Georgia Force Game Notes

Published on March 11, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Carolina Cobras (0-6) at Georgia Force (4-2)
Date: March 15, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 ET
Site: The Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,200)
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Ryan Stewart: color analyst). WPLO 610 AM RadioMex (Jose Medellin: play-by-play, Marcelo Godoy: color analyst).
Coaches: Marty Lowe- Georgia (9-6, 2nd Year) Mike Hold- Carolina (0-6, 1st Year)
Series Record: Series is tied 1-1 @ Georgia 54, Carolina 55 Georgia 53, @ Carolina 42

THE GAME:

The Georgia Force plays its first Southern Division game of the season when the Carolina Cobras visit the Arena at Gwinnett Center on March 15th at 7:30 p.m. The Force will be looking to win back-to-back home games for the first time in club history after it defeated Grand Rapids 70-54 last week.

This will be the first battle of I-85 following Carolina's relocation from Raleigh to Charlotte in the off-season. Georgia will pit its top rated defense against a Carolina offense hoping to find its groove. The Cobras have used five different quarterbacks in their six games this season. Kicker Matt George has been a bright spot for Carolina, as he remains a perfect 17-17 on PAT attempts this season.

The Cobras are currently riding a six game losing streak. With a new head coach and a new look roster, Carolina is trying to regain the form that left them one play away from the AFL Playoff Semi-Finals last season.

GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

Next week, the Force travels out to start its longest road swing in club history. The first stop on the three-game road trip will be to play the Southern Division leading Orlando Predators on March 23rd at the TD Waterhouse Centre at 12:00 p.m. The Predators are the AFL's lone remaining undefeated team at 6-0. The Georgia-Orlando contest will be aired regionally on NBC.

CONNECTIONS:

Force defensive specialist Kevin Gaines led the Cobras in tackles and interceptions in 2002...Georgia lineman Marcus Keyes played in 13 games for Carolina in 2002...Force lineman Juan Porter appeared in seven games for the Cobras last season...Georgia lineman Tony Henderson played in 10 games for Carolina in 2002...Force Assistant Line/ Special Teams Coach Brennen Booth served as the Cobras Line Coach last season...Georgia's Chief Operating Officer Brett Bender served as Carolina's General Manger from 2000-2002, where he was named 2001 AFL Executive of the Year...Cobras lineman Ben Crosland played in 14 games for the Force in 2002...Carolina Senior Advisor Billy McGehee served in the same capacity for Georgia last season.

HEAD COACHES:

MARTY LOWE, Georgia (9-6, 2nd Year): Marty Lowe begins his second season as Head Coach of the Georgia Force. Lowe guided the Force to a second place finish in the Southern Division and a 6-8 record in the team's inaugural season in 2002. He replaced Robert Lyles, who was relieved of his duties following the Force's 1-4 last year. Under his direction, the Force finished the year winning five of their last eight games.

Prior to joining the Force, Lowe served as running back coach for the University of Texas-El Paso. Lowe's coaching career in the Arena Football League started when he joined the Nashville Kats as an offensive assistant in March 2000 after spending three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Louisville. With the Kats, Lowe had Nashville's offense clicking on all cylinders in the 2000 playoffs, scoring more than 50 points in each of the team's first three post-season contests to quality for Arena Bowl XIV. Lowe went on to serve as the Kats offensive coordinator and assistant coach, where his duties included creating and implementing the offensive game plan and coaching the team's wide receivers and quarterbacks.

Lowe, who played quarterback at the University of Louisville from 1991-95, spent two seasons in the Arena Football League. He played quarterback for the St. Louis Stampede in 1996 and joined the Texas Terrors. He was a starter at Texas until a knee injury ended his playing career.

In college, he started 22 consecutive games for the Cardinals, passing for 2,268 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior in 1995. He is one of only four passers in Louisville history to throw for more than 2,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. Lowe joined the Louisville coaching staff in 1997, breaking down practice and game tape. A native of Chattanooga, Lowe was Mr. Football in Tennessee as a senior at Red Bank High School in 1990.

MIKE HOLD, Carolina (0-6, 1st Year): After two seasons as head coach of the af2 Augusta Stallions, Hold is making his AFL coaching debut with the Cobras in 2003. He led the Stallions to a combined 22-10 record in his two years. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Hold spent 12 seasons as an AFL quarterback. He saw action for eight teams during his tenure and was the last remaining active player from the league's first season when he retired in 2000. Hold had training camp stints with the Denver Broncos (1986) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987, 88). He appeared in three games for Tampa Bay during the NFL strike in 1987. A 1985 graduate of the University of South Carolina, Hold led the Gamecocks to the school's only 10-win season in 1984 and earned MVP honors of the Gator Bowl. Despite playing only two seasons, he ranks seventh on the school's all-time passing yards list with 2,981 yards.

AN OFFENSIVE FORCE:

Over the last two games, Georgia has scored on 18 of its 20 possessions. Against Los Angeles (3/2), the Force capped off six drives with touchdowns and two with field goals, only being stopped once by a Donnie Davis fumble that was recovered by the Avengers.

