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Force Game Notes

March 4, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Grand Rapids Rampage (4-1) at Georgia Force (3-2)
Date: March 9, 2003
Kickoff: 12:00 ET
Site: The Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,200)
Television: NBC (Eli Gold: play-by-play, Charles Davis: color analyst).
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Ryan Stewart: color analyst). WPLO 610 AM RadioMex (Jose Medellin: play-by-play, Marcelo Godoy: color analyst).
Coaches: Marty Lowe- Georgia (8-6, 2nd Year) Michael Trigg- Grand Rapids (69-65, 10th Year).
Series Record: Grand Rapids leads series 1-0 @ Grand Rapids 42, Georgia 41

THE GAME:

The Georgia Force opens its second two-game home stand of the season when it hosts the Grand Rapids Rampage on Sunday, March 9th at 12:00 p.m. in the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Force will also be making a second straight; fourth overall, appearance on NBC, as the contest will be broadcast regionally on the network.

Georgia, again rated top in total defense, will be tested this week when Grand Rapids brings its second ranked scoring offense to the South. Last week, the Force defense caused three turnovers and made L.A. turn the ball over on downs twice. Georgia's offense also hit its stride against the Avengers scoring on all its second half possessions. Although this is only the second meeting between Georgia and Grand Rapids, these two teams share a little history dating back to the 2001 season. Grand Rapids defeated the Nashville Kats 64-42 in ArenaBowl XV capturing the club's first AFL title. The 64 points scored by the Rampage was the most in ArenaBowl history. At the conclusion of the 2001 season, the Nashville Kats relocated to Atlanta and became the Georgia Force.

The Rampage is led by quarterback Clint Dolezel, who leads the AFL in pass completion percentage at 70.4, and offensive specialist Terrill Shaw, who has amassed 439 yards on 32 catches and 13 touchdowns in only five games.

GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force will play its first Southern Division game of the season when the Carolina Cobras visit the Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 15th at 7:30 p.m. Last season, each team captured victories on the road as Carolina grabbed a 55-54 win at Philips Arena and Georgia handed the Cobras a 53-42 loss in Raleigh.

HEAD COACHES:

MARTY LOWE, Georgia (8-6, 2nd Year): Marty Lowe begins his second season as Head Coach of the Georgia Force. Lowe guided the Force to a second place finish in the Southern Division and a 6-8 record in the team's inaugural season in 2002. He replaced Robert Lyles, who was relieved of his duties following the Force's 1-4 last year. Under his direction, the Force finished the year winning five of their last eight games.

Prior to joining the Force, Lowe served as running back coach for the University of Texas-El Paso. Lowe's coaching career in the Arena Football League started when he joined the Nashville Kats as an offensive assistant in March 2000 after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville. With the Kats, Lowe had Nashville's offense clicking on all cylinders in the 2000 playoffs, scoring more than 50 points in each of the team's first three post-season contests to quality for Arena Bowl XIV. Lowe went on to serve as the Kats offensive coordinator and assistant coach, where his duties included creating and implementing the offensive game plan and coaching the team's wide receivers and quarterbacks.

Lowe, who played quarterback at the University of Louisville from 1991-95, spent two seasons in the Arena Football League. He played quarterback for the St. Louis Stampede in 1996 and joined the Texas Terrors. He was a starter at Texas until a knee injury ended his playing career.

In college, he started 22 consecutive games for the Cardinals, passing for 2,268 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior in 1995. He is one of only four passers in Louisville history to throw for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. Lowe joined the Louisville coaching staff in 1997, breaking down practice and game tape. A native of Chattanooga, Lowe was Mr. Football in Tennessee as a senior at Red Bank High School in 1990.

MICHAEL TRIGG, Grand Rapids (69-65, 10th Year):

Head Coach and Director of Football Operations Michael Trigg enters his sixth season with the Grand Rapids Rampage. Last season, he also became just the fifth Arena Football League coach to reach the 60-win plateau, making him the fifth winningest coach in AFL history.

Trigg, who enters his 15th AFL season, reached new heights on August 19, 2001 when the AFL's smallest market team won ArenaBowl XV in front of a sold-out Van Andel Arena and a national television audience. During the team's championship run, Trigg was honored as the AFL's Coach of the Year for guiding Grand Rapids to a league-best 11-3 regular season record. The Rampage capped off their remarkable season by defeating the Nashville Kats, 64-42, in ArenaBowl XV, becoming the first number one seed to win a title since Arizona in 1997.

