Eastern foes clash in drive to ArenaBowl XIX

April 27, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

NEW YORK – The Eastern Division is at stake when New York QB AARON GARCIA (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) leads the second place New York Dragons (7-5) to battle Rookie of the Year candidate QB CLINT STOERNER (6-2, 210, Arkansas) and the AFLWA's No. 6-ranked, division-leading Dallas Desperados (7-4-1) at American Airlines Center this Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on FSN New York, FSN Southwest and The Score-Canada.

Garcia's first touchdown pass this weekend will be the 700th of his AFL career. He will become the first quarterback in professional football history to reach that mark. With four games remaining, Stoerner is on pace to shatter JIM KUBIAK's rookie passing records in yards (3,787, with Buffalo in 2001) and touchdowns (64). He currently has 2,932 yards and 57 touchdowns for the Eastern Division leaders and his on pace for 3,909 yards and 76 touchdowns.

In Chicago, two American Conference teams battling for a postseason position will square-off when QB CLINT DOLEZEL (6-5, 195, East Texas State) and the Las Vegas Gladiators (7-5) travel to Allstate Arena to face U.S. Army Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB ETU MOLDEN (6-2, 195, Montana) and the AFLWA's No. 7-ranked Chicago Rush (7-5) this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on NBC.

The AFL's 2003 Offensive Player of the Year, Georgia WR/LB CHRIS JACKSON (6-2, 220, Washington State), will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.

Dolezel, who connected with nine different receivers in the Gladiators last victory against Philadelphia, has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,348 yards and 50 touchdowns in eight games this season. Molden, an All-Rookie performer in 2004, leads the Rush in receptions (78), yards (968) and touchdowns (22).

In the Southern Division, 2004 Coach of the Year, MIKE NEU and the AFLWA's tied-No.4-ranked New Orleans VooDoo (8-4) head to St. Pete Times Forum to face seven-time ArenaBowl champion head coach TIM MARCUM and the Tampa Bay Storm (7-5) this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Cox Sports and Sun Sports. The VooDoo currently occupy the final National Conference postseason spot, while the Storm are one game out and look to continue their streak to 19 straight postseason appearances.

New Orleans' connection of QB ANDY KELLY (6-3, 220, Tennessee) and OS AARON BAILEY (5-11, 190, Louisville) has been one of the League's most lethal – 72 touchdown passes (No. 2 in AFL) for Kelly and 105 receptions (No. 1 in AFL) for Bailey.

Tampa Bay's perennial Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS (6-2, 220, Livingston) leads the team in receptions (92) and receiving yards (1,035), while being regarded as one of the League's best "jack" linebackers (25.0 tackles and two interceptions).

Games slated for Week 14 include: New York at Dallas (FSN New York, FSN Southwest, The Score-Canada) and Nashville at San Jose (FSN Bay Area-10:30 p.m. Sat., FSN South, NASN-Europe) on Friday; Austin at Columbus (FSN Southwest, FSN Ohio), Orlando at Philadelphia, New Orleans at Tampa Bay (Cox Sports, Sun Sports), Colorado at Grand Rapids (FSN Detroit, FSN Rocky Mountain, INHD) and Arizona at Los Angeles (AFL Net-www.arenafootball.com) on Saturday; and Las Vegas at Chicago (NBC). The Georgia Force have a bye week.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1t Orlando Predators 9-4 101 (4)
1t San Jose SaberCats 8-4 101 (7)
3 Georgia Force 9-4 90 (2)
4t Colorado Crush 8-4 54
4t New Orleans VooDoo 8-4 54
6 Dallas Desperados 7-4-1 39
7 Chicago Rush 7-5 20
8 Los Angeles Avengers 7-5 16
Also receiving votes: New York Dragons 14, Tampa Bay Storm 8 and Las Vegas Gladiators 7.


