
Dallas Hosts Philadelphia in Heavyweight Matchup
June 4, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans continues to gain momentum as 11 teams battle for the seven remaining playoff positions.
Week 15 is the final week of AFL Children's Miracle Network Celebration as the AFL and Children's Miracle Network have partnered to help save and improve the lives of children at children's hospitals throughout the United States. AFL team activities planned for "Celebration" games include: player and dance team hospital visits, auctions and special priced tickets with a portion of the proceeds going to Children's Miracle Network hospitals.
The Dallas Desperados (11-2), No. 1 in this week's Schutt Sports Poll, hosts the Philadelphia Soul (10-3), No.3, on Saturday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET (AFL NET, ESPN360.com, CSN Philadelphia - Live, Metro Sports Local - Live) in a matchup that could determine the Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division championship.
Dallas currently holds a one-game lead for the division title and the number one seed in the National Conference playoffs. Philadelphia defeated the Desperados, 57-28, in their first meeting of 2008 in Week 9 at the Wachovia Spectrum.
If the Desperados defeat the Soul by at least 30 points, they will clinch home-field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs. If Dallas clinches, it would give the Desperados their third consecutive division title, making Dallas the third team in AFL history to do so (Albany - 1998-00, San Jose - 2000-02).
The Desperados would also become the first team in AFL history to win at least 12 regular-season games in three consecutive seasons. Dallas holds the second-best home record in the AFL at 5-1 and has not lost two consecutive home games since Weeks 16 and 17 of the 2004 season.
This matchup features two of the League's best on both sides of the ball in Dallas QB CLINT DOLEZEL and Philadelphia DB EDDIE MOTEN. Moten has intercepted the AFL's all-time passing yards and touchdowns leader eight times since 2004, the most by any defensive back against one quarterback during that span. During Dolezel's 13-year career, he has been intercepted three times in a single game only twice, both by Moten, in 2006 and in their Week 9 matchup this season.
Philadelphia will tie Dallas for first place in the division and the No. 1 seed in the National Conference with a win with only two weeks remaining in the regular season.
The Soul is 1-1 all-time on the road following a bye week and holds the second-best road record in the AFL at 4-2. Dallas leads the all-time series 5-4 with each team sweeping the other (Dallas - 2007, Philadelphia - 2006) the last two seasons.
The Utah Blaze (4-10), No. 12, welcomes the Los Angeles Avengers (4-9) to EnergySolutions Arena on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, June 9 at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com) in a Mitsubishi Motors Western Division matchup with playoff implications.
The American Conference playoff race is extremely tight as one game separates the fourth to eighth place teams. The Avengers and Blaze are currently seeded fifth and sixth.
After an 0-9 start, Utah has won four of its last five games and can clinch its third consecutive playoff berth with a win by at least 17 points combined with a Kansas City loss. The Blaze offense is led by QB JOE GERMAINE, who needs one passing yard to become the fifth player in AFL history to record at least 4,300 passing yards in consecutive seasons.
Utah boasts an impressive receiving corps with WR AARON BOONE, WR/LB HUEY WHITTAKER and WR/LB J.J. MCKELVEY. Each rank in the top six in receiving yards, the top 10 in receptions and receiving touchdowns, and they are the first trio in AFL history with at least 100 receptions, 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns each.
Los Angeles holds the second-best record against division opponents in the Western Division (3-2). Utah leads the all-time series 4-1, although Los Angeles won the first meeting of 2008 in Week 7, 79-62.
The New York Dragons (7-6), No. 10, welcome the New Orleans VooDoo (8-5), No. 6, to Nassau Coliseum on Saturday, June 7 at 7 p.m. ET (AFL NET, Cox Sports TV Local - Live).
The VooDoo is currently fourth in the National Conference, while New York holds the sixth and final playoff position. New Orleans needs a win to keep pace with the Georgia Force (8-5) for first place in the Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division.
The Dragons can hold their position in sixth place with a win. New York leads the all-time series 1-0 and each team is 4-1 against conference opponents.
The Orlando Predators (8-6), No. 7, travel to St. Pete Times Forum to face the Tampa Bay Storm (6-7), No. 11, for the "War on I-4" on Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Bright House 21 Local - Live, CSS - NDD at 12 p.m. ET, Catch 47 Local - Live).
Orlando is one-half game behind Georgia and New Orleans for first place in the division and 1.5 games ahead of Tampa Bay. The Predators are fifth in the conference playoff standings.
Tampa Bay is currently in eighth place and needs to win to remain in the playoff hunt. Orlando leads the all-time series 18-17.
This week's other games include: Chicago at Cleveland (CSN Chicago - Live, FSN Ohio - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) on Saturday; Georgia at Columbus (AFL NET, CSS - Live, Columbus Sports Net Local - Live) on Saturday; Colorado at Grand Rapids on Saturday; Arizona at Kansas City (FSN Arizona - Delay at 2:30 p.m. PT, FSN Midwest - Delay at 3:30 p.m. CT) on Sunday. BYE: San Jose
Following is each team's postseason-clinching scenario for Week 15:
The CHICAGO RUSH clinch home-field advantage in the American Conference with the following scenario:
1) Chicago Rush win
The SAN JOSE SABERCATS clinch the Western Division and a first-round bye with the following scenario:
1) Arizona Rattlers loss
The UTAH BLAZE clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Utah Blaze win by at least 17 points + Grand Rapids Rampage loss
2) Utah Blaze win + Grand Rapids Rampage loss + Kansas City Brigade loss
The DALLAS DESPERADOS clinch the Eastern Division and home-field advantage in the National Conference with the following scenario:
1) Dallas Desperados win by at least 30 points
The GEORGIA FORCE clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Georgia Force win + New York Dragons loss + Tampa Bay Storm loss
2) Georgia Force win + New York Dragons loss + Cleveland Gladiators loss
3) Georgia Force win + Tampa Bay Storm loss + Cleveland Gladiators loss
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 4, 2008
- SaberCats Kicker Takes Title for Third Straight Month - San Jose SaberCats
- Wendell Williams makes return to Crush - Colorado Crush
- Desperados Pettis Named AFL Ironman of the Month for May - Dallas Desperados
- Georgia's Greisen, San Jose's Floyd, Dallas' Pettis, Georgia's Jones and San Jose's Haglund Earn Pla - AFL I
- Soul Activate Graziani, Brown, Davis - Philadelphia Soul
- Tampa Bay's Samuels Goes for 1,000 on Saturday - AFL I
- Dallas Hosts Philadelphia in Heavyweight Matchup - AFL I
- Cleveland Gladiators to Visit Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital - Cleveland Gladiators
- All-Time Great Barry Wagner Officially Retires - AFL I
- Soul Game at Dallas to Air Live on Comcast Sportsnet - Philadelphia Soul
- Two Teams Can Clinch Playoff Berths In Week 15 - AFL I
- Utah Blaze To Visit Primary Children's Medical Center - Utah Blaze
- Blaze, Avengers Meet on ESPN2 - Utah Blaze
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.
