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Georgia Force game notes

May 4, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Georgia Force (4-8) vs. Columbus Destroyers (4-8)

Date: May 9, 2004
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET
Site: Nationwide Arena (17,171).
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Chuck Oliver: color analyst).
Coaches: Bob Kronenberg, Georgia (0-1 overall, 1st Year).
Earle Bruce, Columbus (4-8 with Columbus; 17-24 overall, 4th Year).
Series Record: Series is tied 1-1
(team relocated from Buffalo in 2004)
@Georgia 54, Buffalo 33- 7/6/02
@Georgia 43, Buffalo 63- 2/22/03


GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force head out for their last road game of the season when they travel to New Orleans to face the Southern Division leading VooDoo on Saturday, May 15th in the New Orleans Arena at 8:00 p.m. Earlier this season, the VooDoo captured the first ever meeting between the two teams 56-52 on February 22nd.


CONNECTIONS:

Force OL/DL Juan Porter played at The Ohio State University from 1993-996...Georgia K Steve McLaughlin was a Destroyer in Buffalo during the 2002 season.





THE GAME:

Coming off their BYE week, the Georgia Force return to action as they head to Columbus, Ohio to meet the Destroyers on Sunday, May 9th in Nationwide Arena at 3:00 p.m. With players and coaches using last week to find a little time away from their normal grind, the Force look to get back on track with only four games remaining in the 2004 season and end a current team-record six game losing slide. The previous mark for consecutive losses for Georgia was five dating back to the 2002 season (April 26-May 24).

In his first game as the new Interim Head Coach, Bob Kronenberg was able to help the Georgia offense find its groove again against San Jose as the Force scored touchdowns on five of their final eight drives. During the six-game skid for Georgia however, scoring has been an issue as the Force have been outscored by their opponents 303 to 167 (averaging 27.8 points per game).

The Force began the season jumping out to a 4-2 start, which included a three-game win streak. During their recent losses, the Achilles heel for Georgia has been a combination of penalties and turnovers. In the six games, the Force have committed a total of 51 penalties and turned the ball over 27 times (7 interceptions, 9 fumbles and 11 turnovers on downs).


Earlier this season, the Destroyers found themselves in a situation much like the Force, having dropped six consecutive games. Since that point
though, Columbus has won three out of their last five contests including a 60-52 victory over the Carolina Cobras last week in Charlotte. The Destroyers are paced by rookie quarterback Ryan Vena and veteran WR/LB Cornelius White. Vena leads the team in both passing (172-269-2,199-35 TDs-5 INTs) and rushing (47-143-8 TDs), while White is among the AFL's best with 917 receiving yards on 63 catches and 18 touchdowns.





HEAD COACHES:

BOB KRONENBERG, Georgia (0-1 overall, 1st Year):
Named Interim Head Coach on April 19th, Bob Kronenberg takes over the position after Marty Lowe was relieved of his duties. Born on November 3, 1971, he is currently the second youngest Head Coach in the Arena Football League. Currently in his fourth season in the AFL coaching ranks, Kronenberg has the longest tenure with the Force coaching staff serving as the Assistant Head Coach for the last three seasons. Over that time, his primary focus has been coaching the club's offensive and defensive lines. Prior to joining the Force's staff, he served as an Assistant Coach with the Nashville Kats during the 2001 season.

A veteran lineman himself, Kronenberg spent two years as an offensive/defensive lineman with the Kats during the 1999 and 2000 seasons. As a member of the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe from 1995-98, Kronenberg captured a World Bowl title in 1998. His playing experience includes the Las Vegas Posse and Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Kronenberg also signed contacts with the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins.

Kronenberg earned a degree in education from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, were he was an All-North Central Conference lineman. He is a native of Menomee Falls, Wisconsin.

