AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Arizona Next in San Jose's Way

Published on July 10, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK (July 10, 2002) – Billed as the "Biggest Game of the Year", the San Jose SaberCats will continue their journey toward immortality when they travel to play the Arizona Rattlers (9-3), Friday, July 12 at 10:00 p.m. (ET). The SaberCats (12-0) have already clinched home field throughout the playoffs with their No. 1 seed and have set the league mark with victories to start a season (12). The Western Division champions are on pace to threaten the team scoring record (64.1 PPG, New York in 2001), but will have to contend with the always-tough Arizona defense. San Jose's top ranked offense, led by Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB MARK GRIEB, currently leads the league in scoring with a 64.0 average. The four-year AFL veteran is the league's top-rated passer (125.6) and is at the controls of this AFL scoring machine. Offensive specialist JAMES HUNDON (31 TDs) leads a corps of receivers (WR/LB BARRY WAGNER, WR/DB JERRY REESE, and WR/LB SHALON BAKER) that may be considered the best in the league by combining for 213 receptions and 73 total touchdowns. If the SaberCats pick up two more victories, head coach DARREN ARBET would join elite club of football coaching legends DON SHULA, PAUL BROWN, and GEORGE HALAS for regular season perfection. The Rattlers continue to impress and have their eyes on securing the No. 2 spot in the playoff standings. Two-time ArenaBowl champion, SHERDRICK BONNER (2,764 yards and 59 TDs) guides the Rattler offense (51.4) but it's their No. 1 scoring defense (43.9 per game) that has other teams taking notice. The individual match-up to watch will be between Arizona's Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB CHRIS HORN (188 points, No. 1 in AFL) and San Jose's Rookie of the Year candidate DS CLEVAN THOMAS (4 INTs, 15 pass breakups, and 5 KOR for TDs, No. 1 in AFL).

Teacher vs. Pupil or Friend vs. Friend. No matter how you want to label it, Los Angeles head coach ED HODGKISS will face his former team when the Avengers (7-5) travel to Indiana to face his mentor MIKE DAILEY and the Firebirds (5-7) at Conseco Fieldhouse on Sunday, July 14 at 4:30 p.m. (ET) on The New TNN. Under Hodgkiss' guidance, the Avengers have bettered their scoring average by 12.4 points per game from last season (52.7 in 2002). Ironman of the Year candidate GREG HOPKINS (172 points, No. 3 in AFL) also makes a return appearance as the former Firebird hopes to keep the Avengers in the hunt for a first round bye. Former Offensive Player of the Year and perennial All-Arena OS EDDIE BROWN (150, No. 7) will try to ignite the Firebird offense and secure a better playoff position for Indiana (which has not missed the playoffs since 1997).

Two teams battling for a first round bye square off at the Allstate Arena on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. (ET) as the Chicago Rush (8-4), led by QB BILLY DICKEN, show off their Central Division crown to the visiting the AFL's all-time leading passer ANDY KELLY and his Dallas Desperados (7-5). This should be a high-scoring affair, as Dallas (54.1) and Chicago (54.0) are ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, in scoring offense. The individual match-up to watch will be a showdown between Rookie of the Year candidates - Chicago's ANTONIO CHATMAN (2,234 all-purpose yards, No. 3 in AFL) and Dallas ' ANDY MCCULLOUGH (67 receptions and 128 points).

Other games include Carolina at Buffalo on Friday. Tampa Bay at Detroit, Toronto at New Jersey, Georgia at Orlando, Grand Rapids at New York on Saturday.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 10, 2002


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central