Georgia Force Game Notes
May 6, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Georgia Force (8-6) vs. Dallas Desperados (8-6)
Date: May 10, 2003
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET.
Site: The Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,200).
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 (13-10, 2nd Year). Joe Avezzano- Dallas (16-14, 2nd Year).
Series Record: This will be the first meeting between Georgia and Dallas.
THE GAME:
The Georgia Force returns home to begin a two-game home stand that will conclude the 2003 regular season. The Force hosts 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.
Georgia will be playing for playoff seeding, as the Force wrapped up its first post-season bid this past week after defeating the Indiana Firebirds 77-56. The 77-point output established a new team record for points in a game besting its earlier 70-54 point victory over Grand Rapids on March 9th. Georgia scored touchdowns on 11 of its 13 possessions against the Firebirds.
Rookie quarterback Leon Murray, making his fourth career start against Indiana, had a breakout game setting new club records for passing yards in a game with 307 and completions with 31. Murray finished the day throwing for six touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 15 yards rushing on four carries and one rushing score.
Dallas is currently the ninth seed in the up-coming Drive to ArenaBowl XVII playoffs. Quarterback Jim Kubiak, leads the league in total offense (4,163 yards), passing yards (4,159 yards) and pass completion percentage (69.1).
The Force-Desperados match-up will be a battle of one of the league's premiere defenses vs. one of its offenses. Georgia holds the AFL's top rankings in total defense, scoring defense, pass defense and pass defense rating while Dallas is tops in the league in total offense, pass offense, pass offense rating and fifth in scoring offense.
GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:
The Force will close out the 2003 regular season at home when the Tampa Bay Storm visit the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Sunday, May 18th. Earlier this season, Georgia fell at Tampa Bay 58-39 to drop its all-time record against the Storm to 0-3. Tampa Bay currently sits atop the AFL standings with the number one seed holding a league leading 11-3 record. The Force-Storm match-up will be aired on NBC at 3:00 p.m. ET.
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 (13-10, 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.
JOE AVEZZANO, Dallas (16-14, 2nd Year): Avezzano began his professional head-coaching career when he joined Dallas for its inaugural season last year. Avezzano led Dallas to an 8-8 record and a trip to the AFL quarterfinals while also serving as the special team's coach for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.
While working with the Cowboys, Avezzano won the NFL's Special Team Coach of the Year three times in his thirteen years with the franchise. Previously, he coached the offensive line at Texas A&M (1985-88), was the head coach at Oregon State for five years (1980-84), spent three years as offensive coordinator at Tennessee (1977-79), and four seasons with Pittsburgh and the offensive line coach (1973-76). He started his coaching career at Washington High School in Massillon, OH in 1967. He then went on to coach at Florida State (1968) and Iowa State (1969-72). He also played professionally with the Boston Patriots.
A DEFENSIVE FORCE:
For the twelfth straight week, the Force sits atop the league charts for total defense only giving up an average of 231.1 yards per game and is tied for first in the AFL in scoring defense yielding an average of 43.1 points per game.
Georgia is also high among some of the other league defensive categories. The Force is first in pass defense (218.9), first in pass defense rating (100.5), third in red zone defense (47-61), third in rush defense (12.1), fourth in interceptions (20) and tied-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 four games due to injury, Gaines is second on the team in tackles with 40.5 and leads the team in pass break-ups with 10 and interceptions with seven.
Gaines' seven picks places him sixth in the AFL, while he is tied-eighth in the league in passes defended and 36th 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 560 career tackles, ranks in the top 15 in AFL in career scoring with 868 points and is in the top 10 in AFL in career pass receptions with 663. Hammond has had 8 seasons of 50 or more pass receptions. He has 74 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. Former 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 seventh 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 39.3 percent of his attempts. He is also sixth in the AFL in field goals made connecting on 11-28.
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 third in the AFL in PAT kicking percentage - making 89.3 of his PAT attempts (67-75). 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.
He is currently on a streak of 12-for-12 successful PAT attempts making his last one against Orlando (4/26) and all-11 attempts vs. Indiana (5/4).
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.
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 tied-sixth 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.
BASKING IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
Georgia is 6-1 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), at Orlando (3/23) and at Indiana (5/6). 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.
