Black & blue showdown
May 9, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
The Georgia Force returns home to begin a two-game home stand that will conclude the 2003 regular season. The Force hosts the Dallas Desperados on Saturday, May 10th at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:30 p.m. This will be the first meeting between Georgia and Dallas.
Georgia will be playing for playoff seeding, as the Force wrapped up its first post-season bid this past week after defeating the Indiana Firebirds 77-56. The 77-point output established a new team record for points in a game besting its earlier 70-54 point victory over Grand Rapids on March 9th. Georgia scored touchdowns on 11 of its 13 possessions against the Firebirds.
Force Fun Money!
As a special "thank you" to you, the Force is providing a special discount coupon exclusively for our online fans!
Simply click on the coupon to the left to view it at full size, print it out, and bring it with you to any of the remaining Georgia Force home games!
Note: Discount only available for purchases made at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Force Family Fun Pack
This Saturday, May 10th, is Force Family Fun Pack night. The Force Family Fun Pack is available for all remaining home games. You can get 4 tickets and 4 team spirit caps for only $52 in the upper level, or $76 for the lower level! More than 4? Additional persons can be added! It's the best deal in town for family entertainment!
To reserve your Force Family Fun Pack, call 770-813-7610.
Game Preview:
Fighting for home playoff position in the closing weeks of the regular season, the Force, who has already clinched a playoff berth, is hoping that its top-ranked defense (231.1 YPG) will be able to contain the Desperados' No. 1 offense (300.4 YPG) and guide them into the postseason.
Third-year DS Scotty Lindsey led Georgia's No. 1 pass defense (218.9 YPG) last week with an interception and 3.0 tackles. The strong line play of Marcus Keyes and Jermaine Smith (4.5 sacks, one interception and four blocked kicks) has led the Force to a fourth-ranked (tie) 15.0 sacks.
In his record-setting 13th season, AFL veteran FB/LB Darryl Hammond leads Georgia in scoring (110 points), and continues to brush off defenders (31.0 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles). Georgia is tied for the fourth-best turnover margin (+9) and has allowed the fewest opponents first downs (240). The Force's red-zone defense is third among all teams (tie), allowing the opposition to score on 47-of-61 opportunities inside the 10-yard line (77.0 percent).
Rookie QB Leon Murray found his rhythm last week, completing 81.6 percent of pass attempts last week for 307 yards and six touchdowns (no interceptions), including four to OS Tyronne Jones. Murray also rushed for another score as the Force scored their highest point total (77) in team history.
Playoff-bound for their second consecutive season, the Desperados are still in the hunt for a first-round bye and looking to secure at least one home playoff game. Dallas' Jim Kubiak boasts the League's top pass-completion percentage (69.1) and is the lone quarterback to exceed 4,000 passing yards. On 59-of-78 passing in his last two games (75.6 percent), Kubiak has thrown for 583 yards and 14 touchdowns. On 3rd-down conversions, Kubiak goes to WR/LB Dialleo Burks 37 percent of the time, connecting for six touchdowns to date. Burks (1,106 yards), who has recorded 13 touchdown receptions in his last five games, and WR/LB Andy McCullough (1,143) became the first receiving tandem from the same team to surpass 1,000 yards this season. Lineman of the Year candidate Tom Briggs leads the AFL with 9.5 sacks and needs 3.5 over his last two games to tie the all-time mark (13) set by Arena Football Hall of Famer Craig Walls with Pittsburgh in 1987.
Georgia Force single game tickets and Flex Packages now on sale!
Single game tickets and flex packages for the team's remaining 6 home games are now on sale! The next Force home game is this Saturday, April 26th, against the Orlando Predators.
For single game tickets visit www.ticketmaster.com. For more information on Flex Packs, call 770-813-7610.
Download the Force!
GeorgiaForce.com has added to the multimedia section of GeorgiaForce.com.
Watch the ADT Defensive Play of the Game from last week's game in Indianapolis, awarded to Jarrick Hillery for his touchdown-saving leap.
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 9, 2003
- L.A. Avengers sign AFL veteran lineman Oscar Sturgis - Los Angeles Avengers
- AFL Week 15 Injury Report - AFL I
- Black & blue showdown - Georgia Force
- Detroit Fury Can Add More Playoff Excitement to The Palace - Detroit Fury
- Firebirds Make Roster Moves - Albany/Indiana Firebirds
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