AFL week 10 quick hitters

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

SEASON OF TURNAROUND: After nine games, the four teams at the bottom of their respective divisions last season--Arizona, Nashville, Columbus and Austin--have seen a complete turnaround in 2006. Arizona and Nashville were both 2-7 through this point in 2005, but are 5-4 and 6-3 respectively, in 2006. The Rattlers have won five of their last six games to take first place in the Western Division, while the Kats are in a first-place Central Division tie with the defending ArenaBowl Champion Colorado Crush. The Columbus Destroyers, 1-8 last season, are tied for second place at 5-4 with the Philadelphia Soul and New York Dragons in the Eastern Division. The Southern Division leading Austin Wranglers at 6-3 were just 3-6 at this point in 2005. They recently received the Mid-Season award for the Most Surprising Team by the AFLWA.

RECORD COMPARISON 2005 VS. 2006 (THROUGH NINE GAMES)
TEAM 2005 RECORD 2006 RECORD
Arizona 2-7 (Last) 5-4 (First)
Nashville 2-7 (Last) 6-3 (Tied-First)
Columbus 1-8 (Last) 5-4 (Tied-Second)
Austin 3-6 (Last) 6-3 (First)

COACH COUNTS DOWN TO CENTURY MARK: Chicago Rush Head Coach Mike Hohensee has 99 victories in his 12-year coaching career and needs one more to become only the third AFL head coach to reach the 100 victory mark.

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES
NAME (TEAM) WINS
1. Tim Marcum (Tampa Bay)* 179
2. Danny White (Utah)* 144
3. Mike Hohensee (Chicago)* 99
4. Mike Dailey (Colorado)* 94
5. Perry Moss (Orlando) 86 *Active

WHAT A CATCH: Los Angeles Avengers WR/DB GREG HOPKINS is poised to become the fifth player to reach the 10,000-yard career receiving mark. Nashville Kats WR/LB CORY FLEMING accomplished the feat last week vs. San Jose. Hopkins needs 46 yards (9,954) to join BARRY WAGNER, EDDIE BROWN, GARY COMPTON and Fleming.

TOP FIVE RECEIVERS ALL-TIME
PLAYER YARDS
1. Barry Wagner* 13,186
2. Eddie Brown 12,730
3. Gary Compton 10,247
4. Cory Fleming* 10,025
5. Greg Hopkins* 9,954
*Active

RACE TO 5000: Tampa Bay Storm QB SHANE STAFFORD, San Jose SaberCats QB MARK GRIEB, and Dallas Desperados QB CLINT DOLEZEL lead the AFL with 2,841, 2,730, and 2,726 passing yards, respectively. All three are on pace to break the single-season record set in 2005 by Grieb (4,796). Stafford is on pace for 5,051, Grieb is on pace for 4,853, and Dolezel is on pace for 4,846. If Stafford reaches 5,000 yards, he would be the first player in AFL history to accomplish this feat in a single season.

PROJECTED PASSING YARDS
PLAYER (TEAM) CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER (TEAM) YEAR
Shane Stafford (Tampa Bay) 2841 5051 4796 Mark Grieb (San Jose) 2005
Mark Grieb (San Jose) 2730 4853 Clint Dolezel (Dallas) 2726 4846

DROPPING BOMBS: Dallas Desperados QB CLINT DOLEZEL currently leads the AFL with 62 touchdown passes. He is on pace for 110, which would break the single-season mark of 104 set in 2001 by New York Dragons QB AARON GARCIA.

PROJECTED PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
PLAYER (TEAM) CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER (TEAM) YEAR
Clint Dolezel (Dallas) 62 110 104 Aaron Garcia (New York) 2001

RECORD PACE: Colorado Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL, who leads the AFL with 30 touchdowns, is on pace to break the current single-season record with 53. The current mark (46) is shared by five different players. Additionally, he currently leads the AFL with 180 points. He is on pace for 319 points, which would break the single-season record (310) set by WR/DB BARRY WAGNER in 1997, while playing for the Orlando Predators.

PROJECTED RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
PLAYER (TEAM) CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER (TEAM) YEAR
Damian Harrell (Colorado) 30 53 46
Shared by five players 2000

PROJECTED POINTS BY A NON-KICKER
PLAYER (TEAM) CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER (TEAM) YEAR
Damian Harrell (Colorado) 180 319 310
Barry Wagner (Orlando) 1997

DEFENSIVE PRESENCE: Austin Wranglers DS DAMON MASON and Columbus Destroyers WR/DB JERALD BROWN are tied for the AFL lead with eight interceptions and are on pace for 14. The record is 13 interceptions set by DS CLEVAN THOMAS in 2003, while playing for the San Jose SaberCats.

PROJECTED INTERCEPTIONS
PLAYER (TEAM) CURRENT PROJ RECORD PLAYER (TEAM) YEAR
Damon Mason (Austin) 8 14 13
Clevan Thomas (San Jose)2003
Jerald Brown (Columbus) 8 14

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

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