NEW YORK DRAGONS (7-5) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (7-4-1)
FRIDAY, APRIL 29 AT 8:30 P.M. ET
FSN NEW YORK, FSN SOUTHWEST, THE SCORE (CANADA)
KEVIN ESCHENFELDER & GARY REASONS

Playoff contenders battle for the top spot in the Eastern Division in this matchup... The Dragons are a perfect 4-0 in divisional play this season, while the Desperados are 3-1... A win for the Dragons would be their 90th win all-time... The Dragons have won the previous two meetings with the Desperados... Dragons QB AARON GARCIA needs one TD pass to become the first QB in professional football to throw for 700 TDs in a career... Garcia is the third highest rated QB in the AFL (118.3)... The Dragons have scored 51-or-more points in each of their seven wins this season... Dragons WR/DB COREY JOHNSON and WR/DB WILL HOLDER both have a League-high three kick return TDs... As a team, the Dragons lead the League in kick return TDs (8) and interceptions (20)... The Desperados have not lost consecutive games this season and are looking to avoid their first losing streak... Desperados QB CLINT STOERNER has completed 235-of-376 passes for 2,932 yards and 57 TDs, putting him on pace to break almost every AFL Rookie passing record... QB JIM KUBIAK set the current records with Buffalo in 2001 when he completed 295-of-484 passes for 3,787 yards and 64 TDs... With 78 passing yards, Stoerner can become the sixth rookie QB in League history to throw for 3,000 yards in his first season... On their way to the best record in club history through 12 games, the Desperados have posted four of the top-five largest margins of victory in franchise history.

2005 LEADERS DRAGONS DESPERADOS
SERIES LEADER Dallas leads, 3-2
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 2-2-1
LAST GAME Won vs. Philadelphia, 51-37 Won at Columbus, 55-33
2005 LEADERS DRAGONS DESPERADOS
PASSING Garcia: 384-250-10, 3061, 64 TDs Stoerner: 376-235-10, 2932, 57 TDs
RECEIVING Horacek: 66-900, 22 TDs Shelley: 74-955, 19 TDs
RUSHING White: 36-131, 10 TDs Toombs: 47-175, 11 TDs
TACKLES Angel: 77.5 Milligan: 54.0
SACKS Cherry: 2.0 Pettijohn: 5.0
INTERCEPTIONS Johnson, Parker: 6 Jones, Pettis: 4
KICKING Bironas: 71-83 PAT, 4-11 FG, 83 PTS Martinez: 81-86 PAT; 11-23 FG; 114 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 51.8 PPG (t-5); 262.0 YPG (15) 55.0 PPG (3); 272.4 YPG (12)
TEAM DEFENSE 50.7 PPG (t-11); 298.4 YPG (13) 48.0 PPG (7); 248.5 YPG (2)











NASHVILLE KATS (4-7-1) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (8-4)
FRIDAY, APRIL 29 AT 10:30 P.M. ET
FSN BAY AREA (*10:30 P.M., SATURDAY), FSN SOUTH, NASN (EUROPE)
RANDY HAHN, MIKE PAWLAWSKI & F.P. SANTANGELO

After starting the season 1-7, Nashville has won three of its last four games and has put together their first winning streak of the season... Leading the Western Division, San Jose has won seven of their last eight games and is looking to become the third team in AFL history to repeat as ArenaBowl Champions... The only two teams to accomplish this were the Tampa Bay Storm (ArenaBowls IX & X) and the Detroit Drive (Arena Bowls II, III & IV)... In last weeks win at Colorado, SaberCats QB MARK GRIEB set a new AFL passing record, completing 15-of-15 passes for 331 yards and eight TDs for a perfect QB rating of 158.3... The previous perfect-completion record was held by Carolina's CARLOS GARAY, who completed 11-of-11 against the Orlando Predators on April 27, 2000... Grieb is 1-0 during the regular season against the Kats and 0-2 in the postseason... The last time the Kats and SaberCats met was in the semifinals of the 2001 playoffs when Nashville stopped the SaberCats 71-47... The Kats also defeated the SaberCats in the 2000 semifinals 51-42... Since the Kats went on hiatus in 2001, the SaberCats have made it to ArenaBowl twice, winning in both of their appearances (ArenaBowl XVI & XVIII)... Grieb is among the League's top QBs, ranking No. 1 in pass rating (129.1), passing yards (3,666) and completion percentage (69.7)... SaberCats WR/LB JAMES ROE ranks No. 5 in the League in receiving yards (1,077) and No. 10 in the League in receptions (81)... SaberCats DS CLEVAN THOMAS is tied for the League lead with six INTs and Kats DS DE RON JENKINS is ranked No. 11 in the League with 65.5 combined tackles.

