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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Conference Championship Preview

July 11, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - The Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXI New Orleans moves into the Conference Championship Round as the final four teams - Chicago Rush, Columbus Destroyers, Georgia Force, and San Jose SaberCats - battle down the stretch for two tickets to New Orleans.

The National Conference Championship features Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division Champion Georgia Force (14-2, 1-0) hosting the Columbus Destroyers (7-9, 2-0) at Philips Arena on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Saturday, July 14, at 1 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN360.com, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 123).

The teams split the regular-season series with Columbus winning the Week 4 contest, 62-61, and Georgia taking the Week 14 game, 54-33.

Georgia QB CHRIS GREISEN completed 20-of-27 passes for 207 yards and six touchdowns in the Week 14 victory.

Led by Greisen (301 YDs, 7 TDs), the Force are riding a six-game winning streak and are 3-1 all-time at home against Columbus. Georgia looks to advance to its second ArenaBowl in three seasons, which runs concurrent with Georgia winning the Southern Division Title and head coach DOUG PLANK taking AFL Coach of the Year Honors.

"We are honored to have the opportunity to compete for the right to represent the National Conference in ArenaBowl XXI," said Plank. "The National Conference is very competitive, and it is a credit to our organization for competing in the National Conference Championship game in two out of the last three seasons."

To punch their ticket to New Orleans, Georgia must face the quarterback who guided them to ArenaBowl XIX in Columbus QB MATT NAGY (546 YDs, 9 TDs).

Nagy, who was the starting quarterback for the Force from 2005-06, is 5-2 all-time (3-2 as a member of Georgia) in the postseason, and still holds Georgia's postseason team records in completions (28), passing yards (362) and passing touchdowns in a game (9).

Nagy completed 20-of-30 passes for 191 yards with four passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns as the Destroyers defeated the then undefeated Force, 62-61, on a two-yard pass and subsequent two-point conversion to WR MARCUS KNIGHT with 14 seconds remaining in their Week 4 matchup.

The Destroyers, appearing in their first National Conference Championship Game in franchise history, are riding a three-game winning streak and look to become the second team since 1988 to face two opponents three times during a season in consecutive weeks (Dallas, Georgia).

The American Conference Championship Game concludes the afternoon at HP Pavilion in San Jose as the SaberCats (13-3, 1-0) host the defending ArenaBowl Champion Chicago Rush (12-4, 1-0) on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Saturday, July 14, at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN, ESPN360.com).

Attendance for the game is expected to push the League's cumulative attendance (regular-season, postseason and ArenaBowl) past the two-million milestone for a single-season for the first time in AFL history.

It will be the third time in four years that the teams have met with an ArenaBowl berth on the line. Chicago won the only meeting between the two teams in 2007, as QB MATT D'ORAZIO completed 14-of-27 passes for 117 yards with five touchdowns and connected with WR ANDY MCCULLOUGH on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 3:07 remaining in the game to hold onto a 48-45 victory in Week 2.

The series between Chicago and San Jose is tied 3-3 all-time and 1-1 in postseason play as the winner of each postseason matchup has become the eventual ArenaBowl Champion (San Jose - 2004, Chicago - 2006).

"It's going to be a tremendous football game," said Rush head coach MIKE HOHENSEE. "They're outstanding. You don't fall into winning 11 straight football games."

San Jose is appearing in its sixth Conference Championship Game in eight years (2000-04, 07) while Chicago is making its fourth straight appearance (2004-07).

In 2004, San Jose QB MARK GRIEB completed 27-of-40 passes for 273 yards with five passing touchdowns as the SaberCats outscored the Rush 21-7 in the fourth quarter. He capped off the day with a seven-yard touchdown run to defeat Chicago, 49-35, in the Semifinals and advance to ArenaBowl XVIII.

San Jose is currently on an 11-game winning streak and looks to become the fifth team in postseason history to record 11 home wins.

