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Georgia Force game notes

March 29, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Georgia Force (7-2) at Tampa Bay Storm (4-4)

Date: April 2, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 pm ET
Site: St. Pete Times Forum (19,200)
Television: FSN/ Sun Sports (Rick Peckham: play-by-play, James Bates: color analyst).
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Chuck Oliver: color analyst).
Coaches: Doug Plank, Georgia (7-2, 1st Year).
Tim Marcum, Tampa Bay (171-65,
17th Year).
Series Record: Tampa Bay leads the all-time series 5-1.
@ Georgia 24, T.B. 53 (3/27/04)
Georgia 70, @ T.B. 62 (2/13/04)
@ Georgia 38, T.B. 42 (5/18/03)
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 OPPONENT:

Despite their 4-4 overall record, Tampa Bay is a perfect 4-0 at home this season. Leading the Storm is quarterback Shane Stafford, who has already thrown for 47 touchdowns and
2,300+ yards with only 6
interceptions on the year. Assistant Head Coach Dave Ewart will be handing the Storms' reins as Head Coach Tim Marcum will be serving his second of a two-game suspension by the AFL for salary cap violations. Last week, Tampa Bay fell to Los Angeles 28-59.

THE GAME:

The Georgia Force travel to Tampa Bay for their third straight Southern Division game, when they face the Storm on Saturday, April 2nd at 7:30 pm in the St. Pete Times Forum. This will be the first of two meetings in five games with the Storm this year with Tampa Bay returning to Atlanta on Sunday, May 8th.

With the Force's 43-40 victory over New Orleans last week, Georgia took over sole possession of the AFL's best record and the Southern Division at 7-2. The seven wins equals the Force's win total from last season and is the second most in the team's four-year history (8-8 in 2003).

This season, the Force have shown a toughness for winning the close game. Of their seven wins on the year, five of those contests have been decided by 7 points or less and four have been by 3 points or less.


THE SCHEDULE:

GEORGIA FORCE (7-2)

Date OPPONENT RESULT SCORE
Jan. 30 NEW ORLEANS W 46-44
Feb. 4 @ Los Angeles L 41-46
Feb. 12 ARIZONA W 61-47
Feb. 20 @ Las Vegas W 38-13
Feb. 25 @ Austin W 66-63
March 6 COLUMBUS W 55-48
March 12 @ New York L 51-53
March 19 ORLANDO W 49-47
March 26 @ New Orleans W 43-40
April 2 @ Tampa Bay
April 8 AUSTIN
April 15 GRAND RAPIDS
April 22 @ Orlando
BYE WEEK
May 8 TAMPA BAY
May 14 DALLAS
May 21 @ San Jose

GEORGIA FORCE NEXT WEEK:

The Force return home to host the Austin Wranglers on Friday, April 8th at 7:30 pm in Philips Arena. Earlier this season, Georgia defeated the Wranglers 66-63 when Force kicker Nelson Garner connected on a 49-yard field goal as time expired. The game will be televised locally on Fox Sports Net South.


THE FORCE THIS SEASON ARE:

4-0 at home
3-2 on the road

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

1-1 on Fridays
3-1 on Saturday
3-0 on Sundays

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

3-2 in televised games

7-1 when leading at the half
0-0 when tied at the half
0-1 when trailing at the half

7-0 when leading after 3 quarters
0-1 when tied after 3 quarters
0-1 when trailing after 3 quarters

1-0 outcome 7 points or less
4-2 outcome 3 points or less
0-0 overtime games

4-1 when the Force scores first
3-1 when opponent scores first

3-1 when the Force win the coin toss
4-1 when opponent wins the coin toss


CONNECTIONS:

Georgia's Sponsor Manager 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.



THINGS TO WATCH:


CLOSE SITUATIONS:

This season, the Force have shown a toughness for winning the close game. Of their seven wins on the year, five of those contests have been decided by 7 points or less and four have been by 3 points or less.

DATE OPPONENT RESULT SCORE
1/30 vs. New Orleans W 46-44
2/25 at Austin W 66-63
3/6 vs. Columbus W 55-48
3/19 vs. Orlando W 49-47
3/26 at New Orleans W 43-40


THUNDER AND LIGHTING:

Georgia's rookie tandem of WR/LB Derek Lee and OS Troy Bergeron have been tearing up the AFL. "Thunder and Lightning" lead the League with a combined 42 touchdown receptions. The following is the top five duos in touchdown receptions:

TOP FIVE TOUCHDOWN DUOS

PLAYERS TEAM TDS
1. Derek Lee & Troy Bergeron Georgia 42
2. Steve Smith & Sean Scott Philly 37
3. Siaha Burley & Randy Gatewood Arizona 36
4. Aaron Bailey & Thabiti Davis N. Orleans 29
5. Aaron Bailey & Jacques Rumph N. Orleans 28


RED ZONE TOUGHNESS:

Georgia is currently ranked T-9th in the AFL in points allowed per game (44.5) and 1st in red zone defense only allowing opponents to score on 31-of-42 tries on the season.



