AFL must see matchups: week 13
April 21, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
PHILADELPHIA QB TONY GRAZIANI vs. NEW YORK QB AARON GARCIA
The quarterback who has thrown for more touchdowns over the last two seasons than any other player and the AFL's all-time passing touchdown leader meet in an Eastern Division matchup when Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 215 Oregon State) and the Soul (5-7) travel to Nassau Coliseum to play QB AARON GARCIA (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) and the Dragons (6-5) this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.
Graziani, in his first season with the Soul, has completed 238-of-397 passes for 3,169 yards and a League-leading 71 touchdowns. Since the start of the 2004 season, no player has recorded more touchdowns than Graziani (170), who was an All-Arena first team selection last season.
Garcia, the AFL's all-time passing touchdown leader (694), looks to make a push toward the playoffs with another strong performance against the Soul. In the last meeting between these two teams, Garcia posted 251 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in a 61-54 Dragons victory. Another six-touchdown performance would make Garcia the first quarterback in professional football history to record 700 career touchdowns. This season Garcia has completed 234-of-350 passes for 2,839 yards and 59 touchdowns.
NASHVILLE WR/DB T.T. TOLIVER vs. TAMPA BAY QB SHANE STAFFORD
Nashville WR/DB T.T. TOLIVER, a 2004 All-Ironman selection (5-11, 185, Bethune-Cookman College), has been a familiar target over the last few years for Tampa Bay QB SHANE STAFFORD (6-3, 220, Connecticut). However, Stafford will be looking to avoid Toliver when the Storm travel to Gaylord Entertainment Center to take on the Kats this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.
Toliver, one of the best two-way players in the AFL, was acquired by the Kats three weeks ago in a trade with the Storm. In his two games with the Kats since the trade, Toliver has exploded for 181 yards, four touchdowns and a key two-point conversion scoring run, while earning Offensive Player of the Game honors in both games. Last season with the Storm, Toliver led the team in all-purpose yards (2,095) and tied for the team lead in interceptions (3).
Stafford has completed 291-of-443 passes for 3,163 yards and 61 touchdowns, ranking him No. 2 in attempts and completions and No. 4 in yards and touchdowns. With only eight interceptions on the season, Stafford has the third-lowest interception percentage in the League (1.8). Stafford earned AFL Offensive Player of the Week honors twice this season.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 21, 2005
- Garff Enterprises Bringing Professional Football Team to Salt Lake City - AFL I
- Crush place Hunter on IR, sign Pickens to active roster - Colorado Crush
- VooDoo radio broadcasts now available on the Internet - New Orleans VooDoo
- AFL must see matchups: week 13 - AFL I
- Week 14 Orlando-Philadelphia game rescheduled - AFL I
- May 1 Soul-Predators game rescheduled - Philadelphia Soul
- Streak comes to end, Preds' McEntyre on IR - Orlando Predators
- Rush to host fifth annual free football clinic - Chicago Rush
- Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
- AFL week 13 quick hitters - AFL I
- Los Angeles Avengers game notes - Los Angeles Avengers
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