL history (New Jersey +7 games from 2001 to 2002). Colorado is +5 from 2003 with six games remaining in 2004.

Garcia, who is in a race with Detroit QB ANDY KELLY to become the first professional quarterback to reach 600 career-passing touchdowns, needs four more to reach the milestone. The former Offensive Player of the Year (2001) has thrown for 596, while Kelly (594) could beat him to the mark with six on Friday when the Fury travel to Los Angeles.

The Crush are currently one loss behind Chicago, San Jose and New Orleans for the best record in the AFL. Led by Harrell, who is currently tied with Las Vegas OS MARCUS NASH with 28 receiving touchdowns, and QB JOHN DUTTON (2,462 yards and 45 TDs) the Crush have won three of their last four games – with the loss being an overtime defeat to Indiana. Harrell has scored at least three touchdowns in each of his last six games.

Elsewhere, Dallas looks to climb in the standings, while Arizona is on the playoff bubble when Desperados (6-3) head to America West Arena to play the Rattlers (5-5) on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

Arizona head coach DANNY WHITE has his squad back on track with a two-game winning streak and poised for a run at a third consecutive trip to the ArenaBowl. 2003 First-Team All-Arena QB SHERDRICK BONNER connected on nine touchdowns in last week's win over Las Vegas, while OS SIAHA BURLEY (80 receptions and 17 TDs) is becoming the Rattlers main threat.

Dallas first-year head coach WILL MCCLAY will look to Rookie of the Year candidate WR/DB BOBBY SIPPIO (39 receptions and 19 TDs) and OS JASON SHELLEY (63 receptions for 764 yards and 16 TDs) to lead the Desperados, who are coming off a 58-54 upset of San Jose last week.

Could San Jose and Chicago be playing for the right to host ArenaBowl XVIII? Chicago head coach MIKE HOHENSEE picked up career win No. 80 last week against, but a road win at San Jose is something that he will cherish more when the Rush and SaberCats meet on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET.

Chicago QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (1,952 yards, 32 passing TDs and 9 rushing TDs) and Rookie of the Year candidate WR/LB ETU MOLDEN (48 reception and 12 TDs) lead the Rush offense. While, San Jose QB MARK GRIEB guides the AFL's No. 1 offense (59.6 PPG) with targets like Ironman of the Year candidate WR/DB JAMES ROE (58 receptions and 19 TDs) and OS JAMES HUNDON (56 and 15).

Games slated for Week 11 include: Chicago at San Jose and Detroit at Los Angeles on Friday; Indiana at Grand Rapids and Philadelphia at Carolina on Saturday; Austin at Tampa Bay, Dallas at Arizona (NBC), Columbus at New Orleans, Colorado at New York (NBC) and Orlando at Georgia on Sunday. Las Vegas has a bye week.

CHICAGO RUSH (7-2) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (7-2) FRIDAY, APRIL 16, AT 10:30 P.M. ET

The SaberCats have outscored the Rush 145 to 117 and have scored over 70 points in both meetings... The SaberCats have 3 INTs in each of the two series games... San Jose WR/DB BARRY WAGNER needs 19 rush yards for 800 career and 2 TDs for 100 in SJ career... QB MARK GRIEB needs 3 TD passes for 300 in San Jose career... Grieb continues to lead the league with a 75.7 completion percentange and has topped the 70 percent mark in eight of nine games this year... WR/LB JAMES ROE needs 116 receiving yards for 4,000 career... Four of OS JAMES HUNDON'S five career receptions against Chicago have been for TDs... The SaberCats are 4-0 at home this season and have won seven straight regular season home games dating back to 2003... San Jose has won 29 of its last 31 regular season games played in HP Pavilion... San Jose has outscored the Rush 42-9 in the first quarter of their two series games... The SaberCats have outscored the opposition 167 to 106 (+61) in the second quarter this season... San Jose has scored at least two TDs in every second quarter this season and has tallied three TDs five times... Rush FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN currently ranks No. 2 in the AFL with 150 rush yards and is No. 3 in the League with a season career-high 12 rush TDs. He became the fifth player in League history to rush for 1,000 career yards when he totaled 16 against Tampa Bay last week... Rush QB RAYMOND PHILYAW has thrown for 829 yards with 17 TD passes and just one INT in three career starts with his former Indiana team against San Jose... He threw for a SaberCats opponent record 393 yards on 31-of-40 passing with 7 TDs in a 66-63 Firebirds win on 7/15/01... OL/DL JAMES BARON has failed to record a sack against San Jose as a member of the Rush.

