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Georgia Force game notes

April 12, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Georgia Force News Release


QUICK FACTS:

Georgia Force (8-3) vs Grand Rapids Rampage (1-9)

Date: April 15, 2005
Kickoff: 7:30 pm ET
Site: Philips Arena (18,200)
Radio: WQXI 790 AM The Zone (David Hubbard: play-by-play, Chuck Oliver: analyst).
Coaches: Doug Plank, Georgia (8-3, 1st Year).
Sparky McEwen (1-9, 1st Year)
Series Record: Series is tied at 1-1
Georgia 41, @ G.R. 41 (6/23/02)
@ Georgia 70, G.R. 54 (3/9/03)

THE OPPONENT:

Grand Rapids enters their game with Georgia having lost 24 of their last 26 games going back to last season. The Rampage are still looking for their first road win of the year having not won a road contest since April 10, 2004 vs. Detroit. Last week
against Las Vegas, Grand Rapids failed to throw a touchdown reception in a game for the first time in team history.

One bright spot for the Rampage however has been their rushing attack. Quarterback Michael Bishop and FB/LB Chris Avery are first and second in the AFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Earlier this season against Colorado, Bishop set a new AFL record for most rushing yards in a game with 100 yards on the ground on six carries.


THE GAME:

The Georgia Force host their second of a back-to-back home stand when the Grand Rapids Rampage visit Philips Arena on Friday, April 15th at 7:30 p.m. ET. With an 8-3 record, Georgia sits atop the National Conference standings and Southern Division.

This season the Force are a perfect 5-0 at home and are currently riding a team record seven game home winning streak going back to last year. The home victory over the Austin Wranglers last week ensured that Georgia will finish with a winning home record for the first time in the team's four year history. The eight victories on the year also ties the club mark for most regular season wins in a season (8-8 in 2003).

Grand Rapids will be Georgia's only opponent this season hailing from the Central Division. The Rampage come into the game owning the League's top rushing offense averaging 53.7 yards a game on the ground. By contrasts, the Force boasts the AFL's fourth rated run defense only allowing 15.9 rushing yards per game.


THE SCHEDULE:

GEORGIA FORCE (8-3)

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 L 38-48
April 8 AUSTIN W 56-53
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 travel to the TD Waterhouse Centre in a battle for the top spot in the Southern Division to face the Orlando Predators on Friday, April 22nd at 7:30 p.m. ET. Despite being one of the toughest venues in the AFL to play, Georgia is a perfect 3-0 all-time at Orlando. Earlier this season, the Force captured a two-point victory over the Predators 49-47 in Philips Arena. The game will be televised locally on FSN South.


THE FORCE THIS SEASON ARE:

5-0 at home
3-3 on the road

0-0 vs. Central Division
1-1 vs. Eastern Division
5-1 vs. Southern Division
2-1 vs. Western Division

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

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

4-3 in televised games

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

8-0 when leading after 3 quarters
0-1 when tied after 3 quarters
0-2 when trailing after 3 quarters

1-0 outcome 7 points or less
5-2 outcome 3 points or less
0-0 overtime games

4-1 when the Force scores first
4-2 when opponent scores first

3-2 when the Force win the coin toss
5-1 when opponent wins the coin toss


STATISTICS:

A look how Georgia and Grand Rapids match-up on both sides of the ball based on 2005 regular season statistics:

Statistical GEORGIA GRAND RAPIDS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 9th 49.5 15th 46.0
Scoring Defense 2nd 45.6 17th 61.0
Total Offense (yds/g) 9th 281.0 7th 287.8
Total Defense (yds/g) 13th 301.4 10th 292.3
Pass Offense 9th 263.8 15th 234.1
Pass Defense 14th 285.5 12th 275.4
Rushing Offense 9th 17.2 1st 53.7
Rushing Defense 4th 15.9 5th 16.9
Pass Rating 3rd 117.0 15th 96.8
Pass Def. Rating 10th 108.3 17th 127.6
Kickoff Returns 8th 17.7 5th 19.1
MFG Returns 13th 10.7 5th 18.8
Interceptions (int-yds) 13th 10-79 16th 5-38
Turnover Margin 10th -2 16th -12
Field Goals 3rd 7-11 11th 9-25
PAT Kicking 6th 65-73 10th 49-57
Sacks By (sks-yds) 9th 10-53 13th 7-33
Sacks Against (sks-yds) 7th 8-61 14th 14-91
First Downs 5th 223 11th 206
Opp. First Downs 15th 238 1st 188
Penalties (yds/gm) 16th 64.5 5th 50.4
Opp. Penalties (yds/gm) 1st 72.1 7th 59.1
Red Zone Offense 17th 33-48 15th 30-41
Red Zone Defense 7th 42-54 17th 41-45
Time of Possession 14th 28:11 3rd 32:27


