AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Dallas looks to end Orlando's home-field dominance

March 15, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Week 8 Action Kicks Off Thursday Night with Utah at Grand Rapids

NEW YORK - The Dallas Desperados (6-1), the No. 2 ranked team in this week's AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll, are undefeated on the road winning all four games away from the American Airlines Center. The Orlando Predators (4-3) are 3-0 at home this year and have won eight regular-season games in a row at the TD Waterhouse Centre dating back to last March. When the teams meet in Orlando on Sunday at noon on NBC, someone's streak will come to an end.

The Desperados are one of two six-win teams (Colorado) and have won three straight after dropping a 56-49 decision to in-state rival Austin on February 17. Dallas QB CLINT DOLEZEL was named AFL Offensive Player of the Week for his stellar performance against Tampa Bay last week when he completed 23-of-33 passes for 338 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception in a 64-35 win.

On Tuesday, the Predators acquired veteran DB/WR KHALIL CARTER, who earned second team All-Arena honors last season, from the Nashville Kats in exchange for rookie WR/DB JERMAINE MAYS.

"Khalil is a proven AFL veteran, who has made a lot of plays," Predators Head Coach JAY GRUDEN said. "He is a tough, physical player who should be able to step in and help us immediately."

Carter played in five games this season for Nashville recording 34.5 tackles with one interception and one fumble recovery. He earned ADT AFL Defensive Player of the Week honors for his Week 5 performance against Grand Rapids. Carter was used mainly as a defensive specialist for Nashville, but will play both ways with Orlando.

The Colorado Crush (6-1) take to the skies for the fourth time in five weeks when they travel to Los Angeles to face the Avengers (2-5) at the STAPLES Center on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET on OLN.

Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL leads the AFL with 24 touchdowns and QB JOHN DUTTON is tops in the League with 181 completions.

Los Angeles WR/LB GREG HOPKINS could become the fourth player in AFL history to reach 10,000 receiving yards in a career this weekend against Colorado. Hopkins needs just 110 yards to reach the milestone. Nashville WR/LB CORY FLEMING also could reach the 10,000-yard plateau this week against Chicago if he returns from a concussion that has forced him to miss the last two games. Fleming needs 88 yards to hit 10,000.

TOP FIVE RECEIVERS ALL-TIME

PLAYER YARDS

1. Barry Wagner* 13,090

2. Eddie Brown 12,730

3. Gary Compton 10,247

4. Cory Fleming* 9,912

5. Greg Hopkins* 9,890

*Active

Kats OL/DL JAMES BARON will face his former team when the Chicago Rush travel to Nashville on Friday at 9 p.m. ET on FSN Chicago and FSN South (tape delay at 11 p.m. ET). Baron spent three seasons with the Rush (2002-04) but was traded to back to Nashville, where he spent the 1997-2001 campaigns, on Sept. 27, 2004 for three picks in the 2004 AFL Expansion Draft and a selection in the 2004 AFL Dispersal Draft.

Baron needs two sacks to move past SYLVESTER BEMBERY for second on the all-time sacks list. Austin OL/DL TOM BRIGGS needs 2.5 to pass Bembery and San Jose OL/DL JOE JACOBS needs 1.5 sacks to become the fifth player in AFL history to reach 40.0 for his career.

TOP FIVE SACK LEADERS

NAME SACKS

1. Sam Hernandez 59.0

2. Slyvester Bembery 43.0

3. James Baron* 41.5

4. Tom Briggs* 41.0

5. Joe Jacobs* 38.5

*Active

Week 8 kicks off on Thursday this week when the Utah Blaze (3-4) travel to Grand Rapids to take on the Rampage (2-5) at 7 p.m. ET at Centennial Wireless Field at Van Andel Arena on FSN Utah and FSN Detroit. Utah will be without starting QB JOE GERMAINE, one of the AFL's most productive passers, due to a finger injury suffered in last week's win over Nashville. Germaine' s favorite target, OS SIAHA BURLEY, leads the AFL with 65 receptions and 892 receiving yards.

Grand Rapids (2-5) has lost three straight, all on the road, after winning two in a row Weeks 3-4. Rampage WR/DB TIMON MARSHALL is tops in the AFL with 1,322 all-purpose yards. Kicker Peter Martinez's seven field goals tie him for fourth in the AFL.

Other games this week: Arizona at Las Vegas on Friday, Georgia at San Jose on Friday, Philadelphia at Columbus on Saturday, New York at Tampa Bay on Saturday and Kansas City at Austin on Saturday.

This Week in AFL History March 12, 1991: Ken Meyer from Largo, Fla. wins the "Name That Team" contest and the Tampa Bay Storm is born.

AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

1. Colorado Crush 6-1 (12) 210

2. Dallas Desperados 6-1 (6) 204

3. Austin Wranglers 5-2 180

4. Georgia Force 4-3 141

5. Tampa Bay Storm 4-3 127

6. New York Dragons 4-3 109

T7. Nashville Kats 4-3 106

T7. Orlando Predators 4-3 106

9. Philadelphia Soul 4-3 99

10. Chicago Rush 3-4 46

11. Las Vegas Gladiators 3-4 27

12. Utah Blaze 3-4 26

Also receiving votes: Arizona Rattlers 14, Columbus Destroyers 9.

Dropped out: Columbus Destroyers (9).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 15, 2006


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