
Austin, Philadelphia make playoff debuts
May 17, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The Austin Wranglers (10-6) and Philadelphia Soul (9-7) both entered the AFL in 2004 and both make their postseason debuts this week when they meet in a National Conference Wild Card showdown at the Erwin Center in Austin on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.
Philadelphia finished in third place in the Eastern Division and posted its first-ever winning season with victories against Dallas (51-48) and at Georgia (57-41) in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Soul handed the Desperados, who were the second team in League history to win 13 games, two of their three losses this season.
Austin began the season with four straight wins and completed the season with two victories in a row to finish in second place in the Southern Division behind Orlando (10-6). The Wranglers' offense led the AFL in fourth-down efficiency and FB/LB DANE KRAGER led the AFL with 197 rushing yards, setting a new franchise record.
Following is a comparison of Austin and Philadelphia through each franchise's first three season:
YEAR AUSTIN PHILA.
2004 8-8 5-11
2005 6-10 6-10
2006 10-6 9-7
TOTAL 24-34 20-38
WILD CARD ROUND WEDNESDAY INJURY REPORT
***AS REPORTED TO THE LEAGUE OFFICE BY NOON ET ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2006***
UTAH BLAZE (7-9) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (8-8) - Saturday, 5 p.m. ETTV: OLN
Utah DOUBTFUL OL/DL Doug Kaufusi (Shoulder)
QUESTIONABLE WR/DB Sale Key (Shoulder); OL/DL Lewis Powell (Calf)
PROBABLE WR/LB Ryan Dennard (Shoulder); WR/LB Justin Skaggs (Shoulder)
Arizona DOUBTFUL OL/DL Sebastian Barrie (L Shoulder); DS Erin Damon (L Ankle); DS Wendell Davis (L Quad); WR/LB Curtis Fagan (R Ankle); WR/DB Darrell Jones (R Ankle); OL/DL Zach Rupp (L Ankle); FB/LB Frank Trentadue (R Foot); OL/DL Mark Tucker (R Hamstring); FB/LB Steve Warren (L Bicep); WR/DB Talib Wise (L Ankle)
QUESTIONABLE WR/LB Cosmo DeMatteo (L Hamstring)
PROBABLE OL/DL Wendall Gaines (L Quad); OL/DL Anthony Hutch (L Great Toe); OL/DL Kelvin Ingram (R Quad)
GEORGIA FORCE (8-8) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (10-6) - Sunday, 3 p.m. ETTV: NBC
Georgia OUT WR/DB Rob Carey (Knee), K Keith Gispert (Groin); WR/DB Ricky Parker (Ankle)
DOUBTFUL OL/DL Jason Gamble (Knee); WR/DB Chris Johnson (Knee); OL/DL Dary Myricks (Hip); OL/DL Prentice Purnell (Knee)
QUESTIONABLE QB Scott Dreisbach (Illness); WR/LB Derek Lee (Knee)
PROBABLE WR/DB Nick Ward (Shoulder)
New York OUT OL/DL Jovon Bush (Lower Back); FB/LB Joe Massey (R Shoulder); DS Mark Ricks (R Groin); QB Juston Wood (L Knee)
DOUBTFUL QB Aaron Garcia (R Lower Leg); WR/DB Will Holder (Cervical)
PROBABLE WR/LB Latrez Harrison (Lower Back); FB/LB Jeremy Pharms (R Ankle); OL/DL Steve Scifres (R Shoulder)
CHICAGO RUSH (7-9) AT NASHVILLE KATS (8-8) - Sunday, 3 p.m. ETTV: NBC
Chicago OUT WR/LB Brian Sump (L Groin)
DOUBTFUL FB/LB Levelle Brown (R Shoulder); DS Todd Howard (R Hamstring); WR/DB Buchie Ibeh (L Hamstring)
PROBABLE WR/LB Etu Molden (Ribs); OL/DL Frank Moore (L Knee)
Nashville OUT DS Eric Joyce (L Knee)
DOUBTFUL OL/DL Anthony Herron (Knee); DS Reggie Stephens (L Knee)
QUESTIONABLE DS Chris Angel (Lower Back); K Jason Ball (L Hamstring)
PHILADELPHIA SOUL (9-7) AT AUSTIN WRANGLERS (10-6) - Sunday, 3 p.m. ETTV: NBC
Philadelphia DOUBTFUL DS Clarence Curry (Leg); OL/DL Don Klein (Knee); FB/LB Darnell Small (Knee)
PROBABLE FB/LB Raheem Orr (Stomach)
Austin DOUBTFUL OL/DL Tom Briggs (Knee); WR/LB Fred Coleman (Ankle); OL/DL Aaron Humphrey (Ankle); OL/DL DeAngelo Lloyd (Knee); WR/LB Sir Mawn Wilson (Back)
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 17, 2006
- Two Avengers selected to All-Arena Teams - Los Angeles Avengers
- Austin, Philadelphia make playoff debuts - AFL I
- White and Burley Return to Arizona; Baron Faces Former Rush Teammates - AFL I
- 2002 SaberCats named AFL's best ever - San Jose SaberCats
- Philadelphia Soul DS Eddie Moten and OL/DL Ernest Allen receive All-Arena honors - Philadelphia Soul
- Lee and Smith named to All-Arena first team - Georgia Force
- Major Milestones Set During Regular Season - AFL I
- Gatewood Selected to AFL "All-Arena Team" - Arizona Rattlers
- Preds' Taylor tabbed First-Team All-Arena - Orlando Predators
- Destroyers' defensive specialist Jerald Brown named First Team All-Arena - Columbus Destroyers
- Chicago Rush game notes - Chicago Rush
- Dallas Places Three on First Team - Dallas Desperados
- Gladiators Marlion Jackson earns Second Team All-Arena honors - Las Vegas Gladiators
- Siaha Burley: Just your 'regular' superstar - Utah Blaze
- 2000 Predators voted 10th greatest team in AFL history - Orlando Predators
- 2006 All-Arena Teams announced - AFL I
- 20 Greatest Teams in AFL history revealed - AFL I
- Force Playoff Viewing Party - You're Invited - Georgia Force
- Rampage's Marshall Finishes as AFL All-Purpose Yardage Leader - Grand Rapids Rampage
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