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Force Game Notes

May 7, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Arizona Rattlers (2-1) vs. Georgia Force (1-2)
Date: May 10, 2002
Kickoff: 7:30 ET
Site: Philips Arena (16,100)
Series Record: 0-0
Last Meeting: This is the first regular season meeting between Georgia and Arizona.
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play and Ryan Stewart: color analyst).
Coaches: Robert Lyles- Georgia (6-8, 2nd Year); Danny White- Arizona (104-49, 11th Year).

THE GAME:

The Georgia Force return home to face the Arizona Rattlers on Friday, May 10 at Philips Arena at 7:30 p.m. This will be the Force's second straight game versus a Western Division opponent after Georgia fell to the undefeated SaberCats 53-59 last week at the Compaq Center in San Jose.

Georgia enters the game as the Arena Football League's highest scoring team averaging 58.0 points per game. The Force's 25 touchdowns on the year are also a league high. Arizona ranks second in the AFL in scoring averaging 57.3 points per game.

The Force look to get back to the .500 mark after dropping two straight contests vs. Carolina and at San Jose. In both games Georgia was either leading or tied in the fourth quarter only to come up short. The Force have lost both games by a combined total of seven points.

Offensive Specialist Markeith Cooper will try to build on his five touchdown performance against the SaberCats. Cooper registered four touchdown receptions and one kickoff return for a score last week at San Jose. The AFL's leading rusher, Force Fullback/ Linebacker Travis Reece will also be hoping to capture his second straight AFL rushing title as he goes against an Arizona defense that is ranked second in the league against the rush.

Arizona is lead by QB Sherdrick Bonner and WR/LB Hunkie Cooper as they continue to move up the AFL career records book. Bonner is currently in the top five in most pass attempts, most pass completions, most passing yards and most passing touchdowns. Bonner was named the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week for his Week 2 efforts vs. Los Angeles on April 27. Cooper, a two-time AFL Ironman Award winner, ranks in the career top five in all-purpose yards, kickoff returns, kickoff return touchdowns, interception returns for touchdowns and pass receptions.

Last week Arizona knocked off the previously unbeaten Toronto Phantoms 58-47. The Rattlers finished the regular season 8-6 last year and captured the seventh seed in the playoffs. Arizona defeated the Detroit Fury 52-44 in the wildcard round but were eliminated by the San Jose SaberCats 68-49 in the quarterfinals.

Georgia is welcomed into this the 16th season of the AFL after the relocation of the Nashville Kats, which brought the team to Atlanta. The Force will look to follow in the winning tradition that Nashville started when entering the league in 1997. Over the Kats five-year tenure in Nashville, the club reached the playoffs in every season, twice reaching the ArenaBowl Championship game in 2000 and 2001.

The Force are beginning a new chapter in the AFL for themselves as the team's name, logos and history are brand new. The Georgia roster consists of 18 players that have traveled South from Nashville to Atlanta. Adding to the roster the Force signed AFL veterans QB Kevin McDougal and QB Donnie Davis from the former Milwaukee Mustangs and selected OL/DL Michael Lawson from the Florida Bobcats with the first overall selection in the 2001 dispersal draft.

GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force will head back out on the road to face the Chicago Rush on Saturday, May 18 at 8:00 p.m. The Rush enter their second season in the AFL and are 2-1 this season. Last week Chicago scored an AFL season-high 71 points to defeat the AFL World Champion Grand Rapids Rampage 71-59. HEAD COACHES:

ROBERT LYLES, Georgia (6-8, 2nd Year): Robert Lyles was named the first Head Coach of the Georgia Force in December of 2001. Entering his seventh season of coaching in Arena Football, Lyles served as the interim head coach for the Los Angeles Avengers last season after replacing Stan Brock following the third game of the 2001 season. Lyles finished the season with a 5-6 record as a head coach, while leading the Avengers to a 5-9 overall mark. Prior to his promotion as Head Coach for L.A., Lyles served as the team's defensive coordinator during their first two years since entering the league in 2000. Lyles began his coaching career with the AFL's Memphis Pharaohs in 1996, then spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the Portland Forest Dragons (1997-99) before going to Los Angeles. Before joining the AFL's coaching ranks, Lyles was a standout player earning the "Ironman of the Year" award for his play as a linebacker/fullback with the Memphis Pharaohs in 1995. Lyles played eight seasons in the National Football League as a standout linebacker- six seasons with the Houston Oilers (1984-89) and two with the Atlanta Falcons (1990-91). Lyles played linebacker at Texas Christian University.