From 1995-97, Trigg served as head coach for the AFL's Milwaukee Mustangs. While on the other side of Lake Michigan, he turned a 0-12 team into one that went 22-20 in his three seasons. Trigg's guidance of the Mustangs during the 1996 season set an AFL record for the largest single-season turnaround, as Milwaukee went from 4-8 to 10-4.

Prior to his stint across the big lake, he spent 1994 as head coach and general manager for the expansion Fort Worth Cavalry of the AFL. From 1991-1993, Trigg was the offensive coordinator and director of pro scouting for the AFL's Dallas Texans, and he served his alma mater, East Texas State University, as quarterbacks coach in 1990. As a quarterback in the AFL, Trigg played with the Detroit Drive during their back-to-back championship seasons in 1989 and 1990, and in 1989 was the top-rated passer in the league.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON:

The Force finished the season a perfect 3-0 versus teams from the Western Division. With wins against Colorado, San Jose and Los Angeles, Georgia reversed its fortunes after going 0-3 against the West last season. The Force is not scheduled to play Arizona in the 2003 regular season.

ANOTHER ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS:

For the second straight week several Force players carved their names into the team record books following their performances against Los Angeles.

- Steve McLaughlin connected on a 49-yard field goal setting the new club record for longest field goal made. Scott Szeredy held previous mark with a 47-yarder at San Jose on May 4, 2002.

- McLaughlin's two made field goals tied the team record for most in a game. Done twice before, last by Scott Szeredy at Carolina on June 14, 2002.

- Kevin Gaines two interceptions tied the Force record for most in a game. The feat has been done three times in team history, last by Ron Carpenter vs. Buffalo on July 6, 2002.

ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS:

Several players inked their names in the Force record books after the Buffalo game last week.

- Scott Thomas had the second-highest total in receiving yards for a game with 131 yards on seven catches. The club record of 138 yards was set by Jarrick Hillery at Chicago (4/18/02).

- Donnie Davis' 295 yards passing was the second-highest total in passing yards for a game. The team record is 304 yards set by Davis at Chicago (4/18/02).

- Donnie Davis' 40 pass attempts against the Destroyers tied the second-highest total for pass attempts in a game. Davis had 49 at Tampa Bay (7/20/022) and 40 at Grand Rapids (6/23/02).

- Donnie Davis' two touchdown passes of 45-yards to Scott Thomas and Jarrick Hillery tied the club record for longest pass reception last done by Tyronne Jones at Tampa Bay (4/20/02).

- Donnie Davis' three interceptions thrown against the Destroyers set a new single game high for INTs in a game. Previous mark was two by Davis at Carolina (6/14/02).

A DEFENSIVE FORCE:

For the third straight week, the Force sits atop the league charts for total defense. Only giving up an average of 212.4 yards per game.

RETURNING TO OLD FORM:

Last week, Donnie Davis regained the form that propelled him to the AFL's second highest rated passer and fourth ranked QB in completion percentage in 2001.

Against the Avengers, Davis was 26-of-37 for 272 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. In his three previous games appearing as the starting quarterback, Davis had thrown seven interceptions to just nine touchdowns.

Davis missed the Force's game verses San Jose due to a dislocated finger on his left hand.

Last season, Davis only threw eight INTs all year in 10 games (nine as a starter) while racking up 45 TDs.

BASKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Georgia is a perfect 3-0 on the season when the NBC cameras are rolling. Claiming victories against the Colorado Crush 44-40 in Week 1, a 51-49 win versus the defending AFL World Champion San Jose SaberCats in Week 3 and a 46-35 win at Los Angeles in Week 5. The Force has five possible games scheduled to be shown regionally on NBC this season.

BETTER WITH AGE:

Wide Receiver/ Linebacker Darryl Hammond seems to defy time as he plays in his 13th season in the AFL breaking the league record for career years of service. (Previous mark 12 years- Sylvester Bembery 1988-2000 and George LaFrance 1988-2000).

He currently ranks second in the AFL with 536.5 career tackles, ranks in the top 15 in AFL in career scoring with 802 points and is in the top 10 in AFL in career pass receptions with 618. Hammond has had 7 seasons of 50 or more pass receptions. He has 29 receptions this season.

LAST WEEK VS. LOS ANGELES:

LOS ANGELES, CA. - The Georgia Force (3-2) handed Los Angeles (3-2) its first home loss of the season 46-35 at the Staples Center. In a match-up of the league's best defense against one of the top rated offenses, Georgia held L.A. to 21 points through three quarters of play to increase its perfect record against Western Division opponents and games televised on NBC to 3-0.