2005 LEADERS KATS SABERCATS
SERIES LEADER Nashville leads, 4-2
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-1-1 4-1
LAST GAME Won vs. Tampa Bay, 37-21 Won at Colorado, 89-41
2005 LEADERS KATS SABERCATS
PASSING Murray: 299-175-10, 1957, 30 TDs Grieb: 393-274-9, 3666, 67 TDs
RECEIVING Coleman: 63-684, 7 TDs Roe: 81-1077, 24 TDs
RUSHING Alexander: 36-105, 5 TDs Kinsinger: 27-60, 9 TDs
TACKLES Jenkins: 65.5 Thomas: 36.5
SACKS Taylor: 4.5 Jacobs. 4.0
INTERCEPTIONS Jenkins, Carter: 4 Thomas: 6
KICKING Dodson: 37-48 PAT; 4-14 FG; 49 PTS Frantz: 88-106 PAT; 2-7 FG, 94 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 40.6 PPG (17); 255.9 YPG (17) 62.5 PPG (1); 321.1 YPG (1)
TEAM DEFENSE 44.2 PPG (1); 268.1 YPG (5) 50.7 PPG (t-11); 285.5 YPG (9)



AUSTIN WRANGLERS (4-9) AT COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (1-11)
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 AT 7 P.M. ET
FSN SOUTHWEST, FSN OHIO
JEFF PIECORO, JIM LACHEY & JIM DAY

Austin and Columbus are looking to end their current losing streaks... The Wranglers, who have lost their last three games, have never lost four consecutive games... The Wranglers are 1-2 against teams from the Eastern Division and the Destroyers are looking for their first win against a team from the Southern Division... A win would help the confidence of both teams, who head into the final three weeks of the season looking to play the role of the spoiler... The Wrangler's final two games are against Orlando and New Orleans, while The Destroyers will finish the season against New York, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay... Columbus rookie QB SCOTT MC MULLIN started his first game of his career last week, losing 55-33 to Dallas... McMullen had a strong first-half, completing 14-of-24 passes for 161 yards and three TDs before finishing the day 21-of-44 passing for 197 yards and three TDs... Austin WR/LB DARRIN CHIAVERINI leads the team and is tied at No. 3 in the League in receptions (95 rec, 800 yards, 15 TDs) and will try to out perform Columbus OS DAMIEN GROCE who is ranked No. 8 in the League in receptions with 82 for 1,105 yards and 15 TDs and No. 6 in all-purpose yards (1,914)... Austin QB JOHN FITZGERALD is ranked No. 3 in completions (276), tied at No. 5 in yards (3,076) and No. 9 in TDs (56)... The Wranglers are ranked No. 6 in YPG (288.3) and will face a Destroyers team that is ranked No. 8 in total defense (276.8 YPG).

