AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Georgia, New York face off in National Conference battle this Saturday

Published on March 10, 2005 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Two record-setting rookie head coaches, who have their sights set on the National Conference postseason bracket, will square off when head coach DOUG PLANK leads the AFLWA's No. 2 Georgia Force (5-1) into Nassau Coliseum to face New York head coach WEYLAN HARDING and the No. 3 Dragons (4-1) on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FSN South and FSN New York.

NBC games will feature the Chicago Rush (3-3) traveling to Van Andel Arena to face the Grand Rapids Rampage (1-5), while the Arizona Rattlers (1-5) head to St. Pete Times Forum to face the Tampa Bay Storm (3-2) in a rematch of ArenaBowl XVII – both on Sunday at noon ET on NBC. Philadelphia Soul QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 210, Oregon) will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.

Georgia's rookie sensation, OS TROY BERGERON (6-2, 190, Middle Tennessee State), looks to continue his scorching pace by leading the AFL in scoring (114) and receptions (53). Third-year veteran QB MATT NAGY (6-2, 220, Delaware) took over the reigns of the No. 5 offense (290.2 YPG) last week and will have the task of battling a stingy Dragons' secondary which leads the AFL in interceptions (12), and is led by rookies DS BILLY PARKER (6-0, 195, William & Mary) and DS CHRIS ANGEL (6-0, 200, Western Oregon). Georgia rookie WR/DB DEREK LEE (6-5, 225, Tennessee Tech) adds 40 receptions and 11 touchdowns to Nagy's arsenal.

On the other sideline, New York QB AARON GARCIA (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) guides the AFL's No. 4 offense (55.2 PPG) by connecting on 63.5-percent of his passes for 1,098 yards, 26 touchdowns and two interceptions. Garcia's main target has been former Offensive Player of the Year OS MIKE HORACEK (6-2, 200 Iowa State) – 27 receptions and 11 touchdowns – while WR/DB WILL HOLDER (6-0, 192, Monmouth) leads the AFL in kickoff return average (31.0) and return touchdowns (3).

In the Southern Division, JAY GRUDEN and the AFLWA's No. 4 (tie) Orlando Predators (4-2) head to New Orleans Arena to face MIKE NEU and the No. 1-ranked New Orleans VooDoo (5-1) on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on Cox Sports.

New Orleans QB ANDY KELLY (6-3, 220, Tennessee) continues his record-setting ways with the AFL's top trio – OS AARON BAILEY (5-11, 190, Louisville), WR/LB THABITI DAVIS (6-3, 210, Wake Forest) and WR/DB JACQUES RUMPH (5-8, 180, Carson Newman) – at his disposal. The three have combined for 140 receptions, 1,566 yards and 32 touchdowns. The VooDoo are No. 2 (307.5 YPG) in total offense, while the Predators are No. 2 in scoring defense (42.7 PPG).

Orlando QB JOE HAMILTON (5-10, 190, Georgia Tech) will look to keep the Predators from falling two back in the Southern Division. Emerging stars WR/DB JUSTIN SKAGGS (6-2, 202, Evangel) and WR/LB JIMMY FRYZEL (5-11, 195, Central Florida) join 2004 U.S. Army Ironman of the Year WR/LB CORY FLEMING (6-3, 215, Tennessee) as lethal options for Hamilton.

Elsewhere, the Arizona Rattlers (1-5) head to St. Pete Times Forum for an ArenaBowl XVII rematch against the Tampa Bay Storm (3-2) this Sunday at noon ET on NBC. Former All-Arena QB SHERDRICK BONNER (6-4, 240, Cal State-Northridge) and OS SIAHA BURLEY (5-10, 185, Central Florida) will look to outshine the connection of QB SHANE STAFFORD (6-3, 210, Connecticut) and OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (5-11, 185, South Carolina State). Bonner is the AFL's all-time winningest quarterback with 90 career victories, while Stafford earned his second Offensive Player of the Week honor this season in last week's 70-50 victory over Grand Rapids.