CONNECTIONS:

Georgia WR/LB Chris Jackson began the 2005 season with Grand Rapids and played in seven games with the Rampage before being traded to the Force on March 30th...Grand Rapids WR/LB Dialleo Burks played for Georgia for two seasons 2004 and beginning of 2005 before being traded to the Rampage on March 30th...Rampage FB/LB Travis Reece played for the Force from 2002-2003.

THINGS TO WATCH:


CLOSE SITUATIONS:

This season, the Force have shown a toughness for winning the close game. Of their eight wins on the year, six of those contests have been decided by 7 points or less with five of those games being decided 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
4/8 vs. Austin W 56-53


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 49 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 49
2. Siaha Burley & Randy Gatewood Arizona 43
3. Steve Smith & Sean Scott Philly 41
4. Aaron Bailey & Thabiti Davis N. Orleans 35
5. Aaron Bailey & Jacques Rumph N. Orleans 32


DEFENSIVE TOUGHNESS:

Georgia is currently ranked 2nd in the AFL in points allowed per game (45.6) and 7th in red zone defense only allowing opponents to score on just 42-of-54 tries on the season inside in the 10 yard line.


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 64.5 yards per game in penalties while Georgia opponents are ranked first in the AFL in most penalty yards per game with a 72.1 average.


HOME COOKING:

For the first time in the team's four-year history, Georgia has started a season 5-0 at home. Currently, the Force are riding a team-record seven 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 5-0 Philips Arena


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.



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

ADT Defensive Player of the Month (March)
DS Kevin Gaines

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

AFLWA Top 8 Team Poll
# 1 ranking- Week 9
# 1 ranking- Week 10

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



ACTION JACKSON- BY THE NUMBERS:

It is pretty amazing to look how much Chris Jackson has done in just five seasons. Here is a look at what he has done in his 72 career AFL games.

70 games with at least one TD
69 games with at least one receiving TD
49 games with at least 2 TDs
29 games with at least 3 receiving TDs
15 games with at least 4 receiving TDs
6 games with at least 5 receiving TDs
2 games with at least 6 receiving TDs
1 game with at least 7 receiving TDs
37 100-yard receiving games
18 games with 10+ receptions

* Only player to win the AFL Rookie of the Year, then later capture AFL Offensive Player of the Year.

* 8th all-time in AFL history in receiving touchdowns.

* 11th all-time in AFL history in scoring.

* 1,200+ yards in 4 of 5 seasons.

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 5th
All-Purpose Yards 2nd
Receptions 8th
Receiving Yards 4th
Receiving TDs 4th
Kickoff Returns 3rd
KO Return Yards 3rd
MFG Return 10th

DS- Kevin Gaines
Interceptions T-1st
Tackles 3rd

DS- Willie Gary
Tackles 6th

K- Nelson Garner
Scoring (Kickers) 5th
Field Goal % 3rd
PAT % 8th

WR/LB Chris Jackson
MFG Return Yards 6th

WR/LB- Derek Lee
Receptions 5th
Receiving Yards 7th
Receiving TDs 5th

QB- Matt Nagy
Total Off. Avg/Play 3rd
Pass Yards per Att. 7th

OL/DL- Jermaine Smith
Sacks 8th

OL/DL- Gillis Wilson
Sacks T-15th


HEAD COACHES:

DOUG PLANK, Georgia (8-3, 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.

SPARKY McEWEN, Grand Rapids (1-9, 1st Year): McEwen became the Grand Rapids Rampage's fourth head coach in team history on August 13, 2004. He was the Rampage's offensive coordinator during the team's best three years on the field (2001-03), which included winning ArenaBowl XV in his first season. During those three years, the Rampage's offense scored more points and gained more yards and points than any other team in the AFL.

