Friday Night Recaps

April 20, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

BUFFALO - Fred McNair completed 16 of 21 passes for 191 yards and five TDs as the Buffalo Destroyers defeated the New Jersey Gladiators, 53-51, before a crowd of 7,093 at HSBC Arena. McNair tossed two first quarter TDs to 2001 Don't Blink! Player of the Year Lamont Cooper, who rushed for another score and racked up 76 yards on two kickoff returns.

Gladiators QB Jay McDonagh threw for six TDs and ran for another, connecting on 30 of 47 passes for 299 yards -- including three scoring passes to OS Mike Horacek.

Destroyers WR/DB Eddie Brown picked off a McDonagh pass midway through the fourth and returned it 23 yards. Two plays later, McNair rushed for a two-yard score and Buffalo led, 53-45.

New Jersey, who finished with a 2-12 record last season, answered with 42-yard scoring drive that culminated with TD strike from McDonagh to WR/DB Alvin Ashley, but were not able to connect on the game-tying two-point conversion attempt.

McNair's performance moved him to seventh place on the AFL's all-time career passing yards list (16,782 yards).

Chicago 47, INDIANA 42

INDIANAPOLIS (TICKER) -- Joe Douglass caught two TDs and returned a kickoff for another to lead the Chicago Rush past the Indiana Firebirds, 47-42.

Douglass pulled in 12 balls for 102 yards and TD receptions in the second and fourth quarters for Chicago, which finished its inaugural season at 7-7 last year. Douglass also started the second half with a 55-yard kickoff return for a score to give the Rush a 28-23 lead.

Billy Dicken went 28-for-33 with 314 yards and six TDs and Dameon Porter, who led the league with 12 interceptions last year, had one of three picks of Indiana quarterback Raymond Philyaw.

Philyaw, the league-leader last year with a 131.8 QB rating, threw for 222 yards and four scores, three of which went to Gary Compton. Compton caught seven passes for 114 yards for the Firebirds, who were 9-5 a year ago.

Last year's scoring champion Eddie Brown added to his two All-Time records of Receptions (794) and Receiving TDs (266) with four catches, including one for a score. Brown also rushed for a TD early in the first quarter.

LOS ANGELES 43, New York 25

LOS ANGELES (TICKER) -- Tony Graziani scored five TDs to power the Los Angeles Avengers past the New York Dragons, 43-25, before a crowd of 13,142 at the STAPLES Center. Graziani, who rushed for a three-yard TD, went 26-for-39 for 273 yards and four TDs. He threw all four scores to Chris Jackson, who pulled in 12 receptions for 145 yards and rushed for a two-yard score.

The defense for Los Angeles, which ranked near the top of the league last year in several categories, allowed New York to gain only 176 yards of total offense, forced an interception and collected four sacks.

Danny Ragsdale and Matt Nagy each threw a TD pass to Steve Papin, who caught five passes for 58 yards for the Dragons, who were called for 12 penalties in this game. Clay Rush converted four of his six field-goal attempts for New York, which was held far below last year's average of 64.1 points per game.

REMAINING WEEK ONE MATCHUPS (All times ET)

DALLAS DESPERADOS AT CAROLINA COBRAS
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT 7:00 P.M.
BROADCAST INFO
Dallas: KTCK (1310 AM); UPN-21
Carolian: WRBZ (850 AM)
The Cobras look to have a return trip to the playoffs on the arm of first-year starter QB AARON SPARROW (16-of-24, 198 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT in preseason). Desperados will rely on the leadership and savvy arm of ANDY KELLY (19-of-28, 160 yards, 4 TDs in preseason). WR/LB CORY FLEMING (1997 AFL Rookie of the Year) will provide a lift to the Cobras receiving corps. Rookie WR/DB JAMAAL GARMAN (12 rec., 150 yards, 2 TDs) and AARON BAILEY (11 rec., 128 yards, 3 TDs) have opened some eyes in preseason. OS SHANNON CULVER (10 rec., 121 yards, TD) led the Desperados receivers in preseason.