In the Central Division, the Chicago Rush (3-3) hope to keep pace with division-leading Colorado when they head to Michigan to play the Grand Rapids Rampage (1-4) this Sunday at noon ET on NBC. Chicago FB/LB BOB MC MILLEN (6-3, 260, Illinois Benedictine) – "The Toughest Man in Football" – has rushed for 1,213 yards in his career and needs just eight yards to pass Arizona FB/LB BO KELLY (who also plays this Sunday against Tampa Bay) for No. 3 and 29 yards to pass ANDRE BOWDEN to move into No. 2 all-time. LES BARLEY holds the AFL career rushing record with 1,382 yards.

Games slated for Week 7 include: Philadelphia at San Jose (Comcast, FSN Bay Area) on Friday; Georgia at New York (FSN South, FSN New York, NASN-Europe), Las Vegas at Columbus (AFL Net -www.arenafootball.com), Colorado at Nashville (FSN South, FSN Rocky Mountain, NASN-Europe) on Saturday; Arizona at Tampa Bay (NBC, The Score-Canada), Chicago at Grand Rapids (NBC, The Score-Canada), Orlando at New Orleans (Cox Sports) and Dallas at Austin (FSN Southwest, INHD) on Sunday. The Los Angeles Avengers have a bye week.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 New Orleans VooDoo 5-1 107 (10)
2 Georgia Force 5-1 98 (3)
3 New York Dragons 4-1 82 (1)
t-4 Dallas Desperados 4-2 49
t-4 Orlando Predators 4-2 49
6 Tampa Bay Storm 3-2 43
7 Los Angeles Avengers 4-2 39
8 Colorado Crush 3-2 30
Also receiving votes: San Jose SaberCats 3, Chicago Rush 3.


PHILADELPHIA SOUL (2-4) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (3-2)
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, AT 10:30 P.M. ET
(COMCAST, SATURDAY AT 2 P.M. AND SUNDAY AT 3 P.M.)
(FSN – RANDY HAHN, MIKE PAWLAWSKI & F.P. SANTANGELO)

The only time these two teams met, San Jose won 48-36... In that game Philadelphia's defense set a team record in sacks (4)... The four sacks against San Jose QB MARK GRIEB is the most against Grieb in a game and the second most allowed by a San Jose team... Since 2002, the season San Jose won their first of two ArenaBowls, the SaberCats are 23-2 at home during the regular season and 9-1 overall in March... This season San Jose is 1-0 at home... Grieb is ranked No. 1 in passing yards per game (319.2) and has thrown for at least 275 in every game this season... Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI has thrown more touchdowns (28) against San Jose than any other franchise, except Arizona ... Philadelphia WR/DB SEAN SCOTT posted career best eight receptions and five TDs playing at Chicago in Week 2 and 105 receiving yards two weeks later in New Orleans... Philadelphia WR/DB STEVE SMITH tied a career-high five touchdowns and a season-high nine receptions against Austin and a season high 145 receiving yards against New Orleans...Graziani also had season highs in TDs (8) and passing yards (332) against Austin... Philadelphia interim-head coach JAMES FULLER was an assistant head coach with Oklahoma Wranglers in 2000 and split the series against San Jose 1-1 scoring a season-high 68 points in a 68-64 win on April 21... With 77 receiving yards in last week's 57-38 win over Orlando, San Jose WR/DB BARRY WAGNER became the first player in the AFL with over 13,000 receiving yards (13,031) and needs 240 all-purpose yards to pass WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER as the League's all-time leader (20,587)... In seven games against San Jose, Philadelphia OS TYRONNE JONES has 43 receptions for 569 yards and 17 TDs and 1,192 all-purpose yards.

