AFL Matchups: 'Rock vs. Jock' Battle at Honda Center in Week 5
April 27, 2016 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
LAS VEGAS (April 27, 2016) - "Rock vs. Jock" will take center stage when the Los Angeles KISS (2-2) host the Philadelphia Soul (3-1) at Honda Center on Monday, May 2 at 8 p.m. ET on Univision Deportes. The "Rock" being the KISS ownership of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the legendary band, KISS against the "Jock" being the Soul ownership of NFL stars Ron Jaworski, Dick Vermeil, Marques Colston and Jahri Evans. On the field, 2015 AFL MVP Dan Raudabaugh will look to outduel KISS QB Nathan Stanley as both teams look to keep pace with their respective Conference leaders. Elsewhere, QB Randy Hippeard and the undefeated Orlando Predators (4-0) head to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators (1-3) on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. ET on WatchESPN. The AFL's leading receiver, Rod Windsor and unbeaten Arizona Rattlers will host the Portland Steel (0-3) at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Saturday, April 30 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. Windsor leads the AFL in receptions (48), receiving yards (543), and receiving touchdowns (15). The other game of the weekend takes place on Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. ET when QB Tommy Grady and the Jacksonville Sharks (1-3) travel to Amalie Arena to play the Tampa Bay Storm (0-3).
WEEK 5 MATCHUPS
ORLANDO PREDATORS (4-0) AT CLEVELAND GLADIATORS (1-3)
Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: PREDATORS: The Orlando Predators look to keep their undefeated season going after last week's 43-40 win over the KISS at Amway Arena...QB Randy Hippeard in his last outing completed 22 of 32 passes for 273 yards and threw five TDs...His performance earned him Under Armour Player of the Game... Hippeard is ranked No. 3 in the League in passing yards with 1,038...WR Brandon Thomkpins caught seven passes for 92 yards and two TDs...The fifth-year veteran is the current league leader in all-purpose yards with 836 (436 kickoff return, 346 receiving, 54 missed field goal return)...DB Varmah Sonie continues to be a force on defense for the Predators, recording 4.5 tackles and two INTs in last week's game against the KISS...His performance earned him Riddell Defensive Player of the Week... Sonie is No. 1 in the League in INTs with four and ranks No. 2 in total tackles with 29.0... GLADIATORS: The Cleveland Gladiators look to bounce back from their 67-50 loss to the Philadelphia Soul last week at the Wells Fargo Center... QB/JLB Arvell Nelson came under center last week in the fourth quarter where he completed eight of 14 passes for 116 yards with two TDs...WR Collin Taylor caught six passes for 75 yards and a touchdown...The sixth-year veteran lit up the Orlando secondary for 34 receptions, 332 yards, and eight TDs in three meetings last year...DB Marvin Ross led the defense with 7.5 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown last week...The rookie's pick-six was the first of his career and was named the AFL's Highlight of the Week...
PORTLAND STEEL (0-3) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (4-0)
Saturday, April 30 at 9 p.m. ET (CBS Sports Network)
Play-by-play: Brent Stover; Color: Sherdrick Bonner; Sideline: Cassie McKinney
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: STEEL: Former AFL Rookie of the Year WR Jared Perry is off to an outstanding season. The fifth-year receiver from Missouri has caught 23 passes for 287 yards and, a team leading, five TDs in 2016. For his career in 49 games, he has caught 314 passes for 4,287 yards and 85 TDs... WR Tom Gilson leads the Steel with 30 receptions and has 299 receiving yards and four TDs... Including his time with the LA KISS, Gilson has a streak of 13 straight games with at least 2 catches... DLs Dexter Davis Jr., Brandon Sesay and Reggie Wilson are tied for the team lead with a sack each... JLB Sergio Gilliam leads the team with 9.0 total tackles... RATTLERS: In the seven regular season games against Portland, QB Nick Davila has thrown 46 TDs to just 2 INTs... The Rattlers have the top scoring offense in the league averaging 71 points per game... Since 2012, the Rattlers are 40-4 at home (including playoffs). In that time, the Snake-Pit has been the most difficult place to play for other teams, only able to win there just over 9% of the time... FB Mykel Benson this season leads the league in rushing touchdowns (9) and is 3rd in rushing yards (74)... Rod Windsor is No. 1 in the AFL for re-ceiving yards (543) and receiving TDs (15) this season... Windsor has caught a touch-down pass in 37 consecutive games played... The Rattlers have 3 players in the Top 5 for total sacks this season. DL Luis Vasquez leads the way with 4.0 sacks.