DETROIT FURY (4-5) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (5-4) FRIDAY, APRIL 16, AT 10:30 P.M. ET

The Avengers are averaging 57.3 PPG this season... They have a turnover margin of +11 (No. 2 in AFL). Avengers QB TONY GRAZIANI is currently 188-of-286 (65.7 percent) for 2,373 yards and 56 TDs... He is No. 2 for most TDs in the League...The Avengers are 3-0 in games that DS DAMON WHEELER has started and completed... Under L.A. coach ED HODGKISS, the Avengers are 14-4 when they score two or more TDs in the third quarter... In games that the Avengers don't score at least two TDs in the third quarter, they are 10-11 since the 2002 season... They are 5-2 when leading at halftime... The only match-up between the two teams resulted in a 49-48 Detroit victory in OT on 6/16/01... It was the only OT game the Fury has played in its history ... Fury WR/DB THABITI DAVIS has caught 28 balls for 384 yards and nine TDs in his last three games... Detroit QB ANDY KELLY needs just seven TDs to pass the 600 career mark.

INDIANA FIREBIRDS (5-5) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-8) SATURDAY, APRIL 17, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

Indiana has won five games straight, the team's longest-ever regular-season winning streak... If they get a win against Grand Rapids, it would be their third consecutive road win and give the Firebirds the longest winning streak in the AFL this season... Firebirds' QB ADRIAN MCPHERSON completed 13-of-15 passes for 194 yards last week, didn't throw an incompete pass until the third quarter, and had his 13th rushing TD of 2004... DS EVAN HLAVACEK had a 55-yard KOR for a TD, a 45-yard receiving TD and five tackles on defense... The Firebirds rank No. 1 in the AFL in turnover differential at +12... The Firebirds have the No. 1 scoring defense in the League... Indiana is second in the League in team rushing (324)... Indiana has not thrown an INT in their five-game winning streak... McPherson has not thrown an INT in 142 pass plays... Despite an 0-5 start, the Firebirds are one-half game behind New York and L.A. for the final AFL playoff spot... In the last meeting between the two teams, Indiana outscored Grand Rapids 18-7 in the fourth quarter for a three-point win... Last time against the Rampage, Firebirds WR/DB ANTHONY HINES had a 146-yard receiving effort... Rampage FB/LB CHRIS AVERY ranks No. 7 in the AFL in rushing yards (98)... In two Rampage games, QB MICHAEL BISHOP has completed 21 of 38 passes for 276 yards and 7 TDs... Rampage DS MARK RICKS was voted Defensive Player of the Week for Week 10 after an INT with 14 seconds left secured Grand Rapids' first win of the season 49-45 over Detroit.

PHILADELPHIA SOUL (4-5) AT CAROLINA COBRAS (3-7) SATURDAY, APRIL 17, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

The Soul have given up only 66 points in the third quarter this season and have held their opponents to zero in the third quarter in three of the last seven games... The Soul have scored only 70 points in the first quarter, an average of 7.7 PPG... They have been outscored in the first half 200-188 but have outscored their opponents 222-191 in the second half... FB/LB CHRIS RYAN is No. 5 in the AFL in rushing and is tied for No. 1 in third-and-one rushing, converting three attempts for three first downs... The Soul defense is ranked No. 1 in the red zone (32 possessions, 138 points, 19 TDs, 3 FGs)... They also have the League's lowest opponent passer ratings of 96.1... DS JOSEPH TODD is tied for No. 4 in the League in passes defended with two INTs and 13 pass breakups, and No. 6 in tackles (48.5). QB TODD HAMMEL needs one TD to reach 400 for his career, and only 20 yards to reach 25,000 passing yards for his career... The Soul have not lost by more than eight points all season. Overall, Carolina QB MATT NAGY has completed 226-of-348 passes for 2,371 yards and 47 scores... Cobras OS TODD DOXZON has accounted for a team-high 18 TD receptions this season and leads the team with 82 receptions for 946 yards.... He is No. 4 in the League for receiving yards... The Cobras are No. 1 in the League in red-zone offense, with a 95.0 conversion percentage... Out of 40 trips inside their opponents' 10-yard line, Carolina has 34 TDs and four FGs.

AUSTIN WRANGLERS (6-3) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (3-7) SUNDAY, APRIL 18, AT 3 P.M. ET

Wranglers QB JOHN KALEO threw for 247 yards last week against Georgia, eclipsing the 2,500-yard passing mark on the season... Kaleo is three TD passes from 400 career TDs... OL/DL TOM BRIGGS had two pass breakups as well as a sack in the Georgia game... Briggs is only two sacks away from 35 for his career... The Wranglers defense allowed Georgia only 26 points in the game, their best performance of 2004... The defense held Georgia scoreless in the first and fourth quarters... Austin is No. 2 in the League in total offense and net yards passing per game, posting an average of 305.6 total yards per game, 284.8 passing... The Wranglers are No. 4 in the AFL in scoring offense (484 points, 69 TDs, 52 extra points, six 2-point conversions and two FGs)... For the seventh week, Kaleo leads the AFL with his third-down passing performance... Completing 41-of-59 third-down attempts, Kaleo has maintained a 125.2 rating on third downs... Tampa Bay OS FREDDIE SOLOMON is No. 4 in the League in scoring, with 23 TDs for 138 points... WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS is tied for No. 8 in League receptions (62) and No. 13 for receiving yards (738)... Tampa Bay is still the League's top-ranked defense, allowing only an average of 242.4 YPG... They are No. 1 in defending first-down plays by opponents, allowing only 5.77 yards.

