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Georgia Force Game Notes

May 13, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:
Georgia Force (8-7) vs. Tampa Bay Storm (11-4)
Date: May 18, 2003
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET.
Site: The Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,200).
Television: NBC (Bill Weber: play-by-play, John Riggins: color analyst).
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 (13-11, 2nd Year). Tim Marcum- T.B. (154-55, 15th Year).
Series Record: Tampa Bay leads the all-time series 3-0.
Georgia 39, @ T.B. 58 (4/6/03)
Georgia 61, @ T.B. 67 OT (7/20/02)
@ Georgia 40, T.B. 50 (6/29/02)

THE GAME:

The Georgia 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. The Force-Storm match-up will be aired on NBC at 3:00 p.m. ET. Georgia is 6-1 this season in games shown on NBC with its lone loss coming against Tampa Bay.

The Force will hope to break a three-game losing skid at home and gain some momentum heading into its first post-season action in team history. Leading the charge will be rookie quarterback Leon Murray, who over the last two games has set single-game club records for completions, passing yards and touchdown passes. In games at Indiana and vs. Dallas, Murray has completed 51-of-75 passing for 661 yards and 14 touchdowns with only one interception.

Tampa Bay currently holds the third seed in the up-coming AFL playoffs. The Storm is in a four-way tie with the league’s best record at 11-4. A victory over the Force would push Tampa Bay up to the second seed and clinch a second straight Southern Division crown for the Storm. A loss would move Tampa Bay down to the fourth seed and give Orlando the division title.

GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

Next week marks the start of the AFL playoffs and the Drive to ArenaBowl XVII. The Force will not know its Wild Card Round opponent until the conclusion of this weekends games. Depending on the results from around the league, Georgia is still in contention to host a first round game at home. Wild Card Round games will be held on Saturday, May 24th and Sunday, May 25th at 3:00 p.m. and aired on NBC.

CONNECTIONS:

Georgia WR/DB Bret Cooper played his rookie season with the Storm in 1994…Force DS Dwight Henry played the last two seasons (2000-2001) in Tampa Bay…Georgia Sponsorship Sales Executive Jorge Cimadevilla was a kicker for the Storm in 1995-1996 and won two Arena Football Championships with Tampa Bay…Storm head coach Tim Marcum was a defensive assistant coach for the Atlanta Falcons during the 1994 season…Tampa Bay QB George Godsey graduated from Georgia Tech.

HEAD COACHES:

MARTY LOWE, Georgia (13-11, 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.

TIM MARCUM, Tampa Bay (154-55, 15th Year): Tim Marcum is a Charter member of the Arena Football Hall of Fame and is the League’s all-time winningest coach. He is the only coach in AFL history to win 100 or more games. Marcum is in his ninth season with Storm. He led team to back-to-back ArenaBowl titles (1995 & ’96). Marcum led Storm to league-record 17 game winning streak (July 1, 1995 - June 29, 1996). Marcum led Detroit Drive to five ArenaBowl appearances in five seasons (1988-89, 1991-93), winning three times. He coached AFL’s first-ever champion, Denver Dynamite (1987). Marcum is a two-time Arena League Coach of the Year (1987, 1998). He spent 1994 season as defensive assistant for the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Marcum was the assistant head coach of WLAF’s New York/New Jersey Knights in 1991, linebackers coach on Steve Spurrier’s University of Florida staff in 1990, linebackers coach (1984) and defensive coordinator (1985) for USFL’s San Antonio Gunslingers.

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.

RECORD BREAKING ROOKIE:

Over the last two games rookie quarterback Leon Murray has broken three of the Force’s single game passing records. Murray has established new single game club marks for passing touchdowns, completions and twice set the record for passing yardage in a game.

In games against Indiana and Dallas, he has completed 51-of-75 passes for 658 yards and 14 touchdowns while only throwing one interception. Murray is currently seventh in the league in pass completion percentage at 64.0.

He had a career breakout game at Indiana (5/4) earning Game Co-MVP, by completing 31-of-38 passing for 307 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. Murray added 15 rushing yards on four carries and one rushing score against the Firebirds. His 31 completions and 307 passing yards both established new team records.

Against Dallas the following week, he broke his own record for passing yards throwing for 354 yards on 21-of-37 passing with a new team-record eight touchdowns and one interception.

A DEFENSIVE FORCE:

For the 13th straight week, the Force sits atop the league charts for total defense only giving up an average of 232.5 yards per game and is third in the AFL in scoring defense yielding an average of 43.9 points per game.

Georgia is also high among some of the other league defensive categories. The Force is second in pass defense (221.2), second in pass defense rating (101.9), second in rush defense (11.3), fourth in interceptions (21), fifth in red zone defense (52-68) and sixth in sacks (16). 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

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).

