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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Force, Storm Fight For Divisional Supremacy

April 2, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Georgia Head Coach MARTY LOWE, who is the AFL's youngest head coach, looks to make an already-tight Southern Division race even tighter when the Force (6-3) travel to St. Pete Times Forum to play the AFL's all-time winningest coach TIM MARCUM and the Tampa Bay Storm (7-2) on NBC this Sunday at noon ET.

The game features the Force's No. 1-ranked defense (217.1 YPG) against the Storm's No. 2-ranked defense (243.2 YPG). Tampa Bay's scoring defense holds teams to a League-best 41.0 points per game, while Georgia ranks No. 3 in the same category, giving up just 44.2 points. In his sixth AFL season, KEVIN GAINES leads Georgia's No. 1 pass defense (205.4 YPG) with 31.0 tackles, four interceptions, and nine pass breakups to date.

An individual spotlight will be focused on two of the leading Lineman of the Year candidates – Georgia's JERMAINE SMITH (13.5 tackles and two sacks) and Tampa Bay's AL LUCAS (13.5 tackles and a safety). With the two defenses mirroring each other in style with defensive pressure up front and blanket coverage in the secondary, Smith and Lucas become the focal point of what could shape up to be one of the best linemen battles this season.

Two of the League's best Ironmen – Georgia WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND and Tampa Bay WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS – go head-to-head in what may turn out to be a showcase of "Anything-You-Can-Do-I-Can-Do-Better." Hammond leads the Force in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, while Samuels is second on the Storm to OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (54, 825, 14) in those categories.

HAMMOND vs. SAMUELS
RECEIVERS REC YARDS TDs TACKLES INTs SACKS
Darryl Hammond, Georgia 49 539 10 18.0 2 0.0
Lawrence Samuels, Tampa Bay 49 607 12 20.5 3 2.0

Other games for Week 10 include: Chicago Rush at Detroit Fury and Carolina Cobras at Los Angeles Avengers on Friday; Grand Rapids Rampage at Indiana Firebirds and Colorado Crush at Las Vegas Gladiators on Saturday; San Jose SaberCats at Dallas Desperados (NBC), Buffalo Destroyers at New York Dragons, Orlando Predators at Arizona Rattlers (NBC) on Sunday.

CHICAGO RUSH (3-6) AT DETROIT FURY (5-4) FRIDAY, APRIL 4, AT 11:30 A.M. ET
(TV: FOX SPORTS DETROIT – MARK CHAMPION and JAMES BRANDSTATTER)

Chicago's offense is guided by QB BILLY DICKEN, playing with a fractured jaw, and offers a host of scoring threats in the AFL's all-purpose yardage leader ANTONIO CHATMAN (1,923 yards), ANTHONY LADD and LINDSEY FLESHMAN, the team's top scorers, respectively. Chatman is tied for No. 7 among AFL scoring leaders with 118 points. The Rush's fourth-ranked scoring defense (45.3 PPG) and fifth-ranked pass defense (240.0 YPG) are led by ball hawks DAMEON PORTER (24.0 tackles, three interceptions, nine pass breakups) and MARVIN TAYLOR (19.5 tackles). Chicago OL/DL JOHN MOYER leads the team in sacks with 4.0 and JAMES BARON continues his lethal pass rush (2.0 sacks, three QB hurries and two blocked kicks). Guarded by a strong protective line (League-best three sacks allowed), Fury QB ANDY KELLY continues to guide the No. 3-ranked red-zone offense (93.6 percent) with targets like MARUS NASH (15 touchdowns), SULECIO SANFORD (10) and TY GROVESTEEN (8). Fury special teams play is directed by DS/KR RON CARPENTER, who leads the AFL in kick returns with 1,327 yards (two touchdowns, tie-No. 5). Also, the Fury's top defender, Carpenter has 53.0 tackles (No. 3 overall), seven pass breakups, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a pair of fumble recoveries. Detroit stifles the opposition on 40.4-percent of 3rd-down conversions, allowing teams to advance on 19-of-47 attempts. The Fury red-zone defense is ranked No. 2 overall, allowing opponents to score on 25-of-37 attempts (75.7 percent) inside the 10-yard line.

