Force Prepare for Utah Amidst Injuries
June 20, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Georgia Force News Release
Duluth, GA (June 20, 2012) - After falling to the Chicago Rush in Rosemont, Illinois this past weekend, the Force coaches and players are making the necessary adjustments to push for a successful next four games. These last four games against Utah, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and New Orleans are each critical match-ups for the Force; losing just one game could potentially put an end to Georgia's run to the ArenaBowl XXV. Despite the loss to the Rush, the Force are currently in first place in the South Division, with the Jacksonville Sharks, New Orleans VooDoo, and Tampa Bay Storm all trailing closely behind at a tie for second place.
The Force were faced with a significant amount of injuries during the contest against the Rush on Saturday. On defense, DB's Ahmad Hawkins and Marrio Norman were both forced to leave the game at different times. On offense, WR CJ Johnson had to leave the game in the third quarter, and QB RJ Archer dealt with an injury that forced him to miss two series. Despite the injury, Johnson was still able to earn the Spalding Highlight of the Week award from the Arena Football League for his 53 yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half of the game. On another positive note, QB Bryant Moniz was cleared from injured reserve at the end of last week and has been added back to the active roster. The coaches are now anxiously awaiting to hear the prognosis of Hawkins, CJ Johnson, Norman, and Mike Johnson from the team's medical staff.
"The bottom line is that we now have a four game season and we control our own destiny," explained head coach Dean Cokinos. "We have lacked continuity with the roster and have been very inconsistent throughout the year. We have had steady play and growth on defense, even with all the injuries in the secondary. However, this is arena football, and it is vital that our offense executes at a higher and more consistent level for the remainder of the season for us to have a chance to compete for the division and the #2 play-off seed."
The Force will remain on the road this weekend, facing the Utah Blaze on Saturday, June 23rd at 9 p.m. EST at the EnergySolutions Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. The showdown will be streamed live on Ustream.
The 2012 season is in full-swing with an exciting, family-friendly slate of promotions and entertainment. For more information on how to reserve your single game tickets, please call the front office at 770.609.1300 . For more information, please visit www.georgiaforce.com . Be sure to follow the Force Blog as well as Twitter and Facebook for all the latest updates.
Arena Football League Stories from June 20, 2012
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- Top Three Spots Remain the Same in Coaches Poll - AFL
- Live NFL Network Broadcasts Resume for Predators vs. VooDoo Game Friday - Orlando Predators
- Force Prepare for Utah Amidst Injuries - Georgia Force
- 21 Questions with VooDoo Doll Abby - New Orleans VooDoo
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