Georgia Force Game Notes

Published on April 29, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Georgia Force (7-6) at Indiana Firebirds (5-8)
Date: May 4, 2003
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET.
Site: Conseco Fieldhouse (16,011).
Television: NBC (Allen Bestwick: play-by-play, John Riggins: color analyst).
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Chuck Oliver: color analyst). WPLO 610 AM RadioMex (Jose Medellin: play-by-play, Marcelo Godoy: color analyst).
Coaches: Marty Lowe- Georgia (12-10, 2nd Year). Mike Dailey- Indiana (62-44, 7h Year).
Series Record: This will be the first meeting between Georgia and Indiana.

THE GAME:

The Georgia Force heads out for its last road game of the season when it travels to Indianapolis to face the Indiana Firebirds on Sunday, May 4th at Conseco Fieldhouse. This will be the first ever meeting between Georgia and Indiana. The Force-Firebirds match-up will be broadcast regionally on NBC at 3:00 p.m. ET. Georgia is 5-1 in games aired on the network this season.

After winning their first three games of the season, Indiana has dropped eight of their last ten games. The Firebirds are led by one of the league's top quarterbacks, Raymond Philyaw. Philyaw has thrown for 1,591 yards and 29 touchdowns while rushing for 102 yards and eight

scores in eight games this season. Despite his 215 pass attempts on the year, he has not thrown an interception all season. Philyaw threw his last pick versus the Dallas Desperados during the first round of the 2002 postseason.

GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force wraps up the 2003 regular season with a two-game home stand starting with the Dallas Desperados on Saturday, May 10th at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:30 p.m. This will be the first meeting between Georgia and Dallas.

FORCE FAMILY FUN PACKS:

Fans can get four tickets and four team spirit hats for only $52. Additional family members can be added, up to eight, at $13 per individual. To reserve your Force Family Fun Pack, call 770-813-7610.

Flex packages and group tickets are on sale and can be purchased with a credit card by calling (770) 813-7610 or visit www.georgiaforce.com. Force individual game tickets are available by calling TicketMaster at (404) 249-6400 or visit www.ticketmaster.com or by purchase at the Gwinnett Civic Center Box Office.

HEAD COACHES:

MARTY LOWE, Georgia (12-10, 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 DAILEY, INDIANA (62-44, 7th Year): Mike Dailey is in his seventh season as head coach of the Indiana Firebirds. Last season Dailey led the Firebirds to a 7-7 record and a berth in the post-season for the fifth time in six seasons. Dailey is the Firebirds' all-time winningest coach in six-plus season as head coach of the Firebirds. Dailey led the Firebirds to a franchise-best 14 wins and first-ever ArenaBowl championship during the 1999 season. He joined the Firebirds prior to the 1992 season, spending five seasons as an assistant coach before being named head coach in 1997. Dailey began his Arena Football coaching career with the Washington Commandos where he served as offensive and defensive line coach. Prior to the AFL, Dailey worked as an Assistant Coach at Towson State University and was the Offensive Coordinator at Montgomery College-Rockville (MD).

BASKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT:

Georgia is 5-1 on the season when the NBC cameras are rolling. Claiming victories against the Colorado Crush (2/2), vs. the defending AFL World Champion San Jose SaberCats (2/16), at Los Angeles (3/2), vs. Grand Rapids (3/9) and at Orlando (3/23). The Force dropped its only NBC televised game at Tampa Bay (4/6). Georgia has one remaining game scheduled to be shown regionally on NBC this season vs. Tampa Bay on May 18th

A DEFENSIVE FORCE:

For the eleventh straight week, the Force sits atop the league charts for total defense only giving up an average of 228.6 yards per game and ranks second in the AFL in scoring defense yielding an average of 42.1 points per game.

Georgia is also high among some of the other league defensive categories. The Force is first in pass defense (216.2), first in pass defense rating (99.8), fourth in interceptions (19), second in red zone defense (42-56), fourth in rush defense (12.5) and fourth in sacks (15). The Force defense has been able to make its mark against some of the AFL's highest rated offenses. (AFL rank at time of game).