DANNY WHITE, Arizona (104-49, 11th YEAR): Danny White is the first and only head coach and general manager in Rattlers history. In the past ten seasons, White has brought two World Championships to the state of Arizona, been inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame, and had his Arizona State University jersey (#11) retired. He earned Arena Football League Coach of the Year honors in his second season (1994), and is the second winningest coach in AFL history with 102 wins. White's .680 career winning percentage is fourth on the AFL chart, while his .650 career playoff percentage is sixth. His 13 playoff wins rank him second behind Tim Marcum. On June 30, 2001, Coach White notched his 100th career win as an AFL coach and became only the second coach in AFL history to hit the 100-win mark. He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame on April 17, 2002.

LAST WEEK:

The Georgia Force (1-2) fell to the San Jose SaberCats (3-0) 59-53 on Saturday night at the Compaq Center in San Jose in their first road game of the year. In a game that featured the league's first and third ranked scoring offenses entering the game, Georgia was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as San Jose came from behind to capture the victory. Entering the game, San Jose was only one of two teams that were still undefeated along with the Toronto Phantoms.

The first quarter ended with the SaberCats leading 14-13 as both teams scored on every possession. Georgia took the opening kickoff and drove down into San Jose territory, as newly signed Scott Szeredy instantly paid dividends connecting on a 35-yard field goal to give the Force a 3-0 lead. Szeredy was signed by the Force earlier in the week after playing the 2002 preseason with the Chicago Rush.

The SaberCats answered scoring on their opening possession as Barry Wagner scored on a one-yard rush to give San Jose a 3-7 lead. Georgia quickly responded 29 seconds later with a touchdown of their own as Kevin McDougal found Markeith Cooper on the first play of the Force's second drive on a 30-yard touchdown strike to regain the lead 10-7.

San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb then found James Hudson for a nine-yard score to regain the lead for the SaberCats. Grieb was 6-for-6 passing for 58 yards and one touchdown in the first quarter. He finished the game with 24 completions on 34 attempts for 292 yards and six touchdowns.

The second quarter opened with Szedery connecting on his second field goal of the game. The Georgia defense then made the first defensive stop of the night as Cliff Green scooped up a Grieb fumble on the SaberCats first drive of the second period and returned it 33-yards for a touchdown to give the Force a 20-14 lead.

Cooper would add his third touchdown of the half on a 54-yard kickoff return and then add a fourth score on his third receiving touchdown from McDougal as the Force took a 39-36 lead into the break.

AFL leading rusher Travis Reece scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season on a five-yard run to open the second half giving Georgia a 10 point 46-36 advantage. Later in the quarter, McDougal connected on his fourth touchdown pass of the game finding a racing Scott Thomas down the right side of the field for a 42-yard score and a 53-43 Force lead.

San Jose answered with Hundon scoring his third touchdown of the game as the third quarter came to a close. The SaberCats made good on a two-point conversion as Grieb ran it in to cut the Georgia lead to two 53-51.

San Jose recaptured their first lead of the game since being ahead 14-13 when Grieb hit Hundon on a 45-yard touchdown completion. A second successful two-point conversion gave the SaberCats a 59-53 advantage. Hundon's fifth touchdown reception of the contest was a new San Jose single-game high. Hundon earned Game MVP honors for his game-high 13 receptions for 184 yards and five TD effort.

Georgia was held on their next possession and with no timeouts left San Jose was able to run the clock out for the victory. The Force had used their last timeout with 3:21 remaining in the third quarter.