EARLE BRUCE, Columbus (4-8 with Columbus; 17-24 overall, 4th Year): Earle Bruce returns to the Arena Football League as head coach and general manager for the Columbus Destroyers. Bruce landed his first collegiate head coaching job at the University of Tampa in 1972, where he fashioned a 10-2 record, including a win in the Tangerine Bowl. He took over at Iowa State University from 1973-1978, where he guided the Cyclones to eight wins in each of his last three seasons. Bruce succeeded long-time coach Woody Hayes at Ohio State in 1979 and went on to compile an 81-26-1 record from 1979-1987 in Columbus. He led the Buckeyes to two outright Big Ten titles (1979, 1984) and two co-championships (1981, 1986) and was named the 1980 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Following his tenure in Columbus, Bruce coached at the University of Northern Iowa in 1988 before taking over the Colorado State University program from 1989-92. He led the Rams to their best season in school history, a 9-4 record that included a win in the Freedom Bowl. Bruce began his coaching career in the AFL during the 1993-1994 seasons with the Cleveland Thunderbolts. He spent the 1994-1995 seasons with the St. Louis Stampede, making theirs the best record of an expansion football team at 9 and 4 and taking them to the playoffs. In 2001 Bruce coached the Iowa Barnstormers in the af2 League.


THE SCHEDULE:

GEORGIA FORCE (4-8)

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 L 7-30
April 25 SAN JOSE L 34-63
BYE
May 9 @ Columbus
May 15 @ New Orleans
May 23 AUSTIN
May 30 CAROLINA


STATISTICS:

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

Statistical GEORGIA COLUMBUS
Category Stat Stat
Scoring Offense 39.8 46.8
Scoring Defense 50.8 53.5
Total Offense (yds/g) 252.6 252.5
Total Defense (yds/g) 257.8 260.3
Pass Offense (yds/g) 225.0 229.0
Pass Defense (yds/g) 233.5 230.2
Rushing Offense (yds/g) 27.6 23.5
Rushing Defense (yds/g) 24.3 30.2
Kickoff Returns 16.8 17.9
Field Goals 4-22 11-26
PAT Kicking 57-61 63-71
Sacks By (sks-yds) 6-28 4-18
Sacks Against (sks-yds) 25-85 11-50
First Downs 206 216
Penalties (#/yds) 94-528 116-754
Turnover Margin -8 -3
Time of Possession 27:38 30:56







THE FORCE THIS SEASON ARE:

1-5 at home
3-3 on the road

0-2 vs. Central Division
0-1 vs. Eastern Division
2-4 vs. Southern Division
2-1 vs. Western Division

0-1 on Thursday
2-0 on Fridays
0-2 on Saturday
1-5 on Sundays
1-0 on Mondays

1-2 in February
3-2 in March
0-4 in April
0-0 in May

1-4 in televised games on NBC

1-0 when leading at the half
1-0 when tied at the half
2-8 when trailing at the half

2-0 when leading after 3 quarters
2-0 when tied after 3 quarters
0-8 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
3-7 when opponent scores first



AFL 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






WEEKLY 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
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
11 Orlando Joe Hamilton
12 San Jose Mark Grieb

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
11 Orlando Jermaine Smith
12 San Jose Joe Jacobs

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
11 Orlando Bret Cooper
12 San Jose Rashied Davis





AFL STANDINGS:

Central Division

Colorado 9 4 0 .692
Chicago 8 4 0 .667
Indiana 6 7 0 .462
Detroit 4 8 0 .333
Grand Rapids 1 11 0 .083

Western Division

San Jose 10 2 0 .833
Arizona 8 5 0 .615
Los Angeles 7 5 0 .583
Las Vegas 5 7 0 .417

Eastern Division

New York 7 5 0 .583
Dallas 6 6 0 .500
Philadelphia 5 7 0 .417
Carolina 4 8 0 .333
Columbus 4 8 0 .333

Southern Division

New Orleans 9 3 0 .750
Austin 7 5 0 .583
Orlando 6 6 0 .500
Tampa Bay 6 7 0 .462
Georgia 4 8 0 .333



AFL ON NBC:


WEEK 14 AFL ON NBC SCHEDULE, Sun, May 9th.

Los Angeles at Tampa Bay, 3pm
San Jose at Arizona, 3 pm
Dallas at Austin, 3 pm
Orlando at New Orleans, 3 pm











DRIVE TO ARENABOWL XVIII:

PLAYOFF SEEDINGS
ENTERING WEEK 14







Team W L T Pct
San Jose 10 2 0 .833
New Orleans 9 3 0 .750
Colorado 9 4 0 .692
Chicago 8 4 0 .667
Arizona 8 5 0 .615
Austin 7 5 0 .583
Los Angeles 7 5 0 .583
New York 7 5 0 .583
===========================
Dallas 6 6 0 .500
Orlando 6 6 0 .500
Indiana 6 7 0 .462
Tampa Bay 6 7 0 .462
Las Vegas 5 7 0 .417
Philadelphia 5 7 0 .417
Carolina 4 8 0 .333
Columbus 4 8 0 .333
Detroit 4 8 0 .333
Georgia 4 8 0 .333
Grand Rapids 1 11 0 .083
