Last week vs. Grand Rapids, Georgia scored touchdowns on 10 of its 11 possessions. The only drive that did not culminate with the Force in the endzone was a drive halted by a Scott Thomas fumble.

A DEFENSIVE FORCE:

For the fourth straight week, the Force sits atop the league charts for total defense. Only giving up an average of 228.5 yards per game.

The Force defense has been able to make its mark against three of the AFL's highest rated offenses. (AFL rank at time of game).

AVG PTS/ GM PTS vs. FORCE

San Jose 60.5 (3rd) 49

Los Angeles 62.5 (2nd) 35

Grand Rapids 60.2 (2nd) 54

STEPPING UP AND STANDING OUT:

Over the last two games Markeith Cooper has stepped in for the injured Tyronne Jones and been one of the most productive and dangerous offensive players in the league. In games at Los Angeles (3/2) and vs. Grand Rapids (3/9), Cooper has hauled in 17 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns. He has also added nine kickoff returns for 176 yards, including a 57-yard score that tied the team record for longest kickoff return.

GO TO GUY:

Playing in his third AFL season, Scott Thomas is establishing himself as a mainstay in the Force offense. Over the last three games, Thomas has caught 16 passes for 274 yards and five touchdowns.

He has also shown his ability to make the big play. Versus Buffalo (2/22), Thomas pulled in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Donnie Davis that tied the club record for longest pass reception in a game. Two weeks later vs. Grand Rapids (3/9), he took a Davis screen pass 43 yards for a score.

Thomas currently ranks second in the AFL in yards per catch with a 16.6 average.

RETURNING TO OLD FORM:

Donnie Davis has regained the form that propelled him to the AFL's second highest rated passer and fourth ranked QB in completion percentage in 2001.

Over the last two games Davis has thrown for 558 yards on 45-of-61 passing with nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.

In his first three games this season appearing as the starting quarterback, Davis had thrown seven interceptions to just nine touchdowns. Davis missed the Force's game verses San Jose due to a dislocated finger on his left hand.

Last season, Davis only threw eight INTs all year in 10 games (nine as a starter) while racking up 45 TDs.

BETTER WITH AGE:

Wide Receiver/ Linebacker Darryl Hammond seems to defy time as he plays in his 13th season in the AFL breaking the league record for career years of service. (Previous mark 12 years- Sylvester Bembery 1988-2000 and George LaFrance 1988-2000).

He currently ranks second in the AFL with 536.5 career tackles, ranks in the top 15 in AFL in career scoring with 808 points and is in the top 10 in AFL in career pass receptions with 620. Hammond has had 7 seasons of 50 or more pass receptions. He has 31 receptions this season.

DAN THE MAN:

Dan Curran currently ranks third in the AFL in rushing with 84 yards on 20 carries. He also is first in the league in rushing touchdowns with six scores. Last week, Curran set a new team record with three rushing touchdowns breaking his previous mark of two last season at Tampa Bay (7/20/02), which had been done four times.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS:

The Force established several new team records versus Grand Rapids last week:

- Georgia scored a team record for points in a game with the 70-54 victory over the Rampage. The previous team high for points was a 67-49 victory over the Orlando Predators on April 20, 2002.

- Dan Curran scored a club-record three rushing touchdowns. The previous mark was two done four times. (Last by Curran at Tampa Bay 7/20/02).

- Markeith Cooper opened the second half with a 57-yard kickoff return for a touchdown tying the club record for longest kickoff return in a game. Last done by Ron Carpenter vs. Orlando 4/20/02).

BASKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Georgia is a perfect 4-0 on the season when the NBC cameras are rolling. Claiming victories against the Colorado Crush (2/2), versus the defending AFL World Champion San Jose SaberCats (2/16), at Los Angeles (3/2) and versus Grand Rapids (3/9). The Force has four remaining games scheduled to be shown regionally on NBC this season.

HOW THE WEST WAS WON:

The Force finished the season a perfect 3-0 versus teams from the Western Division. With wins against Colorado, San Jose and Los Angeles, Georgia reversed its fortunes after going 0-3 against the West last season. The Force is not scheduled to play Arizona in the 2003 regular season.

LAST WEEK VS. GRAND RAPIDS:

DULUTH, GA. - The Georgia Force (4-2) scored a team record for points in a game with a 70-54 win over the Grand Rapids Rampage (4-2). Donnie Davis went 19-of-24 passing for 286 yards with four touchdowns and Dan Curran rushed for 26 yards on six carries and scored a club-record three rushing touchdowns to lead Georgia to its first back-to-back wins of the season. The previous team high for points was a 67-49 victory over the Orlando Predators on April 20, 2002. The Force improved its perfect record of 4-0 on games broadcast on NBC.

Both teams played to a 14-14 tie after the first quarter. The Force scored both its touchdowns on rushes, first by Tommy Dorsey from one-yard out and the second by Curran on a four-yard run. The Rampages found both its TDs through the air, as Clint Dolezel teamed with Terrill Shaw for touchdowns of 16 and 19 yards. Force kicker Steve McLaughlin missed his first PAT attempt of the game, but Georgia was able to tie the score at fourteen apiece after Davis hit Markeith Cooper for a two-point conversion.