2005 LEADERS SOUL SABERCATS
SERIES LEADER San Jose leads 1-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 3-2
LAST GAME Lost vs New York,54-61 Won at Orlando, 57-38
2005 LEADERS SOUL SABERCATS
PASSING Graziani: 200-121-7, 1604, 37 TDs Grieb: 200-131-5, 1596, 28 TDs
RECEIVING Smith: 39-577, 12 TDs Roe: 41-532, 13 TDs
RUSHING M. Jackson: 17-46, 0 TDs Kinsinger: 12-33, 5 TDs
TACKLES Thompson: 35.5 Smith: 20.5
SACKS Missouri: 1.0 Jacobs, Warren. 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Thompson: 2 Fernandez, Kinsinger, Smith: 1
KICKING Schorejs: 36-42 PAT; 2-6 FG, 42 PTS Frantz:31-39 PAT; 1-4 FG,34 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 51.7 PPG (8); 281.3 YPG (8) 57.2 PPG (2); 330.8 YPG (1)
TEAM DEFENSE 54.7 PPG (15); 287.2 YPG (10) 53.0 PPG (15); 299.0 YPG (14)


GEORGIA FORCE (5-1) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (4-1)
SATURDAY, MARCH 12 AT 7 P.M. ET
(FSN SOUTH, FSN NEW YORK AT 9 P.M.; NASN EUROPE – BOB WISCHUSEN, JONATHAN VILMA & DEB KAUFMAN)

Georgia is tied with New Orleans for first place in the Southern Division and New York is in first place in the Eastern Division... Georgia is one of only two teams (Orlando) to have a better record than New York... Georgia is looking for their first win against the Dragons... After Georgia QB JIM KUBIAK injured his knee in a 66-63 win in Austin, QB MATT NAGY has completed 43-of-62 passes averaging 266 yards and six TDs per game... Nagy started for Carolina in 2004 with a 3-7 record... New York is tied at No. 1 in turnover margin (+8) and has won the turnover battle in their two previous meetings... This season Georgia is ranked No. 3 in scoring defense and New York is ranked No. 4... New York's lone loss is the only game that QB AARON GARCIA, who is ranked No. 8 in passing TDs (26), threw for less then 200 yards and under five TDs... Garcia is only four touchdowns shy of 700 total career touchdowns (655 passing, 41 rushing, 696 total)... Georgia OS TROY BERGERON is ranked No. 1 in scoring (114), receptions (43) and receiving yardage (701) and No. 3 in all-purpose yards (1,170) and has at least six receptions and three TDs in every game this season... At his current pace (50), Bergeron will break the record of TD receptions for a rookie in a season (42) set by EDDIE BROWN of Iowa in 1994... New York WR/DB WILL HOLDER has returned nine kickoffs for 279 yards and ranks No. 1 in return yards (31.0 YPG) and TDs (3)... Georgia DS KEVIN GAINES and New York DS BILLY PARKER are tied at No. 1 in INTs (4) while New York WR/DB COREY JOHNSON is tied at No. 3 (3)... Gaines had a League high for 2005 three INTs in a 41-37 loss to Las Vegas on February 11, and is ranked No. 2 in tackles (44.0)

2005 LEADERS FORCE DRAGONS
SERIES LEADER New York leads 2-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1
LAST GAME Won vs. Columbus, 55-48 Wont at Philadelphia, 61-54
2005 LEADERS FORCE DRAGONS
PASSING Kubiak: 158-104-3, 1146, 22 TDs Garcia: 148-94-2,1098, 26 TDs
RECEIVING Bergeron: 53-701, 19 TDs Horacek: 27-375, 11 TDs
RUSHING Thomas: 15-56, 3 TDs White: 13-40 4 TDs
TACKLES Gaines:44.5 Angel: 34.0
SACKS Wilson: 2.5 Owen, Thomas: 0.5
INTERCEPTIONS Gaines: 4 Parker: 4
KICKING Garner: 36-41 PAT; 5-7 FG; 51 PTS Bironas: 33-40 PAT, 1-6 FG, 36 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 51.2 PPG (10); 290.2 YPG (5) 55.2 PPG (4); 225.2 YPG (17)
TEAM DEFENSE 43.5 PPG (3); 288.0 YPG (11) 45.2 PPG (4); 285.0 YPG (9)



LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (3-3) AT COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (1-4)
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, AT 7 P.M. ET
(AFL Net - www.arenafootball.com)

Las Vegas is looking to tie the series at four apiece after losing the first four... These two teams met last season in Week 17, which Las Vegas won 64-51 to finish 8-8 on the season and avoid its first losing season since the team moved to Las Vegas in 2002... In that game Las Vegas WR/DB COCO BLALOCK had eight receptions for 147 yards and five TDs against the team that he started the season with... In that game former Las Vegas WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON had 79 receiving yards and 178 all-purpose yards for Columbus... Las Vegas is trying to avoid their first losing streak of the season after falling to Austin 42-41... Columbus QB MATT D'ORAZIO is looking to give Columbus their second win of the season and even his record at 2-2... D'orazio has thrown for at least 250 yards and four TDs in his three starts this season... QB CRAIG WHELIHAN is the third Las Vegas quarterback to start the season 1-1 and has thrown five TDs in both starts... One player to benefit from Whelihan is OS JOE DOUGLAS who had season highs in receptions (4) in Nashville and receiving yards (48) and TDs (2) against Austin... Columbus WR/DB CORNELIUS WHITE needs only two receptions to pass OS BOBBY OLIVE on the Destroyers all-time leader... Columbus K STEVE VIDETICH has been the fourth-most productive kicker in the League (175) since leaving Las Vegas after the 2003 season... This game will be a race to 300, both teams are undefeated when they have totaled over 300 offensive yards and are winless when their opponents have over 300 offensive yards... Las Vegas is ranked No. 2 in total defense (242.7 YPG) while Columbus is ranked No. 5 (260.0).

2005 LEADERS GLADIATORS DESTROYERS
SERIES LEADER Columbus leads 4-3
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 1-4
LAST GAME Lost vs Austin, 41-42 Lost at Georgia, 48-55
2005 LEADERS GLADIATORS DESTROYERS
PASSING Whelihan: 84-53-2, 632, 10 TDs D'Orazio: 103-74-2, 790, 13 TDs
RECEIVING Nash: 43-595, 7 TDs White: 37-436, 7 TDs
RUSHING Carter: 19-56, 4 TD D'Orazio: 20-67, 2 TD
TACKLES Bonner: 33.5 Franklin: 25.5
SACKS Carter: 7.0 Jones: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Porter, Taylor: 2 Hefflin, Polk: 1
KICKING Lewis: 23-28 PAT, 5-9 FG, 38 PTS Videtich: 29-30 PAT; 5-9 FG; 44 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 35.3 PPG (17); 287.2 YPG (6) 45.2 PPG (14); 243.2 YPG (16)
TEAM DEFENSE 42.0 PPG (1); 242.7 YPG (3) 48.4 PPG (8); 260.0 YPG (5)



COLORADO CRUSH (3-2) AT NASHVILLE KATS (1-5)
SATURDAY MARCH 12, AT 8:30 P.M. ET
(FSN SOUTH*-11 P.M., FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN*, NASN-EUROPE – ELI GOLD, DAVE ARCHER & STEVE WRIGLEY)

The Crush can remain on top of the Central Division with a win over the division rival Kats... The Crush are 1-1 in divisional play... the Kats are 0-1 in divisional play... These two teams have never met before.... The Kats returned after a three-year hiatus this season, and the Crush joined the League in 2003... A Crush victory would give them their first three-game winning streak in franchise history... Since 2003 the Crush have had six two-game winning streaks... Kats OS FRED COLEMAN has posted 100-or-more all-purpose yards in every game this season... Kats WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND needs one interception to become the second player in AFL history to record 30 interceptions and 8,000 receiving yards in a career... The Rush lost the only game this season that they had more offensive plays than their opponent... Crush QB JOHN DUTTON has thrown for more than 225 yards and recorded at least three touchdowns in each of his games this season... Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL is averaging more than three touchdowns per game (3.2) this season... Harrell has had a touchdown reception in 38 consecutive games... The Crush lead the League in scoring offense (57.6 ppg)... The Kats lead the League in total offensive plays (316)... The Kats lead the League in rushing attempts (78) and rushing touchdowns (15)... The Crush have returned three fumbles for a touchdown this season, tying them with Dallas for the league Lead... Crush DS RASHAD FLOYD leads the league in tackles 51.5, has recorded 10-or-more tackles in a game three times this season, and has been named ADT Defensive Player of the Game in all but one game this season.