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 AT INDIANA:
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. - The Georgia Force (8-6) secured a spot in the Drive for ArenaBowl XVII with a 77-56 victory over the Indiana Firebirds (5-9) in the first meeting ever between the two clubs. The Force win, along with the Indiana loss and a loss by Buffalo earlier in the week, ensures Georgia will have one of the league's top 12 records and make the playoffs. The 77-point output by the Force set a new team record for most points scored in a game besting its earlier record of 70 points vs. Grand Rapids on March 9, 2003.
Leon Murray, who had a career breakout game, completed 31-of-38 passes for 307 yards and six touchdowns. The Force also better its record to 6-1 in games broadcast on NBC.
The game started exactly how the Force would be scripted it. Murray completed all four of his first passes as Georgia added two rushes in opening the contest's scoring. Completing a key pass to Darryl Hammond on fourth down and six yards, Murray finished the Force's first drive on a 19-yard scoring pass to Tyronne Jones. Indiana quickly responded tying the score on their first offensive play of the game as Raymond Philyaw hit Eddie Brown for a 22-yard touchdown. Murray found Jones again for a scoring pass, this time on a 15-yard completion to build the Georgia lead back to seven at 14-7. Firebirds kicker Clay Rush missed a field goal from 42-yards as the Force defense made the game's first stop.
Georgia capitalized on the opportunity pushing its lead up to 14 points when Travis Reece caught a Murray screen pass and rushed in from 17-yards out. Indiana would work their way deep into Force territory on their next possession ending with a one-yard TD rush by Rich Young. Rush would miss the ensuing PAT leaving the score 21-13 Georgia. The Firebirds defense stepped up forcing Force kicker Steve McLaughlin into missing a field goal attempt from 30-yards. On Indiana's next offensive play Philyaw completed a pass to Jeremy McDaniels, but Hammond came in from behind to knock the ball loose, which Georgia recovered. Murray marched the team down the field and finished the drive with his first career-rushing touchdown scampering in from five yards and giving the Force a 28-13 lead. Indiana countered when McDaniels caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Philyaw to bring the Georgia advantage back down. Rush missed his second PAT attempt of the game leaving the score 28-19 Force with 41 seconds left in the half. Murray, playing his best half of the season thus far, put together a five play 41-yard drive to close the half as he threw his fourth touchdown of the game and his third to Jones. The five-yard score gave Georgia a 35-19 lead. Rush missed a 42-yard field goal as time expired for the second quarter.
The Firebirds came out of the blocks quick to start the second half, but Georgia was able to keep its 16-point lead as both teams traded two touchdowns apiece in the third quarter. Indiana took their opening possession of the second half 33 yards capped with a Leroy Thompson one-yard touchdown run. Murray continued his fine performance from the first half, as he led Georgia on a 45-yard scoring drive of his own. Murray had two big rushes on the drive and scrambled around long enough to buy himself time to find Hammond for a four-yard TD. On the ensuing kickoff, Indiana return man Evan Hlavacek returned his league leading sixth kickoff for a scoring running this one back 57-yards to make the score 42-33 Georgia. The Force ended the quarter when Bret Cooper rushed into the endzone from two-yards out upping the point total to 49-33 Georgia.
The final quarter began with Rush connecting on his first field goal on the game bring the score to 49-36 Georgia. The Force would then build its largest lead of the game as Jones caught his fourth touchdown pass of the game from Murray on to push the Georgia advantage to 56-36. The Firebirds took only two plays to score again as Philyaw found McDaniels in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Indiana was unsuccessful on a two-point conversion leaving the score at 56-42. The Firebirds needing a turnover, attempted an on-side kick. Bret Cooper successfully recovered for the Force and was able to return the kick for a touchdown increasing the Georgia lead back to 20 points. The Force and Firebirds repeated the pattern again, this time with different people. Brown caught a touchdown for Indiana and then Morris Anderson returned an on-side kick for Georgia for a score making the Force lead 70-49. Scotty Lindsey intercepted Philyaw with 32 seconds remaining in the game to secure the win. Reece tacked on a touchdown run for Georgia and Jay Jones caught a scoring pass to close the game's scoring.
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