Grand Rapids started the second quarter scoring when Dolezel found Shaw for his third score of the game on a 36-yard pass. Rampage kicker Brian Gowins missed the ensuing PAT to leave the score 20-14 Grand Rapids. On its next possession, the Force took is first lead of the game when Davis threw his first touchdown pass of the contest to Cooper to put Georgia up 21-20. Both teams would add a touchdown before the half, as the Force led after two quarters of play 28-27.

The second half began with a bang as Cooper returned the opening kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown. This was Cooper's third career kickoff return touchdown and the first for the Force this season. The 57-yard return also tied a team-high for longest kickoff return. The mark was previous set by Ron Carpenter vs. Orlando on April 20, 2002.

Georgia would build a 42-27 lead after Davis connected on a short screen pass with Scott Thomas that he took the distance and ran in for a 43-yard touchdown. But Grand Rapids worked its way back into the game, as Shaw recorded his team-high tying fourth and fifth touchdowns of the game. Shaw's second TD came after a Thomas fumble inside the Georgia red-zone gave Grand Rapids great field position. It only took Dolezel one play to find Shaw and bring the Rampage within two points 42-40 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Georgia defense as they intercepted Grand Rapids on two of its four possessions in the stanza. Following Curran rushing in for his third score of the game, the Rampage's Steve Smith matched Cooper's return feat and ran one back 57 yards to set the score 49-46 Georgia. Davis then lead his troop on two scoring drives, the first capped by a 28-yard touchdown to a wide-open Cooper. The second TD, a 23-yard scoring pass to Thomas in double-coverage, that was set up by a Jarrick Hillery interception of Dolezel in the endzone on Grand Rapids' previous drive. After the Force had amassed a 63-46 advantage, lineman Jermaine Smith picked off Dolezel inside the Rampage five yard-line and returned it to the one yard-line. One play later, Hillery hit Darryl Hammond for the touchdown and club-record 70 points. Dolezel added another scoring pass to Smith from seven-yard out as the Force rolled to victory.

Cooper was named to Game's MVP and Curran was named the contest's Iroman.

LAST MEETING with CAROLINA:

Raleigh, N.C. (June 14, 2002) - The Georgia Force (4-5) captured their third straight victory on Friday night defeating the Carolina Cobras (4-5) 53-42 at the Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena. The win also places Georgia in a tie with Carolina atop the AFL's Southern Division. The Force finishes the season 1-1 against the Cobras after an earlier 55-54 Carolina victory at Philips Arena in Atlanta on April 26. Georgia's Darryl Hammond, who is playing in his 12th AFL season, collected both Game MVP and Game Ironman honors. Hammond finished the game with four receptions for 18 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He also added one interception returned for a score and a kick-off recovery for a touchdown.

The first quarter ended with Georgia hanging onto a 13-7 lead. Force quarterback Donnie Davis connected with Hammond in the corner of the endzone to give Georgia the early lead. Kicker Scott Szeredy missed the ensuing PAT. Carolina answered on a nine-yard pass from John Fitzgerald to Cory Fleming and after a successful kicker after points, the Cobras had the advantage 7-6. Georgia regained the lead on a Scott Thomas 3-yard run.

The second quarter was all about defense in the beginning as Kevin Gaines intercepted a field-long Davis pass giving the Cobras the ball. Carolina drove down the field as was situated with first-and-goal, but the Georgia defense stood strong and held on all four downs earning the Cobras turnover on downs. Davis made up for his earlier mistake in the period driving Georgia 48-yards on nine-plays and finding Hammond for an 11-yard touchdown and giving the Force a 20-7 lead. Two-plays later into Carolina's next series, Hammond scored his third touchdown of the game picking off Fitzgerald on a one-handed interception and returning it 11-yards for the score. On the ensuing kickoff the ball rebounded off the net and was recovered by Hammond who ran it in from five-yards out giving him his fourth TD of the game. The seven points yielded by the Georgia defense in the first half tied a club-low (7 vs. Orlando, June 20 and 7 at Detroit, June 1).

Carolina opened the second half scoring as new Cobras quarterback Aaron Sparrow completed a 26-yard touchdown pass to Fleming. Georgia countered with a 31-yard field goal by Szeredy to make the Force lead 37-14. Thomas intercepted a Sparrow pass in the endzone giving Georgia the ball back and their third INT of the game. The quarter ended with the Force holding a 23-point margin.

The Cobras began the fourth quarter cutting away at Georgia's lead scoring 14 straight points. After a Sparrow touchdown pass to Fleming, Clarence Lawson intercepted Davis on Georgia's next drive at the Carolina five-yardline giving them first-and-goal, which they turned into a Sparrow to Aaron Bailey score. Davis stopped the bleeding for the Force finding a wide-open Thomas for a 38-yard touchdown completion. Sparrow fumbled the exchange from center on the next Carolina possession as Travis Reece recovered the ball in the endzone for a touchdown and a 50-28 Georgia advantage. The Cobras added a touchdown to make the score 50-34. Szeredy connected on his second field goal of the night from 25-yards out and Fleming caught his fourth TD of the game, as the Force claimed the victory.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 11, 2003


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