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Georgia Force game notes

March 3, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Las Vegas Gladiators (2-2) at Georgia Force (2-2)

Date: March 7, 2004
Kickoff: 12:00 ET
Site: Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,200).
Television: NBC (Eli Gold: play-by-play, Charles Davis: color analyst, Fred Kalil: sideline).
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Chuck Oliver: color analyst).
WPLO 610 AM RadioMex (Luis Garcia: play-by-play, Julio Espinoza: color analyst).
Coaches: Marty Lowe, Georgia (16-15 overall, 1-1 postseason, 3rd Year).
Frank Haege, Las Vegas (19-15 overall, 0-2 postseason, 3rd Year).
Series Record: Gladiators lead the all-time series 1-0
Georgia 41, @ Las Vegas 46 (3/29/03).


THE GAME:

The Georgia Force continue their one home game-one road start to the season when they return to the Arena at Gwinnett Center to host the Las Vegas Gladiators, on Sunday, March 7th at 12:00 p.m. on NBC. The Gladiators lead the all-time series between the two clubs after capturing a 46-41 home victory last season in the teams first ever meeting.

The Force-Gladiators match-up will pit two of the league's highest ranked offenses. Through the first four games this season, the Force hold the AFL's number one ranked offense (3rd in rushing offense and 5th in passing offense). The Gladiators enter the contest carrying the league's third ranked offense along with the AFL's second rated defense.


The Force will look to snap a six-game home losing streak that dates back to March 15, 2003. Leading that charge will be quarterback Leon Murray, who himself will hope to break a 0-6 record at home as a starter.

Las Vegas is currently riding a two-game winning streak with victories over Grand Rapids and New Orleans. After acquiring quarterback Clint Dolezel through an offseason trade with the Rampage, he has proved to be everything the Gladiators
had expected. Already this season he has surpassed two career milestones. Dolezel became only the fourth quarterback in AFL history to pass for over 25,000 yards, then one week later he completed his 500th touchdown pass.

GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force head back out on the road to battle division rival the Orlando Predators on Friday March 12th at 7:30 p.m. in the TD Waterhouse Centre.

THE SCHEDULE:

GEORGIA FORCE (2-2)

Date OPPONENT RESULT SCORE
Feb. 7 NEW YORK L 28-54
Feb. 13 @ Tampa Bay W 70-62
Feb. 22 NEW ORLEANS L 52-55
March 1 @ Los Angeles W-OT 53-52
March 7 LAS VEGAS
March 12 @ Orlando
March 20 @ Indiana
March 27 TAMPA BAY
April 1 @ Detroit
April 11 @ Austin
April 18 ORLANDO
April 25 SAN JOSE
BYE
May 9 @ Columbus
May 15 @ New Orleans
May 23 AUSTIN
May 30 CAROLINA


HEAD COACHES:

MARTY LOWE, Georgia (16-15 overall, 1-1 postseason, 3rd Year): Marty Lowe concluded his second season and first full year as Head Coach with the Georgia Force in 2003, guiding the team to a record eight wins and leading the club to its first postseason appearance. At 32 years old (9/21/71), Lowe is the second youngest head coach in the Arena Football League.

Despite being hampered by injuries all season in 2003, the Force jumped out to a 6-2 mark to start the year and was able to ride the strength of its league-leading defense to advance to the Quarterfinal Round of the playoffs. Lowe, a former AFL quarterback himself, helped pave the way for rookie Leon Murray to emerge as one of the league's rising stars after the loss of two starting quarterbacks during the year. Following the season, Murray was named to the AFL's All-Rookie Team.

In 2002, Lowe replaced Robert Lyles, who was relieved of his duties following the Force's 1-4 start. Under his direction, the Force finished the year winning five of their last eight games in the team's inaugural season.

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. Marty and wife Michelle have two children, son Bryce and daughter Reece.


FRANK HAEGE, Las Vegas (19-15 overall, 0-2 postseason, 3rd Year): The L.V. Gladiators third-year head coach can look back upon his first two seasons in the AFL and boast about his wide array of accomplishments. Haege led the Gladiators to the fourth-best record in the AFL and their first-ever playoff berth in franchise history in 2002. Haege also serves as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks, and wide receivers coach.

The 2003 season was the first for the Gladiators in Las Vegas and Haege led them to a second consecutive playoff appearance and an 8-8 record. In 2002 the Gladiators 9-5 record and first place finish in the Eastern Division of the National Conference was the biggest turnaround in AFL history. The Gladiators finished the 2002 regular season with seven more victories than the previous season.

