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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Arizona, San Jose Host This Weekend on NBC

June 9, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – The hotly contested AFL playoffs continue this weekend with Semifinal-Round action. The No. 3-seeded Chicago Rush (12-5) and the No. 2-seeded San Jose SaberCats (12-5) battle on Saturday at HP Pavilion, and No. 5-seeded Colorado Crush (12-5) and No. 1-seeded Arizona Rattlers (12-5) meet on Sunday at America West Arena. Both games air at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

Columbus Destroyers minority owner and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver JOEY GALLOWAY will join host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for a preview of Saturday's and Sunday's match-ups, halftime game updates and postgame wrap-up interviews.

For the first time in AFL history, all four semifinal teams have at least 12 victories. The combined 48 victories is the second-highest combined Semifinal-Round win total in history (49 in 1996).

The top-seeded Rattlers, who have finished runner-up in each of the previous two ArenaBowls, are the hottest team in the AFL. They are led by Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB SHERDRICK BONNER (3,833 yards and 77 TDs in the regular season), who has helped guide the Rattlers to nine straight victories. The five-time All-Arena performer connected on 26-of-33 passes (78.8 percent) for 227 yards, six touchdowns and one interception against Los Angeles last week to win Offensive Player of the Week honors. One of his main targets will be WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT, who recorded a career postseason-high 13 receptions for 126 yards and three touchdowns last week against the Avengers. All-Arena OL/DL BRYAN HENDERSON and All-Ironman OL/DL WENDALL GAINES lead the battle up front.

Colorado Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS DAMIAN HARRELL (110 receptions, 1,635 yards and 41 TDs during the regular season) sparked the Crush offense with 10 receptions for 134 yards and three touchdowns in the quarterfinal victory over New Orleans. Coach of the Year candidate MIKE DAILEY looks to QB JOHN DUTTON (4,195 yards and 76 TDs in regular season) on offense and ADT Defensive Player of the Year candidate DS RASHAD FLOYD (123.0 total tackles, an AFL single-season record) to lead the defensive charge.

In San Jose, Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB MARK GRIEB (4,111 yards and 75 TDs in regular season) has led the SaberCats to their third straight Semifinal-Round appearance after defeating the defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm last week. The main offensive target was WR/LB JAMES ROE (7 receptions for 81 yards and 2 TDs vs. Tampa Bay), while Defensive Player of the Year candidate DS OMARR SMITH (9 INTs, tied for No. 1 during regular season) patrols the defensive secondary for the SaberCats.

Chicago head coach MIKE HOHENSEE and 2004 Lineman of the Year JOHN MOYER (10.0 sacks, No. 1 in AFL) seek revenge for Week 11's 51-43 loss in which the Rush lost the lead with under a minute remaining. Rush QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (3,053 yards and 52 TDs) will look to All-Rookie WR/LB ETU MOLDEN (101 receptions for 1,280 yards and 23 TDs in regular season) on offense. Moyer is joined on the line by former Lineman and Defensive Player of the Year JAMES BARON (3.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 blocked kicks), while DS COREY SAWYER (69.5 total tackles and 2 INTs) patrols the secondary.

The winners of the Semifinal Round games will meet in ArenaBowl XVIII at the site of the highest remaining seed on June 27 at 4 p.m. ET on NBC.

NO. 3 CHICAGO RUSH (12-5) AT NO. 2 SAN JOSE SABERCATS (12-5)
SATURDAY, JUNE 12, AT 3:00 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – BOB PAPA, RAY BENTLEY and MARTY SNIDER)