HOME COOKING:

For the first time in the team's four-year history, Georgia has started a season 4-0 at home. Currently, the Force are riding a team-record six-game winning streak at home dating back to last season.

Georgia has never finished the season with a winning home record.

YEAR RECORD VENUE
2002 3-4 Philips Arena
2003 3-5 Arena at Gwinnett Center
2004 3-5 Arena at Gwinnett Center
2005 4-0 Philips Arena


AND THE AWARD GOES TO:

The Force have been recognized for some of their achievements this season, both as a team and as players by being honored with the following awards:

AFL Rookie of the Month (February)
OS Troy Bergeron

AFL Defensive Player of the Week
DS Kevin Gaines- Week 3

AFLWA Top 8 Team Poll
# 1 ranking- Week 9

AFLWA Player of the Week
WR/LB Derek Lee- Week 7


MAKING A HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE:

The Force have established a new record for home attendance in each of their first four home games this season.

DATE OPPONENT ATTENDANCE
March 19 Orlando 14,226
March 6 Columbus 14,104
Feb. 12 Arizona 13,297
Jan. 30 New Orleans 11,328

Before this season, the previous record for a Force home crowd was 11,200, which happened twice with home opener sell-outs at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in 2003 and 2004.




AMONG THE BEST:

Here is a break-down on where some of the Georgia Force players rank in the AFL in various categories:


PLAYER CATEGORY AFL RANK


OS- Troy Bergeron
Scoring 3rd
All-Purpose 3rd
Receptions 5th
Receiving Yards 4th
Receiving TDs 3rd

WR/LB- Derek Lee
Scoring T-4th
Receptions 8th
Receiving Yards 10th
Receiving TDs 5th

DS- Kevin Gaines
Interceptions 1st
Tackles 2nd

DS- Willie Gary
Tackles 7th

K- Nelson Garner
Scoring (Kickers) 6th

OL/DL- Jermaine Smith
Sacks 6th

OL/DL- Gillis Wilson
Sacks T-9th


FLAG ON THE PLAY:

The Force and Las Vegas Gladiators combined for 34 penalties in their game on February 20th to set a new AFL record. The previous mark for most penalties in a contest was 21, which had been done twice (once by the Georgia on 4/20/02 vs. Orlando). That next week, Georgia and Austin combined for 30 penalties in their game on February 25th for the second most penalties in League history.

Currently, the Force are the second most penalized team in the League averaging 68 yards per game in penalties while Georgia opponents are ranked first in the AFL in most penalty yards per game with a 71.2 average.


HEAD COACHES:

DOUG PLANK, Georgia (7-2, 1st Year): On July 30, 2004, Doug Plank was announced as the new head coach of the Georgia Force becoming the fourth head coach in the team's history. Plank comes to the Force having served as the defensive coordinator for the Arizona Rattlers from 2002-2004, which included three consecutive ArenaBowl championship game births.

Following a 3-5 start in 2004, the Rattlers turned their season around to finish with a league-tying best 11-5 record and secure the top seed in the AFL playoffs. In 2002, Plank helped guide the Rattlers defense to a number one regular season ranking in rushing defense and scoring defense. In his three years with the Rattlers, he coached four First Team All-Arena selections, two Second Team All-Arena players and four All-Ironman Team choices, including 2003 AFL Ironman of the Year Randy Gatewood.

A former member of The Ohio State University football team, Plank played in three consecutive Rose Bowls, 1973, 1974, and 1975. While at Ohio State, he played for legendary coach Woody Hayes.

Plank brings with him a wealth of football experience that includes an impressive career in the NFL. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 12th round of the 1975 NFL Entry Draft and started at safety for eight seasons. The "46 Defense" created by Buddy Ryan was named for Plank's jersey number and aggressive style of play. Plank was also the first Bears rookie to ever lead the team in tackles.

Following his playing career, Plank became a franchisee for the Burger King Corporation owning and operating 17 restaurants in three different states.


Plank's professional history also includes experience as a member of the Rattlers broadcast team. Prior to becoming defensive coordinator, he spent five years as the Rattlers' radio analyst and two seasons as their television color analyst.

His broadcasting experience also includes stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Arizona State University Football, Fox Sports Net, Westwood One and Sports USA Radio Network.


TIM MARCUM, Tampa Bay (171-65 overall, 17th 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 11th season with the Storm. He led Tampa to back-to-back ArenaBowl titles (1995 & '96) and captured his third AFL championship with the Storm in 2003. Marcum led the Storm to a 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.

LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET:

DULUTH, GA. – The Tampa Bay Storm snapped a three-game skid and captured their first road win of the season in four tries handing the Georgia Force a 53-24defeat. The Storm used seven turnovers by the Force to limit Georgia to only 10 points over the final three quarters. The 24 points scored by the Force set a new club-low breaking the previous mark of 27 points scored vs. Orlando (4/26/03).

