AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL on NBC shifts to noon kickoff this Sunday

Published on March 3, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Two undefeated teams and two hot-handed quarterbacks – Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL and Georgia QB LEON MURRAY – look to continue their winning ways as the AFL on NBC shifts to Noon ET on Sunday, March 7.

The AFL on NBC will move to noon ET for Weeks 5-7 and Week 9. Games will return to 3 p.m. ET beginning in Week 10. The change is necessary because of NBC's coverage of the PGA's "Southern Swing." Although Week 8 will feature a full slate of AFL games, none will be broadcast on NBC because of the PGA Tour's coverage of The Players Championship.

In Georgia, Force head coach MARTY LOWE hopes to carry momentum from last week's dramatic 53-52 OT victory over Los Angeles when the Force (2-2) host Las Vegas. Georgia QB LEON MURRAY (1,014 yards and 16 TDs) guides one of the AFL's top offenses (282.8 YPG, No. 1 in AFL) against Las Vegas' stingy defense (37.2 PPG, No. 1 in AFL). Led by Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week QB CLINT DOLEZEL, the Gladiators (2-2) have won two straight games, including a 50-30 victory over the previously-unbeaten New Orleans VooDoo last week.

The Western Division-leading San Jose SaberCats, led by the AFL's leading passer QB MARK GRIEB (147.8 QB Rating), are off to a 3-0 start and head to New York to play QB AARON GARCIA (21 TDs and 3 INTs) and the Dragons (1-3) Sunday at Noon ET on NBC. The San Jose combo of OS JAMES HUNDON and WR/DB JAMES ROE (combined for 32 receptions for 428 yards and 13 TDs) will try to overtake DS COREY JOHNSON and DS DONVETIS FRANKLIN (combined 40.5 total tackles.)

Elsewhere, Chicago QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (14 TDs and 0 INTs) has the Rush (4-0) pointed in the right direction as they head to Philadelphia to play QB NICK BROWDER and the Soul (1-3), Sunday at Noon ET on NBC. OL/DLs JAMES BARON and JOHN MOYER lead the Rush frontline pressure (202.2 YPG, No. 1 in AFL), while DS COREY SAWYER (18.0 tackles and 1 INT) and WR/DB LINDSAY FLESHMAN (9.0 tackles and 2 INTs) help patrol the defensive secondary. Philadelphia OS TYRONNE JONES (22 receptions and 7 TDs), WR/DB DERIN GRAHAM (17 receptions and 2 TDs) and RICKY ROSS (16 receptions and 4 TDs) will be the main targets for Browder.

Tampa Bay's (2-2) connection of QB SHANE STAFFORD (21 TDs and 2 INTs) and OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (22 receptions and 11 TDs) will try to outshine New Orleans (3-1) duo of QB JOHN FITZGERALD (14 TDs and 2 INTs) and OS AARON BAILEY (24 receptions and 7 TDs) in a battle for the Southern Division lead on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT on NBC.

Games for Week 5 include: Detroit at Colorado on Thursday; Columbus at Arizona on Friday; Indiana at Orlando, Grand Rapids at Dallas on Saturday; Las Vegas at Georgia (NBC), San Jose at New York (NBC), Chicago at Philadelphia (NBC), Tampa Bay at New Orleans (NBC) and Carolina at Austin on Sunday. Los Angeles has a bye week.

DETROIT FURY (2-1) AT COLORADO CRUSH (3-1)
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, AT 9 P.M. ET
(TV: COLORADO COMCAST 5)

The Fury and Crush met once during the 2003 season, where the Fury defeated the Crush 71-56 at the Pepsi Center in Denver... The 71 points scored were a season-high for the Fury... That same game, the Fury defense grabbed two INTs, recovered two fumbles, sacked the QB twice and recorded a safety... The game was the first of three regular season games in 2003 where Fury QB ANDY KELLY did not throw an INT... Through the first four weeks of the season, the Fury find themselves among the AFL's league leaders in sacks... In their last two games, Detroit has held their opponents to 31 and 25 points... Detroit's defense held Arizona and Indiana to a combined 10 field-goal attempts... In Colorado, QB JOHN DUTTON threw four TD passes last week, two to OS DAMIAN HARRELL, as the Crush surpassed its win total from the 2003 inaugural season in just four weeks... As Dutton goes, so go the Crush. The former ArenaBowl XVI MVP (with San Jose in 2002) has completed 76-of-119 passes (63.9%) for 852 yards and 14 TDs... Twice in the first four games he has been named Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game... Defensively, the Crush forced two INTs – one by WR/DB RASHAD FLOYD and the other by U.S. Army Ironman of the Game WR/DB KEVIN MCKENZIE in last week's 37-35 victory over the Austin Wranglers... This game is equally important to both teams, as the Crush and Fury are separated by just one-half game for second place in the Central Division.

COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (1-3) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (2-2)
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, AT 9 P.M. ET

This is the fifth meeting between these two teams, dating back to when the Destroyers were in Buffalo... Arizona holds a 3-1 advantage over the Destroyers, but lost last year in Buffalo 49-45... Arizona is 2-0 at home against the Destroyers... In the past two weeks the Destroyers have been outscored in the second half 51-21, including two scoreless quarters... Using two QBs for the Destroyers offense, RYAN VENA and JOHN RAYBORN have combined to complete 83-of-124 pass attempts, giving the team the No. 4 pass percentage in the AFL (66.9)... WR/LB CORNELIUS WHITE is the Destroyers leading receiver, having caught 29 receptions for 375 yards and seven TDs... The Destroyers are No. 2 in the League for kick return yards (549) and tied for No. 1 in kick return TDs (2)... The Destroyers will encounter some obstacles in the form of Arizona WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER, who needs only 170 yards to reach 20,000 all-purpose yards for his career and OL/DL BRYAN HENDERSON, who rang up 2.0 sacks last week, giving him 4.0 on the season... He is now 2.0 sacks away from tying STACY EVANS' team record of 6.0 sacks in a season... OS SIAHA BURLEY has been nearly unstoppable so far this season... Burley is No. 2 in the League with 32 receptions, and No. 1 with 410 yards (102.5 yards per game)... He's also No. 1 in the League for most yards from scrimmage with 411... As QB SHERDRICK BONNER'S favorite target, Burley has hauled in six TDs, and rushed for another.

INDIANA FIREBIRDS (0-4) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (1-2)
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

The Indiana Firebirds currently have three players in the AFL Top 10 in rushing yards. QB ADRIAN McPHERSON ranks 3rd with 78 yards, FB/LB LEROY THOMPSON ranks fourth with his 58 yards, and FB/LB JEFF COGELL is tied for No. 9 with 42 yards... Thompson has made his presence known on the defensive side of the ball, earning ADT Defensive Player of the Game honors in last week's loss to Chicago... McPherson ranks among the League leaders in rushing, despite only seeing action in two of Indiana's first four games... The 20-year-old rookie has completed 29-of-50 for 408 yards with 6 TDs and one INT... WR/DB EVAN HLAVACEK is once again showing that he is a true Ironman in the AFL. After leading the Firebirds with six receptions against New Orleans, he recovered a critical fumble in Detroit, while catching one pass for nine yards and returning two kicks for 38 yards... Last week, Hlavacek recorded two TD receptions of over 35 yards en route to a three-reception, 85-yard day... Hlavacek has scored receiving, kickoff return and a fumble recovery in 2004... Orlando QB JOE HAMILTON has guided the Predators offensive attack, completing an impressive 63.7% of his 102 passes... Hamilton has passed for 15 TDs and no INTs through three games... His 773 passing yards averages out to over 7.5 per passing attempt... Orlando WR/LB CORY FLEMING's 25 receptions are a team-high for Orlando... Fleming is also the team leader in receiving yards (378) and receiving TDs (8), averaging 15.1 yards per reception... OS JAMES BOWDEN has developed into a threat on the offensive side of the ball, and on special teams... He is currently second on the team with 19 receptions for 169 receiving yards and 5 TDs... Bowden is also the top kick returner for Orlando, averaging 16.2 yards on 9 returns.

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (0-4) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (3-1)
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, AT 8:30 P.M. ET

Dallas' victory over the Rampage last year clinched the Central Division title for the Desperados... The series stands at 1-1, with each team winning on the road last spring. Dallas's 62 points at Grand Rapids marked the eighth game in 2003 that Dallas scored at least 60 points... Despite starting 0-4, the Rampage is attempting to be the fourth team in AFL history to start at least 0-4 and reach the playoffs... In OS STEVE SMITH's first three games, he posted the top three career games in terms of all-purpose yards (238, 193, 192) and kick return yards (168, 168, 155). With 7.5 tackles against the Crush (2/14), DS CECIL DOGGETTE became the ninth player in the League to record 400.0 career stops... Dallas QB GLENN GAUNTT made his first career AFL start against Grand Rapids on 2/28/03, when he was 21-of-45, 182 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs at Grand Rapids... In his first four games with Dallas, Gauntt has thrown for 973 yards, 19 TDs and three INTs on 78-of-132 passing... After starting the season with two INTs and several errant throws, he has settled into his role and thrown only one pick in the last three games and is making better connections with his receivers... WR/LB JASON SHELLEY has already caught 29 passes for 320 yards and eight TDs in only four games... He has already established single-game career-highs this season in receptions (10 vs. Carolina, 2/8), receiving yards (122 vs. Carolina, 2/8), receiving TDs (three vs. Philadelphia, 2/15) and total TDs (four vs. Philadelphia, 2/15)... Overall, he accounts for 60 of the team's 199 points... Last season against the Rampage, Desperados WR/DB WILL PETTIS had 3 catches for 27 yards and a score, two carries for one yard and a score, 2 kickoff returns for 34 yards, a MFG return for 33 yards and 4.0 tackles... If Dallas wins, they will have a 4-1 record, the best season start in franchise history.

LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (2-2) AT GEORGIA FORCE (2-2)
SUNDAY, MARCH 7, AT 12 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – ELI GOLD, CHARLES DAVIS and FRED KALIL)

Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL is riding high after being named the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts in leading the Gladiators to a 50-30 win over the New Orleans VooDoo... Dolezel, who threw the 500th touchdown of his career in the victory, completed 22-of-32 passes for 224 yards and four TDs with no INTs... He also ran for two scores in the Gladiators win... It was the ninth time in has career that Dolezel has earned AFL Player of the Week honors and the first Gladiator to win offensive player of the week since OS MIKE HORACEK in 2002... With a 12-reception game and 109 yards receiving against the VooDoo, OS MARCUS NASH reached 100 receptions for his career... After four games into the 2004 season, Las Vegas has been hitting the jackpot when it comes to total offense (269.5), scoring defense (37.2 points), passing yards (251.8), fumble return yards (25.0), fumbles recovered (7), interceptions (5) and sacks against (0)... The Force-Gladiators match-up will pit two of the league's highest ranked offenses... Force QB LEON MURRAY is second among all QBs in the rushing category with 51 yards on 13 carries, scoring four TDs on the ground... Murray stands No. 6 overall in the AFL in rushing... OS MARKEITH COOPER is currently tied for No. 5 in the AFL for leading scorer with 54 points through four games... He is also tied for the AFL lead for most points (30) scored in a single-game... Force K STEVE MCLAUGHLIN is a perfect 27-for-27 this season on PAT kicks... Last year, McLaughlin began the season connecting on his first 18 PAT attempts before his first miss... McLaughlin's leg also played a huge role in the Force's 53-52 overtime victory at Los Angeles (3/1)... With three seconds remaining in regulation, McLaughlin connected on a 50-yard field goal as time expired to even the score at 45-45 and push the game into the extra session... Currently, his 50-yard make stands as the longest in the AFL converted this season.

SAN JOSE SABERCATS (3-0) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (1-3)
SUNDAY, MARCH 7, AT 12 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

The San Jose SaberCats (3-0) will face former head coach and current New York Dragons coach TODD SHELL when they come to Nassau Coliseum this Sunday... Shell, who was named the AFL's Coach of the Year in 2003, posted a 29-28 overall record in four seasons with San Jose... There is some old blood between the two teams, who split the series at 4 games apiece... On May 12, 2001, Dragon's QB AARON GARCIA completed 32 passes in a 62-58 Dragon victory over San Jose – setting a record for a SaberCats opponent and ending San Jose's 15-game regular season winning streak... This week, Garcia will be aiming for WR/DB WILL HOLDER, who ranks tied for No. 2 in the League with nine TD receptions and tied for No. 2 with 60 points... On the SaberCats offensive side, a QB MARK GRIEB fumble while being sacked in the second quarter of San Jose's game at Detroit on Feb. 5, is the only turnover committed by the SaberCats this season... Since that time the team has had 26 offensive possessions and has scored 19 TDs... For the season, Grieb has completed 78.9 percent of his passes (45-of-57) for 568 yards with 14 TDs and no INTs... He raised his League-leading passer rating from 143.2 to 147.8 with his performance... SaberCat OS JAMES HUNDON extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one TD catch to 20 and posted his 18th career 100-yard receiving game and seventh career game with at least four TD catches.