DALLAS DESPERADOS (6-3) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (5-5) SUNDAY, APRIL 18, AT 3 P.M. ET (TV: BOB PAPA, RAY BENTLEY and MARK CURTIS)

The Rattlers still must face teams with an overall record of 34-21... Dallas is one of only four franchises the Rattlers have a losing record against (6-7 against the Predators, 4-7 against the Storm, and 0-3 against the Detroit Drive)... Dallas has won the last two games by a combined four points... Arizona's 53-30 victory on 5/18/02 is the second worst margin of defeat in Desperados history... After a 46-yard night against Las Vegas on 4/10, WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER became the second man in the AFL to reach 20,000 career all-purpose yards... OS SIAHA BURLEY is No. 6 in the League in scoring (126 points), No. 3 in receptions (80) and No. 5 in receiving yards (928)... A win against the Rattlers would give Dallas a 6-1 record against Western Division foes since moving out of the division in 2003. Rookie WR/DB BOBBY SIPPIO has 39 rec. for 644 yards and 19 TDs (No. 7 in AFL) and is averaging 16.5 yards/catch (No. 2 in AFL).

COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (3-6) AT NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (7-2) SUNDAY, APRIL 18, AT 3 P.M. ET

In a three-way tie for first place in the League, the VooDoo has a 6-0 record when leading at the half... They are 7-0 when leading after three quarters... FB/LB DAN CURRAN is the AFL's leading rusher with 44 carries for 194 yards and 13 rushing TDs... OS AARON BAILEY is No. 5 in the League in scoring (132 points)... He also leads his team in receiving (53 receptions for 765 yards)... New Orleans is No. 6 in total defense (2301 yards allowed)... Destroyers RYAN VENA (118-of-182 for 1522 yards, 23 TDs, two INTs) is the No. 8 ranked QB in the League... Destroyers CORNELIUS WHITE is No. 7 in the AFL for receiving yards (854)...The Columbus Destroyers have had zero turnovers in the last two games, both wins... They have also picked off two passes and recovered two opponents' fumbles... They have scored 21 points off the four turnovers... The Destroyers defense registered its first shutout quarter last week when they blanked the Dragons in the first quarter.

COLORADO CRUSH (7-3) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (5-4) SUNDAY, APRIL 18, AT 3 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

In the last Colorado/New York game, Dragons QB AARON GARCIA, the game's MVP, threw eight TD passes to lead the Dragons to a 61-52 victory, their first on home turf in 2004... In Week 10, Garcia led the League in passing yards (330) and TDs (8) with no INTs... Garcia needs just four passing TDs to become the first pro QB to reach career milestone of 600... Garcia has already thrown for the most TDs in pro football history (596)... He is tied for third-most passing TDs this season (52)... Dragons WR/DB LINCOLN DUPREE is No. 8 in the League with 81 missed field-goal return yards and tied for first with one TD... As a kick returner, Dupree is No. 6, averaging 21.4 yards/return and tied for No. 3 with two scores... DS DONVETIS FRANKLIN picked off two INTs from Crush QB JOHN DUTTON... Last week, Dutton became 23rd QB in AFL history to surpass 9,000 career passing yards... Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL is No. 2 overall in scoring with 168 points... Tied No. 1 in TD rec. (28); No. 2 in receiving yards (1,052); No. 3 yards/catch (15.7) and No. 5 in rec. (67)... Harrell has a TD catch in all 24 games as a member of the Crush... He has reached 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth straight season... Week 10 Ironman of the Week WR/DB KEVIN MCKENZIE had four receptions for 65 yards and three TDs on offense against Los Angeles, while making four solo tackles and two assists on the defensive end... Colorado's six remaining opponents have an overall record of only 26-29.

ORLANDO PREDATORS (4-5) AT GEORGIA FORCE (4-6) SUNDAY, APRIL 18, AT 3 P.M. ET

Orlando QB and Offensive Player of the Week JOE HAMILTON completed 16 of 23 passes (69.6%) for 171 yards and four TDs after missing two-and-a-half games from a knee injury... He also scored on a 15-yard run to account for five TDs... WR/LB CORY FLEMING is No. 3 in the League for receiving yards (960), No. 4 in receptions (72) and tied for No. 12 in scoring (18 receiving TDs, 108 points)... Orlando leads the AFL in sacks with 18 on the season, with three players in the league's Top 10 in sacks (OL/DL JERMAINE SMITH tied-No. 1 with 5.0, FB/LB RUPERT GRANT T-No. 4 with 4.0 and OL/DL DOUG MILLER T-No. 7 with 3.0)... Georgia is currently on a four-game losing skid that has not seen the team win since their previous game with Orlando... In that game, the Force had a 52-44 victory... Georgia's team-record for consecutive losses is five, dating back to the 2002 season (4/26-5/24)... This season, Georgia kicker STEVE MCLAUGHLIN is 52-for-56 on PAT kicks.

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 14, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central