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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Hohensee Goes for 100th Career Win; Arizona Looks for Fifth Straight Win

March 29, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - The Drive to ArenaBowl XX Las Vegas kicks into high gear this week as teams battle for division titles and playoff positions. Through nine games, no team holds a lead of more than two games and three divisions have teams tied for, or within one game of, first place.

Chicago Head Coach Mike Hohensee could become only the third AFL head coach to reach the 100 victory mark this week when the Rush (4-5) travel to Orlando to take on the Predators (5-4) at the TD Waterhouse Centre on Sunday at Noon ET on NBC. Hohensee earned his 99th career win last week with a 51-44 victory over Grand Rapids.

Following is a list of the AFL's all-time winningest coaches:

TOP ALL-TIME COACHING VICTORIES
NAME (Team) WINS
1. Tim Marcum (Tampa Bay)* 179
2. Danny White (Utah)* 144
3. Mike Hohensee (Chicago)* 99
4. Mike Dailey (Colorado)* 94
5. Perry Moss (Orlando) 86
*Active

The Rush now sit two games behind Colorado (6-3) and Nashville (6-3) in the Central Division after both the Crush and Kats lost last weekend. Chicago QB MATT D'ORAZIO, who has thrown just three interceptions all season, is the AFL's most efficient third-down passer with a rating of 141.0.

Orlando ended a two-game losing streak with a 47-37 win at Austin last week. The Predators are one of three teams (Georgia, Tampa Bay) tied for second place in the Southern Division.

The red-hot Arizona Rattlers have won four straight, including a 58-45 home win over Los Angeles last week, after a 1-4 start. The Rattlers, who take on San Jose at the HP Pavilion on Sunday at 3 p.m. PT on NBC, are now in sole possession of first place in the Western Division, one game ahead of Las Vegas (4-5). Arizona WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD was named AFL Ironman of the Week for Week 9 and has captured the honor three of the last four weeks. Arizona veteran QB SHERDRICK BONNER became the fourth player in AFL history to reach 700 career passing touchdowns in last week's win.

TOP FIVE CAREER PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
NAME TD PASSES
1. Aaron Garcia, New York* 757
2. Andy Kelly, Kansas City 741
3. Clint Dolezel, Dallas 722
4. Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona 702
5. John Kaleo, Columbus 535
*Out for the season

San Jose comes off a 51-48 loss at Nashville last week but plays three of its next four games at home. SaberCats QB MARK GRIEB ranks second in the AFL in completions (223) and passing yards (2,730) and has thrown 24 touchdowns and two interceptions in the last four games while averaging 331 passing yards during that span.

The battle for control of the Central Division heats up this week when Nashville (6-3) and Colorado (6-3), the two teams tied for first place, go head-to-head at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Saturday at 9 p.m. ET on FSN South (tape delay at 11 p.m.), FSN Rocky Mountain and INHD.

Nashville has won two straight, ranks second in the AFL in total defense (252.7) and are tied for third in turnover margin (+5). DS MONTY MONTGOMERY ranks third in the AFL with seven interceptions and FB/LB FRANK CARTER is tied for third in the League with 4.5 sacks.

Colorado has lost two straight but looks to rebound on the strength of OS DAMIAN HARRELL, who leads the League with 82 receptions and 30 touchdowns, and QB JOHN DUTTON, who ranks fourth in the AFL with 50 touchdowns.

The AFL's two winningest coaches in history face off this weekend when the Utah Blaze (3-6) visit the Tampa Bay Storm (5-4) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FSN Utah and FSN Florida. Tampa Bay's TIM MARCUM is first in AFL history with 179 career wins and Utah's DANNY WHITE is second with 144.

Two of the AFL's best quarterbacks also will go head-to-head when JOHN KALEO and the Columbus Destroyers (5-4) travel to Dallas to face CLINT DOLEZEL and the Desperados (7-2). Kaleo has thrown 19 touchdowns and just three interceptions in the last four games. Dolezel leads the AFL with 62 touchdown passes and is on pace for 110 which would break the single-season record of 104 set by New York's AARON GARCIA in 2001.

Other games this week: Austin at Philadelphia on Friday, Grand Rapids at New York on Saturday, Columbus at Dallas on Saturday, Georgia at Kansas City on Saturday and Los Angeles at Las Veags on Sunday.

This Week in AFL History

April 3, 2002: In the first game in franchise history, the Dallas Desperados drop a 56-52 preseason road game to the Tampa Bay Storm.

AFLWA Schutt Sports Top 12 Poll

1. Dallas Desperados (12) 7-2 188
2. Nashville Kats (4) 6-3 170
3. Austin Wranglers 6-3 155
4. Colorado Crush 6-3 148
5. Georgia Force 5-4 112
6. Orlando Predators 5-4 96
7. Arizona Rattlers 5-4 87
8. Columbus Destroyers 5-4 85
9. Tampa Bay Storm 5-4 76
10. Philadelphia Soul 5-4 69
11. New York Dragons 5-4 37
12. Chicago Rush 4-5 16
Others receiving votes: Las Vegas Gladiators 6, Los Angeles Avengers 2, San Jose SaberCats 1.
Dropped out: Los Angeles Avengers (12).

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 29, 2006


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