Georgia Force game notes
Published on April 5, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release
QUICK FACTS:
Georgia Force (4-5) at Austin Wranglers (5-3)
Date: April 11, 2004
Kickoff: 3:00 ET
Site: Frank Erwin Center (14,990)
Television: NBC (Allen Bestwick: play-by-play, Ray Bentley: color analyst).
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Chuck Oliver: color analyst).
Coaches: Marty Lowe, Georgia (18-18 overall, 1-1 postseason, 3rd Year).
Skip Foster, Austin (5-3 overall, 1st Year).
Series Record: Teams have never played.
THE GAME:
The Georgia Force head out to play Southern Division foe and one of the league's new expansion teams the Austin Wranglers on Sunday, April 11th in the Frank Erwin Center at 3:00 p.m. EST on NBC. This will be the fourth road game for Georgia in their last five contests.
After jumping out to the 4-2 start, which included a three-game win streak, Georgia finds itself currently in the midst a three-game losing skid. In the losses, the Achilles heel for the Force has been a combination of penalties and turnovers. In the three games, Georgia has committed a total of 29 penalties and turned the ball over 12 times (4 interceptions, 5 fumbles and 3 turnovers on downs).
To turn their fortunes, the Force will have to create more opportunities for themselves as they have not recorded a sack since the second week of the season. Through nine weeks of the season, Georgia has a combined total of 3 sacks and 6 interceptions (second lowest combined total in the league). Only New Orleans, with 4 sacks and 4 interceptions is lower.
For the second straight week, the Force will be facing an opponent with the AFL's top-rated offense. Dethroning the Detroit Fury, the Wranglers enter the game averaging 291.1 passing yards a game and 18.8 yards on the ground rushing. Austin is led by two of the AFL's
most tenured veterans, QB John Kaleo (11 years) and WR/LB Darryl Hammond (14 years). This season, Kaleo has thrown for 48 touchdowns (third most in the league), while Hammond returned to action last week after missing four games due to an injured abdominal.
GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:
The Force return home next week to host the Orlando Predators on April 18th in the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Earlier this season, Georgia captured a 52-44 victory over Orlando (3/12) to increase their all-time lead over the Predators to 4-1. The Force-Predators match-up will be aired on NBC regionally at 3 p.m.
THE SCHEDULE:
GEORGIA FORCE (4-5)
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 W 55-40
March 12 @ Orlando W 52-44
March 20 @ Indiana L 36-73
March 27 TAMPA BAY L 24-53
April 1 @ Detroit L 40-42
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 (18-18 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.
SKIP FOSTER, Austin (5-3 overall, 1st Year): In his first season as an AFL head coach, Foster is the second most winning coach in af2 history. Prior to joining the Wranglers, Foster was the head coach of the 2003 af2 Champion Tulsa Talons. Foster made history when he led his team to the National Conference Central Division Championship two consecutive seasons and won the ArenaCup in 2003. Foster was the only af2 coach to go undefeated at home for three consecutive seasons. Prior to joining the Talons, Foster compiled an 82-39-2 record at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. In 1990, Foster led Coffeyville to a National Championship and an undefeated season. Skip took over the head coaching duties at Coffeyville after his father, Dick, won a National Championship in 1983. The two are the only father/son pair in National Junior College Athletic Association to win a national championship at the same school. Skip played football for his father from 1979-80 at Coffeyville and earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Missouri Western State College.
CONNECTIONS:
Austin WR/LB Darryl Hammond played with the Force during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
STATISTICS:
A look how Georgia and Austin match-up on both sides of the ball based on 2004 regular season statistics:
Statistical GEORGIA AUSTIN
Category Stat Stat
Scoring Offense 45.6 55.3
Scoring Defense 52.8 56.4
Total Offense (yds/g) 265.1 309.9
Total Defense (yds/g) 262.9 295.9
Pass Offense (yds/g) 235.2 291.1
Pass Defense (yds/g) 239.2 272.3
Rushing Offense (yds/g) 29.9 18.8
Rushing Defense (yds/g) 23.7 23.6
Kickoff Returns 17.8 15.7
Field Goals 4-17 2-9
PAT Kicking 50-52 45-54
Sacks By (sks-yds) 3-12 6-32
Sacks Against (sks-yds) 14-51 9-43
First Downs 165 166
Penalties (#/yds) 72-404 66-411
Turnover Margin -6 +2
Time of Possession 27:56 30:35
THE FORCE THIS SEASON ARE:
1-3 at home
3-2 on the road
0-2 vs. Central Division
0-1 vs. Eastern Division
2-2 vs. Southern Division
2-0 vs. Western Division
0-1 on Thursday
2-0 on Fridays
0-2 on Saturday
1-2 on Sundays
1-0 on Mondays
1-2 in February
3-2 in March
0-1 in April
0-0 in May
1-2 in televised games on NBC
1-0 when leading at the half
1-0 when tied at the half
2-5 when trailing at the half
2-0 when leading after 3 quarters
2-0 when tied after 3 quarters
0-5 when trailing after 3 quarters
0-0 outcome 7 points or less
0-2 outcome 3 points or less
1-0 overtime games
1-1 when the Force scores first
3-4 when opponent scores first
AWARD WINNERS:
AFL Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week
WEEK 2- OS Markeith Cooper
AFL ADT Defensive Player of the Week
WEEK 6- WR/LB Dialleo Burks
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
5 Georgia Leon Murray
6 Georgia Leon Murray
7 Indiana Adrian McPherson
8 Tampa Bay David White
9 Detroit Mark Lewis
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
5 Georgia Morris Anderson
6 Georgia Dialleo Burks
7 Indiana Bill Duff
8 Tampa Bay Ernest Certain
9 Detroit Curtis Eason
U.S. 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
5 Georgia Dameon Porter
6 Georgia Markeith Cooper
7 Indiana Jarrod Penright
8 Tampa Bay Lawrence Samuels
9 Detroit Thabiti Davis
AFL ON NBC:
WEEK 10 AFL ON NBC SCHEDULE, Sun, April 11th.