2005 LEADERS WRANGLERS DESTROYERS
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 0-5
LAST GAME Lost at Arizona, 26-52 Lost vs Dallas, 33-55
2005 LEADERS WRANGLERS DESTROYERS
PASSING Fitzgerald: 420-276-11, 3076, 56 TDs D'Orazio: 232-147-5, 1553; 24 TDs
RECEIVING Chiaverini: 95-800, 15 TDs Groce: 82-1015, 15 TDs
RUSHING Bryant: 34-85, 8 TDs D'Orazio: 37-158, 5 TDs
TACKLES Walker: 69.5 Franklin: 55.0
SACKS Humphrey: 2.5 L. Jones, McCleary, Pelshak, Ray, Washburn: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Hunter: 4 Heflin, Franklin: 1
KICKING Sievers: 31-33 PAT; 4-10 FG; 43 PTS Videtech: 59-65 PAT; 9-20 FG; 87 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 45.5 PPG (15); 288.3 (6) 42.6 PPG (16); 260.2 YPG (16)
TEAM DEFENSE 55.9 PPG (16); 307.7 YPG (16) 55.3 PPG (15); 276.8 YPG (8)



ORLANDO PREDATORS (9-4) AT PHILADELPHIA SOUL (5-8)
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 AT 7 P.M. ET

This is the first meeting between the Predators and the Soul... The Predators are coming off a win against their Southern Division rivals the Georgia Force... Last week's win improved the Predators record to 9-4, which ties them with Georgia for the best record in the League... Predators QB CHRIS SANDERS replaced the injured QB JOE HAMILTON and will get his second start of the season this week... Last week's win improved Sanders all-time record to 2-1 as a starter... In his first start since April 11, 2003, which was against the Predators, Sanders completed 20-of-34 passes for 336 yards, and three TDs... Predators WR/LB CORY FLEMING was the leading receiver against Georgia and caught nine of Sanders' 20 passes for 123 yards and three TDs... Fleming is leading the team with 76 receptions and 25 TDs and has had a TD reception in the last 35 regular season games he has played in with Orlando... Predators' rookie OS JIMMY FRYZEL and Soul rookie WR/DB MARCUS KNIGHT are tied at No. 3 in the League with 15.0 YPC... As a member of the Los Angeles Avengers in 2003 and 2004, Soul QB TONY GRAZIANI went 1-1 against the Predators... Graziani is currently leading the League in passing TDs (73) and ranked No. 4 in passing yards (3,328)... Entering Week 14, Soul OS STEVE SMITH is leading the League in all-purpose yards (2,339) and is ranked No. 8 in receiving yards (1,048) and WR/LB SEAN SCOTT is ranked No. 9 in scoring... Predators OL/DL EJ BURT is ranked No. 4 in the League in sacks with 8.0.

2005 LEADERS PREDATORS SOUL
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. Georgia, 52-49 Lost at New York, 37-51
2005 LEADERS PREDATORS SOUL
PASSING Hamilton: 364-238-11, 2901, 57 TDs Graziani: 431-254-13, 3328, 73 TDs
RECEIVING Fleming: 76-865, 25 TDs Smith: 77-1048, 21 TDs
RUSHING Price: 30-131, 6 TDs Ryan: 44-92, 10 TDs
TACKLES McEntyre: 48.5 Moten: 58.0
SACKS Burt: 8.0 Missouri: 4.0
INTERCEPTIONS McEntyre: 4 Moten: 4
KICKING Gowins: 60-71 PAT; 11-19 FG; 93 PTS Seder: 41-46 PAT; 4-11 FG, 53 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 49.8 PPG (t-10); 281.1 YPG (9) 51.8 PPG (t-5); 266.5 YPG (14)
TEAM DEFENSE 45.8 PPG (2); 269.6 YPG (6) 54.8 PPG (14); 299.2 YPG (14)



NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (8-4) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (7-5)
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 AT 7:30 P.M. ET
COX SPORTS, SUN SPORTS
RICK PECKHAM & JAMES BATES

