Sports stats

AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Battle of Undefeateds in Orlando

February 12, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – The cagey veteran against the young quarterback. It has all the markings on an early-season thriller when the JAY GRUDEN-led Orlando Predators (50.5 points per game) take on JIM KUBIAK and the Dallas Desperados (53.0 points per game). Both squads are in the lead for their respective divisions, with Dallas in the middle of a three-way battle atop the Central Division with Grand Rapids and Indiana. The Predators lead the all-time series, 1-0, having narrowly defeated the Desperados, 44-41, last season.

Other games for Week 3 include: Arizona Rattlers at Buffalo Destroyers and Detroit Fury at Carolina Cobras on Friday; Los Angeles Avengers at Colorado Crush (NBC), San Jose SaberCats at Georgia Force (NBC), New York Dragons at Grand Rapids Rampage, Dallas Desperados at Orlando Predators (NBC) and Chicago Rush at Indiana Firebirds (NBC) on Sunday; and Tampa Bay Storm at Las Vegas Gladiators on Monday.

DETROIT FURY (1-1) AT CAROLINA COBRAS (0-2)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 AT 7:30 P.M. ET

Although his primary targets have been WR/LB TY GROVESTEEN and rookie WR/DB SULECIO SANFORD, the AFL's all-time leading passer, Detroit QB ANDY KELLY, has connected with six different receivers for touchdowns. After a win against his former team the Georgia Force last week, Fury DS/KR RON CARPENTER will look to burn Buffalo special teams on kickoffs (391 yards, one touchdown to date) and will be lurking in the backfield for his opportunity to snare a few ROBERT HALL passes. This week's game marks his first official start since 2000. Hall connected for a pair of touchdowns at Buffalo last week, after replacing STEWART PATRIDGE in the first quarter. The Cobras offense will certainly need a boost to earn their first win, as the team averages only 18 points a game.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-1) AT BUFFALO DESTROYERS (1-1)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 AT 7:30 P.M. ET
(WB-61 – Tape delayed 7 p.m. local time: KENT DERDIVANIS and TODD SHELL)

When the Rattlers travel to HSBC Arena for a Valentine's Day matchup, they won't find much love waiting in Western New York for them. Buffalo QB JEFF LOOTS connected for four scores – a pair apiece to GUNNARD TWYNER and CORNELIUS WHITE -- in their 28-point win over Carolina in Week 2. Destroyers DS DWAINE CARPENTER, named ADT Defensive Player of the Week for four pass breakups, an interception and 3.5 tackles against Carolina, will do all he can on Friday to disrupt any offensive rhythm Arizona may generate. Led by backup QB CHRIS HIXSON (filling in for SHERDRICK BONNER who is out with a shoulder injury until at least next week), the Rattlers continue to look for their go-to guy. Hixson connected with three different receivers for scores in Arizona's victory against Las Vegas last week, but the Rattlers fumbled the ball four times. Arizona defenders secured the team's win with one forced fumble and four interceptions, including a pair by Ironman of the Week RANDY GATEWOOD – his first a 47-yard return for the first score of the contest.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (2-0) AT COLORADO CRUSH (0-2)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 3 P.M.
(NBC – MIKE BREEN, RAY BENTLEY and DAVE BURNS)

Last week's thrilling 73-72 victory over the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats has Los Angeles Head Coach ED HODGKISS and the Avengers in the lead of the Western Division for the first time in franchise history. Third-year QB TONY GRAZIANI has been connecting with one of the AFL most dangerous duos OS CHRIS JACKSON (48 points, No. 2 in AFL) and WR/LB GREG HOPKINS. Colorado has fallen short in both of its games this season, but have remained in each contest until the final seconds. QB JOHN DUTTON has been guiding the Crush offense with the help of OS DAMIAN HARRELL (52 points, No. 1 in AFL) and WR/LB JOE DOUGLASS.