LAST GAME VS. SAN JOSE:

DULUTH, GA – San Jose quarterback Mark Grieb continued to have the hot hand this season as he completed eight touchdown passes to lift the visiting SaberCats over the Georgia Force 63-34. On the day, the AFL's top rated passer threw for 203 yards on 17-of-24 passing and led San Jose to touchdowns on all nine of his drives he was in the game. With the loss, Georgia dropped its team-record sixth straight game.

Grieb completed touchdowns to five different San Jose receivers, with James Roe being the favorite target racking up 77 yards on five receptions and three scores. For their efforts, Grieb was named the game's Offensive Players of the game and Roe was awarded the contest's Ironman of the Game. For the Force, quarterback Leon Murray broke out of his slump passing for 249 yards on 18-of-31 with four touchdowns. Murray also made his presence felt on the ground, gaining a game-high 31 yards on six carries including a career-tying 15-yard TD scramble. Georgia's Markeith Cooper turned in a big day with a game-high 117 yards receiving on nine catches and two touchdowns.

San Jose built an early 21-0 lead thanks in part to a missed field goal and two turnovers by Georgia. The Force finally broke their scoring draught when Murray found Cooper on a 27-yard scoring strike with 7:44 in the second quarter. Prior to that touchdown, Georgia had been held scoreless for four straight quarters. The first half closed with the SaberCats holding a 35-14 advantage as San Jose scored touchdowns on all five of their possessions with Grieb connecting with Fred Coleman for two scores. Georgia counter with Murray and Cooper teaming up for two touchdowns on the Force's final two possessions of the half.

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score
San Jose 14 21 14 14 63
Georgia Force 0 14 7 13 34

PASSING:
GA- Leon Murray, 18-31-249-4
SJ- Mark Grieb, 17-24-203-8

RECEIVING:
GA- Markeith Cooper, 9-117-2
SJ- James Roe, 5-77-3

RUSHING:
GA- Leon Murray, 6-31-1
SJ- Matt Kinsinger, 3-8

OFFENSIVE MVP: Mark Grieb, San Jose
DEFENSIVE MVP: Joe Jacobs, San Jose
IRONMAN: Rashied Davis, San Jose

THINGS TO WATCH:

THE HIGHS OF LOWS:

If tying the team-record with their fifth straight defeat did not hurt enough, the Force also broke several more records in their 30-7 loss to Orlando on April 18th.

- The seven points scored by the Force established a new team record for fewest points scored in a game. Previously 24 points versus Tampa Bay on March 27, 2004.

- Georgia's seven points scored is tied fifth for lowest point total in AFL History for a regular season game.

- The 37 combined points scored by Georgia and Orlando set a Force team low and is tied sixth for lowest combined total in a regular season game in AFL history.

- On the night, the Force made only 10 first downs breaking the previous low mark of 11 set against San Jose on May 4, 2002.

- In the game against the Predators, the Force gave up four sacks tying the club mark for most in a game. Last time was at Detroit on June 1, 2002.


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 1-9 record in home games during the regular season.


GROUND ATTACK:

Averaging 27.6 yards a game rushing, the Force currently rank fifth in the league in rushing offense. FB/LB Robert Thomas currently is third among all rookies in rushing with 154 yards on 35 carries and eight scores. Thomas ranks sixth in the league in rushing. In addition, QB Leon Murray is third among all quarterbacks with 120 yards rushing on 36 carries scoring nine touchdowns on the ground. Murray stands 10th overall in the AFL in rushing.






FINISHING TOUCH:

This season, kicker Steve McLaughlin is 57-for-61 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-17th in the AFL for leading scorer non-kickers with 114 points through 12 games.

As a receiver, Cooper ranks 21st in the AFL in receptions with 62 catches and 22nd receiving yards with 797 yards. He is on pace to becoming the first single-season 1,000-yard receiver in the Force's three-year history. Cooper also stands 21st in the league in most yards from scrimmage with 811 (797 receiving + 14 rushing).












DID YOU KNOW:

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).

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