2005 LEADERS CRUSH KATS
SERIES LEADER First meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 0-5
LAST GAME Won vs. Los Angeles, 58-40 Lost at Chicago, 38-45
2005 LEADERS CRUSH KATS
PASSING Dutton: 185-114-4, 1322, 28 TDs Murray: 145-87-5, 845, 12 TDs
RECEIVING Harrell: 40-542, 16 TDs Coleman: 44-460, 5 TDs
RUSHING Young: 7-22, 1 TDs Alexander: 36-105, 5 TDs
TACKLES Floyd: 51.5 Jenkins: 29.0
SACKS Young: 4.0 Taylor: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS McKenzie: 3 Jenkins: 3
KICKING Rush: 24-38 PAT; 8-15 FG; 58 PTS Kral: 25-33 PAT; 3-11 FG; 340 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 57.6 PPG (1); 271.0 YPG (12) 41.3 PPG (16); 266.3 YPG (13)
TEAM DEFENSE 51.0 PPG (12); 324.8 YPG (16) 50.5 PPG (11); 262.5 YPG (6)



ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-5) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (3-2)
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, AT 12 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, RAY BENTLEY & LEWIS JOHNSON)

The last time these two teams during the regular season met was in March of 2003 with the Storm coming away with a win... Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER is 3-2 as a starter during the regular season against the Storm and 1-2 in the postseason... Storm QB SHANE STAFFORD has yet to face the Rattlers...The Rattlers have not won since Week 1 and are looking to break their five-game losing streak... They will have to face the Storm in Tampa where so far this season, the Storm are 3-0... In those three wins, Stafford completed at least 66% of his passes and has hit four-or-more receivers for at least one TD... Storm WR/DB CLIF DELL ranks No. 7 in the League in points scored (80) and is tied at No. 5 for TD receptions (13)... Along with Bonner, OS SIAHA BURLEY leads the Rattlers' offense with 47 receptions for 651 yards... Burley is ranked No. 4 in the League in receptions (47), No. 3 in reception yards (651) and No. 2 in all-purpose yards (1173)... On defense, Storm DS TRAMIAN JONES is ranked No. 3 in the League with 42.5 total tackles and the Rattlers' DS CLARENCE LAWSON is ranked No. 8 with 35.0... The Storm's three wins have come in games where they scored 60-or-more points, so far this season the Rattlers have held their opponents to an average of 53 points per games.

2005 LEADERS RATTLERS STORM
SERIES LEADER Tampa Bay leads 6-4
LAST FIVE GAMES 0-5 3-2
LAST GAME Lost vs. Los Angeles, 29-33 Won vs. Grand Rapids, 70-50
2005 LEADERS RATTLERS STORM
PASSING Germaine: 113-71-5, 901, 17 TDs Stafford: 196-128-1, 1364, 29 TDs
RECEIVING Burley: 47-651, 15 TDs Samuels: 38-437, 5 TDs
RUSHING Trentadue: 4-25, 0 TDs Penright: 9-28, 1 TDs
TACKLES Lawson: 35.0 Jones: 42.5
SACKS Glover: 3.0 Wiren: 1.5
INTERCEPTIONS Gatewood: 2 Ordway & Samuels: 2
KICKING Brenner: 14-15 PAT; 2-2 FG; 20 PTS George: 32-36 PAT; 5-11 FG; 47 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 46.72 PPG (13); 276.7 YPG (10) 56.6 PPG (3); 276.4 YPG (11)
TEAM DEFENSE 53.0 PPG (13); 239.2 YPG (2) 47.4 PPG (7); 266.0 YPG (8)