San Jose has never lost to Chicago, winning all three meetings... The teams played earlier this season with the SaberCats victorious 51-43 in San Jose on 4/16...San Jose is 2-0 at HP Pavilion with both games being decided by a combined total of 14 points... This will be the first postseason meeting between the clubs... The SaberCats are the only team to reach the final four in each of the last five years... The SaberCats are 7-3 all-time in home playoff games... San Jose QB MARK GRIEB improved to 4-0 as the SaberCats starting QB in quarterfinal round playoff games by leading San Jose to a 56-52 win over Tampa Bay... Grieb completed his first eight passes and finished the game 22-of-32 for 223 yards and four TDs with no INTs... In the four quarterfinal games Grieb was 81-of-114 (71.1%) for 1,047 yards with 21 TDs and just one INT... Grieb is 0-3 as the SaberCats starting QB in semifinal round games completing 58-of-110 (52.7%) for 705 yards with 17 TDs and three INTs... Chicago WR/LB ETU MOLDEN led the team this season with 101 catches for 1,280 yards and 23 TDs and also scored six times rushing... He added two TDs on KO returns to lead the team with 198 points... Molden also posted 25.5 tackles and a pair of INTs from his LB position... Against the SaberCats on April 16, Molden hauled in a season-high tying 10 balls for 116 yards and three TDs... Rush OL/DL JOHN MOYER was selected the 2004 Lineman of the Year and also earned All-Ironman and First-Team All-Arena honors last week... Moyer led the league in sacks with 10.0 sacks and added three defensive fumble recoveries, 11.5 tackles for a loss, four blocked kicks, an INT and 31.0 total tackles... FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN led the No. 3-seeded Chicago Rush during their 59-49 victory over the No. 6-seeded Orlando Predators on Sunday... He had five rushes for 24 yards and two TDs, while adding a 9-yard reception on offense... McMillen also recorded 2.5 total tackles and had an INT that was returned 33 yards to set up a score in the first quarter... Chicago QB RAYMOND PHILYAW completed 247-of-389 for 3,053 yards with 52 TDs and four INTs on the season... Philyaw has started four career games against San Jose and is 1-3 in those games... He has lost his last three starts against San Jose with all games being played in HP Pavilion... Earlier this season on 4/16, Philyaw was 21-of-35 for 229 yards and six TDs, but his fourth quarter INT led to San Jose's game-winning score in a 51-43 SaberCats' victory.

NO. 5 COLORADO CRUSH (12-5) AT NO. 1 ARIZONA RATTLERS (12-5)
SUNDAY, JUNE 13, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and MARTY SNIDER)

Colorado defeated Arizona 54-46 in Denver on 3/27/04... This will be the fourth meeting between these teams, and first in the playoffs... Colorado won the last meeting after Arizona went 2-0 vs. the Crush in 2003... Colorado has never lost a playoff game... Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL caught seven passes for 109 yards and three TDs to pace the Crush... Colorado DS AHMAD HAWKINS helped lead the No. 5-seeded Crush to a 47-44 victory over the No. 4-seeded New Orleans VooDoo (11-6) on Sunday... He recorded 9.0 total tackles, two PBUs and a 14-yard INT return for a TD that gave the Crush early momentum... Arizona OL/DL BRYAN HENDERSON was named to the AFL's All-Arena First Team after setting a Rattlers record of 8.0 QB sacks, No. 4 in the league... The Rattlers' ORSHAWANTE BRYANT set a new Rattlers postseason record with 13 receptions in the quarterfinals win over L.A.... Bryant finished with 126 yards and three TDs, and also recovered a fumble at the end of the game... Colorado came out on fire after halftime, outscoring the Rattlers 42-22 in the second half for a 54-46 win... Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER earned Offensive Player of the Week honors by leading the Rattlers to a 59-42 victory over the No. 8-seeded Los Angeles Avengers on Sunday... He completed 26-of-33 passes (78.8 percent) for 227 yards, six TDs and one INT... Bonner is No. 1 all-time in the playoffs for total offense (5558 yards) and total offensive TDs (110)... WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER is No. 1 all-time in the playoffs for all-purpose yards (3700)... The Rattlers have advanced to the Semifinal Round for the third straight season.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 9, 2004


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