In the 2006 American Conference Championship Game, Chicago QB MATT D'ORAZIO completed 21-of-36 passes for 215 yards with six touchdowns as the Rush defeated San Jose, 59-56, becoming the first No. 5 seed to advance to an ArenaBowl.

Chicago is on a four-game winning streak and is trying to replicate its six-game winning streak of 2006 that led them to Las Vegas and the ArenaBowl XX Championship.

To aid local TV stations, the Arena Football League will produce 15-minute satellite feeds containing playoff highlights throughout the postseason. A feed will run every day a game is played. There will be two feeds for the Conference Championship Games on July 14, one at 4:30 p.m. ET and the other at 8 p.m. ET. The feed coordinates are: Galaxy 26, Transponder 21 (C-Band), Downlink Frequency: 4120 Vertical, Audio: 6.2/6.8.

COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (7-9, 2-0) AT GEORGIA FORCE (14-2, 1-0)

SATURDAY, JULY 14 AT 1:00 P.M. ET

TV: ESPN - LIVE; ESPN360.COM

SIRIUS RADIO - CHANNEL 123

ANNOUNCERS: MIKE GOLIC & MIKE GREENBERG

DESTROYERS: Have won three straight road games...First appearance in Conference Championship Game...Offense has been successful 66.7% on third-downs in postseason...QB MATT NAGY completed 39-of-58 passes in postseason for 546 yards, and nine touchdowns. Needs 72 yards for 2,000 passing yards in postseason career, and two touchdown passes for 40 postseason passing touchdowns. Leads AFL in postseason rushing touchdowns (3)...WR DAMIEN GROCE has 15 receptions in postseason. Ranks second in postseason all-purpose yards (278)...WR JOSH BUSH ranks third in postseason all-purpose-yards (242)...FB HAROLD WELLS leads League in postseason in rushing yards (34)...DB BRANDON HEFFLIN ranks second in postseason tackles (22.0)...WR/DB BJ BARRE ranks third in postseason tackles (15.0)...DB JERALD BROWN tied for League lead in postseason passes defensed (4)...K PETER MARTINEZ has fourth-longest consecutive PATs streak in postseason history (17-17)...FORCE: Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division Champions...Have won nine straight home games...3-0 all-time in playoffs at Philips Arena...Head Coach DOUG PLANK named 2007 Coach of the Year. 4-2 record in postseason...Only remaining offense that has not allowed a sack in postseason...QB CHRIS GREISEN completed 18-of-25 for 301 yards with seven touchdowns for a 151.8 passer rating in Divisional Round...WR CHRIS JACKSON had 10 receptions for 169 yards and four touchdowns in Divisional Round. Needs one touchdown reception for 25 in postseason career. Needs four receptions to become 11th player in AFL history with 80 postseason receptions and 1,000 receiving yards...Defense allowed only one touchdown inside red-zone in Divisional Round...DL JERMAINE SMITH only player to have safety in each of past two postseasons (2006, 2005)...DL ERNEST ALLEN has 6.5 tackles for loss in postseason career, including four sacks... DB HAMIN MILLIGAN needs 5.5 tackles for 50 in postseason career. Led team in Divisional Round in tackles (8.5).

2007 LEADERS DESTROYERS FORCE SERIES LEADER LEADS 5-2

LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 5-0

LAST GAME Won at Dallas: 66-59 Won vs. Philadelphia: 65-39

2007 LEADERS DESTROYERS FORCE PASSING Nagy: 341-545-3557-75-15 Greisen: 392-530-4851-117-12

RECEIVING Groce: 118-1342-26 Jackson: 145-1915-47

RUSHING Wells: 73-197-13 Huebner: 34-122-5

TACKLES Hefflin: 105.0 Milligan: 100.0

SACKS Jones: 9.5 Muhammad: 8.0

INTERCEPTIONS Brown: 5 Doster: 6

KICKING Martinez: 80-97 PAT; 10-20 FG: 110 PTS Martinez: 47-56 PAT; 3-5 FG: 56 PTS

