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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Eastern Division Heats Up

May 24, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW JERSEY AT TORONTO -- Toting a receiving corps led by former Offensive Player of the Year (2000) MIKE HORACEK, the Gladiators – who scored 76 points in an overtime victory against New York last week – face the AFL's stingiest defense inside Toronto's Air Canada Centre this Friday at 7:00 p.m. (ET). The Phantoms, who give up just 42.0 points per contest, swept a two-game series with New Jersey in 2001. These two teams are locked in a three-way tie atop the AFL's Eastern Division with Buffalo. (Tape-delayed broadcast on Rogers Sportsnet Ontario, 11:00 p.m. ET)

DETROIT AT NEW YORK -- Motor City heads to Long Island's Nassau Coliseum, when former NFL offensive strategist MOUSE DAVIS leads his Fury team against the Dragons at 7:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday. This contest may boil down to the better quarterback, Detroit rookie DREW MILLER or New York's MATT NAGY (or back-up DANNY KANELL). The Fury and the Dragons rank 15th and 16th, respectively, in rushing offense. (No TV)

LOS ANGELES AT GEORGIA -- Los Angeles regains double-threat CHRIS JACKSON when they face the Force this Friday at Atlanta's Philips Arena at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Jackson, who missed two games with a wrist injury, ranks third among the league's elite scorers with 78 points and Avengers quarterback TONY GRAZIANI now has a full arsenal of scoring power to go to. Georgia brought a new head coach on board, former UTEP running backs coach MARTY LOWE, who previously served as two-time ArenaBowl runner-up Nashville Kats offensive coordinator. (No TV)

ORLANDO AT INDIANA -- It's déjà vu when these two teams meet inside Conseco Fieldhouse this Friday at 7:00 p.m. (CT), as the rivals once squared off for an ArenaBowl title in 1999. Indiana's EDDIE BROWN will attempt to re-enact his MVP performance from that game, while Orlando quarterback JAY GRUDEN is now directing his squad from the huddle, instead of the sidelines. Both teams need a victory to stay in the hunt for their respective division crowns. (Fox Sports Midwest)

BUFFALO AT GRAND RAPIDS -- A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., former Buffalo Bills linebacker RAY BENTLEY returns to familiar territory when the Destroyers face the defending ArenaBowl champion Rampage this Saturday at Van Andel Arena at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Veteran quarterback FRED McNAIR intends to keep his team in the win column, in the direction of their second postseason in four years. The Rampage have been the benefactors of two Destroyers roster cuts, TERRILL SHAW and STEVE SMITH, who now account for 21 of 27 scoring catches, off the arm of missile-firing quarterback CLINT DOLEZEL. (Empire Sports Network)

CAROLINA AT TAMPA BAY -- At 31, one of the AFL's youngest head coaches MIKE NEU leads his team into the territory of a four-time ArenaBowl champion, when the Cobras travel to the Ice Palace to face the Storm this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (ET). Carolina, led by former ArenaBowl MVP CONNELL MAYNOR stands alone atop the Southern Division and boasts the AFL's top rushing offense. Guided by Arena Football's winningest coach TIM MARCUM (137-46), the Storm aren't counting themselves out of the race just yet, especially if they can run up the scoreboard. Tampa Bay is 32-0 all-time, when they ring up 60 or more points. (No TV)

CHICAGO AT ARIZONA -- It's a first-ever meeting when the Rush travel to the Valley of the Sun this Saturday to battle the Rattlers inside Phoenix' America West Arena at 7:30 p.m. (PT). Rattlers head coach DANNY WHITE has Arizona on a four-game winning streak and hungry for the team's third ArenaBowl championship (1994, 1997). While Chicago, led by former Purdue quarterback BILLY DICKEN is looking for some consistency and their first back-to-back wins this season. (WB 61 Phoenix; Fox Sports Chicago)

DALLAS AT SAN JOSE -- The Desperados travel to San Jose's Compaq Center and face the buzz saw-like SaberCats this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (PT). San Jose quarterback MARK GRIEB and receiver JAMES HUNDON are the most dangerous duo in the AFL thus far – posting more than 65 points per contest and outscoring opponents, on average, by at least two touchdowns. Desperados' head coach and Dallas Cowboys' Special Teams coach JOE AVEZZANO will try to get his team focused on another fierce Western Division foe after falling 53-30 to Arizona last week. (UPN 21 Dallas)

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 24, 2002


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