CHICAGO RUSH (4-0) AT PHILADELPHIA SOUL (1-3)
SUNDAY, MARCH 7, AT 12 P.M. ET
(TV:NBC – BOB PAPA, RAY BENTLEY and VAI SIKAHEMA)

Chicago is one of two teams that remain undefeated going into Week 5... Chicago is 4-0, San Jose 3-0... Chicago QB RAYMOND PHILYAW has had steady numbers, completing 67 of 102 passes for 796 yards,14 TDs and no INTs... Philyaw is one of only four QBs left to throw an interception... FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN, a ten-year AFL veteran, currently leads the Rush in rushing and is also ranked second in the league with 22 carries for 94 yards and three TDs... In addition to serving as a defensive specialist, DS KAREEM LARRIMORE has proved explosive by returning 10 kickoffs for 234 yards and one TD... WR/LB LINDSAY FLESHMAN, the leading receiver on the Rush, has recorded 19 receptions for 253 yards and four TDs in his first four games of 2004... In his first AFL season, WR/LB ETU MOLDEN has recorded 17 receptions for 168 yards and a team high six receiving TDs... In his first year as a full-time starter, Soul QB NICK BROWDER has thrown 61-of-99 pass attempts for 709 yards and 13 TDs and ranks No. 4 in third-down passing (11-24-165 4TDs)... Leading the AFL in third-down rushing is FB/LB CHRIS "SOUL TRAIN" RYAN, who has rushed 12 times for 47 yards and three TDs... OS TYRONNE JONES is tied for No. 4 among League leaders in scoring with seven TDs for 42 points, leading the team with 22 receptions for 222 yards and 7 TDs... DS JOE TODD has recorded an INT in consecutive games, and is tied for No. 2 in the League in INTs with two.

TAMPA BAY STORM (2-2) AT NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (3-1)
SUNDAY, MARCH 7, AT 12 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – ALLEN BESTWICK, MIKE PAWLAWSKI and RICH LENZ)

The Storm enter the contest with a 2-2 overall record, an identical mark they had entering Week 5 of last season on their way to win ArenaBowl XVII... With his interception on Sunday against Philadelphia, WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS tied former Tampa Bay Storm DS JOHNNIE HARRIS for second place all-time on the Storm career interceptions list. Samuels, with 18 career INTs, is now second to only TRACEY PERKINS, who finished his Storm playing days with 34 career INTs... On the year, the Storm defense has held opponents to just 11-of-26 on third-down conversions (42.3%, No. 4 in the AFL) and 2-of-8 on fourth downs (25.0%, No. 2)... OS FREDDIE SOLOMON enters the game as the AFL's leading scorer with 78 points (13 TDs -- 11 rec., 2 rush), three TDs ahead of his nearest challenger... QB SHANE STAFFORD saw his streak of back-to-back 300-yard passing games snapped against Philadelphia last week... Stafford threw for 233 yards in the contest, ending his bid for three straight 300-yard games... QB JOHN FITZGERALD went to training camp with Tampa Bay in 2001 and 2002, where he competed with Stafford for a roster spot... Fitzgerald was waived by the Storm in training camp and ended up later that season with the Carolina Cobras, where he first played for VooDoo coach MIKE NEU, and with teammate AARON BAILEY... Fitzgerald ranks No. 1 in the League for third-down passing leaders with 28 attempts and 18 completions for 237 yards and no INTs, while New Orleans FB/LB DAN CURRAN continues to dominate opponents as the No. 1 rusher in the League with 20 attempts for 96 yards and 8 TDs.

CAROLINA COBRAS (2-2) AT AUSTIN WRANGLERS (2-1)
MONDAY, MARCH 8, AT 3 P.M. ET

Carolina OS TODD DOXZON has emerged as one of the League's elite receivers early in 2004, leading the league with 34 receptions... He also ranks No. 2 in the AFL with 405 receiving yards and nine TD receptions... He has posted a career-high 10 catches in three of the Cobras' four games... Cobras WR/DB DAMIEN GROCE has developed into one of QB MATT NAGY's go-to-receivers near the end zone... Groce has posted 20 catches on the year, including nine TD receptions and currently leads the team with 60 points scored... The Cobras defense has shown the ability to force timely turnovers thus far this season. Overall, Carolina has forced opponents into a league-high 10 turnovers, including seven fumbles... Behind the arm of QB JOHN KALEO, the Wranglers currently lead the League with an average of 257 yards through the air... This could spell trouble for a Cobras defense that allows 248.5 yards per game, 15th in the league... Overall, Carolina has outscored its opponents 55-24 in the first frame... Austin, on the other hand, has gotten off to a slow start in the first quarter, scoring only 14 points in the first quarter in their first three games... Carolina WR/DB BERNARD HOLMES, who set six single-season franchise records last season, will see his first action of the season at Austin... Austin WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND leads the team with 21 receptions and seven receiving TDs... Eight-year AFL veteran TOM BRIGGS led the AFL with 10.5 sacks last season and has recorded a sack in each of his first three games in Austin.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 3, 2004


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