Sports stats



Georgia Force game notes

April 13, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Georgia Force (4-6) vs. Orlando Predators (4-5)

Date: April 18, 2004
Kickoff: 3:00 ET
Site: 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 (Luis Garcia: play-by-play, Julio Espinoza: color analyst).
Coaches: Marty Lowe, Georgia (18-19 overall, 1-1 postseason, 3rd Year).
Jay Gruden, Orlando (47-28, 7th Year).
Series Record: Force lead the all-time series 4-1
@ Georgia 67, Orlando 49 (4/30/02)
Georgia 41, @ Orlando 40 (7/13/02)
Georgia 38, @ Orlando 36 (3/23/03)
@ Georgia 27, Orlando 38 (4/26/03)
Georgia 52, @ Orlando 44 (3/12/04)

THE GAME:

The Georgia Force return home this week to play the Orlando Predators on April 18th in the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 3:00 p.m. Georgia is currently on a four-game losing skid that has not seen the team win since there previous game with Orlando. In that contest, the Force captured a 52-44 victory over the Predators on March 12th to increase their all-time lead over Orlando to 4-1. The team-record for consecutive losses is five dating back to the 2002 season (April 26-May 24).

Georgia began the season jumping out to the 4-2 start, which included a three-game win streak. During the recent losses, the Achilles heel for the Force has been a combination of penalties and turnovers. In the four games, Georgia has committed a total of 36 penalties and turned the ball over 16 times (4 interceptions, 7 fumbles and 5 turnovers on downs).



Orlando is coming off their biggest win of the season with a 57-24 victory over New Orleans, who is currently tied with the league's best record at 7-2. Quarterback Joe Hamilton returned to the starting line-up
and completed four touchdown passes and rushed for another score. The Predators are led by veteran WR/LB Corey Fleming, who ranks fourth in the AFL receptions with 72 and third in the league in receiving yards with 960. Up-front may be Orlando's greatest strength as they lead the AFL in sacks with 18 on the season paced by three players in the league's Top 10 in sacks (Jermaine Smith T-1st with 5.0, Rupert Grant T-4th with 4.0 and Doug Miller T-7th with 3.0).


THE SCHEDULE:

GEORGIA FORCE (4-6)

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 L 26-42
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 (18-19 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.



JAY GRUDEN, Orlando (47-28, 7th Year): One of the most successful players and head coaches in Arena Football League history, Jay Gruden returns for his second stint with the Orlando Predators as Head Coach and Director of Football Operations. He began his Arena Football League career in 1991, as quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm. Over the next six seasons, Gruden would lead the Storm to four World Championships. As Tampa Bay's quarterback, Gruden would throw for more than 15,000 yards and 280 touchdowns.

Gruden left the playing field after the 1996 season, signing a three-year contract to become offensive coordinator of the expansion Nashville Kats. When the Orlando Predators were searching for a new head coach after the 1997 season, they selected Gruden -- making him the youngest head coach in the Arena Football League. He would lead the Predators to two World Championships in 1997 and 2001. In August 2002, Gruden would once again surprise the league by resigning as head coach of the Predators and announcing his intention to return to the playing field -- signing a two-year deal with the Predators.

As a head coach, he owns a 47-28 record and has won a pair of titles. He ranks in the top 10 in career passing stats with more than 20,000 passing yards, close to 400 touchdowns and four AFL titles. A two-time All-Arena selection and one-time league MVP, Gruden won 15 of 18 post-season starts. He was 84-25 (.770) as a starting quarterback and (.667) as an assistant coach. Counting his 43-23 (.651) record as the head coach with the Predators, Gruden takes an all-time AFL record of 137-53 (.721) into the 2004 season. He was the first person in Arena Football League history to win an AFL title as both a player and a coach. During the 2002-2003 seasons, Gruden became the only active player who was a member of the AFL Hall of Fame. Gruden hails from a football family. His brother Jon is the head coach of the 2003 NFL champion Tampa Bay Bucs, where Jay serves as an offensive assistant. Jay won an NFL Championship ring during the Bucs' 2002 Super Bowl run. His dad Jim is a long-time NFL assistant coach and scout, having worked with Tampa Bay and San Francisco. He currently serves as a consultant with the Bucs. He was born on March 4, 1967.










GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force play their first back-to-back home games of the season when they host the San Jose SaberCats on Sunday, April 25th at 12:00 p.m. on NBC.


CONNECTIONS:

Force Defensive Backs Coach Robert Davis played DS for the Predators in 2003...Georgia OL/DL William Carr played for Orlando in 1999...Force DS Kevin Gaines played for the Predators in 1998-1999...Georgia WR/LB Dialleo Burks played for the Orlando Rage of the XFL...Force trainer Kim Winn was an assistant athletic trainer for the Predators from 1997-99...Orlando has four players that have played for the Force: OL/DL Jermaine Smith (2002-2003), WR/DB Bret Cooper (2003), OL/DL William Gaines (2002) and FB/LB Rupert Grant (2002)...Predators OS Travis McGriff was in training camp with the Atlanta Falcons in 2002...Orlando OL/DL Doug Miller was with the Atlanta Falcons from 2000-2001...Predators quarterback Joe Hamilton attended Georgia Tech from 1996-1999 and was one of the most successful and decorated passers in school history.


STATISTICS:

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

Statistical GEORGIA ORLANDO
Category Stat Stat
Scoring Offense 43.6 46.6
Scoring Defense 51.7 46.0
Total Offense (yds/g) 257.6 262.0
Total Defense (yds/g) 263.7 244.4
Pass Offense (yds/g) 229.7 223.8
Pass Defense (yds/g) 238.7 226.9
Rushing Offense (yds/g) 27.9 38.2
Rushing Defense (yds/g) 25.0 17.6
Kickoff Returns 17.4 14.8
Field Goals 4-19 8-13
PAT Kicking 52-56 44-50
Sacks By (sks-yds) 5-25 18-92
Sacks Against (sks-yds) 17-62 12-54
First Downs 179 167
Penalties (#/yds) 79-444 79-424
Turnover Margin -6 +1
Time of Possession 27:35 29:53




THE FORCE THIS SEASON ARE:

1-3 at home
3-3 on the road

0-2 vs. Central Division
0-1 vs. Eastern Division
2-3 vs. Southern Division
2-0 vs. Western Division

0-1 on Thursday
2-0 on Fridays
0-2 on Saturday
1-3 on Sundays
1-0 on Mondays

1-2 in February
3-2 in March
0-2 in April
0-0 in May

1-3 in televised games on NBC

1-0 when leading at the half
1-0 when tied at the half
2-6 when trailing at the half

2-0 when leading after 3 quarters
2-0 when tied after 3 quarters
0-6 when trailing after 3 quarters

0-2 outcome 7 points or less
0-2 outcome 3 points or less
1-0 overtime games

1-1 when the Force scores first
3-5 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
10 Austin Darrin Chiaverini

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
10 Austin Tom Briggs

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
10 Austin Dane Krager


AFL STANDINGS:

Central Division

Chicago 7 2 0 .778
Colorado 7 3 0 .700
Indiana 5 5 0 .500
Detroit 4 5 0 .444
Grand Rapids 1 8 0 .111

Western Division

San Jose 7 2 0 .778
Los Angeles 5 4 0 .556
Arizona 5 5 0 .500
Las Vegas 3 7 0 .300


Eastern Division

Dallas 6 3 0 .667
New York 5 4 0 .556
Philadelphia 4 5 0 .444
Columbus 3 6 0 .333
Carolina 3 7 0 .300

Southern Division

New Orleans 7 2 0 .778
Austin 6 3 0 .667
Orlando 4 5 0 .444
Georgia 4 6 0 .400
Tampa Bay 3 7 0 .300


AFL ON NBC:


WEEK 11 AFL ON NBC SCHEDULE, Sun, April 18th.