CHICAGO RUSH (3-3) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-4)
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, AT 12 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC, THE SCORE-CANADA – BOB PAPA, CHARLES DAVIS & JACK DOLES)

This matchup features Central Division rivals... The Rush are 2-0 in divisional play while the Rampage are 0-1... The Rampage lead the League in rushing (284 yards) and with 56.8 rushing yards per game, are averaging 18.3 more yards per game than their closest competitor (Dallas 38.5)... Rampage QB MICHAEL BISHOP has ranks No. 3 in the league in offensive yards per play (8.0)... In just four games as a starter, Bishop leads the League in rushing yards (217) and trails Dallas FB/LB JA'MAR TOOMBS and Nashville QB LEON MURRAY by one touchdown for the League lead in rushing touchdowns (5)... Bishop is averaging more yards per game (54.2) than any other team in the League... In only four games, Bishop has accumulated more rushing yards this season than four other teams combined (San Jose - 57, New Orleans – 56, Tampa Bay - 50, and Colorado - 46)... The Rampage are 1-0 when holding opponents to 57 points or less, and 0-4 when allowing 58-or-more points... Bishop has scored six-or-more total touchdowns in each game he has started this season... Rampage OS CHRIS JACKSON has posted two-or-more touchdowns and 90-or more receiving yards in each of his last four games... Two of the Rampage's three wins over the Rush have been at home.

2005 LEADERS RUSH RAMPAGE
SERIES LEADER Chicago leads 5-3
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 1-4
LAST GAME Won vs Nashville, 45-38 Lost at Tampa Bay, 50-70
2005 LEADERS RUSH RAMPAGE
PASSING Philyaw: 175-116-6, 1301, 23 TDs Bishop: 129-68-2, 1025; 22 TDs
RECEIVING Molden: 40-426, 11 TDs Jackson: 35-483, 9 TDs
RUSHING McMillen: 20-63, 2 TDs Bishop: 27-217, 5 TDs
TACKLES Alfonzo: 30.0 Doggette: 28.0
SACKS Moyer: 3.0 Avery, Mitchell, Powell: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Shaw: 2 Robinson: 1
KICKING Gispert: 30-34 PAT; 6-8 FG; 48 PTS Martinez: 25-31 PAT; 6-14 FG; 43 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 47.7 PPG (12); 285.0 YPG (7) 54.2 PPG (6); 296.2 YPG (4)
TEAM DEFENSE 48.8 PPG (9); 297.3 YPG (13) 66.0 PPG (17); 290.2 YPG (12)



ORLANDO PREDATORS (4-2) AT NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (5-1)
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: COX SPORTS, CHRIS KENYON & RICH LENZ)

One of the VooDoo's five losses last season came at the hands of the Predators... In that game, OS AARON BAILEY hauled in six receptions for 98 yards with one TD... Entering Week 7, Bailey is No. 3 in the League in receptions (50), No. 2 in reception yards (682), No. 6 in all-purpose yards (699) and tied at No. 4 in receiving TDs (13)... VooDoo QB ANDY KELLY is ranked No. 4 in the League in completion percentage (67.2), No. 2 in yards per game (299.8) and is leading the League in touchdown passes (38) and total yards (1799)... The Predators' QB JOE HAMILTON is tied for No. 1 in the League for interceptions thrown with seven and the VooDoo defense has six players who have recorded at least one interception this season... Two of the Leagues top 10 defenders will play in this game... VooDoo DS ALVIN PORTER and Predators DS DAMON MASON are ranked No. 6 (39.5) and No. 4 (42.0) respectively in the League for total tackles... Predators' OL/DL E.J. BURT is tied at No. 4 in the League with 3.0 sacks on the season, however the VooDoo offense has only allowed 4.0 sacks all season, which is fifth best in the League.