New Orleans (8-4) owns a one-game lead on Tampa Bay (7-5) for the last available playoff spot... The Storm, who lost to the VooDoo 48-42 in overtime in Week 5, need the win in order to avoid falling two games behind the VooDoo with only three remaining... The Storm are 4-2 against other teams from the Southern Division, while the VooDoo are 1-4... The Storm are looking to avoid becoming the first TIM MARCUM coached team to miss the playoffs... The Storm are tied with Georgia for the best home record (6-0) on the season... Since the League expanded its schedule to 16 games in 2003, no team has finished the season undefeated at home... Two key victories at home for the Storm this season were against the Western Division leading San Jose SaberCats 63-33 in Week 1 and the Southern Division-leading Georgia Force 48-38 in Week 10... Two reasons for the Storm's success at home is due to QB SHANE STAFFORD and WR/DB CLIF DELL... At home, Stafford has completed 70 percent of his passes and thrown 38 TD passes and Dell has caught 27 passes for 279 yards and 11 TDs... The VooDoo lost their only game in Tampa Bay 59-51 in Week 16 of last season... In the game, New Orleans OS AARON BAILEY turned four receptions into 53 yards and two TDs... Bailey leads the League in receptions (105) and is the only player with over 100 receptions, is ranked No. 2 in the League in receiving yards (1,285) and No. 5 in scoring (174)... The last time that New Orleans QB ANDY KELLY played in Tampa Bay was in 2003 with the Detroit Fury, the Fury lost 62-60... In that game, Kelly was 24-of-38 passing for 297 yards and seven TDs... Kelly's 692 career TD passes is second only to New York QB AARON GARCIA (699) and he is only eight TDs away from becoming the first QB in professional football to throw for 700 TDs... Kelly has already thrown eight TDs passes on the road once this season, in a 56-55 loss to Austin last Week.

2005 LEADERS VooDoo STORM
SERIES LEADER New Orleans leads, 2-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 3-2
LAST GAME Won at Grand Rapids, 49-47 Lost at Nashville, 21-37
2005 LEADERS VooDoo STORM
PASSING Kelly: 527-351-8, 3553, 74 TDs Stafford: 485-312-9, 3376, 63 TDs
RECEIVING Bailey: 105-1285, 27 TDs Samuels: 92-1035, 13 TDs
RUSHING Thompson: 33-79, 7 TDs Penright: 15-41, 3 TDs
TACKLES Pointer: 57.5 Jones: 89.5
SACKS Cohen: 9.0 Hall, Muhammad: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Spears: 3 Ordway: 5
KICKING Schmitz: 77-84 PAT, 10-17 FG, 107 PTS George: 74-80 PAT, 12-24 FG, 110 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 52.8 PPG (4); 305.1 YPG (3) 50.8 PPG (8); 288.8 YPG (5)
TEAM DEFENSE 46.5 PPG (4); 261.1 YPG (4) 48.3 PPG (8); 272.3 YPG (7)



COLORADO CRUSH (8-4) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-11)
SATURDAY APRIL 30 AT 8 P.M. ET
FSN DETROIT, FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN, INHD
MATT SHEPARD, ROB RUBICK & JOHN KEATING

With a win the Crush will remain on top of the Central Division... The Crush are looking to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2003... The last time these two teams met, Rampage QB MICHAEL BISHOP exploded for an AFL single-game record 100 rushing yards... Bishop leads the League in rushing yards (382) and rushing TDs (14)... Bishop is 47 yards shy of tying the single-season rushing record (429) set by MAJOR HARRIS with Columbus in 1991... Bishop ranks second in the League in pass yards per catch (13.6)... Crush QB JOHN DUTTON ranks No. 3 in the League in total touchdowns (69)... Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL has caught a TD pass in a League-high 45 consecutive games and ranks No. 3 in the League in scoring (180)... Crush DS RASHAD FLOYD leads the League in tackles (98.5) and is on pace to finish the season with 131 tackles and break this single-season tackle record that he set last year (122)... Rampage FB/LB CHRIS AVERY ranks No. 3 in the League in rushing (173 yards) and No. 2 in rushing TDs (11)... The rushing combo of Avery and Bishop has more rushing yards and rushing touchdowns than any other team in the League... Rampage K PETER MARTINEZ ranks No. 2 in the League in field goal conversions and attempts... The duo of DS AHMAD HAWKINS and WR/LB KEVIN MCKENZIE each have five INTs for the Crush, tying them for No. 6 in the League... McKenzie has a League-high three INTs returned for a TD.

