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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Former Desperados Face Dallas

February 19, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Last season, JIM KUBIAK was ANDY KELLY's understudy. This weekend he will have a chance to show how much he has learned when the Dallas Desperados (2-1) play the Eastern Division-leading Detroit Fury (2-1) on NBC at The Palace at Auburn Hills this Sunday at 3 p.m.

Dallas traded Kelly to Detroit following the 2002 season in favor of Kubiak, but it appears both teams have benefited.

"We could not have been any happier with the way that Andy Kelly led and played for the Desperados in our first year," said Dallas Head Coach JOE AVEZZANO. "At the end of the season, we felt that we were prepared to make a decision (to go with Kubiak as the starter) for the immediate and long-range future of our franchise. I think both teams have good quarterbacks and I'm glad for everybody involved.

Kelly is the League's all-time leader in touchdowns (471), passing yards (24,592), attempts (3,558) and completions (2,188). In three games, Kubiak (15 TDs and one INT) and the Desperados offense (51.0 PPG, No. 7 in the AFL) have picked up where Kelly left off last season – keeping Dallas in the early-season hunt for the Central Division lead. In the meantime, Kelly has the Fury pointed in the right direction and atop of the Eastern Division standings.

Other games for Week 4 include: Orlando Predators at Carolina Cobras on Friday; Las Vegas Gladiators at New York Dragons, Buffalo Destroyers at Georgia Force and Colorado Crush at San Jose SaberCats on Saturday; Los Angeles Avengers at Chicago Rush (NBC), Tampa Bay Storm at Grand Rapids Rampage (NBC) and Arizona Rattlers at Indiana Firebirds (NBC) on Sunday.

ORLANDO PREDATORS (3-0) AT CAROLINA COBRAS (0-3)
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 7:30 P.M. ET

Orlando ventures into Charlotte, N.C. on Friday looking for their fourth consecutive win this season to better their spotless record. JAY GRUDEN continues to shred defenses by completing better than 62-percent of his pass attempts with no interceptions. On track to throw 80 touchdowns this season, Gruden zeroes in on favorite targets TRAVIS MCGRIFF and CORY FLEMING (7 TD receptions each), but can also go to former Wake Forest receiver THABITI DAVIS (3 TD receptions) or veteran fullback RICK HAMILTON. However, the Cobras defense, led by DEREK STINGLEY, gives up 51 points each contest on average. Carolina's persistent offense – guided by quarterback ROBERT HALL – improves with each game as the squad recorded its highest score this season (44) against Detroit last week. The Cobras hope to get back on track against Orlando stingy defense, led by REGGIE DOSTER and KENNY MCENTYRE.

LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (1-2) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (0-3)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 AT 7:00 P.M. ET

The Gladiators will attempt to keep winning momentum rolling when they travel to Nassau Coliseum this Saturday to face the Dragons. New York is fighting for their first win this season and if AARON GARCIA continues to fire off passes as in the first three weeks – he's on pace for more than 120 touchdowns and 5,550 yards – to the Dragons receiving corps of STEVE PAPIN, MIKE FURREY and KERRY BROWN, he'll guarantee enough points for a ‘W' on the board. That places the focus on consistent defensive secondary play from DONVETIS FRANKLIN and KORY BLACKWELL (34.5 tackles combined), as well as pass protection from the New York line, which has allowed 10 sacks in the last two weeks. Led by JAY MCDONAGH, who passed at a 72-percent accuracy rate (0 INTs) last week, the Gladiators top scorer MIKE HORACEK (54 points) faces his old team; with Garcia in Iowa (Barnstormers), Horacek earned Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2000. Combined with high-powered return man SEDRICK ROBINSON (12 returns, 356 yards, 2 TDs), this trio will attempt to go score-for-score with New York.

BUFFALO DESTROYERS (2-1) AT GEORGIA FORCE (2-1)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 7:30 P.M. ET
(TV: EMPIRE SPORTS NETWORK – JIM BRINSON and BOB TRIMBLE)

The Destroyers may have placed JEFF LOOTS on injured reserve this week (separated shoulder), but possess a capable backup in quarterback TIM CAREY. In his seven AFL starts (New England, 2000), Carey completed 126-of-211 pass attempts for 1,716 yards and 32 touchdowns (6 INTs). Surrounded by strong go-to receivers like GUNNARD TWYNER, CORNELIUS WHITE, and SIR MAWN WILSON, Carey will look to get their offensive rhythm going early against Georgia, the AFL's top defensive unit overall (allow 211.0 YPG). An ensemble starring quarterback JAMES BROWN – who stepped in for DONNIE DAVIS – team scoring leaders DARRYL HAMMOND and TYRONNE JONES (30 points each), and a punishing defensive unit led by CLIFF GREEN, the Force handed defending champion San Jose their second loss of the season last week. Georgia will look for another all-around effort this week in their second straight game in their new home, The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