2005 LEADERS PREDATORS VooDoo
SERIES LEADER Orlando leads 2-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 5-0
LAST GAME Lost vs San Jose, 38-57 Won at Dallas, 53-51
2005 LEADERS PREDATORS VooDoo
PASSING Hamilton: 201-119-7, 1330, 24 TDs Kelly: 259-174-4, 1799, 38 TDs
RECEIVING Skaggs: 28-333, 3 TDs Davis: 51-445, 10 TDs
RUSHING Price: 15-76, 5 TDs Thompson: 16-31, 3 TDs
TACKLES Mason: 42.0 Pointer: 39.5
SACKS Burt: 3.0 Cohen: 5.0
INTERCEPTIONS Mason: 2 Cloeman, Spears: 2.0.
KICKING Gowins: 19-23 PAT; 4-8 FG; 31 PTS Schmitz: 40-43 PAT; 5-8 FG; 55 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 44,2 PPG (15); 246.3 YPG (15) 54.5 PPG (5); 307.5 YPG (2)
TEAM DEFENSE 42.7 PPG (2); 247.2 YPG (4) 46.8 PPG (6); 264.0 YPG (7)



DALLAS DESPERADOS (4-2) AT AUSTIN WRANGLERS (2-4)
SUNDAY, MARCH 12, AT 4 P.M. ET
(FSN SOUTHWEST, INHD – KEVIN ESCHENFELDER & GARY REASONS)

The Desperados are hoping to avoid a repeat of last season when they went 4-1 in their first five games, but lost nine of their last 11... One of those nine losses came against Austin 36-48... Desperados QB CLINT STOERNER is ranked No. 5 in the League in passing yards per game (250.7) and total yards (1475), tied at No. 4 in offensive TDs (29) and has the highest QB pass rating at 120.5... He will have to face the Desperados defense, which is leading the League in total defense, allowing an average of only 230.7 yards per game... One of the defenders looking to stop the Desperados offense is Wranglers' DS CEDRIC WALKER who is tied for No. 9 in the League with 34.0 total tackles... Desperados WR/DB WILL PETTIS earned U.S. Army Ironman of the Month for February... Entering Week 7, Pettis is No. 4 in the League in all-purpose yards (898), No. 2 on the team with 32 catches for 336 yards and five TDs and leads the team with two INTs... Pettis has caught at least one TD in each of the Desperados wins this season, however in their two losses he did not catch any... Desperado WR/LB JASON SHELLEY is ranked No. 6 in the League in receiving yards (565) and is tied for No. 8 in the League for receptions with 41, two catches behind Wranglers WR/LB DARRIN CHIAVERINI who is tied at No. 6 with 43... Last year against the Desperados, Chiaverini caught only two passes for 15 yards and two TDs.

2005 LEADERS DESPERADOS WRANGLERS
SERIES LEADER Wranglers lead 1-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 2-3
LAST GAME Lost vs New Orleans, 51-53 Won at Las Vegas, 42-41
2005 LEADERS DESPERADOS WRANGLERS
PASSING Stoerner: 172-109-4, 1475, 28 TDs Fitzgerald: 177-115-5, 1434, 27 TDs
RECEIVING Shelley: 41-565, 9 TDs Chiaverini: 43-393, 7 TDs
RUSHING Pettijohn: 24-100, 3 TDs Bryant: 18-44, 5 TDs
TACKLES Jones: 26.5 Walker: 34.0
SACKS Simpkins, Pettijohn: 2.0 Humphrey, Briggs, Bryant: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Pettis: 2 Hunter: 2
KICKING Martinez: 36-39 PAT; 5-10 FG; 51 PTS Dodson: 29-36 PAT, 2-10 FG; 35 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 51.8 PPG (7); 280.2 YPG (9) 51.5 PPG (9); 302.5 YPG (3)
TEAM DEFENSE 45.8 PPG (5); 230.7 YPG (1) 60.0 PPG (16); 340.0 YPG (17)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 10, 2005


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