Haege was named the second head coach of the New Jersey Gladiators on August 23, 2001. Previously, he spent two years as the head coach and director of football operations with the Quad City Steamwheelers (af2) in 2000 and 2001. Haege posted a remarkable 37-1 record, including an undefeated 2000 season. The Steamwheelers became the first AFL or af2 team to have an undefeated season. On August 10, 2001, Frank Haege made his mark in the af2 record books by leading the Quad City Steamwheelers to a 55-51 win over the Richmond Speed to secure a second-straight championship. In 2000, his 19-0 Steamwheelers defeated the Tennessee Valley Vipers 68-59 to win the first-ever ArenaCup, played on August 10, 2000. This completed the perfect season.

Haege is in his tenth season in the Arena Football League. Prior to the Gladiators moving to Las Vegas, Haege coached in the AFL with the New Jersey Red Dogs (1997-99) under John Hufnagel (1997-98), now the quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots.

Prior to joining the Red Dogs in New Jersey, Haege was the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Fighting Pike, a former AFL franchise in 1996. In 1994, while with the Milwaukee Mustangs, he served as the team's special teams coordinator and FB/LB coach.

Haege has also coached on the collegiate level. He was the offensive coordinator from 1996-1998 at Augsburg College (MN), a Division III school, while coaching Arena Football in the spring. Prior to his time at Augsburg College, he also coached from 1992-1995 with Bemidji State University (MN), a Division II program, where he directed the secondary. His playing career included one year (1987) as a wide receiver for Vermillion Community College (MN) and three years as a tight end at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (1989-1991).

CONNECTIONS:

Force FB/LB Jermaine Younger played in five games for Las Vegas in 2003...Gladiator FB/DB Dennison Robinson attended West Georgia.


THE FORCE THIS SEASON ARE:

0-2 at home
2-0 on the road

0-0 vs. Central Division
0-1 vs. Eastern Division
1-1 vs. Southern Division
1-0 vs. Western Division

1-0 on Fridays
0-0 on Saturday
0-2 on Sundays
1-0 on Mondays

1-2 in February
1-0 in March
0-0 in April
0-0 in May

0-2 in televised games on NBC

0-0 when leading at the half
1-0 when tied at the half
1-2 when trailing at the half

1-0 when leading after 3 quarters
1-0 when tied after 3 quarters
0-2 when trailing after 3 quarters

0-0 outcome 7 points or less
0-1 outcome 3 points or less
1-0 overtime games

1-0 when the Force scores first
1-2 when opponent scores first


STATISTICS:

A look how Georgia and Las Vegas match-up on both sides of the ball based on 2004 regular season statistics:

Statistical GEORGIA LAS VEGAS
Category Stat Stat
Scoring Offense 50.8 49.5
Scoring Defense 55.8 37.3
Total Offense (yds/g) 283.0 268.3
Total Defense (yds/g) 278.3 202.8
Pass Offense (yds/g) 248.3 251.8
Pass Defense (yds/g) 255.8 187.0
Rushing Offense (yds/g) 34.8 16.5
Rushing Defense (yds/g) 22.5 15.8
Kickoff Returns 18.8 17.3
Field Goals 2-7 2-5
PAT Kicking 27-27 24-28
Sacks By (sks-yds) 3-12 3-28
Sacks Against (sks-yds) 4-21 1-5
First Downs 82 81
Penalties (#/yds) 81 63
Turnover Margin -2 +6
Time of Possession 29:54 29:12


GAME AWARD WINNERS

Baby Ruth Offensive Player of the Game

WEEK TEAM PLAYER
1 New York Aaron Garcia
2 Tampa Bay Freddie Solomon
3 New Orleans Aaron Bailey
4 Los Angeles Joe Douglas

ADT Defensive Player of the Game

WEEK TEAM PLAYER
1 New York William Holder
2 Tampa Bay Rod Williams
3 Georgia Kevin Gaines
4 Los Angeles Kevin Ingram

Army Ironman of the Game

WEEK TEAM PLAYER
1 Georgia Andy McCullough
2 Georgia Markeith Cooper
3 New Orleans B.J. Cohen
4 Los Angeles Greg Hopkins



AFL ON NBC:


WEEK 5 AFL ON NBC SCHEDULE, Sun., March 7th.

Las Vegas at Georgia, 12 pm
San Jose at New York, 12 pm
Chicago at Philadelphia, 12 pm
Tampa Bay at N. Orleans,12 pm

(all times are Eastern)

LAST WEEK AT LOS ANGELES:

LOS ANGELES, CA – Georgia Force quarterback Leon Murray's rollout pass to Dialleo Burks in the corner of the endzone on a successful two-point conversion lifted the visiting Force over Los Angeles 53-52 in overtime. Georgia was able to push the game into the extra session when kicker Steve McLaughlin connected on a 50-yard field goal as time expired to even the score 45-45 at the end of regulation. The victory gives the Force their fourth straight on the road and increases Murray's record as a starter to 5-1 on the road.