COLORADO CRUSH (0-3) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (1-2)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22 AT 10:30 P.M. ET
(TV: WB20 – BOB FITZGERALD and KEENA TURNER)

Colorado Crush QB JOHN DUTTON returns to the site of his most memorable AFL experience when the Crush travel to San Jose to play the defending ArenaBowl champion SaberCats. Dutton led San Jose to their first title and won ArenaBowl XVI MVP honors after filling in for 2002 Offensive Player of the Year MARK GRIEB. Dutton's favorite target has been the League's leading scorer, OS DAMIAN HARRELL (84 points, 13 TDs and 3 two-point conversions in three games.) On this pace, Harrell would shatter the all-time scoring record with 448 points (currently 310, BARRY WAGNER in 1997.) San Jose DS CLEVAN THOMAS (4 INTs, two returned for TDs) will have the task of slowing Harrell down. Six-time Ironman of the Year BARRY WAGNER, OS JAMES HUNDON and WR/DB JAMES ROE (35 receptions and 14 TDs combined) provide the main offensive weapons for the SaberCats.

DALLAS DESPERADOS (2-1) AT DETROIT FURY (2-1)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

Detroit quarterback ANDY KELLY and offensive coordinator TOM LUGINBILL will host their former team at the Palace in Auburn Hills on NBC this Sunday. Kelly has a trio of receivers at his disposal – SULECIO SANFORD (19 receptions), TY GROVESTEEN (14) and JASON KAISER (13). Dallas Head Coach JOE AVEZZANO looks to third-year QB JIM KUBIAK to lead the Desperados offense. Sophomore receivers DIALLEO BURKS and ANDY MCCULLOUGH (34 receptions and nine TDs combined) have been providing the targets that Kubiak has looked for in the end zone. The AFL's sack leader, Dallas' TOM BRIGGS (four sacks), will have his sights set on disrupting Kelly's timing.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (3-0) AT CHICAGO RUSH (0-3)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23 AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – MIKE BREEN, RAY BENTLEY and MARTY SNIDER)

The Los Angeles Avengers are off to their best starts in team history. The top-ranked scoring offense is guided by QB TONY GRAZIANI and the dynamic duo of OS CHRIS JACKSON and WR/LB GREG HOPKINS (41 receptions, 585 yards and 15 TDs combined). Offensive Specialist ANTONIO CHATMAN (27 receptions and 318 yards) has been the spark for the Rush offense, but it has been the defense (40.3 PPG and 212.7 YPG, both No. 2 in AFL) that has been clicking for Chicago. Defensive Specialist CEDRIC WALKER (13.5 tackles) has been the enforcing presence in the Rush secondary. Los Angeles K REMY HAMILTON was perfect with field goals (3-for-3) and extra points (6-for-6), while making a touchdown-saving tackle in last week's victory over Colorado.

TAMPA BAY STORM (1-2) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (3-0)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 3 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – ELI GOLD and CHARLES DAVIS)

Student and teacher face-off when the Tampa Bay Storm travel to Van Andel Arena to face former ArenaBowl champion Rampage. Tampa Bay Head Coach TIM MARCUM has six titles to his credit – one of them with Grand Rapids Head Coach MICHAEL TRIGG as his quarterback. High-octane receiving combo STEVE SMITH and TERRILL SHAW (37 receptions and 13 TDs combined) has Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL (780 yards, 15 TDs and two INTs) piling up impressive numbers and the Rampage tied for the Central Division lead with the Indiana Firebirds. Tampa Bay suffered a tough overtime loss to the Las Vegas Gladiators, but OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (22 receptions, 306 yards and 7 TDs) and WR/LB LAWRENCE SAMUELS (15, 145, 3) have been providing the offensive power for the Storm.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-2) AT INDIANA FIREBIRDS (3-0)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 3 P.M. ET

Former ArenaBowl champions and all-time legends meet at the Conseco Fieldhouse as MIKE DAILEY and the Firebirds host DANNY WHITE and the Rattlers. Indiana OS EDDIE BROWN and Arizona WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER go head to head in a matchup of future Hall of Famers. Indiana's balanced squad (53.0 PPG on offense, No. 6 in the AFL and 44.7 PPG on defense, No. 5) has them thinking ArenaBowl. Emerging Indiana star BRETT BECH (19 receptions, 234 yards and 3 TDs) has been a pleasant surprise for the Firebirds' coaching staff. Arizona's CHRIS HORN (20 receptions, 198 yards and 3 TDs) will test Week 3's ADT Defensive Player of the Week DONNIE CALDWELL (2 INTs returned for TDs in 2003) and the rest of the Firebirds secondary.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 19, 2003


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