McDougal tied his season-high with four touchdown passes on 13-of-23 passing for 173 yards. He also recorded four TD passes in the Force's season opener vs. Orlando. Cooper finished with career highs with seven catches for 85 yards and three receiving touchdowns and three kickoff returns for 74 yards.

San Jose's Jerry Reese gained Ironman honors with two receptions for 23 yards and a score and a team-high 4.5 tackles on defense.

THINGS TO WATCH:

Fire Power: For the third consecutive week, Georgia leads the league in scoring, averaging with 58.0 points per game. The Force have scored 174 points in their three contests.

Ground Forces: After three games, Georgia ranks second in the AFL in rushing with 79 yards on 23 carries. FB/LB Travis Reece leads the league in rushing averaging 18.0 yards per game on 13 carries for 54 yards with 54 yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Feel the Force: Head Coach Robert Lyles, who also serves as Georgia's defensive coordinator inherits a defensive unit that boasts 14 players from a Nashville squad that finished first in the league in points allowed per game (39.3) only giving up 550 points over 14 games in 2001. Under Lyles' direction last season, the Los Angeles Avengers defense finished the 2001 regular-season ranked number one in the AFL in total defense (249.4 yds/game) and number two in passing defense (231.5).

Battle in the Trenches: Assistant Coach Bob Kronenberg will assume the role this season of coaching the offensive/ defensive lineman. Kronenberg will see six of his players that he coached in Nashville join the Force. Last season, the Nashville offensive line contributed to a number one ranking in the AFL in rushing offense with 35.0 yards per game and tied second for fewest sacks allowed all season with nine. The defensive line finished first in the league in sacks with 157, second in the league in rushing yards allowed per game with 9.8, while only allowing a league leading 1.5 yards per game rushing average. The Force rank third in the AFL this season with four sacks on the year.

WR/DB Ron Carpenter:
- Ranks 1st in the AFL in MFG return with 134 yards on four returns (33.5 avg.) with one touchdown.
- Ranks 2nd in the AFL in kickoff return average with 296 yards on 12 returns (24.7 avg.) with two touchdowns.
- Ranks 4th in the AFL in all-purpose yards with 496 (165.3 avg.).
-Won the AFL's ADT Defensive Player of the Week for his performance vs. Orlando and captured Game MVP honors for his efforts against the Predators.
- Lead the AFL in kickoff return yards in 2001 with 578 yards on 23 returns (25.1 avg.). OS Markeith Cooper:
- Signed by the Force from the team's open player tryouts.
- Had career-highs with seven receptions for 5 yards and three receiving touchdowns at San Jose (5/4). Also added three kickoff returns for 74 yards and one touchdown return against the SaberCats.

DS Cliff Green:
- Leads Force in tackles with 15 tackles (12 solo).
- Had a team-high 6.5 tackles, one pass defensed and one fumble recovery that he returned 33-yards for a touchdown at San Jose (5/4).

WR/LB Darryl Hammond:
- Entering his 12th season in the AFL this year tying the AFL career mark for years of service (Sylvester Bembery 1988-2000 and George LaFrance 1988-2000).
- Ranks in the top 15 in AFL in career scoring with 694 points.
- Ranks in the top 10 in AFL in career pass receptions with 531.
- Ranks in the top 5 in AFL in with 491.5 career tackles.
- Has had 6 seasons of 50 or more pass receptions.

WR/DB Jarrick Hillery:
- Last year, became only the fourth player in AFL history to run for 100 yards and have 400 yards receiving in the same season.
- Was named to the AFL first-team in 2001.
-Rushed for five yards on three carries and two touchdowns vs. Carolina (4/26) and made five receptions for 49 yards and one score receiving. On defense, recorded 3.5 tackles.

FB/LB Travis Reece:
- Ranks 1st in the AFL in rushing with 54 yards on 13 carries (18.0 avg.).
- Captured "Ironman" award in the Force's regular season opener vs. Orlando (4/20) and vs. Carolina (4/26).
- Reece gained 190 yards on 38 carries on the year and captured the AFL's rushing title with Nashville in 2001 and garnered AFL All-Rookie team honors.

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