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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Every game counts in drive to ArenaBowl XVIII

May 12, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – The San Jose SaberCats (10-3) became the first team to clinch a spot in the Drive to ArenaBowl XVIII last week, but the battle for the remaining seven spots heats up with 15 of the 19 teams still alive for postseason berths.

Three playoff-caliber games – Los Angeles at New York, Colorado at Indiana and Dallas at Chicago – highlight NBC's Week 15 coverage on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. Seven-time ArenaBowl champion and Tampa Bay head coach TIM MARCUM will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.

Not only does every game count, but every game is a toss up. Last week, the AFLWA's No. 1-ranked SaberCats and No. 2-ranked New Orleans VooDoo (9-4) both lost, while the red-hot Arizona Rattlers (9-5) and defending ArenaBowl champion Tampa Bay Storm (7-7) continued their respective six- and four-game winning steaks.

Two teams currently in the playoff mix – the Los Angeles Avengers (7-6) and New York Dragons (8-5) – will battle at Nassau Coliseum on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Los Angeles' Offensive Player of the Year combination of QB TONY GRAZIANI (3,567 yards, 81 TDs and 4 INTs) and OS CHRIS JACKSON (100 receptions, 1,478 yards and 34 TDs) will face-off against another lethal tandem – New York QB AARON GARCIA (3,063 yards, 77 TDs and 9 INTs) and OS WILL HOLDER (57 receptions and 26 TDs) – for a chance to improve their respective playoff position.

The last time Coach of the Year candidate and Colorado head coach MIKE DAILEY faced his former team, Indiana K CLAY RUSH kicked a 20-yard field goal in OT for a 45-42 Firebirds' victory at Pepsi Center in Week 9. The stakes are higher this week when the Crush (9-4) travel to Conseco Fieldhouse on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC to play Rookie of the Year candidate QB ADRIAN MC PHERSON (50 passing and 18 rushing TDs) and the Firebirds (7-7).

Led by Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS DAMIAN HARRELL (89 receptions, 1,359 yards and 35 TDs), the Crush continue to stay in the mix for the top seed and a chance to host ArenaBowl XVIII, while Coach of the Year candidate MIKE WILPOLT and the Firebirds need to win their remaining two games to stay in the hunt.

Veteran Chicago head coach MIKE HOHENSEE has his squad focused on making a playoff push beginning this weekend when Ironman of the Year candidate WR/DB WILL PETTIS (2,523 all-purpose yards, No. 1 in AFL) and the Dallas Desperados (6-7) come to Allstate Arena on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC to play the Rush (9-4).

Chicago's Lineman of the Year candidates JOHN MOYER (7.0 sacks and 4 blocked kicks) and JAMES BARON (3.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 blocked kicks) will lead the defensive charge, while QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (42 TDs and 4 INTs) guides the Rush offense. Dallas needs to win their remaining games, while Chicago needs to win out for a chance to grab the No. 1 seed and possibly host ArenaBowl XVIII on June 27.

In Las Vegas, QB CLINT DOLEZEL (3,579 yards, 75 TDs and 8 INTs) and the Gladiators (6-7) have won three straight to climb onto the playoff bubble, but Sunday's game at the Thomas & Mack Center at 3 p.m. ET against QB MARK GRIEB (136.4 passer rating, 65 TDs and 4 INTs) and the SaberCats (10-3) will be challenging. Las Vegas' Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS MARCUS NASH (128 receptions, 1,517 yards, 39 TDs and 254 points) is on pace to re-write the AFL record books, while San Jose OS JAMES HUNDON (79, 1,170, 19 and 114) will look to match him score for score in this battle of the AFL's top two offenses.

In Austin, Orlando head coach JAY GRUDEN and the Predators (7-6) are on the playoff bubble and hope to knock off the Wranglers (8-5) for their fifth win in their last six games. Austin QB JOHN KALEO (71 TDs and 10 INTs), Rookie of the Year candidate OS TACOMA FONTAINE (66 receptions, 1,034 yards and 21 TDs) and Lineman of the Year candidate TOM BRIGGS (7.5 sacks, No. 1 in AFL) lead the expansion team, while Rookie of the Year candidate QB JOE HAMILTON (2,259 yards, 46 TDs and 6 INTs), Lineman of the Year candidate JERMAINE SMITH (7.0 sacks) and Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB CORY FLEMING (106 receptions, 1,318 yards and 27 TDs) lead Orlando's postseason charge.