2005 LEADERS CRUSH RAMPAGE
SERIES LEADER Series tied, 2-2
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 0-5
LAST GAME Lost vs. San Jose, 41-89 Lost vs. New Orleans, 47-49
2005 LEADERS CRUSH RAMPAGE
PASSING Dutton: 432-262-12, 3047, 68 TDs Bishop: 336-184-9, 2496; 40 TDs
RECEIVING Harrell: 82-1063, 30 TDs Hines: 42-571, 8 TDs
RUSHING Young: 19-56, 4 TDs Bishop: 63-382, 14 TDs
TACKLES Floyd: 98.5 Avery: 40.5
SACKS Young: 5.0 Powell, Avery: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Hawkins, McKenzie: 5 Mason, Robinson: 2
KICKING Rush: 78-91 PAT; 12-26 FG; 114 PTS Martinez: 59-67 PAT; 13-32 FG; 98 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 56.5 PPG (2); 268.8 YPG (13) 45.7 PPG (14); 282.9 YPG (7)
TEAM DEFENSE 53.8 PPG (13); 320.0 YPG (17) 60.1 PPG (17); 286.1 YPG (10)



ARIZONA RATTLERS (4-8) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (7-5)
SATURDAY, APRIL 30 AT 10:30 P.M. ET
AFL NET (www.arenafootball.com)

The Avengers avoided their first losing streak of the season with a win over Chicago 52-49 last week... In their first meeting of the 2005 season, the Rattlers lost to the Avengers 33-29 in Arizona... The Avengers are one of six teams with seven wins this season and are looking for a spot in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season... The Rattlers kept the Avengers from ArenaBowl in both 2003 and 2004, beating them in the first round of the playoffs in both seasons... A loss to the Rattlers this week could again hurt the Avengers chances at making it to ArenaBowl... Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER returned to the lineup last week and led the team to their fourth win and their first back-to-back wins of the season... Rattlers OS SIAHA BURLEY is one of the top receivers in the League this season... Burley is ranked No.1 in the League in scoring (292), No. 2 in receiving yards (1,291) and receptions (98) and No. 3 in all-purpose yards (1,970)... Avenger K REMY HAMILTON leads all kickers with 148 points and is No. 1 in field-goal percentage (81.9%)... The AFL record for the highest field goal percentage in a season is 72 percent, which was accomplished in 2004 Orlando's K JAY TAYLOR... Entering Week 14, Hamilton has made 27 three-point FGs, five shy of the record of 32 held by K DARON ALCORN (Portland, 1999)... Avengers QB JOHN KALEO ranks No.5 in the League in total passing yards (3,076) and was sacked a season high four times by the Rattlers in Week 6 for a loss of 20 yards... Avengers OL/DL SILAS DEMARY is leading the League with 10.0 sacks and has recorded 8.0 in the last four games...The Rattlers' No. 3-ranked defense (260.8 YPG) includes DS CLARENCE LAWSON, who is ranked No.10 in the League in total tackles with 68.0.