JACKSONVILLE SHARKS (1-3) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (0-3)
Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. ET (WatchESPN)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: SHARKS: WR Joe Hills has caught at least one TD in 56 consecutive regular-season games played... DB Greg Reid earned First Team All-Arena and AFL Rookie of the Year honors a season ago despite not joining the team until the seventh game of the regular season. Reid has picked off 12 passes in 16 career regular-season appearances... The Sharks return the entirety of a starting pass-protection unit (Moqut Ruffin, Ray McNeil and Cornelius Lewis) that yielded just eight sacks in 2015. The team has allowed just one sack through four games this season... Coach Les Moss has enjoyed success against the Storm, holding a 9-4 record against Tampa Bay during the regular season. However, Jacksonville has lost each of its last three trips to Amalie Arena. ... STORM: Newly-acquired WR Mike Washington will be facing the Sharks for the sixth time in his career...Last time out, he caught 11 passes for 145 yards and two TDs (6/7/14 with Spokane)... For his career, he's averaged 106 catches and 1,320 yards per season... T.T. Toliver now has 1,099 career receptions, putting him in sole possession of second place in all-time AFL history. He needs just 66 catches to surpass Damian Harrell for the most receptions in AFL history... QB Jason Boltus returned to the Storm last game and looks to return to 2015 form... Boltus completed 408-of-714 passes for 5,025 yards, 98 TDs and 28 INTs, while adding 10 rushing TDs... New target V'Keon Lacey will be a red-zone threat as he has eight catches for 98 yards and 3 TDs in two games with the Storm.
PHILADELPHIA SOUL (3-1) AT LOS ANGELES KISS (2-2)
Monday, May 2 at 8 p.m. ET (Univision & WatchESPN)
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: One of the match-ups to watch is between Soul QB Dan Raudabaugh and KISS QB Nathan Stanley. Through four games this season Raudabaugh has completed 88-of-125 passes for 1,075 yards and 26 TDs. This past weekend he was awarded Under Armour Offensive Player of the Week for completing 26-of-31 passes for 315 yards and eight TDs in the home victory over Cleveland. This season, Stanley has completed 95-of-156 passes for 1,033 yards and 17 TDs... SOUL: WR Chris Duvalt is off to a great start. Despite only recording five receptions, he has four TDs in 2016. Last week, he had a 45-yard touchdown against Cleveland. In Week 2, he caught four passes for 50 yards and three TDs. He caught 109 passes for 1,265 yards and 23 TDs in the 2015 season with the New Orleans VooDoo... FB Jeramie Richardson leads the AFL in rushing for the third week in a row. He also leads the Soul's rushing attack with team highs in attempts (23) and rushing yards (102). He has scored four TDs in the past three games and has 3.5 tackles on the season... DBs Tracy Belton and Dwayne Hollis each have three INTs this season... KISS: Over the first quarter of the season, the LA KISS have developed a three-pronged receiving core of Donovan "Captain" Morgan, DJ Stephens and Brandon Collins. Stanley has relied upon this core for over 90 percent of his total passing yardage through the first four games... Stephens leads the receivers with 37 receptions and 426 receiving yards, while "Captain" Morgan has continued to make huge game changing plays and has 10 total TDs (eight receiving)... Collins has added 24 receptions for 247 yards and four TDs... DB Rayshaun Kizer, who leads the KISS with 19.5 totals tackles and two INTs, spent the 2012-14 seasons with the Soul. Led the Soul in total tackles and INTs over his three seasons in Philly... Morgan also played two seasons with the Soul (2011-12).
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Arena Football League Stories from April 27, 2016
- AFL Matchups: 'Rock vs. Jock' Battle at Honda Center in Week 5 - AFL
- Military Appreciation Night June 26th - Los Angeles KISS
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