DETROIT FURY AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT 7:30 P.M.
BROADCAST INFO
Detroit: WDFN (1130 AM)
Grand Rapids: WBBL (1340 AM); WXSP-TV 18
Another Week 1 match-up of 2001 playoff teams. Grand Rapids and Head Coach MICHAEL TRIGG picked up their first-ever ArenaBowl title in 2001. It marked the fourth time that a coach won Coach of the Year and an ArenaBowl title in the same season (TIM MARCUM in 1987; FRAN CURCI in 1991; MIKE DAILEY in 1999). QB CLINT DOLEZEL (20-of-31, 210 yards, 4 TDs) had an efficient preseason, while OS RICKY ROSS (10 receptions, 102 yards, 3 TDs) was his main target. New Detroit QB RICKEY FOGGIE (280-of-507, 3,619 yards, 69 TDs, 15 INTs with Florida in 2001) could be the piece that coach MOUSE DAVIS needs to lift his offense.OS ROBERT GORDON (7 rec., 149 yards, 3 TDs in preseason) picked up where he left off in 2001 (125 rec., 1,625 yards, 42 TDs).

TORONTO PHANTOMS AT TAMPA BAY STORM
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT 7:30 P.M.
BROADCAST INFO
Toronto: MOJO (640 AM)
Tampa Bay: WDAE (620 AM); Sunshine Network
Another match-up of two playoff teams from 2001. Storm defense (43.8 PPG) was ranked second in the AFL in 2001. New QB SCOTT MILANOVICH had an solid AFL debut (10-of-16, 101 yards, 2 TDs) in the Storm preseason. Toronto OS DAMIAN HARRELL (98 rec., 1,340 yards, 20 TDs) picked up where he left off by putting up impressive preseason numbers (11 rec., 125 yards, 5 TDs). New Phantom DS TOMMY HENRY plays his first game in a new uniform against the team he led in tackles (81.5 tackles) in 2001. Toronto held opponents only a 57.1% success rate in the Red Zone, while scoring an impressive 88.9% of the time when they were inside the 10.

ORLANDO PREDATORS AT GEORGIA FORCE
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT 7:30 P.M.
BROADCAST INFO
Orlando: Clear Channel Comm. (740 AM)
Georgia: WQXI (790 AM); Turner South
Hall of Fame QB JAY GRUDEN returns after 5-year absence. Gruden's last regular season game was a 42-38 victory over the Kurt Warner-led Iowa Barnstormers in ArenaBowl X in 1996. QB KEVIN MCDOUGAL (10-of-14, 182 yards, 4 TDs) takes over for ERIC ZEIER, who left the team to pursue NFL opportunities. Receiver MARK COOPER (15 rec., 223 yards, 3 TDs) is a pleasant preseason surprise for coach ROBERT LYLES. OS SIAHA BURLEY (88 rec., 1,135 yards, 26 TDs in 2001) hopes to remain the favorite target this season, but will have some help from RODNEY BROWN and CLIF DELL.

ARIZONA RATTLERS AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS
SATURDAY, APRIL 20 AT 10:30 P.M.
BROADCAST INFO
Arizona: ESPN Radio (860 AM)
San Jose: KTCT (1050 AM)
San Jose QB JOHN DUTTON made the starting job a close battle after an outstanding preseason (22-of-28, 344 yards, 7 TDs). OS JAMES HUNDON made the most of his catches in preseason (6 rec., 157 yards, 3 TDs) and will look to be the main offensive target in 2002. The SaberCats were an impressive 72.8% effective on third downs in the preseason, but they allowed 382 KO return yards on special teams. The Rattlers had a perfect preseason (2-0) and allowed only 36 points in each contest (allowed 46.0 PPG in 2001). Rattlers' QB SHERDRICK BONNER has the hot hand (19-of-31, 229 yards, 2 TDs in preseason) and WR/DB ORSHAWONTE BRYANT (11 rec., 119 yards, 5 TDs) will be a rookie to watch.

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 20, 2002

• Grand Rapids defeats Detroit 49-45 - Detroit Fury
• Rampage Drop Intra-State Rival Detroit - Grand Rapids Rampage
• Friday Night Recaps - AFL I
• Destroyers outshoot Gladiators 53-51 - Buffalo Destroyers

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