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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Chicago looks for fourth straight win

March 1, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - The Chicago Rush (3-2) look to make it four straight wins when they host the Dallas Desperados (4-1) on Sunday at noon ET on NBC. The Rush, currently in third place in the Central Division, began the season with losses at Colorado and vs. New York before rebounding for victories vs. Nashville and overtime wins at Los Angeles and vs. San Jose.

Dallas sits in first place in the Eastern Division with a one-game lead over New York (3-2) and Philadelphia (3-2) after last week's 55-48 win over Las Vegas. The lone Desperados loss came at the hands of in-state rival Austin - a 56-49 defeat in Dallas on February 17.

Rush QB MATT D'ORAZIO, who leads the AFL in rushing with 98 yards, completed 29-of-39 passes for a career-high 351 yards and tied his career high with seven touchdown passes, including the game-winner to WR/LB CORNELIUS WHITE in overtime, in the 54-48 win over San Jose (1-4) last week. D'Orazio has gone three straight weeks without throwing an interception and is second in the AFL with a 72.0 completion percentage.

Rush FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN, who is in his 12th AFL season and fourth with Chicago, briefly made history, but lost it last week against San Jose. McMillen needed just five rushing yards to pass FB/LB LES BARLEY to become the League's all-time leading rusher. He surpassed Barley's total of 1,382 by two yards only to fall back into second place after losing eight yards on his next carry. McMillen has another chance to break the record in front of the home crowd this week.

Following is a list of the top five rushers in AFL history:

TOP FIVE RUSHERS IN AFL HISTORY
PLAYER SEASONS YARDS
Les Barley 1992-2001 1,382
Bob McMillen 1995-present 1,376
Michael "Bo" Kelly 1996-present 1,278
Andre Bowden 1991-2004 1,241
Chad Dukes 1996-present 1,176

The Desperados are coming off a 55-48 win over Las Vegas (1-4) on Saturday night in Dallas and head into Chicago with a 2-0-road record. Dallas WR/DB WILL PETTIS, who captured AFL Ironman of the Week honors last week, is second in the AFL with 910 all-purpose yards (400 receiving, 477 kick returns, 33 interception return).

Dallas WR/LB DIALLEO BURKS, who had increased responsibilities last week after teammate and fellow receiver JASON SHELLEY was placed on the Reserve/Injured list, tied the franchise single-game record with five total touchdowns in the win over the Gladiators. Burks ranks fifth in the AFL with 78 points.

The Los Angeles Avengers (1-4) travel to Orlando to face the Predators (3-2) on Sunday at noon ET on NBC with both teams sitting one game out of first place. The Avengers are one of four teams (Arizona, Las Vegas, San Jose) that trail Utah (2-3) in the Western Division while the Predators are tied with Georgia (3-2) and Tampa Bay (3-2) behind Austin (4-1).

The Philadelphia Soul (3-2) launch a four-game road trip this weekend in Las Vegas when they face the Gladiators on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET on OLN. Philadelphia ranks first in the AFL in rushing offense (38.2 rushing ypg) while the Gladiators boast the League's fourth-best offense (304.4 ypg).

Las Vegas hopes to end a three-game losing streak after defeats at Colorado, vs. Georgia and at Dallas. Gladiators OS MARCUS NASH ranks fourth in AFL with 80 points and 552 total yards from scrimmage (552) and rookie DS NICK DAVIS is tops in the AFL with 9.0 total special teams tackles.

Tampa Bay QB SHANE STAFFORD, who was named Week 5 AFL Offensive Player of the Week, leads the Storm (3-2) into Kansas City (1-4) to face the Brigade on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on WB Kansas City/Metro Sports. Stafford became the first player in AFL history to throw for over 400 yards in back-to-back weeks with 458 yards in a Week 4 loss to Orlando and 424 yards last week in a win over previously unbeaten Austin (4-1).

The Austin Wranglers (4-1), ranked third in this week's AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll, hope to rebound from their first loss of the season when they travel to Atlanta on Saturday to face the fifth-ranked Georgia Force (3-2). Austin also hopes to hold on to its one-game Southern Division lead over Georgia (3-2), Orlando (3-2) and Tampa Bay (3-2).

The other Week 5 contests are: Columbus at New York on Friday, San Jose at Utah on Saturday (WB San Jose, FSN Utah), Nashville at Arizona on Saturday, and Grand Rapids at Colorado on Sunday (Sirius Satellite Radio Channel 181)

This Week in AFL History

March 5, 2002: The AFL and NBC announce a broadcast partnership where NBC would televise AFL games every Sunday beginning with the 2003 season.

AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

1. Nashville Kats (12) 4-1 215
2. Colorado Crush (5) 4-1 209
3. Austin Wranglers (1) 4-1 200
4. Dallas Desperados (1) 4-1 159
5. Georgia Force 3-2 137
6. Tampa Bay Storm 3-2 121
T7. Chicago Rush 3-2 102
T7. New York Dragons 3-2 102
9. Philadelphia Soul 3-2 94
10. Orlando Predators 3-2 82
11. Utah Blaze 2-3 29
12. Grand Rapids Rampage 2-3 15

Others receiving votes: Columbus Destroyers 10, Los Angeles Avengers 5, San Jose SaberCats 2.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 1, 2006


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