Donnie Davis rebounded to have his best game of the season throwing for 26-of-37 for 275 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. The Force entered the contest playing without two of its biggest offensive pieces in Offensive Specialist Tyronne Jones and Fullback/Linebacker Travis Reece, who were loss due to injuries suffered last week versus Buffalo.

The game began with the Force taking its opening possession 46 yards on nine plays capped off by a Dan Curran one-yard touchdown run to give Georgia an early 6-0 lead. On the ensuing PAT attempt, kicker Steve McLaughlin missed the up-rights wide right for his first missed PAT of the season. McLaughlin had been a perfect 18-for-18 heading into the game. Los Angeles responded with a score of its own, when Tony Graziani hit Chris Jackson for an eight-yard touchdown. On Georgia next drive, Davis mishandled the snap as Los Angeles recovered the fumble. The Avengers held its one-point lead of 7-6 through the first quarter of play.

The Force defense stepped up following the Georgia turnover holding the L.A. offense inside the Force five-yardline. On fourth down, Avengers' kicker Remy Hamilton missed his field goal attempt wide right, but L.A. recovered the rebound off the net. Avenger John DeWitt scooped up the ball and rumbled to the goalline, but fumbled the ball out of endzone giving Georgia a touchback. Davis led his troops on another long drive this time ending with Jarrick Hillery catching a three-yard touchdown pass and regaining the Force lead at 13-7. L.A. gave the game its third lead change when Graziani snuck in from one-yard out to make the score 14-13 Avengers. With 26 seconds left in the half, Davis threw his third TD pass of the game finding Scott Thomas for a 13-yard touchdown. Georgia successfully converted a two-point conversion from Davis to Markeith Cooper and the Force took a 21-14 advantage into the half.

It did not take long for the high-powered Avengers offense to get started in the second half. Two plays into the third quarter, Graziani and Jackson teamed up for their second scoring play. This time their 31-yard touchdown tied the score at 21 a piece. Georgia would then begin to build its lead on two touchdown drives. First, Davis found Cooper on a 20-yard pass for a 28-21 Force lead. The Georgia defense then rose to the occasion as Kevin Gaines intercepted a Graziani pass off the nets on a fourth and goal play. The Force capitalized on the turnover when Davis connected with Darryl Hammond for an eight-yard touchdown. McLaughlin missed his second PAT of the game as Georgia led 34-21.

The final period began with the Georgia defense holding tight again forcing L.A. to turn the ball over on downs. The Force offense then did its job marching down the field and finishing with a one-yard touchdown from Davis to Hammond to bring the score to 40-21. On Los Angeles next possession, Gaines picked off his second Graziani pass. When the Force took the ball, McLaughlin made team-history as he connected on a 49-yard field goal increasing the Georgia lead to 43-21. The previous team field goal record was a 47-yarder by Scott Szeredy at San Jose on May 4, 2002. The Avengers then scored its first points of the fourth quarter as Graziani connected with Greg Hopkins twice for scores of four-yards and 23-yards. McLaughlin hit his second field goal of the game from 36 yards away between the two L.A. TDs and Georgia claimed the victory.

LAST MEETING with GRAND RAPIDS:

GRAND RAPIDS, MI. (June 23, 2003) – BRIAN GOWINS' connected on an extra point attempt with no time remaining in the contest to lift the Grand Rapids Rampage over the Georgia Force, 42-41.

After CLINT DOLEZEL threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to STEVE SMITH to tie the score at 41-41 with no time left, Gowins converted his sixth extra-point kick of the contest to help Grand Rapids (6-4) snap a two-game losing streak. Last season's AFL Kicker of the Year, Gowins has connected on 87 percent (60-of-69) of his extra points this season. Dolezel finished 21-of-38 with 250 yards, four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions for the Rampage. He threw a pair of touchdowns within the final 5:50 on the second quarter to supply Grand Rapids with a 28-15 lead at halftime.

GARY COMPTON had seven catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns and CHRIS RYAN added a pair of scoring runs, including a 2-yard rush early in the final quarter, for the Rampage.

DONNIE DAVIS, who finished with 257 yards and four touchdowns, rallied Georgia (4-6) in the second half with four scores. His 9-yard pass to TYRONNE JONES with 4:57 remaining in the fourth tied the score at 35-35. He followed with a 4-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left to put the Force up by six, but SCOTT SZEREDY could not connect on the extra point. JARRICK HILLERY had five catches for 81 yards and two touchdowns and CLIFF GREEN had a pair of interceptions for Georgia, which had a three-game win streak snapped.

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