CAROLINA COBRAS (0-9) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (7-2)
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, AT 10:30 P.M. ET

Carolina QB ROBERT HALL tied his season-high with five touchdown passes on 20-of-34 passing and is averaging just over 173 passing yards per game. With 159 passing yards, Hall will reach 7,500 career. WR/DB turned OS BERNARD HOLMES has been vital to Carolina's offense – having made 50 receptions for 646 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. In the game against Las Vegas, Holmes recorded a career-high of 180 receiving yards, leaving him just 35 receiving yards away from the 5,000-yard mark. Carolina will also be looking to the rookie from Georgia Southern; WR/LB CHRIS JOHNSON – who in just his second career game played – caught nine passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns against San Jose last week. In the midst of a four-game winning streak, Los Angeles looks to tie the series 2-2 and stay atop the Western Division. The Avengers offense scores on 76.2 of their possessions (No. 1 in the AFL) and ranks No. 3 in scoring with a 56.9 average. QB TONY GRAZIANI is 76-of-120 for 1,077 yards, 25 touchdowns and two interceptions in the Avengers' last four games. OS CHRIS JACKSON has had at least six receptions and two touchdowns in every game this season. Jackson is 3-of-3 passing with three touchdowns – all three of which came during Avenger victories. WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM has 33 receptions for 318 yards and nine touchdowns. Ingram was named Ironman of the game in three of Los Angeles' last four wins.

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (6-3) AT INDIANA FIREBIRDS (4-5)
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

Indiana's EVAN HLAVACEK, who earned Ironman of the Week honors this past weekend, has tallied seven receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns since converting to WR/DB from DS two games ago. In six games versus the Rampage, EDDIE BROWN has 53 receptions for 854 yards and 14 touchdowns. His best performance against Grand Rapids came on June 23, 2001 when he caught 12 balls for 237 yards and five touchdowns. In those six meetings, Brown has averaged nine catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL is the first quarterback in AFL history to throw for 70-or-more touchdowns in four different seasons – and looking for a fifth as he is on pace to throw 92 this season. Dolezel has also thrown at least five touchdowns in the Rampage's last eight games. OS/WR/DB TERRILL SHAW has caught at least one touchdown in the Rampage's last eight games. WR/DB WILLIS MARSHALL has caught at least one pass in every regular season game played in a Rampage uniform (30 regular-season games). The Rampage's trio of Shaw, Marshall and STEVE SMITH has combined to catch a league-leading 157 passes for 1,937 yards (4th in AFL) and 49 TDs (3rd in AFL).

COLORADO CRUSH (1-8) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (5-4)
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, AT 10 P.M. ET

The Crush's No. 5-ranked offense (273.0 YPG) faces the Gladiators fourth-ranked defense (257.4 YPG) this weekend. Backed by rookie QB BOBBY PESAVENTO, Colorado QB JOHN DUTTON ranks No. 5 on the passing yards list (2,379) this season. Dutton's primary target has been OS DAMIAN HARRELL (No. 2 scorer, 156 points). Colorado owns the second-best percentage on 3rd-down conversions (60.0), advancing on 30-of-50 attempts this season, and the fourth-best red zone offense (27-of-30). Crush WR/DB CHARLIE DAVIDSON continues to produce on both sides of the ball with eight scoring catches, 31.0 tackles, eight pass breakups, a forced fumble and one interception. Led by DS JEROID JOHNSON (32.5 tackles, four interceptions, eight pass breakups), the Gladiators allow opponents to advance on 3rd-down conversion 41.2-percent (No. 4) of the time (21-of-51 attempts). The Las Vegas ground force ranks fourth (tie) in the AFL for rushing touchdowns with 16, guided by QB JAY MCDONAGH (seven) and WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON (five). Five-year veteran OS MIKE HORACEK leads the Gladiators scoring efforts (132 points, tie-No. 5), including five scores in his last two contests. Las Vegas K STEVE VIDETICH leads all AFL kickers in PAT percentage with 89.1-percent accuracy (49-of-55).

SAN JOSE SABERCATS (7-2) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (5-4)
SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 12 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

In his career as a member of the SaberCats, MARK GRIEB owns a 36-6 regular season record as the team's starting quarterback. Grieb was the starter in both San Jose wins over Dallas last year. The SaberCats' 77-54 win over Dallas on May 25, 2002 gave San Jose a league record with three consecutive games of 77-or-more points. The San Jose offense scores on 74.2 percent of their possessions (No. 4 in the AFL) and leads the League in scoring (63.6). WR/DB BARRY WAGNER, who scored three rushing touchdowns last week, raised his League-leading career rushing touchdown total to 96. San Jose K DARON ALCORN needs four field goals for 100 career and four points for 700 career. Offensive Player of the Year candidate, Dallas QB JIM KUBIAK, has at least four touchdown passes in all nine games this season. The former Navy Midshipman has thrown for 300 yards 10 times in his AFL career – including his last two games. A 300-yard game this week would set a personal mark for most consecutive 300-yard games. Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB ANDY MCCULLOUGH has a touchdown reception in eight of the Desperados nine games – including three straight games.

