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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Fox focus: week nine

March 24, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


To clinch or tie the AFL's best record this Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on FSN Rocky Mountain, FSN Southwest and INHD, the Eastern Division-leading Dallas Desperados (6-2) and their top-ranked defense must put a stop to the tandem of QB JOHN DUTTON (6-4, 225, Nevada) and Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS DAMIAN HARRELL (6-3, 200, Florida State) and the Colorado Crush (5-2).

In the only meeting between these two teams on March 7, 2003, Dallas was a 73-55 victor. The Desperados defense tallied a pair of Dutton interceptions, but Harrell managed to haul in four touchdowns in the loss. He is currently tied for fourth in AFL scoring (114 points) and owns an active streak of 40 straight games with at least one touchdown reception. With one more this Friday, he will tie the all-time AFL record (EDDIE BROWN, 41). Dutton, ranked No. 2 among third-down passing leaders, has completed 154-of-248 passes for 1,739 yards, 37 TDs and four interceptions this season.

Overall, Dallas is No. 1 in the AFL for total defense, holding opponents to an average of 232.1 yards per game, and second in scoring defense, giving up 44.1 point per game. DS JERMAINE JONES (5-9, 187, Northwestern State-LA), who earned ADT Defensive Player of the Week honors for his Week 8 performance in the team's win at Los Angeles, leads the Desperados stingy defense with 38.5 tackles, three INTs and 10 pass breakups. Combined with consistent coverage by U.S. Army Ironman of the Year candidate WR/DB WILL PETTIS (6-0, 200, Midwestern State), who has three picks and six pass breakups of his own, Dallas' secondary will make Harrell work for the ball.

NEW YORK COACH WEYLAN HARDING vs. FORMER TEAM COLUMBUS

Rookie head coach WEYLAN HARDING will return to face the team he once played and served as defensive coordinator for three seasons when the New York Dragons (5-2) head to Nationwide Arena to play the Columbus Destroyers (1-6) this Saturday at 7 p.m. on FSN New York, FSN Ohio and NASN (Europe). While under Harding's direction in 2003, the Destroyers defense led the AFL in total defense (219.1 YPG). This season, his Dragons are tied for the AFL lead in turnover margin (+9) with Colorado.

GRAND RAPIDS QB MICHAEL BISHOP vs. PHILADELPHIA QB TONY GRAZIANI

Two of the AFL's leading quarterbacks square-off when the Grand Rapids Rampage (1-6) take on the Philadelphia Soul (3-5) at Wachovia Center on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FSN Detroit and Comcast-Philadelphia. Grand Rapids QB MICHAEL BISHOP (6-2, 220, Kansas State) leads the AFL in rushing (250 yards) while tossing 32 touchdowns and only three interceptions. On the other side, Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 210, Oregon) is 3-0 against Grand Rapids, completing 69 percent of his passes for 776 yards, 19 touchdowns and no interceptions during his career against the Rampage.

TAMPA BAY QB SHANE STAFFORD vs. LOS ANGELES QB JOHN KALEO

Los Angeles QB JOHN KALEO (6-0, 210, Maryland) will face his former team, the Tampa Bay Storm, and hot-handed QB SHANE STAFFORD (6-3, 210, Connecticut) at STAPLES Center this Saturday at 10:30 p.m. ET on FSN West, Sun Sports, The Score (Canada) and NASN (Europe). Kaleo, who is 65-48 as a starter, has the Avengers (4-3) thinking postseason by completing 59.9 percent of his passes for 1,753 yards, 34 touchdowns and five interceptions. Stafford had been impressive guiding the Storm (4-3) offense by completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,033 yards, 43 touchdowns and three interceptions.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 24, 2005


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