Porter led the way for Georgia finishing the contest with a team-high eight receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns. His final TD catch being in the overtime play. Joe Douglas, who was named the contest's Offensive Player of the Game, turned in a big performance for the Avengers hauling in game-highs with nine passes for 126 yards and scoring three touchdowns on the night. Each quarterback threw for six touchdowns as Murray went 27-of-38 for 297 yards and Graziani 23-of-36 for 253 yards.

Los Angeles' defense made the game's first statement as Kevin Ingram intercepted a Murray pass in the endzone on the Force's first drive of the contest. The Avengers were able to score touchdowns on each of their first four possessions before the Georgia's defense came up with a stop of their own. Forcing Los Angeles into a 56-yard field goal attempt with 17 seconds remaining in the second quarter, the Force was able to bring the game back to a one possession game as the Avengers took a 28-21 advantage into the half.


Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 OT Score
Georgia Force 7 14 14 10 8 55
Los Angeles 14 14 3 14 7 52


PASSING:
LA- Tony Graziani, 23-36-253-6
GA- Leon Murray, 27-38-297-6

RECEIVING:
LA- Joe Douglas, 9-126-3
GA- Dameon Porter, 8-96-3

RUSHING:
LA- Josh Jeffries, 2-17-1
GA- Robert Thomas, 3-18

OFFENSIVE MVP: Joe Douglas, Los Angeles
DEFENSIVE MVP: Kevin Ingram, Los Angeles
IRONMAN: Greg Hopkins, Los Angeles


THINGS TO WATCH:


HOW OFFENSIVE:

Through four games this season, the Force hold the AFL's number one ranked offense. Averaging 283.0 total net yards a game, the Force has been able to establish their offensive attack through a balance between their passing and rushing game. Currently, Georgia ranks third in the league in rushing offense averaging 34.8 on the ground per game. The Force also sits fifth in the AFL in passing offense averaging 248.3 yards per game in the air.


GROUND ATTACK:

Averaging 34.8 yards a game rushing, the Force currently rank third in the league in rushing offense. QB Leon Murray is second among all quarterbacks with 51 yards rushing on 13 carries scoring four touchdowns on the ground. Murray stands sixth overall in the AFL in rushing. In addition, FB/LB Robert Thomas currently is second among all rookies in rushing with 57 yards on 11 carries and four scores. Thomas ranks fifth in the league in rushing.


ALL-AROUND GAME:

Offensive Specialist Markeith Cooper set a new Force team record for most single game all-purpose yards with 270 at Tampa Bay (2/13). Cooper had 132 receiving yards on five receptions and four touchdowns through the air and added 138 kickoff return yards on five returns against the Storm. With eight seconds remaining in the first half, Cooper returned a kickoff 55 yards to tie the score at 35-35 at the break and keep the Force in the game. For his efforts, Cooper was named the game's Ironman of the Game and later honored as the AFL's Offensive Player of the Week.

Cooper is currently tied for fifth in the AFL for leading scorer with 54 points through four games. He is also tied for the AFL lead for most points scored in a single-game with 30.












FINISHING TOUCH:

Kicker Steve McLaughlin is a perfect 27-for-27 this season on PAT kicks. Last year, McLaughlin began the season connecting on his first 18 PAT attempts before his first miss. Later in 2003, he strung together a streak of 13 straight PATs made including a Force single-game record 11-for-11 at Indiana (5/4/03).

McLaughlin's leg also played a huge role in the Force's 53-52 overtime victory at Los Angeles (3/1). With three seconds remaining in regulation, McLaughlin connected on a 50-yard field goal as time expired to even the score at 45-45 and push the game into the extra session. Currently, his 50-yard make stands as the longest in the AFL converted this season.


DID YOU KNOW:

Head Coach Marty Lowe:
- At age 32, is the second youngest head coach in the Arena Football League.

- Played two seasons in the AFL with St. Louis and Texas before knee injuries ended his career short.

- Played quarterback at the University of Louisville with current Force DS Kevin Gaines and Atlanta Falcon Ray Buchanan.

- Marty's son, Bryce Elway Lowe, is named after NFL great and Colorado Crush co-owner John Elway.

UGA Athletic Director Vince Dooley:
- Serves as Chairman of the Georgia Force Advisory Board.

- "Arena Football is one of the fastest growing sports in America and here in Georgia," said Dooley. "I have been impressed with the great longevity of the AFL as it is entering into its 18th season and I am pleased that I'll have the opportunity to advise and consult with the Force as I continue my primary responsibility as Athletic Director at UGA for the next six months. The AFL has passed the test of time and that is what differentiates it from the other football leagues that have come and gone."

Dooley added, "I know the passion that this state and community has for football and the Georgia Force is very attractive as a quality family oriented sports option. When I look at the Georgia Force, I see all the characteristics of a first-class winning organization. I am happy to now have the opportunity to be involved with the Force as I continue my role of Athletic Director at the University of Georgia."


