Sports stats



AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Divisional Matchups Headline Week Eight

April 16, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - Winning streaks, ArenaBowl reunions and AFL history are at stake in Week 8 as the Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans continues to heat up.

The Columbus Destroyers (2-5) welcome the Philadelphia Soul (7-0), No. 1 in this week's Schutt Sports Poll, to Nationwide Arena on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, April 21 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com).

The Soul have won a franchise-best nine consecutive regular-season games and are one win away from a historic matchup with the undefeated Dallas Desperados (7-0) in Week 9.

But before this potential epic matchup can occur, Philadelphia must not overlook the defending National Conference Champion Columbus Destroyers, who will no doubt attempt to knock the Soul from the ranks of the unbeaten in Week 8.

The all-time series between the Destroyers and Soul is tied 4-4, with Philadelphia's 56-53 victory in Week 16 of 2007 beginning the Soul's current nine-game winning streak.

Soul QB MATT D'ORAZIO, playing for the injured QB TONY GRAZIANI, continues to captain Philadelphia's high-powered offense that leads the League in scoring (64.6), touchdowns (63) and points (452).

Columbus looks to regroup and get back into the win column after its 62-44 loss to New York on Sunday.

This matchup also marks the reunion of Destroyers QB MATT NAGY, WR/DB DEREK LEE and Soul WR CHRIS JACKSON, who combined to lead the Georgia Force to ArenaBowl XIX in 2005.

Speaking of the Force (3-3), it welcomes the Orlando Predators (5-2), No. 3, to The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Saturday, April 19 at 7 p.m. ET (AFL NET, CSS - Live, WRDQ-TV - Live) in a Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division showdown.

This game marks a rematch of Week 4, which ended with a controversial call as time expired. With Orlando leading 50-45, Georgia Force WR CHARLES PAULEY was tackled by Predators DB NICK ALLISON at Orlando's one-yard line as Pauley lunged for the goal line with no time remaining.

Officials ruled that Pauley had been knocked into the wall by a defender prior to the ball crossing the goal line. Georgia protested and Orlando celebrated.

The Predators, riding their first five-game winning streak since 2006, can keep pace with New Orleans for first place in the Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division with a victory.

Georgia is 2-1 all-time following a bye week and, with a win, can pull within one game of the Predators for second place in the division.

The Los Angeles Avengers (3-4) welcome the Cleveland Gladiators (3-3) to STAPLES Center on Saturday, April 19 at 10:30 p.m. ET (FSN Ohio - Live, FSN Prime Ticket - Live).

Los Angeles QB TIM HICKS, playing for the injured QB SONNY CUMBIE, has completed 58 percent of his passes for 580 yards and 13 touchdowns with two interceptions in two games. Hicks has led the Avengers into a tie with San Jose (3-4) for second place in the Mitsubishi Motors Western Division.

Cleveland looks to end its three-game slide and get back into the win column as Gladiators head coach MIKE WILPOLT makes his first trip back to STAPLES Center after spending the past two seasons as the Avengers defensive coordinator.

With a victory, the Gladiators will have won four of their first seven contests for the first time since 2005 and secure sole possession of third place in the Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division.

The New Orleans VooDoo (5-2), No. 5, travels to U.S. Airways Center to take on the Arizona Rattlers (3-3), No. 9, in a matchup between Mitsubishi Motors Division leaders on Friday, April 18 at 10 p.m. ET.

The VooDoo is making its first trip to the desert since 2004 as it looks to bounce back from its first loss since opening day on Saturday.

New Orleans is 3-0 all-time following losses that broke winning streaks of three-or-more games and looks to keep sole possession of first place in the Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division with a victory.

Arizona has won one of its first two home contests for the first time since 2003, and can win two of its first three for the first time since 2002 with a victory on Friday.

Rattlers QB LANG CAMPBELL has returned after missing three games with an ankle injury to lead Arizona, who currently holds possession of first place in the Mitsubishi Motors Western Division for the first time this late in a season since 2006.

This week's other games include: New York at Tampa Bay on Friday (Catch 47 Local - Live, CSS - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130), San Jose at Utah on Friday (CSN Bay Area Local - Live), Colorado at Kansas City on Saturday (ESPN360.com, FSN Rocky Mountain Local - Delay at 8:30 p.m. MT, KSMO-TV Local - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) and Grand Rapids at Chicago on Sunday. BYE: Dallas

SCHUTT SPORTS POLL

RANKING TEAM POINTS 1 Philadelphia Soul (9) 174

2 Dallas Desperados (6) 171

3 Orlando Predators 138

4 Chicago Rush 137

5 New Orleans VooDoo 129

6 Colorado Crush 89

7 Georgia Force 79

8 San Jose SaberCats 72

9 Arizona Rattlers 62

10 Cleveland Gladiators 55

11 New York Dragons 27

12 Los Angeles Avengers 23

Also receiving votes: Tampa Bay 13, Columbus 1. Dropped out: Tampa Bay 9, Grand Rapids 11.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 16, 2008


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central