Los Angeles QB looks for 200 Career Touchdowns
March 12, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release
DAVENPORT, Iowa â Los Angeles Avengers quarterback, Tony Graziani, will try to leave his mark on the AFL record books Sunday when his team squares off against the Grand Rapids Rampage on the AFL on NBC, seen locally on KWQC-TV6.
Graziani, who has thrown for 196 scores in his 37-game AFL career, could become the 14th player in league history to pass for 200 touchdowns this weekend at Grand Rapids. If he throws four or more touchdown passes, he would be the second fastest to 200 in AFL history (38 games). Mike Perez threw his 200th touchdown pass in his 37th AFL game, while playing for the Albany Firebirds in 1996.
Graziani is off to a great start this season completing just over 60 percent of his passes (80-133) and passing for 1021 yards with 26 touchdowns. His most impressive statistic of the season is that he is one of only two quarterbacks to not throw an interception.
Graziani's impressive core of receivers has helped him notch these impressive numbers through five weeks of the AFL season. This group is led by AFL 2003 Offensive Player of the Year, Chris Jackson. Jackson, who is coming back this week after a two week absence, has 20 receptions for 269 yards and seven touchdowns this season. Jackson has scored a touchdown in every career AFL game except for one. He has 126 touchdowns in 52 career games.
Other catalysts of the Avenger receiving core include wide receiver/ linebacker Greg Hopkins, wide receiver / linebacker Joe Douglass, and wide receiver / defensive back Kevin Ingram. Between this trio, they have accounted for 55 receptions and 18 touchdowns.
Though Grand Rapids is winless on the season, offensive specialist Steve Smith has managed to put up some impressive numbers. Smith leads the league in all-purpose yards a game with 207.4 and is the AFL's leading return man with 661 yards through five weeks. He is the leading receiver for the Rampage offense this season with 25 receptions for 295 yard and five touchdowns. His best performance of the season came last week in a 66-50 loss to Dallas. He snagged six receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
This American conference matchup can be seen at 11 a.m. (CT) this Sunday on NBC. The other game on NBC outside of the Quad City-market is between the New York Dragons and the Tampa Bay Storm.
Be sure to tune into high scoring, heart stopping action of Arena Football every Sunday on the AFL on NBC. About Arena Football League Often recognized as one of the nation's most affordable and fan-friendly sports leagues, the Arena Football League, the second-longest running football league in U.S. history, is in its 18th season. On the strength of its Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights, the AFL is America's fastest growing sport. The Austin Wranglers join the Philadelphia Soul and New Orleans VooDoo as the three expansion teams added for the 2004 season. At least two more teams will be added in each of the next two seasons. A network-TV sport, the AFL is currently celebrating its second season on NBC in 2004.
The arenafootball2 league is in its Fifth Anniversary season and serves as the AFL's developmental league. The arenafootball2 (af2) league consists of 25 teams in medium-sized markets with the purpose of training players, coaches and officials for higher levels of football. Several former af2 coaches have joined AFL teams and more than 175 players have advanced to the AFL over the past three years.
Several players have moved on to the NFL from the af2 including the âWheelers standout defensive rush end in 2003, Asa Francis, who last month signed with the Buffalo Bills to play in NFL Europe this spring.
The Steamwheelers are gearing up for their Fifth Anniversary season as one of the charter members of the league. Season tickets are currently on sale starting as low as $54. Fans interested in purchasing season tickets may contact Steamwheelers Director of Ticket Sales Brian Forth at 563-324-4888 or toll free at 1-866-STEAMTIX. For all the up to the minute Steamwheelers news, visit www.steamwheelers.com.
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