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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

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May 11, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


Arizona 51, GEORGIA 40

ATLANTA, Ga. (Ticker) -- SHERDICK BONNER helped defeat the highest scoring team in the league by throwing four TD passes in the Arizona Rattlers' 51-40 victory over the Georgia Force.

Bonner, who had thrown for 300-plus yards in his last two contests, completed 18-of-28 passes for 249 yards and one interception for Arizona (3-1). The 33-year-old veteran connected with CHRIS HORN 12 times for 164 yards and three TDs. Horn, who earned MVP honors, also had two kickoff and missed field goal returns for a combined 86 yards.

BO KELLY ran in a one-yard TD and BOBBY MCGOWENS rushed two scores in, including a two-yard run with 40 seconds remaining to supply a 51-34 lead to the Rattlers, who have won three straight contests.

KEVIN MCDOUGAL finished 23-for-35 with five TDs and JARRICK HILLERY caught seven passes for 101 yards and one TD for Georgia (1-3).

RON CARPENTER returned nine kickoffs for 183 yards for the Force, who outscored Arizona, 20-14, in the fourth quarter, their only double-digit stanza of the game. _________________________

TAMPA BAY 66, Chicago 53

TAMPA, Fla. (Ticker) -- LAWRENCE SAMUELS set a career-high with three TD receptions and SHANE STAFFORD threw six TD passes as the Tampa Bay Storm avoided its first 0-4 start in team history with a 66-53 victory over the Chicago Rush.

Samuels, who was named co-MVP with Stafford, caught nine passes for 84 yards and forced two fumbles, recovering one, and recorded 2.5 tackles on the defensive end for Tampa Bay (1-3).

Trailing 21-14 after the first quarter, Stafford connected with Samuels twice, ran in an eight-yard score and found MELVIN CUNNINGHAM in the end zone with eight seconds remaining in the half to build a 42-33 lead. Stafford finished 26-for-35 with 243 yards for the Storm, who scored on 10 of their 11 possessions, and improved to 40-0 when scoring 60-plus points in a contest.

BILLY DICKEN, who tied a career-high with six touchdowns in last week's victory over Grand Rapids, established a new personal-best with seven TD throws, including a 45-yard bomb to ANTONIO CHATMAN in the first quarter, for Chicago (2-2). Overall, he completed 20-of-25 attempts for 311 yards, yet threw an interception. ANTHONY LADD set career-highs with six passes, four TDs and four tackles for the Rush, who were shut out in the third quarter.

This was the first meeting between the teams.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"We're going to be a little desperate (tonight) because 2-2 is a far cry from 1-3."

-- Grand Rapids head coach MICHAEL TRIGG on tonight's game against the Orlando Predators (1-2). The defending ArenaBowl champion Rampage has lost two contests this season at the hands of Central Division opponents, Chicago and Indiana. Grand Rapids finished the 2001 regular season with an 11-3 record.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 11, 2002


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