For 2004, McEwen was the assistant head coach/offensive coordinator for the Okalahoma City Yard Dawgz of arenafootball2. The Yard Dawgz (10-6) finished with the af2's second-best scoring team (56.8 points per game), the third-best offensive unit (276.8 yards per game) and third-ranked passing offense (260.8 yards per game) in the 25-team league. His starting quarterback, Craig Strickland, led the af2 in passing touchdowns (84) and finished fifth in passing yards.

All told, McEwen's offenses have scored more points and averaged more total offensive yards in the past four seasons than any other offensive coordinator in the AFL/af2.

McEwen was a quarterback on the Rampage's inaugural 1998 season. He appeared in five games and had a 2-1 record as starting quarterback with 477 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and six rushing scores. McEwen was the starting quarterback for Ferris State University in Big Rapids from 1987-90.

During his eight years as head coach of his high school alma mater (Creston), McEwen posted a 43-30 record, including a 42-10 record over the last five seasons. Creston won back-to-back City League titles in 2000 & 2001 and posted the teams first winning season since 1978 in 1999. The team posted winning seasons the last four years and made the state playoffs in each of those seasons. In all, he helped nearly 50 players receive collegiate football scholarships.

Following his playing days, McEwen started scouting for the NFL, XFL and the Big Ten Conference for the Rampage. He and his wife, Janelle, have three children: Charles ("Little Sparky"), A.J. and Ja'nae.

LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET:

DULUTH, GA. - The Georgia Force (4-2) scored a team record for points in a game with a 70-54 win over the Grand Rapids Rampage (4-2). Donnie Davis went 19-of-24 passing for 286 yards with four touchdowns and Dan Curran rushed for 26 yards on six carries and scored a club-record three rushing touchdowns to lead Georgia to its first back-to-back wins of the season. The previous team high for points was a 67-49 victory over the Orlando Predators on April 20, 2002. The Force improved its perfect record of 4-0 on games broadcast on NBC.

Both teams played to a 14-14 tie after the first quarter. The Force scored both its touchdowns on rushes, first by Tommy Dorsey from one-yard out and the second by Curran on a four-yard run. The Rampages found both its TDs through the air, as Clint Dolezel teamed with Terrill Shaw for touchdowns of 16 and 19 yards. Force kicker Steve McLaughlin missed his first PAT attempt of the game, but Georgia was able to tie the score at fourteen apiece after Davis hit Markeith Cooper for a two-point conversion.

Grand Rapids started the second quarter scoring when Dolezel found Shaw for his third score of the game on a 36-yard pass. Rampage kicker Brian Gowins missed the ensuing PAT to leave the score 20-14 Grand Rapids. On its next possession, the Force took is first lead of the game when Davis threw his first touchdown pass of the contest to Cooper to put Georgia up 21-20. Both teams would add a touchdown before the half, as the Force led after two quarters of play 28-27.

The second half began with a bang as Cooper returned the opening kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown. This was Cooper's third career kickoff return touchdown and the first for the Force this season. The 57-yard return also tied a team-high for longest kickoff return. The mark was previous set by Ron Carpenter vs. Orlando on April 20, 2002.

Georgia would build a 42-27 lead after Davis connected on a short screen pass with Scott Thomas that he took the distance and ran in for a 43-yard touchdown. But Grand Rapids worked its way back into the game, as Shaw recorded his team-high tying fourth and fifth touchdowns of the game. Shaw's second TD came after a Thomas fumble inside the Georgia red-zone gave Grand Rapids great field position. It only took Dolezel one play to find Shaw and bring the Rampage within two points 42-40 at the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter belonged to the Georgia defense as they intercepted Grand Rapids on two of its four possessions in the stanza. Following Curran rushing in for his third score of the game, the Rampage's Steve Smith matched Cooper's return feat and ran one back 57 yards to set the score 49-46 Georgia. Davis then lead his troop on two scoring drives, the first capped by a 28-yard touchdown to a wide-open Cooper. The second TD, a 23-yard scoring pass to Thomas in double-coverage, that was set up by a Jarrick Hillery interception of Dolezel in the endzone on Grand Rapids' previous drive. After the Force had amassed a 63-46 advantage, lineman Jermaine Smith picked off Dolezel inside the Rampage five yard-line and returned it to the one yard-line. One play later, Davis hit Darryl Hammond for the touchdown and club-record 70 points. Dolezel added another scoring pass to Smith from seven-yard out as the Force rolled to victory.