Games for Week 15 include: Grand Rapids at Columbus on Friday; Arizona at Detroit, Carolina at Philadelphia and Georgia at New Orleans on Saturday; San Jose at Las Vegas, Los Angeles at New York (NBC), Dallas at Chicago (NBC), Colorado at Indiana (NBC) and Orlando at Austin on Sunday. Tampa Bay has a bye week.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL

RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 San Jose SaberCats 10-3 163 (17)
2 Chicago Rush 9-4 124 (1)
3 Arizona Rattlers 9-5 116 (3)
4 Colorado Crush 9-4 108
5 New Orleans VooDoo 9-4 97
6 Austin Wranglers 8-5 53
7 New York Dragons 8-5 52
8 Tampa Bay Storm 7-7 22
Also receiving votes: Orlando Predators 11, Los Angeles Avengers 10 and Indiana Firebirds 2.

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-12) AT COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (4-9)
FRIDAY, MAY 14, AT 7 P.M. ET

Grand Rapids Rampage DS CECIL DOGGETTE is tied for No. 14 in the AFL with 61.0 total tackles to his credit, along with one INT returned for 19 yards... Doggette leads the League with 23 passes defended... Rampage QB ANTHONY BUICH leads Grand Rapids in passing completing 167 of his 282 passes for 1,848 yards, 30 TDs and eight INTs... Rampage OS STEVE SMITH leads the team in receiving with 57 receptions for 644 yards and 10 TDs and in kick returns with 62 for 1,500 yards and five TDs... He is No. 2 in the AFL in all-purpose yards with 2,298... Last week against Georgia, Columbus' SEDRICK ROBINSON had eight receptions for 114 yards and two TDs, three rushes for one yard and one TD, nine KO returns for 238 yards and two TDs and a total of 353 all-purpose yards... WR/LB CORNELIUS WHITE is the Destroyers leading receiver, having caught 66 balls for 970 yards (No. 14 in AFL) and 20 TDs... The Columbus Destroyers have not lost a game when they have scored 54 points or higher... The Destroyers have won all of their games this season when they win the turnover battle.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (9-5) AT DETROIT FURY (4-9)
SATURDAY, MAY 15, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

The Arizona Rattlers have won six games in a row, and can clinch a playoff berth with a win this week against Detroit... This game will mark the first time in pro football history that two players (Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER and Detroit QB ANDY KELLY) with 30,000 yards and 600 TDs will meet... Bonner earned Offensive Player of the Week honors by leading the Rattlers to a 58-41 victory over the AFLWA No. 1-ranked San Jose SaberCats on Sunday... Bonner completed 20-of-31 passes (64.5 percent) for 238 yards, seven TDs and no INTs... Behind Bonner, the Rattlers used a 35-0 run to knock off the SaberCats... Arizona WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER needs 130 all-purpose yards to pass GEORGE LAFRANCE as the all-time AFL leader in all-purpose yards... Past the midway point in the season, Detroit KR RON CARPENTER has accumulated 908 yards in only five games, an average of 181.6 yards a game... WR THABITI DAVIS has the opportunity to break two Fury receiving records, receptions in a season and receiving yards... Davis currently has 100 receptions for 1,226 yards, and only needs 25 more receptions and 404 yards to tie the franchise records... If Davis can average eight catches and 135 yards a game, he could become the Fury's new record holder.

CAROLINA COBRAS (4-9) AT PHILADELPHIA SOUL (5-8)
SATURDAY, MAY 15, AT 7:30 P.M. ET
(TV: UPN 57, PHILADELPHIA – ARI WOLFE, DARRIN KENNEY and RHEA HUGHES)

This season, Carolina OS DAMIEN GROCE has 68 catches for 822 yards and a single-season record 19 TDs... Last time against Philly, Groce set career highs with eight receptions for 173 yards and three TDs... He currently ranks No. 9 in the AFL with 1,735 all-purpose yards and has set Carolina single-season records for TDs (21) and points scored (126)... Cobras WR/DB JARRICK HILLERY is No. 1 on the team with a 19.2 KO return average and 30.5 tackles... OS TODD DOXZON needs 10 receptions to reach 200 and 22 receiving yards to reach 2,500... Doxzon is No. 7 in the League with 87 receptions and No. 10 with 996 yards... This season, Carolina is 4-2 when they get on the board first... The Cobras lead the League with a 91.2 percent conversion percentage in the red-zone... In 57 trips inside their opponents' 10-yard line, Carolina has scored 46 TDs and six FGs... The Soul defense is No. 2 in the League in red-zone defense... Soul opponents have had 59 possessions inside the 10-yard line which have led to 41 TDs and four FGs for 293 points.... The Soul is No. 1 in the AFL in KO coverage... The Soul defense starts at the League best 11.3 average yard line, and the Soul have covered 74 kickoffs and allowed 1,153 yards and no TDs for a 15.6 yard return average... The last time the Soul played the Cobras, Soul QB TODD HAMMEL completed 17-of-29 pass attempts for 255 yards... Hammel is tied for No. 1 in the League in passing yards per catch (106 passes for 1,486 yards, a 14.0 avg.)... Last week, in his first game on the active roster, MARLION JACKSON scored four TDs, three through the air and one on the ground... The Soul is tied for No. 4 in the AFL in rushing TDs with 25 TDs in 108 rushing attempts... DS JOSEPH TODD ranks No. 5 among League leaders in combined tackles (70.5), with 60 solo stops and 21 assists... Todd is also ranked No. 8 in the League in solo tackles and is ranked No. 2 in passes defended (21).

