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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Friday Night Recaps

July 13, 2002 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


ARIZONA 59, San Jose 52 (17,034)

PHOENIX (AP) — After 12 straight victories, the San Jose SaberCats finally have been beaten. The Arizona Rattlers rallied for a 59-52 victory Friday night, holding San Jose to 11 points in the second half.

The SaberCats led 41-31 at halftime after WR/DB JAMES ROE caught touchdown passes of 7, 23 and 35 yards. San Jose OS JAMES HUNDON also had a pair of first-half touchdown catches, from 30 and 45 yards.

But Arizona (10-3) turned the game around with three straight touchdowns by WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD. The Rattlers' defense was helped when San Jose QB MARK GRIEB left at the end of the third period with a right shoulder injury. Backup QB JOHN DUTTON tried to rally the SaberCats (12-1) with a 6-yard touchdown pass to WR/DB BARRY WAGNER, but Arizona closed the door with an 11-yard score by WR/DB CHRIS HORN.

With the win, Arizona clinched a first-round playoff bye.

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Carolina 52, BUFFALO 31 (6,685)

BUFFALO, N.Y. (Ticker) -- AARON BAILEY caught a pair of touchdown passes to help the Carolina Cobras down the Buffalo Destroyers, 52-31, and roll to their second straight win.

Bailey scored on a 9-yard pass from JOHN FITZGERALD to close the first half with a 21-10 Carolina (6-7) lead. Overall, he finished with 11 catches for a game-high 112 yards to earn game MVP honors. Fitzgerald completed 23-of-39 passes for 219 yards and threw for five touchdowns with no interceptions in the win.

Carolina FB/LB ANDRE BOWDEN, who nabbed the Ironman of the Game honors, rushed in a 3-yard score in the first half and capped the scoring with a 1-yard kickoff return touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Carolina improved to 5-2 on the road this season.

FRED MCNAIR, who completed 18-of-34 passes, threw for 212 yards and four touchdowns with one interception for Buffalo (6-7). THOMAS BAILEY scored twice and BRET COOPER recorded seven receptions for 77 yards for the Destroyers.

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TONIGHT'S GAMES

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TAMPA BAY STORM (4-8) AT DETROIT FURY (1-11), 7:30 P.M. ET, The Palace of Auburn Hills -- A battle of coaching minds as the AFL's all-time winningest coach TIM MARCUM guides Tampa Bay into Detroit to face MOUSE DAVIS and the Fury. (TV: Sunshine Network, Fox Sports Detroit)

TORONTO PHANTOMS (5-7) AT NEW JERSEY GLADIATORS (8-4), 7:30 P.M. ET, Continental Airlines Arena -- Led by June's Offensive Player of the Month, New Jersey OS MIKE HORACEK, the Gladiators look the clinch the Eastern Division crown as the Phantoms look to improve their playoff chances. (TV: Yes Network)

GEORGIA FORCE (5-7) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (6-6), 7:30 P.M. ET, TD Waterhouse Centre – Orlando QB JAY GRUDEN leads the Predators on their quest to win the Southern Division crown when they take on the Georgia QB DONNIE DAVIS and the Force. (TV: Turner South, Time Warner Orlando).

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (6-6) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (2-10), 7:30 P.M. ET, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum – Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL and the defending ArenaBowl champion Rampage look to clinch a playoff berth against New York OS STEVE PAPIN and the Dragons. (TV: Fox Sports New York)

DALLAS DESPERADOS (7-5) AT CHICAGO RUSH (8-4), 8:00 P.M. ET, Allstate Arena -- Two teams battling for a first round bye square off Chicago QB BILLY DICKEN and the Rush show off their Central Division crown to the AFL's all-time leading passer, Dallas QB ANDY KELLY and the expansion Desperados. (TV: Fox Sports Chicago)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 13, 2002


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