SAN JOSE SABERCATS (1-1) AT GEORGIA FORCE (1-1)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AT 3:00 P.M. ET
(NBC – DAN HICKS and CHARLES DAVIS)

Reigning ArenaBowl champion San Jose was edged by Los Angeles and handed its first regular-season loss last week, but is prepared not to endure a repeat defeat. Despite the loss, SaberCats QB MARK GRIEB had an impressive showing, completing 16-of-22 passes for 290 yards and seven touchdowns, including four to JAMES HUNDON (tied for No. 4 in scoring, 36 points). San Jose picked off four passes last week – two for scores and two by second-year standout DS/KR CLEVAN THOMAS – but will have their hands full again with Georgia QB DONNIE DAVIS and a lineup of potent scorers in OS TYRONNE JONES, FB/LB DARRYL HAMMOND, and WR/DB JARRICK HILLERY. On defense, DS CLIFF GREEN, who recorded a pair of interceptions in the Force's loss at Detroit last week, will be patrolling the backfield for an opportunity to catch San Jose off-guard.

NEW YORK DRAGONS (0-2) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (2-0)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 3 P.M.

New York ventures into the intimate confines of Grand Rapids' Van Andel Arena this Sunday to face the former ArenaBowl champion Rampage. High-octane receiving combo STEVE SMITH and TERRILL SHAW collected a pair of touchdown receptions each as Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL connected for 296 yards and five scores last week at Colorado to launch his team to a 2-0 start. The Dragons' line and their defense will need to step up a notch this week to matchup against the Smith-Shaw show. New York allowed six sacks last week and are giving up 338 yards (and more than 60 points) per contest. Despite their 0-2 record, QB AARON GARCIA has passed for 661 yards and 16 touchdowns, including four last week to second-year WR/DB MIKE FURREY, who continues to make his presence known, amassing 277 receiving yards to date.

CHICAGO RUSH (0-2) AT INDIANA FIREBIRDS (2-0)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 3 P.M.
(NBC – ELI GOLD and JOHN RIGGINS)

Friends and foes meet at the Conseco Fieldhouse as MIKE DAILEY and the Firebirds host his good friend MIKE HOHENSEE and the Rush. Indiana QB RAYMOND PHILYAW captured MVP of the Game honors with a 272-yard, three-touchdown performance in last week's 65-54 victory of the New York Dragons. The receiving combo of BRETT BECH and EDDIE BROWN (28 receptions, 392 yards and four TDs) has emerged as a potent threat to defensive secondaries. Chicago QB BILLY DICKEN (74 TDs in 2002, No. 2 in AFL) looks to get his offense back on track with second-year OS ANTONIO CHATMAN and CORNELIUS BONNER being his main targets. A potential classic battle in the trenches is brewing as Chicago OL/DL JAMES BARON and Indiana OL/DL KYLE MOORE-BROWN square-off in this Central Division rivalry.

DALLAS DESPERADOS (2-0) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (2-0)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 3 P.M.
(NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

Orlando QB JAY GRUDEN comes in as the AFL's top-rated signal caller (126.5) and Week 2's Offensive Player of the Week. The Predators' offense is clicking with weapons like WR/LB CORY FLEMING and OS TRAVIS MCGRIFF (combined for 29 receptions, 417 yards and 11 TDs in two games) playing a large role. Dallas Head Coach JOE AVEZZANO has the Desperados tied for the lead in the Central Division. QB JIM KUBIAK has a potent combo of his own in sophomore receivers DIALLEO BURKS and ANDY MCCULLOUGH (24 receptions, 321 yards and six TDs combined.) The AFL's sack leader, Dallas' TOM BRIGGS (four sacks), will have his sights set on disrupting Gruden's timing in the Jungle.

TAMPA BAY STORM (1-1) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (0-2)
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AT 10 P.M. ET

Both Tampa Bay and Las Vegas, playoff teams from a year ago, are coming off close-losses from a week ago and are hungry to get back in the win column. Storm OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (18 receptions and six TDs) has become the main target for QB JOHN KALEO (64 completion percentage, 12 TDs and no INTs in 2003). OS MIKE HORACEK and WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON have been the spark plugs for the Gladiator offense. Las Vegas QB JAY MCDONAGH will be put to the test by Tampa Bay's defensive secondary (5 INTs, Tied for No. 1 in AFL).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 12, 2003


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