GEORGIA FORCE (5-8) AT NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (9-4)
SATURDAY, MAY 15, AT 8 P.M. ET
(TV: COX SPORTS, N.O. – LYN ROLLINS, AARON BROOKS and HARRY MC CULLA)

Led by OS AARON BAILEY's three TDs, the VooDoo defeated the Force 55-52 in Week 3... Georgia is 2-0 when leading after three quarters... FB/LB ROBERT THOMAS currently is No. 2 among all rookies in rushing with 185 yards on 41 carries and nine scores... QB LEON MURRAY is No. 3 among all QBs with 143 yards rushing on 36 carries, scoring 10 TDs on the ground... Murray stands No. 8 overall in the AFL in rushing (143)... The Force's 72 points in last week's victory over Columbus was greater than the previous three games combined (66 points)... Last week's 44-40 loss to Orlando was the first time the VooDoo lost a game in which they scored at least 40 points, they are now 9-1... The VooDoo are 7-1 when they are in the lead or tied at the half and 2-3 in games that they trail at the half... New Orleans QB JOHN FITZGERALD has completed 60-of-98 (61.2 percent) of his passes for 743 yards, 12 TDs in his last three games... The VooDoo have only surrendered six sacks on Fitzgerald, No. 5 in the League... OS AARON BAILEY is No. 5 in AFL scoring (174 points)... FB/LB DAN CURRAN is the leading rusher in the AFL with 67 carries for 276 yards and 18 rushing TDs... The VooDoo are 8-0 when leading after three quarters... New Orleans is 5-1 at home.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (7-6) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (8-5)
SUNDAY, MAY 16, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

The Dragons will have three straight wins with a victory over the L.A. Avengers... New York's defense is averaging 45.6 PPG (No. 3 in the AFL) and 15.7 rushing yards (No. 4 in the AFL)... On offense, the Dragons are scoring 52.8 PPG, No. 5 in the League... The Dragons have won their eight games by an average score of 54-38... Dragons QB AARON GARCIA surpassed the 3,000-yard mark for the fifth time in his career and is coming off his sixth game when he has thrown seven or more TDs... The Dragon offense scored 63 points on just 24 plays last week... Dragons KR LINCOLN DUPREE is tied for No. 6 in the AFL with 102-missed FG return-yards and tied for No. 1 with one TD... Dupree ranks tied for No. 6, averaging 21.4 yards/return... With their 61-39 win over the Carolina Cobras on Saturday night, the Dragons record improved to 8-5 putting the team three games over .500 for the first since moving from Iowa... The Dragons finished the 2000 season with a 9-5 record... On Sunday, the Avengers will be attempting to avoid their first three-game losing streak since the tail end of the 2001 season... L.A.'s six losses this season have come by a combined total of 24 points... Avenger QB TONY GRAZIANI had only thrown two INTs this season until last week, when he threw two against Arizona... He is currently 274-of-420 (65.2%) for 3,567 yards and 81 TDs... Graziani has thrown 251 TD passes in his 46-game AFL career, an average of 5.5 scoring tosses per game... L.A. is No. 2 in the AFL in red-zone offense, scoring on 57 of its 61 trips (52 TDs and 5 FGs)... In last year's contest at New York, Graziani was 23-of-33 for 355 yards and eight TDs, while earning game MVP honors.

DALLAS DESPERADOS (6-7) AT CHICAGO RUSH (9-4)
SUNDAY, MAY 16, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – BOB PAPA, RAY BENTLEY and MARK SCHANOWSKI)

The Desperados held the Rush to 36 points in the first meeting last year, the third lowest points allowed total in club history... Two of Dallas' four all-time OT games have been against Chicago... Ironman of the Year candidate WILL PETTIS has accumulated 2,537 all-purpose yards this season, the most total yards by any player in the League... He currently ranks No. 2 in KO return yards (1,444), No. 4 in missed FG return yards (135) and No. 18 in receiving yards (922)... Currently, Rookie of the Year candidate BOBBY SIPPIO is the League leader among rookies in receiving TDs (25) and yards-per-catch (15.9)... He is No. 4 in receiving yards (889) and receptions (56)... The Desperados have 17 sacks this season... Only two teams - Orlando, 24 and Chicago, 20 - have posted more sacks than Dallas... Chicago's FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN had nine rushes for 35 yards and four TDs, along with two assists last week in a win against Grand Rapids... Chicago QB RAYMOND PHILYAW went 15-of-17 for 156 yards, two TDs and no INTs... Chicago can clinch a playoff berth with a victory over Dallas.

