AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

AFL week 10 must-see matchups

Published on March 30, 2006 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


CHICAGO QB MATT D'ORAZIO VS. ORLANDO QB JOE HAMILTON

QB MATT D'ORAZIO (6-4, 215, Otterbein) and the Chicago Rush (4-5) take on QB JOE HAMILTON (5-10, 190, Georgia Tech) and the Orlando Predators (5-4) this Sunday at HummerField at the TD Waterhouse Center at noon ET on NBC.

This season, D'Orazio has been a driving force for the Rush offense, passing for 2,337 yards, 37 touchdowns and only three interceptions. While considered an accurate passer (69.2), he also is second in rushing yards (126) and leads the League in rushing touchdowns (9). The emergence of OS C.J. JOHNSON (5-10, 175, Tennessee State) gives the Rush a dangerous weapon on offense. He has hauled in 54 catches for 609 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively, OL/DL KHREEM SMITH (6-4, 270, Oklahoma State) enters the game as the AFL sack leader (5.5) and looks to add to that total this week.

Hamilton, the runner-up for the 1999 Heisman Trophy while at Georgia Tech, has been a steady presence for the Predators this season throwing for 2,259 yards and 38 touchdowns. As much of a threat on the ground as he is through the air, Hamilton has rushed for 54 yards and five touchdowns. He will look for teammate OS JIMMY FRYZEL (5-11, 195, Central Florida), who leads the Predators with 12 touchdowns and has pulled down 45 receptions for 515 yards. On defense, DS JEROID JOHNSON (5-9, 186, Oklahoma State) is a key component of the Predators assault, leading the team with 52.5 tackles and four interceptions.

ARIZONA QB SHERDRICK BONNER VS. SAN JOSE QB MARK GRIEB

QB SHERDRICK BONNER (6-4, 240, Cal State-Northridge) and the resurgent Arizona Rattlers (5-4) look to maintain first place out West when they battle division rival QB MARK GRIEB (6-3, 208, California-Davis) and the San Jose SaberCats (3-6) at the HP Pavillion at San Jose this Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on NBC.

Since returning from injury in Week 3, Bonner has engineered an offense that has won five of its last six games, including a 58-45 decision at Los Angeles last week, where he became just the fourth player in AFL history to throw for 700 touchdowns. He has a strong receiving core in WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD (6-0, 195, UNLV), OS DAMIEN GROCE (5-10, 180, Iowa State), and WR/DB COSMO DEMATTEO (6-1, 205, Tennessee-Chattanooga) who have each hauled in more than 450 receiving yards on the season. Gatewood has been terrific on both sides of the ball, amassing 39 catches for 507 yards and 12 touchdowns, while recording 40.0 tackles and three interceptions. In Week 9, he was named Ironman of the Week, the third time he has earned the honor in four weeks.

Grieb, who has thrown for 2,730 yards (second in the AFL) and 45 touchdowns, is on pace to break the single-season record he set last year (4,796) for most passing yards in a season. He was instrumental earlier this season in the SaberCats' 58-50 win at Arizona, passing for 283 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. WR/LB JAMES ROE (6-1, 198, Norfolk State) and WR/DB CHARLES PAULEY (5-10, 165, San Jose State) are two of Grieb's primary scoring options and are also defensive threats. Roe has caught 51 passes for 631 yards and 15 touchdowns and recorded 14.0 tackles, while Pauley has made 36 catches for 482 yards and 10 touchdowns, and recorded 20.5 tackles.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 30, 2006


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