Drive to ArenaBowl XIX heats up on NBC, FSN

April 6, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

NEW YORK – Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS DAMIAN HARRELL (6-3, 200, Florida State) and the AFLWA's No. 1-ranked Colorado Crush (7-2), who continue to charge toward the top seed in the American Conference, will host All-Arena QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 210, Oregon) and the surging Philadelphia Soul (5-5) in "Rock vs. Jock III" this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

The JOHN ELWAY-owned Crush are currently on a six-game winning streak, while Harrell set the AFL record for consecutive games with a TD reception (42) in last week's victory over Las Vegas. The JON BON JOVI-owned Soul are on a team-record three-game winning streak, while Graziani earned Offensive Player of the Week honors in last week's victory over Columbus. The Crush won both previous meetings between the two teams.

Columbus Destroyers head coach CHRIS SPIELMAN will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.

In the Southern Division, the War on I-4 renews when the division co-leader and No. 3-ranked Orlando Predators (7-3) head to St. Pete Times Forum to face the No. 8-ranked Tampa Bay Storm (5-4) for the 37th time – the series is tied at 18 – this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sun Sports. Storm head coach TIM MARCUM returns to the sidelines after serving a two-game suspension. The Hall of Fame coach is the League's all-time victory leader (171), has seven ArenaBowl titles, while his team has not missed the postseason during their 18 years of existence.

The Predators have charged to the top of the division under the direction of Hall of Fame quarterback and head coach JAY GRUDEN. Gruden has six titles – four as a player and two as coach – and has 2004 U.S. Army Ironman of the Year WR/LB CORY FLEMING (6-3, 215, Tennessee) to lean on down the stretch. Fleming, who earned Ironman of the Week honors in last week's victory over Los Angeles, leads the team in receptions (51) and receiving TDs (18).

A rematch of last season's semifinal will take place in Chicago when the defending champion and No. 4-ranked San Jose SaberCats (6-3) travel to Allstate Arena to face the Chicago Rush (5-4) this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

San Jose head coach DARREN ARBET and the SaberCats have clawed their way to the top of the division on the wave of a five-game winning streak. San Jose QB MARK GRIEB (6-3, 208, Cal-Davis) has completed 108-of-153 (70.6%) of his passes for 1,376 yards, 22 TDs and two interceptions during the streak.

Chicago head coach MIKE HOHENSEE looks to the combo of U.S. Army Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB ETU MOLDEN (6-2, 195, Montana) and QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (6-1, 200, NE Louisiana) to keep them in the hunt for the Central Division crown or a Wild Card berth.

Games slated for Week 11 include: Austin at Georgia (FSN South, FSN Southwest), Nashville at Dallas (FSN South, FSN Southwest, INHD), Columbus at Arizona (FSN Ohio*-12AM, FSN Arizona, NASN-Europe) and Grand Rapids at Las Vegas (FSN West2, FSN Detroit, The Score-Canada) on Friday; Orlando at Tampa Bay (Sun Sports) on Saturday; San Jose at Chicago, 1 p.m. (NBC, NASN-Europe), Philadelphia at Colorado (NBC) and New York at Los Angeles (FSN New York*-4 p.m., FSN West2*-4 p.m., NASN-Europe) on Sunday. The New Orleans VooDoo have a bye week.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 Colorado Crush 7-2 99 (10)
2 Georgia Force 7-3 81
3 Orlando Predators 7-3 79
4 San Jose SaberCats 6-3 70 (3)
5 New York Dragons 6-3 66
6 Dallas Desperados 6-3 45 (1)
7 New Orleans VooDoo 6-4 30
8 Tampa Bay Storm 5-4 15
Also receiving votes: Chicago Rush 8, Los Angeles 8, Las Vegas Gladiators 1 and Philadelphia Soul 1.

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 6, 2005

• Gladiators make roster moves - Las Vegas Gladiators
• Drive to ArenaBowl XIX heats up on NBC, FSN - AFL I
• AFL week 11 injury report - AFL I
• Storm, Preds Renew War on I-4 - Tampa Bay Storm
• Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
• Brown Possibly Lost for Season - Orlando Predators
• Los Angeles Avengers game notes - Los Angeles Avengers
• Columbus Destroyers game notes - Columbus Destroyers
• Kats Make Change At Kicker - Nashville Kats

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.