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 560.5 career tackles, ranks in the top 15 in AFL in career scoring with 892 points and is in the top 10 in AFL in career pass receptions with 670. Hammond has had 8 seasons of 50 or more pass receptions. He has 81 receptions this season.

Against San Jose (2/26), 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), 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.

Versus Dallas (5/10), Hammond hauled in a hail mary pass that was tipped by a Desperados defender as time expired for a 42-yard touchdown. He was named the game’s Ironman for his performance of seven receptions for 105 yards and a season-high four receiving touchdowns on the night.

JUST FOR KICKS: Steve McLaughlin currently ranks second in the league in field goal percentage connecting on 35.5 percent of his attempts. He is also seventh in the AFL in field goals made connecting on 11-31.

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 88.6 of his PAT attempts (70-79). He started the season making 18-of-18 PAT attempts before missing his first of the season at Los Angeles (3/2). He later put together a string of 13 straight from (4/26) to (5/10), including connecting on all-11 attempts vs. Indiana (5/4) to set a single-game record.

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.

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 leads the team in tackles with 46.5 and leads the team in pass break-ups with 10 and interceptions with eight.

Gaines’ eight picks places him tied for third in the AFL, while he is 10th in the league in passes defended and 31st 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.

DAN THE MAN:

Dan Curran currently ranks ninth in the AFL in rushing with 110 yards on 31 carries. He is also tied for eighth 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 also missed three games due to a left knee MCL sprain that placed him on Injured Reserve.

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 tenth 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.

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.

BEASTS OF THE EAST:

Four of Georgia’s seven 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.

LAST WEEK VS. DALLAS:

DULTUH, GA. - The Georgia Force (8-7) were defeated by the Dallas Desperados (9-6) by one-point 56-55 as Force kicker Steve McLaughlin’s 58-yard field goal fell short as time expired. Dallas quarterback Jim Kubiak was named the game’s MVP completing 22-of-30 passing for 260 yards and six touchdowns.

Georgia offensive specialist Tyronne Jones established a new career-high with 165 receiving yards on nine catches and three touchdowns on the night. Force quarterback Leon Murray also set two new single-game team records for passing yards with 354 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished the contest, completing 21-of-37 passing. The loss was Georgia third straight defeat at home and its first against a Central Division opponent this season.

Both teams came out of the gates firing as each team only needed two plays each on their offensives series to put points on the board. Dallas grabbed an early 7-0 lead when Kubiak connected with Dialleo Burks for a 28-yard touchdown. The Force answered as Murray hit Jones on a 3-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 7-7. On the Desperados next drives, Kevin Gaines intercepted Kubiak in the Force end zone giving Georgia the game’s first turnover. The Force could not capitalize though as Steve McLaughlin missed a 31-yard field goal attempt. Kubiak and Burks teamed up one more time in the quarter, this time for a three-yard TD pass to give Dallas a 14-7 as the first quarter ended.

McLaughlin missed his second field goal of the game, this one a long attempt from 55-yards, on the Force’s first drive of the second quarter. Dallas turned the opportunity into points as Kubiak threw on third touchdown of the game finding Will Pettis for a six-yard score. On Georgia’s ensuing possession, Murray executed another quick scoring drive throwing a 48-yard bomb to Jones to cut the Desperados lead. McLaughlin missed the following PAT attempt to leave the score 21-13 Dallas. The Desperados pushed their lead back up to 15 points at 28-13 when Jeremy Beutler rushed in from one-yard out with 20 seconds left in the quarter. To end the first half in dramatic fashion, Murray deliver another long touchdown pass. With four seconds left in the half, Murray threw up a hail mary in the end zone that was tipped by a Dallas defender and hauled in by Darryl Hammond. McLaughlin hit the PAT as the Desperados took a 28-20 halftime lead.

The second half began as a repeat of the way the first half closed without the drama. Murray connected with Hammond on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Force failed on its two-point conversion attempt leaving the score at 28-26 Dallas. The Desperados continued their offensive success scoring the game’s next 14-points. Kubiak first found Andy McCullough for a nine-yard score giving Dallas a 35-26 advantage. On Georgia’s next drive, Tim Denton intercepted Murray in the end zone forcing the home team’s first turnover of the game. The Desperados made good on the gift taking two plays before Kubiak hit Jason Shelley on a 34-yard TD and a 42-26 lead.