OPPONENT AVG PTS/ GM PTS vs. FORCE

San Jose (2/16) 60.5 (3rd) 49

Los Angeles (3/2) 62.5 (2nd) 35

Grand Rapids (3/9) 60.2 (2nd) 54

Orlando (3/23) 53.0 (7th) 36

New York (4/12) 55.4 (5th) 34

Carolina (4/18) 36.6 (15th) 19

Orlando (4/26) 52.3 (8th) 38

MAKING GAINES

Kevin Gaines has been one of the standout leaders on the Force's defense unit. Despite missing three games due to injury, Gaines leads the team in tackles with 40.5; pass break-ups with 10 and interceptions with seven.

Gaines' seven picks places him in a tie for third place among the league's leaders, while he ranks fifth in the AFL in passes defended and 27th in tackles.

He put on a defensive performance at Carolina (4/18) making a team-record three interceptions and racking up 53 yards in return yardage. Against the Cobras, Gaines also added 4.5 tackles. At Los Angeles (3/2), he hauled in a then team-record tying two interceptions and made a game-high 4.5 tackles. Gaines was named the game's MVP for his efforts against the Avengers.

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 559 career tackles, ranks in the top 15 in AFL in career scoring with 862 points and is in the top 10 in AFL in career pass receptions with 657. Hammond has had 8 seasons of 50 or more pass receptions. He has 68 receptions this season.

Against San Jose (2/26/03), Hammond caught six passes for 58 yards, three of which went for touchdowns including a game-winning catch from quarterback James Brown as time expired to give the Force a 51-49 victory over the defending AFL World Champions.

Versus Orlando (3/23/03), Hammond showed his ability to still play the game at a high level. Hammond hauled in two interceptions and returned both for touchdowns of three yards and ten yards respectively. He also forced a fumble from Connell Maynor with 17 seconds remaining in the game, which was recovered by Tommy Dorsey. With 1.7 seconds left, the turnover led to Steve McLaughlin kicking a game winning field goal as time expired. Hammond added one solo tackle, one tackle for loss and two pass breakups and caught five passes for 46 yards against the Predators.

For his efforts, Hammond was named ADT Defensive Player of the Week and the contest's Ironman of the Game.

SPEADING THE WEALTH:

The Force leads all teams in lineman receptions with 15. Georgia OL/DL Oscar Sturgis leads all AFL linemen in receptions this season with six for 76 yards. Bruce McClure and Kendrick Gholston have three receptions each, while Kerwin Hairston has two catches on the season and Tony Henderson has one.

DAN THE MAN:

Dan Curran currently ranks eighth in the AFL in rushing with 110 yards on 31 carries. He is also fifth in the league in rushing touchdowns with eight scores. Curran had led the league in both categories, but with the return of both Travis Reece and Tommy Dorsey to the lineup his touches have been limited. Curran was also placed on Injured Reserve on April 15th due to a left knee MCL sprain.

JUST FOR KICKS: Steve McLaughlin currently ranks second in the league in field goal percentage connecting on 40.7 percent of his attempts. He is also fifth in the AFL in field goals made connecting on 11-27.

This season, McLaughlin has twice set the team-record for the club's longest field goal hitting on a 49-yarder at Los Angeles (3/2) then making good on a 51-yard field goal at Las Vegas (3/29). In a win over Orlando (3/23), he kicked a game winning 30-yard field goal as time expired to give the Force a 38-36 win over the Predators.

McLaughlin ranks fourth in the AFL in PAT kicking percentage - making 87.5 of his PAT attempts (56-64). He started the season making 18-of-18 PAT attempts before missing his first of the season at Los Angeles (3/2).

McLaughlin was named Kicker of the Month for March. It marked the first time in McLaughlin's career that he has won an AFL monthly award. For the month, McLaughlin made 7-of-11 field goals and was 21-of-27 on extra point attempts. He accounted for 42 points in helping the Force to a 4-1 record in March.

GO-TO GUY:

Playing in his third AFL season, Scott Thomas is establishing himself as a mainstay in the Force offense. Over a five game span from Feb. 22nd to March 29th, Thomas has caught 26 passes for 377 yards and seven touchdowns. He was inactive for the Force's March 23rd game at Orlando with a turf toe injury.

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. Last week at Las Vegas, Thomas scored his second 45-yard touchdown on a pass from Davis tying his own team record.

At Carolina (4/18), Thomas made his presence felt on the defensive end, hauling in his first interception of the season and returning it 28 yards for a touchdown.

Thomas is currently eighth in the AFL in yards per catch with a 14.7 average having gained 485 yards on 33 receptions on the season with seven touchdowns. He was placed on Injured Reserve on April 22nd with a left ankle injury.