Tampa Bay's David White, who tied his career-high with three rushing touchdowns gaining 19 yards on seven carries, paced the Storm. For his efforts, White was named Offensive Player of the Game. Returning to his starting role after a two game absence, Storm quarterback Shane Stafford threw for 209 yards on 14-of-30 passing and three touchdowns. The Tampa Bay defense was the story of the game though coming up with three interceptions, two fumbles and forcing Georgia into turnovers on downs twice.

Tampa Bay took advantage of two Georgia turnovers in the second quarter to establish an early lead of 26-17 at the half. The Storm capitalized on an interception by T.T. Toliver and a Force turnover on downs converting each opportunity into points. In the second period, Tampa Bay's White rushed for a pair of touchdowns and Stafford threw for two more TDs as the Storm outscored Georgia 19 to 3. The Force's only points came on a 31-yard field goal by Steve McLaughlin as time expired for the break. Troubled by penalties the entire game, Georgia's defense had two interceptions of Stafford in the first half negated by flags.

FORCE LAST WEEK:

NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Georgia Force took sole possession of the AFL's best record at 7-2 and the Southern Division with a 43-40 road victory over the New Orleans VooDoo (6-3). The Force defense held the VooDoo on fourth down with 19 seconds remaining in the game forcing a turnover of downs to secure the win.

Georgia QB Matt Nagy threw for four touchdowns on 15-of-27 passing for 198 and Force OS Troy Bergeron caught two touchdowns with 78 receiving on five receptions to lead the team. For New Orleans, FB/LB Leroy Thompson rushed for two scores gaining 28 yards on six carries and OS Aaron Bailey added a game-high 112 yards receiving and 11 catches with one touchdown.

Both teams scored on each of their first four possessions in the first half, as Georgia had a 24-23 lead at the break. The one-point difference came on a blocked PAT by Force OL/DL Jermaine Smith early in the second quarter following a VooDoo rushing touchdown by Thompson. Nagy threw three touchdowns in the first half finding Bergeron for two and WR/LB Scottie Montgomery once in the end zone. New Orleans' scoring came from Bailey and WR/DB Carl Bond, who each caught a touchdown pass from QB Andy Kelly. Each team's kickers added a field goal in the first quarter, Georgia's Nelson Garner and the VooDoo's Brian Schmitz, from 35 and 23 yards respectively.

In the third quarter, Georgia built an 11-point lead, 37-26, outscoring the 13-3 in the period and coming up with the game's first turnover holding New Orleans on downs. The VooDoo answered with another Kelly to Bond touchdown, but an on-side kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff was returned by Force WR/LB Derek Lee for a touchdown and Georgia's double digit advantage held. Thompson capped the game's final score with his second rushing touchdown of the contest from one-yard out to cut the Georgia lead to three with 6:10 remaining. Both teams turned the ball over on downs in their final possessions; as the Force held on to sweep the season series with the VooDoo.

WEEKLY GAME AWARD WINNERS:



Offensive Player of the Game


WK TEAM PLAYER
1 GA Troy Bergeron
2 LA Remy Hamilton
3 GA Troy Bergeron
4 GA Jim Kubiak
5 GA Matt Nagy
6 GA Troy Bergeron
7 GA Derek Lee
8 GA Derek Lee
9 GA Troy Bergeron
10
11
12
13
14
15
16


ADT Defensive Player of the Game

WK TEAM PLAYER
1 GA Dialleo Burks
2 LA Antuan Simmons
3 GA Gillis Wilson
4 GA Kevin Gaines
5 GA Kevin Gaines
6 GA Gillis Wilson
7 NY Chris Angel
8 GA Kevin Gaines
9 GA Kevin Gaines
10
11
12
13
14
15
16


U.S. Army Ironman of the Game

WK TEAM PLAYER
1 GA Robert Thomas
2 LA Brian Sump
3 GA Ricky Parker
4 GA Derek Lee
5 GA Troy Bergeron
6 GA Chris Demaree
7 NY Corey Johnson
8 GA Ricky Parker
9 GA Derek Lee
10
11
12
13
14
15
16


AFL WEEK 10 SCHEDULE (all times are EST):


Friday, April 1
New Orleans at Austin, 8:30 pm


BYE: Dallas




Saturday, April 2
Chicago at New York, 7 pm
Georgia at Tampa Bay, 7:30 pm


Sunday, April 3
Philadelphia at Columbus, 12 pm
Los Angeles at Orlando, 12 pm
Nashville at Grand Rapids, 2:30 pm
Las Vegas at Colorado, 3 pm
Arizona at San Jose, 9 pm


AFL ON TV (all times are EST):


Friday, April 1 Sunday, April 3
New Orleans at Austin, 8:30 pm Philadelphia at Columbus, 12 pm
Los Angeles at Orlando, 12 pm
Saturday, April 2
Chicago at New York, 7 pm
Georgia at Tampa Bay, 7:30 pm

Sunday, April 3
Arizona at San Jose, 9 pm



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 29, 2005


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.

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