OL/DL Bruce Adrine:
- Adrine is one of 14 former University of Georgia defensive players from the 2000 roster playing professional football. Included in that group are New England Patriot Richard Seymour, Pittsburgh Steeler Kendrell Bell and Jacksonville Jaguar Marcus Stroud.

WR/LB Dialleo Burks:
- Played his first two seasons in the AFL with the Dallas Desperados and this past offseason signed with teammate Andy McCullough with the Force. Andy and Dialleo made up two-thirds of the Desperados offensive attack that finished the 2003 season ranked first in total offense and fifth in scoring.

- In 2003 established new team records for catches, receiving yards and touchdowns for a season.

- Finished last year with a career-high and team-record 102 catches for a career-high and team-record 1,226 yards and a career-high and team-record 28 touchdowns.

- Missed the final six games of the 2002 season with a fractured wrist after putting up numbers that would have made him a strong candidate for AFL Rookie of the Year.

OL/DL William Carr:
- Owns and operates his own clothing line named "Will-O Wear", which designs and creates all lines of clothing including outfitting high school football teams.

OS Markeith Cooper:
- Listed at 5'7", Cooper is one of the shortest players in the Arena Football League.

- Earned a roster spot with the team from the club's open player tryouts in 2002. Was working for UPS at the time loading trucks, and impressed the coaching staff running a 4.2 40-yard dash at the tryouts.

- In the Force's Quarterfinal Round playoff game at San Jose last season, he racked up 153 yards on five kickoff returns including a 56-yard touchdown return. His efforts helped Georgia establish a new AFL playoff record for kickoff return yards in a game with 312 yards.

- Only one of two players (other Cliff Green) remaining from the Force's 2002 roster.

- Is the younger brother of Lamont Cooper, one of the best AFL players in the league's history and two time AFL Don't Blink! Player of the Year.




K Steve McLaughlin:
- Named Kicker of the Month for March 2003.

- Set Force team record for the longest field goal, 51-yarder at Las Vegas (3/29) and most single-game PATs made with 11 at Indiana (5/4).

- Led all kickers in 2001 with 152 points, which also put him ninth overall in scoring.

- Heading into the 2004 season, stood sixth overall in AFL history for career points by a kicker with 668, sixth in AFL history for most one point PAT's with 407, ranked sixth in AFL history for most three-point field goals with 87, stood sixth in league history in most one-point PAT attempts with 449, sits fourth in the league record books for most three-point field goal attempts with 190.

- Was a third round selection by the St. Louis Rams in 1995.

- Fronts an alternative band named "Pet the Fish", which has opened for The Dave Matthews Band and appeared in FOX's television show "Party of Five".

QB Leon Murray:
- Burst on to the Arena Football League scene after starting the season as the Force's third string quarterback. Up until his first AFL start, had not started a game in three years since being named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year at Tennessee State.

- Despite only playing in eight games, finished the regular season ranked seventh in the league in passer rating with a 115.9 rating and ranked ninth in the AFL in pass completion percentage at 62.1.

- Led the Force to their first-ever postseason appearance and victory over of the Dallas Desperados on the road.

- Was named to the AFL's All-Rookie team and was voted the Force's Co-Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year by the players and coaches.

- Established new team single game records for passing yards (354) and touchdowns (8) last season.










WR/DB Dameon Porter:
- Was named the AFL's Ironman of the Year and Breakout Player of the Year after the 2001 season.

- Is a two-time first-team all-Arena selection.

- Had 22 interceptions over the 2002 and 2001 seasons, breaking the league record for highest two-year total (previously 21 by Orlando's Kenny McEntyre in 2000-2001).

- His 156 interception return yards in 2002 represented the 2nd-highest mark for a season in the league's record book.

- Is only the second player in history to lead the league in interceptions two consecutive years (2001-2002). Orlando's Kenny McEntyre led the AFL in 1999 (7) and 2000 (11) Durwood Roquemore, a member of the AFL Hall of Fame, also led the league in interceptions twice (1990, 1994).

FB/LB Robert Thomas:
- Longtime NFL veteran with the Dallas Cowboys (1998-2002), who played both fullback and linebacker during his NFL tenure.

- Helped lead the way as Emmitt Smith ran for 109 yards on 24 carries and became the NFL's all-time leading rusher with an 11-yard run in the fourth quarter versus Seattle (10/27/02).

- Made a name for himself as a rookie free agent with small school experience, but he has also survived a major career change, moving from linebacker to fullback. In a very short period of time, he went from being a reserve middle linebacker to the lead blocker for Emmitt Smith as the Cowboys starting fullback.

- Is an avid bowler and averages a score of 205. He once rolled a 275 (300 is a perfect game).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 3, 2004


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