STEPPING UP AND STANDING OUT:

In victories over Los Angeles and Grand Rapids, Markeith Cooper stepped in for the injured Tyronne Jones and was one of the most productive and dangerous offensive players in the league. Against the Avengers and Rampage, 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.

After seeing limited or no action over the next four games, Cooper returned to show his big play capabilities vs. New York catching five passes for 98 yards, including a 42-yard pass and one 30-yard touchdown reception.

BEASTS OF THE EAST:

Four of Georgia's six losses this season has come from teams hailing from the Eastern Division. With road losses at Detroit and Las Vegas and home losses against Buffalo and New York, the Force finished the regular season 0-4 versus the Eastern Division.

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 ORLANDO:

DULUTH, GA. - The Georgia Force (7-6) split the season series with the Orlando Predators (9-4) falling at home 38-27. The victory was Orlando's first ever over Georgia and clinched a playoff spot for the Predators. Quarterback Jay Gruden, who completed 28-of-43 passing for 300 yards and six touchdowns on the night, led Orlando. The Predators are a perfect 7-0 on the season when Gruden is in the starting line-up and are 3-0 since his return from an early season ankle injury.

Both teams opened the game missing field goals on their first possessions. Orlando kicker Brian Schmitz missed his field goal attempt from 41-yards out. On the rebound off the nets, Tyronne Jones returned the miss 56-yards for what looked like the game's first touchdown, but an illegally blocking penalty on Georgia brought the ball back to the two-yard line. Steve McLaughlin missed his first field goal attempt from 63-yards kicking deep from his own endzone. The Predators broke the contest's scoring draught when Jay Gruden hit Cory Fleming for a four-yard touchdown and an early 7-0 Orlando lead. The first quarter ended with the Force working its way all the way down to the Predators one-yard line on a screen pass from Leon Murray to Travis Reece.

One play into the second period, the Force knotted the game at 7-7 when Murray connected with Jones for a one-yard score. Georgia's defense held strong on the Predators next drives as Schmitz missed a field goal attempt from 52-yards. The Force took its first lead on the game nine plays later as Murray threw his second TD pass of the quarter finding Bret Cooper this time for a eight-yard score and a 14-7 Georgia lead. As time was winding down in the first half, Orlando worked itself deep into Force territory finishing with Gruden connecting with Fleming again this one for a six-yard touchdown. Schmitz missed the ensuing PAT attempt leaving Georgia will a slim one-point advantage 14-13. The half ended with each team missing another field goal attempt apiece, McLaughlin another long try this one from 55-yards out and Schmitz from 34-yards as time expired.

The third quarter saw both teams scoring once as after three periods of play the game was tied at 20-20. Georgia scored first in the second half when Darryl Hammond hauled in a one handed pass from Murray for a 12-yard touchdown. McLaughlin missed the following PAT attempt to leave the score 20-13 Force. Orlando tied the game when Thabiti Davis caught a three-yard scoring pass from Gruden. Georgia was held deep on its own side and on fourth down, McLaughlin pouched a field goal attempt giving the Predators no opportunity for a return. Orlando turned the ball over on downs on their next possession as Jarrick Hillery batted down an intended touchdown pass to Fleming.

Orlando grabbed the game's first turnover of the ball as Glen Davis intercepted Murray in the endzone. The Predators capitalized on the Force mistake turning the chance into points. Fleming caught a deep ball from Gruden to bring the Predators down to the Georgia five-yard line and on the next play pulled in touchdown pass. Schmitz missed his second PAT attempt on the night giving Orlando a six-point lead at 26-20. The Force regained the lead back with 7:24 remaining in the game when Hammond caught his second touchdown of the game on a 43-yard pass from Murray. McLaughlin split the up-rights on the ensuing PAT to put Georgia up 27-26. With 1:35 seconds left in the game, Gruden threw his fifth touchdown completing a four-yard score to Travis McGriff to put the Predators back up 32-27. Orlando was unsuccessful in their two-point conversion attempt leaving the door open for the Force. The opening was slammed shut when the Predators surprised the Force with an on-side kick that Orlando successfully recovered. The Predators put the finishing touches on the game as Gruden and McGriff teamed up again for a 33-yard touchdown and a 38-27 lead.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 29, 2003


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