2005 LEADERS RATTLERS AVENGERS
SERIES LEADER Arizona leads, 9-4
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 3-2
LAST GAME Won vs. Austin, 52-26 Won vs. Chicago, 52-49
2005 LEADERS RATTLERS AVENGERS
PASSING Germaine: 243-155-6, 1987, 40 TDs Kaleo: 425-259-8, 3076, 56 TDs
RECEIVING Burley: 98-1291, 35 TDs Ingram: 70-840, 17 TDs
RUSHING Glover: 19-46, 5 TDs Ford: 38-130, 8 TDs
TACKLES Lawson: 68.0 Simmons: 68.5
SACKS Glover: 4.0 Demary: 10.0
INTERCEPTIONS Joseph: 4 Hopkins: 5.0
KICKING Brenner: 35-40 PAT; 3-5 FG; 44 PTS Hamilton: 67-75 PAT; 27-33 FG, 148 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 49.7 PPG (12); 286.9 YPG (7) 51.7 PPG (7); 274.2 YPG (11)
TEAM DEFENSE 50.4 PPG (10); 260.8 YPG (3) 48.7 PPG (9); 300.1 YPG (15)



LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (7-5) AT CHICAGO RUSH (7-5)
SUNDAY, MAY 1 AT 1 P.M. ET
NBC
BOB PAPA & RAY BENTLEY

A Las Vegas win would give the Gladiators the first-of-two available wild-card positions and move Chicago one-game back of the last available playoff spot... If the Rush win, it would put them in control of their own playoff destiny and leave the Gladiators to compete with Los Angeles for the final playoff spot... The Gladiator's next three games are against playoff contenders (Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles)... The Rush are 4-2 at home and the Gladiators are 4-2 on the road... The Rush are 7-2 against their common opponents while the Gladiators are 6-3... The Rush are looking to avoid its third two-game losing streak in franchise history... The Rush won the only meeting between these two teams, 57-55 in Week 9 of last season, by moving the ball 35 yards on four plays with 17 seconds remaining... In that game, Chicago WR/LB JEREMY MC DANIEL and WR/LB ETU MOLDEN both had two receiving TDs and one rushing TD, including Molden's 24-yard, game-winning TD reception as time expired... Since returning in Week 7 from a fractured finger, Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL has thrown for 1,839 yards and 43 TDs, leading his team to a 4-2 record... Chicago FB/LB BOB MC MILLEN is No. 6 in the League in rushing (142) and has rushed for at least one TD in his last four games and six in his last seven games... Las Vegas OS MARCUS NASH, an offensive player of the year candidate, leads the League in receiving yards (1,354), and is tied at No. 3 in receptions (95) and scoring (180) and is ranked No. 10 in all-purpose yards (1,366).

2005 LEADERS GLADIATORS RUSH
SERIES LEADER Chicago leads 3-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 3-2
LAST GAME Won at Philadelphia, 56-49 Lost at Los Angeles, 49-52
2005 LEADERS GLADIATORS RUSH
PASSING Dolezel: 302-195-12, 2348, 50 TDs Philyaw: 348-240-10, 2728, 48 TDs
RECEIVING Nash: 93-1354, 28 TDs Molden: 78-968, 22 TDs
RUSHING Filer: 23-101, 2 TDs McMillen: 48-142, 8 TDs
TACKLES Bonner: 57.5 Johnson: 59.0
SACKS Carter: 9.0 Moyer: 6.0
INTERCEPTIONS Taylor: 6 Shaw, Molden: 3
KICKING Lewis: 30-76 PAT; 6-12 FG; 78 PTS Gispert: 67-77 PAT; 8-12 FG; 91 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 47.3 PPG (13); 307.2 YPG (2) 49.8 PPG (t-10); 302.1 YPG (4)
TEAM DEFENSE 47.3 PPG (5); 247.8 YPG (1) 47.4 PPG (6); 293.8 YPG (11)

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 27, 2005

• Eastern foes clash in drive to ArenaBowl XIX - AFL I
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• Freak Injury Sidelines Jimmy Fryzel - Orlando Predators
• Garcia one away from 700 - New York Dragons
• New Orleans VooDoo game notes - New Orleans VooDoo
• Austin Wranglers game notes - Austin Wranglers
• Columbus Destroyers game notes - Columbus Destroyers
• Soul to give away Tony Graziani bobbleheads - Philadelphia Soul
• Grieb and Wright earn AFL weekly honors - San Jose SaberCats

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