Hammond and Murray teamed up again for their third touchdown to end the Force drought and start the fourth quarter. Murray hit Jones for a successful two-point conversion and the Dallas lead stood at 42-34. Georgia cut the lead to two points at 42-40 when Murray found Jarrick Hillery streaking down the sideline for a 45-yard touchdown. The Force attempted an on-side kick, but an offsides penalty negated a successful recover by Georgia. Dallas scored three plays later on a Kubiak to Pettis two-yard touchdown pass. Jones caught his third score of the game from Murray on a 27-yard pass leaving the score 49-47 Desperados with 2:09 left in the game. Georgia attempt its second on-side kick of the game this time, as Denton returned the attempt eight-yards for a score and a 56-47 Dallas advantage. Hammond, later named the game’s Ironman, hauled in his fourth touchdown, a three-yard pass from Murray. Murray made good on the two-point attempt and the score stood at 56-55. The Georgia defense stepped up with only 30 seconds remaining in the game, as Dallas attempted to run out the clock. The Force D halted Beutler twice, on second and third down, from gaining positive yardage stopping the clock from running as Georgia had no timeouts remaining. After one incomplete pass, McLaughlin came on the try for the win, but his attempt fell short.

LAST MEETING WITH TAMPA BAY:

TAMPA, FL. – (April 6, 2003) The Georgia Force (6-4) dropped it first Southern Division game of the season falling to the Tampa Bay Storm (8-2) 58-39. With the victory, Tampa Bay increases its winning streak to seven games, remains a perfect 6-0 at home this season and holds its perch atop the division. The Storm is also a perfect 3-0 all-time against the Force. Storm quarterback John Kaleo threw five touchdowns and the AFL’s leading scoring defense, Tampa Bay caused three turnovers to hand the Force its second straight loss.

Playing without its leading tackler, Kevin Gaines and sack leader, Jermaine Smith, Georgia suffered another key loss in the game at Tampa Bay. Starting quarterback Donnie Davis left the game in the third quarter after suffering a concussion. The loss drops Georgia to 2-1 in the division and also marks the first time this season that the Force have lost a game broadcast on NBC. Georgia was 5-0 entering the contest in games aired on the network.

The first quarter was anything but the defensive battle that was expected as the Force held onto a 14-13 lead after the opening 15 minutes of play. It only took Georgia one down to find the scoreboard as Davis hit Darryl Hammond for a 33-yard touchdown on the game’s first play. Tampa Bay answered by only needing two plays of its own to tie the score a seven a piece, as Kaleo found Lawrence Samuels for a 20-yard score. The Force regained its lead 14-7, when Davis completed three straight passes, the last a 21-yard touchdown to Jarrick Hillery with 9:11 left in the quarter. The Storm was able to cut into the Georgia lead on it next possession as Basil Proctor rushed in from one-yard out. Tampa Bay kicker Ian Howfield missed the ensuing PAT leaving the Force with a one-point advantage.

Both defenses made their presence felt early in the second quarter. The Force, faced with two fourth down opportunities in the Storm red zone, could not complete the necessary pass and turned the ball over to Tampa Bay on downs. The Storm was unable to capitalize on the first drive, but grabbed it first lead of the game when Andre Bowden ran in from two-yards out for the score. Tampa Bay was unsuccessful with its two-point conversion attempt leaving the score 19-14 Storm. Georgia was able to capture back the lead briefly at 21-19 on it next drive. Davis threw his third touchdown of the half, this time to Tyronne Jones for a 35-yard score. The Storm added another six points to take to lead into the half when David Saunders scored on a 10-yard pass from Kaleo with 12 seconds remaining.

Tampa Bay began the second half quickly. Freddie Solomon caught a 14-yard touchdown from Kaleo to put the Storm on top 32-21. Georgia’s next drive proved to be very costly in two ways. First, Davis was intercepted by lineman BJ Cohen, who returned the pick 15-yards for a touchdown giving the Storm a 17-point 38-21 advantage. On the play, Davis was knocked unconscious while trying to make the tackle on Cohen. After an extended break in play, he was taken to Tampa General Hospital for further evaluation. Rookie Leon Murray replaced Davis under center. Two plays into his first drive, Murray hit Jones for his first AFL career touchdown on a 29-yard touchdown to bring the score to 38-27. On Tampa Bay’s next set of downs, Bret Cooper intercepted Kaleo in the endzone as the Force defense held. Georgia was unable to make good on the opportunity as Murray, under pressure, fumbled the ball giving it back to the Storm. Tampa Bay did not let the Georgia mistake go to waste. Kaleo found Solomon for a seven-yard touchdown increasing the Storm lead to 44-27.

The Force put the fourth quarter’s first points up as Murray and Hillery teamed up for a 20-yard score. A blocked PAT by Tampa Bay left its lead at 44-33. The Storm answered as Samuels caught his second TD pass of the game to build an 18-point Tampa Bay lead 51-33. On Georgia’s ensuing drive, Murray was faced with making a fourth down conversion to keep the drive alive, threw a shovel pass intended for Markeith Cooper was intercepted by Omarr Smith. Tampa Bay then put together a seven-play drive capped by Bowden rushing in from one-yard out making to Storm lead 58-33. Georgia concluded the game’s scoring when Markeith Cooper caught a five-yard touchdown from Murray with 15 seconds remaining.

Solomon was named to Game’s MVP and Cohen and Bowden shared the contest’s Iroman honor.

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