COLORADO CRUSH (9-4) AT INDIANA FIREBIRDS (7-7)
SUNDAY, MAY 16, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – BILL WEBER, CHARLES DAVIS and MARTY SNIDER)

The Indiana Firebirds need to win their two remaining games to have a good shot at the playoffs, while Colorado can clinch with a win this weekend... Last week in a win against Detroit, Indiana's RICKY HALL had 2.0 total tackles, a forced fumble and a sack... Rookie of the Year candidate ADRIAN MCPHERSON was 18-of-30 for 237 yards for six TDs and no INTs, with six rushes for 64 yards and three TDs... McPherson ranks No. 3 in the League in rushing, and first among QBs with 225 yards rushing and 18 TDs... He has completed 204-of-340 passes with 50 TDs and five INTs, for 2,779 yards this season... Indiana is half a game behind L.A. and Orlando for the final playoff spot... The Firebirds rank No. 1 in the AFL in turnover differential at +15...Colorado QB JOHN DUTTON has completed 274-of-434 passes for 3312 yards, 60 TDs and seven INTs... DS RASHAD FLOYD leads the Crush defense with 103.5 tackles, including 92 solo tackles... Floyd also has six INTs, the best in the AFL... OS DAMIAN HARRELL ranks No. 3 in scoring (210 points) and receiving yards (1359).

ORLANDO PREDATORS (7-6) AT AUSTIN WRANGLERS (8-5)
SUNDAY, MAY 16, AT 3 P.M. ET

Defeating the AFLWA No. 2 ranked New Orleans VooDoo last week, Orlando's JOE HAMILTON went 14-of-21 for 160 yards and three TDs with one INT, in addition to five rushes for 50 yards and one TD... CORY FLEMING recorded five receptions for 56 yards and one TD on offense and added four KO returns for 53 yards on special teams... On defense, Fleming tallied 1.0 total tackle, one pass breakup and an INT to earn Ironman of the Week honors... Against the VooDoo, Orlando DS KENNY MCENTYRE had 4.0 total tackles, one tackle for a loss, two INTs (including 18-yard TD return) and three pass breakups... In a win against Dallas last week, Austin QB JOHN KALEO went 15-of-28 for 128 yards, five TDs and no INTs... Wranglers' OL/DL TOM BRIGGS had three total tackles and two sacks... Briggs is No. 1 in the AFL in sacks (7.5)... Austin Rookie of the Year candidate TACOMA FONTAINE is No. 16 in the League for scoring (128 points) and tied for No. 10 in receiving yards (1034).

SAN JOSE SABERCATS (10-3) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (6-7)
SUNDAY, MAY 16, AT 6 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC11 – BOB FITZGERALD and KEENA TURNER)

San Jose's point total in its 79-62 win over Las Vegas on March 20 of this season was its highest of the season... That same game, Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL threw for a SaberCats opponent record 451 yards and nine TDs... San Jose tied an AFL record with six rushing TDs against LV on March 20...The SaberCats have scored 21 TDs on 25 possessions in the two series' meetings... QB MARK GRIEB has completed 73.3 percent of his passes (33-of-45) with seven TDs and no INTs in two games against LV... Grieb needs six pass attempts for 2,000 career and eight TD passes for a new team single-season record... The SaberCats have scored on all 13 of their red-zone opportunities against the Gladiators...The SaberCats need two wins for 100 overall in franchise history... Head Coach DARREN ARBET needs one win for 70 career... WR/DB BARRY WAGNER needs 29 receiving yards to become AFL's all-time leader... Last week, the SaberCats had their streak of scoring at least 50 points in every game this season snapped in their 58-41 loss at Arizona... San Jose's scoring output was its lowest since a 35-point effort against Orlando on May 26, 2001, a span of 57 games... The SaberCats have scored 70-or-more points in a game 19 times in their history and they have done it both times against the Gladiators... Despite losing at Arizona on May 9, the SaberCats became the first team to clinch a playoff berth... In five career games against the SaberCats, Dolezel has completed 130-of-208 attempts (62.5%) for 1,620 yards with 34 TDs... Dolezel currently has 557 career TD passes, No. 4 in AFL history... Las Vegas OS MARCUS NASH is the League leader in TDs (37) and receptions (115 for 1,333 yards)... He had five TD grabs on 12 catches for 189 yards in the Gladiators loss to San Jose on March 20... Nash has caught an average of three TDs per game this season... Against Philadelphia, DS CORNELIUS BONNER recorded 3.0 total tackles, one fumble recovery, one pass breakup and a team record-setting three INTs to earn Defensive Player of the Week honors.



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 12, 2004


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