BUFFALO DESTROYERS (3-6) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (3-6)
SUNDAY, APRIL 6, AT 12 P.M. ET

Buffalo's second-ranked scoring defense (43.6 PPG) makes the cross-state trip this weekend to face the Dragons and the AFL's best offense (330.8 YPG). New York QB AARON GARCIA is completing a League- and career-best 70.2-percent of pass attempts and remains on pace for a record-setting 123-touchdown, 5,385-yard passing performance this season. Garcia's go-to guy has been the AFL's scoring leader OS MIKE FURREY (216 points). New York boasts the No. 2 red zone offense, scoring on 30-of-32 possessions inside the 10-yard line (93.8 percent). The Dragons' "D" continues to climb the ranks each week led by DONVETIS FRANKLIN (45.5 tackles, two interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and one forced fumble) who assumed the role of New York kick returner and has been averaging 22.6 yards per return on kickoffs (see San Jose DS/KR CLEVAN THOMAS and Detroit DS/KR RON CARPENTER). Led by DWAINE CARPENTER and JOJO POLK, Buffalo owns the fourth-most interceptions (14) among AFL teams and is second-best (tie) in interception returns for touchdowns (three). Head coach RON SELESKY has his defensive unit holding opponents on 4th-down conversions at rate of 23.1-percent (No. 2). Buffalo, sitting at the No. 4 position for their red-zone defense (opponents have scored on 27-of-34 attempts, 79.4-percent), is tied for third-best turnover margin (+5).

GEORGIA FORCE (6-3) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (7-2) SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 12 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – ELI GOLD and CHARLES DAVIS)

The AFL's winningest coach, Tampa Bay's TIM MARCUM (150-53), and up-and-coming Georgia head coach MARTY LOWE (11-7) go head-to-head this Sunday when the Southern Division's top two teams face off in a defensive showdown. Linemen JERMAINE SMITH and MARCUS KEYES continue strong line play, leading the Force to a fifth-best (tie) 10 sacks. Veteran FB/LB DARRYL HAMMOND and third-year FB/LB DAN CURRAN continue to brush off defenders and challenge opposing offenses, combining for 128 points this season, as the team's No. 1 and No. 4 scorers, respectively. Curran, tied for the No. 2 spot among rushing touchdowns leaders (8), and FB/LB TRAVIS REECE, (5) guide the Force's No. 3-ranked rushing offense (18 touchdowns, 23.7 YPG). Tampa Bay's rushing defense is the League's best, allowing just 7.7 yards per game. Led by offseason acquisition WR/DB OMARR SMITH and DS COREY SAWYER (combined nine interceptions), the Storm has held its last four opponents (all wins) to less than 40 points and boasts the No. 3 pass defense rating. In those contests, Tampa Bay has outscored the opposition by an average of 23.8 points and currently owns the second-best turnover margin (+11). The Storm has the toughest defense on 3rd- and 4th-down conversion, 21 stops on 60 attempts (35 percent). Tampa Bay is second in sacks (16). The AFL's fourth-best passer rating belongs to JOHN KALEO (118.7), whose primary scoring target has been OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (114 points, No. 9 overall). The Storm rushing offense has been equally effective, scoring 13 touchdowns in its seven-game winning streak, including one last week by recently signed veteran FB/LB ANDRE BOWDEN (No. 2 in career rushing attempts, yards and touchdowns) in his first AFL game since the 2002 playoffs.

ORLANDO PREDATORS (6-3) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (4-5)
SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 6 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – MIKE BREEN, RAY BENTLEY and MARTY SNIDER)

The Orlando Predators will head into the Snake Pit and attempt to silence the Arizona Rattlers as both teams hope to end their losing streaks. CONNELL MAYNOR will lead the Predators charge in the desert. Last week the quarterback threw for 192 yards, four touchdowns and ran for 41 rushing yards en route to a 63-62 loss to the Los Angeles Avengers in a thriller at Orlando. Maynor's counterpart SHERDRICK BONNER needs 186 yards to enter the elite 25,000-passing yard club, joining Detroit's ANDY KELLY and New York's AARON GARCIA. Rookie of the Year candidate Orlando OS TRAVIS McGRIFF, leads the team with 20 touchdowns and is second in the League in yards per catch, averaging 16.9. On defense, the Predators sport the League's leader in tackles in KENNY McENTYRE (60). The two-time Defensive Player of the Year recipient returned an interception for a record-tying touchdown eighth time in last week's loss to Los Angeles (Los Angeles WR/LB GREG HOPKINS also has eight.) Arizona's defense is led by WR/LB RANDY GATEWOOD, who has tallied seven interceptions this season. Lucky number seven came last week against the San Jose SaberCats, which also set a new franchise record for interceptions in a season and tied the franchise record for career interceptions with 22. Both records were solely held by CECIL DOGGETTE.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 2, 2003


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