Dallas at Arizona, 3 pm
Colorado at New York, 3 pm













DRIVE TO ARENABOWL XVIII:

PLAYOFF SEEDINGS
ENTERING WEEK 11







Team W L T Pct
Chicago 7 2 0 .778
New Orleans 7 2 0 .778
San Jose 7 2 0 .778
Colorado 7 3 0 .700
Austin 6 3 0 .667
Dallas 6 3 0 .667
Los Angeles 5 4 0 .556
New York 5 4 0 .556
===========================
Arizona 5 5 0 .500
Indiana 5 5 0 .500
Detroit 4 5 0 .444
Orlando 4 5 0 .444
Philadelphia 4 5 0 .444
Georgia 4 6 0 .400
Columbus 3 6 0 .333
Carolina 3 7 0 .300
Las Vegas 3 7 0 .300
Tampa Bay 3 7 0 .300
Grand Rapids 1 8 0 .111
























LAST WEEK AT AUSTIN:

AUSTIN, TX. – The Austin Wranglers handed the Georgia Force their fourth straight loss with a 42-26 victory on Easter Sunday. The Wranglers defense kept the Force offense out-of-sync the entire game as Georgia was held scoreless on six of their ten possessions. Quarterback John Kaleo, who threw for 247 yards and four touchdowns completing 23-of-37 passing on the day, paced Austin.

Austin's Tacoma Fontaine racked up a game-high 107 yards receiving on seven catches and one score en route to being named the game's Offensive Player of the Game. Defensively for the Wranglers, Tom Briggs turned in a big performance with 2.5 tackles, one sack and three pass break-ups. Georgia's Morris Anderson, who earned his first start of the season, hauled in a game-high tying two touchdown passes and gained 71 yards on five receptions.

Both teams started the game in similar fashions turning the ball over on each one of its first two possessions. Kevin Gaines was able to intercept Kaleo on the Wranglers opening drive, but the Force could not capitalize on the opportunity as Murray turned the ball back to Austin with a fumble in the red zone. The following drives ended with each team turning the ball over on downs, which resulted in a scoreless first quarter. Austin was able to break the drought when Jamarr Ward rushed in from one-yard out to give the Wranglers an early 7-0 at the ten-minute mark in the second quarter. Austin was able to build a 21-13 advantage at the half following two touchdown passes by Kaleo to Chiaverini and Fontaine respectively.


Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
Georgia Force 0 13 13 0 26
Austin Wranglers 0 21 7 14 42

PASSING:
AUS- John Kaleo, 23-37-247-4
GA- Leon Murray, 17-31-191-2

RECEIVING:
AUS- Tacoma Fontaine, 7-107-1
GA- Dialleo Burks, 6-71

RUSHING:
AUS- Dane Krager, 6-25-1
GA- Jermaine Younger, 4-5

OFFENSIVE MVP: Darrin Chiaverini, Austin
DEFENSIVE MVP: Tom Briggs, Austin
IRONMAN: Dane Krager, Austin



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 5-3 regular season record in road contests and a 1-7 record in home games during the regular season.


GROUND ATTACK:

Averaging 27.9 yards a game rushing, the Force currently rank fifth in the league in rushing offense. FB/LB Robert Thomas currently is second among all rookies in rushing with 139 yards on 28 carries and seven scores. Thomas ranks fourth in the league in rushing. In addition, QB Leon Murray is second among all quarterbacks with 87 yards rushing on 30 carries scoring eight touchdowns on the ground. Murray stands 11th overall in the AFL in rushing.


FINISHING TOUCH:

This season, kicker Steve McLaughlin is 52-for-56 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-15th in the AFL for leading scorer non-kickers with 102 points through nine games.

As a receiver, Cooper stands in the Top 20 in both receptions (T-18th) with 52 catches and receiving yards (18th) 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 17th 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.


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).

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 13, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent Georgia Force Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central