Georgia at Austin, 3 pm
Carolina at Indiana, 3 p.m.
Tampa Bay at Chicago, 3 pm
(all times are Eastern)
LAST WEEK AT DETROIT:
AUBURN HILLS, MI. - Mark Lewis's 25-yard field goal with 2:34 left in the game proved to be the difference as the Detroit Fury held on for a 42-40 victory over the Georgia Force. The Fury, who never trailed in the contest, used a fumble by Dialleo Burks in the third quarter to take control of the game by going ahead by two scoring possessions. With the win, Detroit earns their second straight victory while the Force drop their third game in a row.
Detroit's Jeff Russell paced the Fury with two touchdowns on six receptions for 70 yards. Fury kicker Lewis, who was named AFL Kicker of the Month for March, turned in a big performer connecting on three field goals from 20, 27 and 25 yards respectively. For the Force, Burks pulled in two scores through the air and made a game-high tying seven receptions for 98 yards.
After starting the game with a 20-yard field goal by Lewis on their opening drive, Detroit shocked Georgia with a successful on-side kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff. The Fury cashed in on the opportunity two plays later with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Andy Kelly to Russell to build an early 10-0 lead. The Force fought back with a pair of rushing touchdowns by Jermaine Younger and Robert Thomas and was able to work its way to a one-point deficit at 20-19 when Leon Murray found Burks for a 32-yard scoring pass. Detroit added the final points before the break when Russell hauled in his second touchdown pass, this one from 17-yards out, to give the Fury a 26-19 lead at the half. Throughout the first half, the Force kicking game was plagued by bad snaps and bobbled holds on every one of their kicking attempts. The miscues by Georgia lead to two missed field goals and two missed PAT attempts.
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Georgia Force 7 12 7 14 40
Detroit Fury 17 9 13 3 42
PASSING:
DET- Andy Kelly, 20-41-240-3
GA- Leon Murray, 17-31-245-3
RECEIVING:
DET- Thabiti Davis, 7-98-1
GA- Dialleo Burks, 7-98-2
RUSHING:
DET- Dawan Moss, 3-10
GA- Robert Thomas, 1-17-1
OFFENSIVE MVP: Mark Lewis, Detroit
DEFENSIVE MVP: Curtis Eason, Detroit
IRONMAN: Thabiti Davis, Detroit
THINGS TO WATCH:
DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE:
Quarterback Leon Murray would seem to have two different personalities when it comes to playing at home versus playing on the road. As a starting quarterback, Murray has a 5-2 regular season record in road contests and a 1-7 record in home games during the regular season.
GROUND ATTACK:
Averaging 29.9 yards a game rushing, the Force currently rank fourth in the league in rushing offense. FB/LB Robert Thomas currently is second among all rookies in rushing with 138 yards on 27 carries and seven scores. Thomas ranks third in the league in rushing. In addition, QB Leon Murray is second among all quarterbacks with 82 yards rushing on 26 carries scoring seven touchdowns on the ground. Murray stands 11th overall in the AFL in rushing.
FINISHING TOUCH:
This season, kicker Steve McLaughlin is 50-for-52 on PAT kicks. He started the season going a perfect 28-for-28, before missing his first of the year in Week 5 vs. Las Vegas (3/7).
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) earlier this season. 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. At the time, his 50-yard make stood as the longest in the AFL converted this season.
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-ninth in the AFL for leading scorer non-kickers with 102 points through nine games.
As a receiver, Cooper stands in the Top 15 in both receptions (12th) with 52 catches and receiving yards (13th) with 653 yards. He is on pace to becoming the first single-season 1,000-yard receiver in the Force's three-year history. Cooper ranks 14th in the AFL in most yards from scrimmage with 667 (653 receiving + 14 rushing).
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.
- Has the longest tenure as a Force player and is one of only two player who were on the team's 2002 roster (Scotty Lindsey).
- 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 April 5, 2004
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