TEAM OFFENSE 50.1 PPG (16th); 256.9 YPG (18th) 62.9 PPG (3rd); 323.5 YPG (1st)

TEAM DEFENSE 49.6 PPG (5th); 284.4 YPG (7th) 52.3 PPG (9th); 302.8 YPG (15th)

CHICAGO RUSH (12-4, 1-0) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (13-3, 1-0)

SATURDAY, JULY 14 AT 4:00 P.M. ET

TV: ESPN - LIVE; ESPN360.COM

ANNOUNCERS: TREY WINGO & MARK SCHLERETH

Repeat of 2004 and 2006 Conference Championship Games...RUSH: Mitsubishi Motors Central Division Champions...Fourth consecutive appearance in Conference Championship Game...5-1 record matches record entering 2006 Conference Championship Game...Looking to become first team to win back-to-back ArenaBowls since Tampa Bay (1995-96)...Win would tie postseason record for winning streak (6) and road winning streak (4)...Coach MIKE HOHENSEE would become third coach with 120 career victories with win...QB MATT D'ORAZIO has 5-0 postseason record. Listed as probable (back)...WR BOBBY SIPPIO has amassed 40 receptions for 568 yards and 12 touchdowns in five postseason games...FB BOB MCMILLEN ranks seventh all-time with 130 career postseason rushing yards...Defense allowed only three touchdowns in postseason...Defense has shutout opponent in second half of last two games (Divisional Round, Week 17)...DL JOHN MOYER needs one sack to become career postseason leader (10). Named ADT Defensive Player of the Week.. WR/DB DENNISON ROBINSON leads team in tackles (11.5)... DB JEREMY UNERTL is tied for lead in postseason passes defensed (4). Intercepted San Jose QB MARK GRIEB twice in each of last two regular-season games...K DAN FRANTZ is 7-7 on PATs this postseason...SABERCATS: Mitsubishi Motors Western Division Champions...Have won 11 consecutive games...Head Coach DARREN ARBET is 10-3 at home in postseason...QB MARK GRIEB ranks third all-time in postseason touchdown passes (79). Needs three to move into second-place on career postseason list. Needs 309 passing yards for 4,000 in postseason career. Tied postseason single-game record with nine touchdown passes Named Offensive Player of the Week for Divisional Round...WR JAMES ROE needs 10 receptions to become sixth player with 100 career postseason receptions...WR/DB RODNEY WRIGHT ranks fourth in postseason all-purpose yards (227)...DB CLEVAN THOMAS needs 10 tackles for 50 in postseason career...DB OMARR SMITH has five career postseason interceptions and 64.5 tackles...LB PHIL GLOVER posted two sacks two rushing touchdowns and one touchdown reception on way to being named AFL Ironman of the Week for Divisional Round.

2007 LEADERS RUSH SABERCATS SERIES LEADER TIED 3-3 (Playoffs 1-1)

LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 5-0

LAST GAME Won vs. Los Angeles: 52-20 Won vs. Colorado: 76-67

2007 LEADERS RUSH SABERCATS PASSING D'Orazio: 351-506-3789-82-10 Grieb: 398-561-4605-100-13

RECEIVING Sippio: 125-1739-53 Roe: 127-1560-40

RUSHING D'Orazio: 61-134-12 Johnson: 44-100-9

TACKLES Robinson: 102.0 Smith: 87.5

SACKS Burt: 6 Jones: 7

INTERCEPTIONS Robinson: 7 Thomas: 9

KICKING Frantz: 104-115 PAT; 11-27 FG: 137PTS Haglund: 128-138 PAT; 10-18 FG: 164 PTS

TEAM OFFENSE 54.3 PPG (7th); 255.0 YPG (19th) 63.3 PPG (2nd); 301.0 YPG (7th)

TEAM DEFENSE 44.9 PPG (1st); 273.4 YPG (2nd ) 47.6 PPG (2nd); 281.3 YPG (5th)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 11, 2007


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