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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Harrell and Nash special specialists

February 8, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - Two of the AFL's most productive offensive players will battle it out on Sunday afternoon at 3 PM ET when OS MARCUS NASH and the Las Vegas Gladiators (1-1) visit Colorado (2-0) to take on OS DAMIAN HARRELL and the Crush.

Entering this season, Nash, winner of the 2004 AFL Offensive Player of the Year award, had caught more passes, gained more receiving yards, scored more touchdowns and more points than anyone else in the AFL over the last two years. He is currently tied for second in the league with 19 receptions, tied for second with six touchdowns and ranks fourth in receiving yards with 232.

Nash had 11 catches for 124 yards and four touchdowns in Las Vegas' 51-48 upset win over San Jose on Monday night.

Harrell, the defending Offensive Player of the Year after racking up 122 receptions, 1,486 receiving yards and 41 touchdowns in 2005, is the AFL leader entering Week 3 action with nine touchdowns. He is second in the AFL with 16 first downs and tied for fourth with 18 catches. Harrell has caught at least one touchdown in 51 straight regular-season games dating back to July 4, 2002 when he was with the Toronto Phantoms. He also has produced five straight 1,200-yard seasons (2001-05).

Last week, in Colorado's 61-59 ArenaBowl XIX rematch win over Georgia, Harrell pulled down 11 catches for 132 yards and five touchdowns. In Week 1, he hauled in the game-winning touchdown pass with just one second remaining in the fourth quarter.

Here is how the two players stack up since Nash entered the league in 2003.

MARCUS NASH DAMIAN HARRELL REC YDS TDS REC YDS TDS 2003 69 866 24 97 1,426 38 2004 154 1,771 46 114 1,713 43 2005 129 1,787 41 122 1,480 41 2006 19 232 6 18 243 9 TOTAL 371 4,656 117 351 4,862 131

The San Jose SaberCats (0-2) and Arizona Rattlers (0-2) renew their Western Division rivalry this week when they meet in Phoenix on Sunday at 8 PM ET with both teams looking for their first win of the season. The teams met in ArenaBowls XVIII (won by San Jose 69-62) and XVI (won by San Jose 52-14) but the Rattlers hold a slim series lead with 14 wins in the 26 meetings. The teams split a pair of games last year with each winning at home.

Also this week, the Kansas City Brigade (0-2), who started the season with hard-fought losses at Dallas and Orlando, will play their first-ever home game at Kemper Arena (16,200) against the Austin Wranglers (2-0) on Sunday at 2 PM ET. Austin boasts the Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2 in DAMON MASON who set a team record with three interceptions and 59 return yards in Austin's 53-34 win over Arizona.

Philadelphia Soul (2-0) Head Coach BRET MUNSEY will take on his former mentor, Predators' (1-1) Head Coach JAY GRUDEN, on Saturday night in Orlando. Munsey spent the last three seasons on Gruden's staff.

Chicago FB/LB BOB McMILLEN has a chance to make AFL history this weekend when the Rush host the Nashville Kats on Sunday at 3 PM ET (CSS tape delay at 8:30 PM ET; CSN Chicago). McMillen has 1,361 career rushing yards and needs 21 more to pass LES BARLEY (1,382) as the top rusher in league history.

The other Week 3 match-ups are: Georgia at Tampa Bay on Friday night (FSN South tape delay at 11 PM ET; Sun Sports), Dallas at Columbus on Saturday, Philadelphia at Orlando on Saturday (CSS tape delay on Sunday at 11:30 AM; CSN Philadelphia tape delay at 10:30 PM), New York at Utah on Saturday and Los Angeles at Grand Rapids on Sunday.

EA Sports Arena Football Video Game

Electronic Arts announced on Tuesday that Arena Football™, the newest game under the EA SPORTS™ brand, has shipped to stores nationwide. With Arena Football, gamers can now experience the excitement of the indoor gridiron with fast-paced, high-scoring offenses and the ability to send players over the walls. The game, which features Colorado Crush quarterback JOHN DUTTON on the cover, will be available for purchase and rental nationwide on Thursday, February 9.

This Week in AFL History

February 11, 1981 - While watching an indoor soccer game at Madison Square Garden, JIM FOSTER draws an outline of miniature football field over a hockey rink on a manila envelope and pencils notes on what would evolve into a new, exciting adaptation of America's favorite sport.

February 8, 2004 - The AFL and Spalding debut the new design of the AFL's Official Game Ball when Tampa Bay and Orlando continue "The War on I-4."

AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

1. Colorado Crush (17) 2-0 204 2. Nashville Kats 2-0 160 3. Georgia Force 1-1 157 4. Dallas Desperados 2-0 153 5. Philadelphia Soul 2-0 152 6. Austin Wranglers 2-0 115 7. Orlando Predators 1-1 78 8. Tampa Bay Storm 1-1 62 9. Utah Blaze 1-1 61 10. Los Angeles Avengers 1-1 47 11. New York Dragons 1-1 38 12. Las Vegas Gladiators 1-1 34

Others receiving votes: Chicago Rush 23, Columbus Destroyers 22, Kansas City Brigade 3, San Jose SaberCats 2

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 8, 2006


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