Cooper was named to Game's MVP and Curran was named the contest's Iroman.


Scores 1 2 3 4 Final
Grand Rapids 14 13 13 13 54
Georgia Force 14 14 14 28 70

FORCE LAST WEEK:

ATLANTA, GA – The Georgia Force (8-3) defense created a key turnover on downs on the Austin Wranglers (4-7) with a little over two minutes remaining in the game en route to a 56-53 victory. In his Force debut, WR/LB Chris Jackson didn't disappoint scoring four touchdowns on the night in three different fashions (two receiving, one rushing and one kickoff return). The victory gives Georgia a perfect 5-0 mark at home and ensures the team's first winning home record in club history. The Force also upped their team-record home winning streak to seven games dating back to last season.

Force QB Matt Nagy had a career-game completing 85% of his passes going 24-of-28 for 245 yards and six touchdowns, earning him Offensive Player of the Game honors. Georgia OS Troy Bergeron caught one touchdown on the night pushing his total for the season to 25 and setting a new Force single-season record for most touchdown receptions. The Wranglers were led by QB John Fitzgerald, who completed 32-of-49 passes for 315 yards and six touchdowns.

The Austin defense made the game's first stop on Georgia's first possession of the game holding the Force on a fourth and one play from the goal line. The Wranglers capitalized with a 4-yard touchdown pass to WR/LB Darrin Chiaverini and an early 7-0 lead. The Force tied the game at the end of the first quarter with a 6-yard touchdown reception by Bergeron. The Force outscored the Wranglers 14-10 in the second quarter as Nagy connected with WR/LB's Derek Lee and Jackson to build a 21-17 advantage. Georgia's four point lead stood at the break when Austin K Todd Seivers missed a 42-yard field goal wide right as the second quarter ended.

Each team posted a pair of touchdown catches in the third quarter as the Force held their four-point lead at 35-31. In the fourth quarter, Austin took the lead, 42-38, with 8:55 left in the game on a WR/DB Charlie Davidson 19-yard touchdown reception. Georgia answered with 10 straight points to take the lead for good when Lee hauled in his game-high third score from of the game from 10-yards out with 49 seconds left in the fourth quarter.


Score 1 2 3 4 Final
Austin 7 10 14 22 53
Georgia 7 14 14 21 56


LEADERS

Passing
AUS- John Fitzgerald, 32-49-315-6
GA- Matt Nagy, 24-28-245-6

Receiving
AUS- Darrin Chiaverini, 9-61-1
GA- Chris Jackson, 13-133-2

Rushing
AUS- Jeremy Beutler, 3-9-1
GA- Chris Jackson, 1-7-1

Offensive Player of the Game: Matt Nagy, Georgia
ADT Defensive Player of the Game: Willie Gary, Georgia
U.S. Army Ironman of the Game: Chris Jackson, Georgia

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 TB Shane Stafford
11 GA Matt Nagy
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 TB Mike Sutton
11 GA Willie Gary
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 TB Lynarise Elpheage
11 GA Chris Jackson
12
13
14
15
16


AFL WEEK 12 SCHEDULE (all times are EST):


Friday, April 15
Grand Rapids at Georgia, 7:30 pm
New York at Orlando, 7:30 pm
Dallas at San Jose, 10:30 pm


BYE: Arizona


Saturday, April 16
Columbus at New Orleans, 8 pm


Sunday, April 17
Colorado at Chicago, 1 pm
Las Vegas at Philadelphia, 1 pm
Los Angeles at Nashville, 1 pm
Tampa Bay at Austin, 4 pm



AFL ON TV (all times are EST):


Friday, April 15 Sunday, April 10
Dallas at San Jose, 10:30 pm Colorado at Chicago, 1 pm
Las Vegas at Philadelphia, 1 pm
Los Angeles at Nashville, 1 pm



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 12, 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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