Must-see matchups: semifinals
Published on June 10, 2004 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
The hard-nosed Chicago Rush (12-5) defense looks to get their first-ever victory against the League's top-rated QB MARK GRIEB (6-3, 208, UC Davis) and the San Jose SaberCats (12-5) at HP Pavilion this Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. The winner of the semifinal matchup will advance to ArenaBowl XVIII on June 27.
For Chicago, AFL's Lineman of the Year JOHN MOYER (6-3, 265, Eastern Illinois), who was also named First-Team All-Arena and All-Ironman last week, led the AFL this season with 10.0 sacks and recorded a career-high 31.0 total tackles, blocked four kicks, recovered three fumbles and one interception. One of Moyer's sacks came against Grieb on April 16. Moyer's linemate, Chicago OL/DL JAMES BARON (6-4, 260, Virginia Tech) finished the year with five forced fumbles (two against San Jose). The tandem of Moyer and Baron combined to block six PAT attempts on the season (three each).
Rush FB/LB BOB MCMILLEN (6-3, 260, Illinois Benedictine) was named of Ironman the Week for his performance Sunday in Chicago's 59-49 AFL quarterfinal win over Orlando. McMillen recorded 2.5 tackles and intercepted a pass on Orlando's first possession of the game.
San Jose's Grieb improved to 4-0 as the SaberCats starting quarterback in Quarterfinal Round playoff games by leading San Jose to a 56-52 win over Tampa Bay on June 5.
He completed over 70 percent of his passes in 12-of-16 regular-season games and finished the year at 73.0 percent, becoming the first quarterback in League history (with a minimum of 200 attempts) to have a percentage above 70.
In the last matchup between the two teams, Grieb went 24-of-38 for 292 yards and five touchdowns. San Jose is 2-0 against the Rush at HP Pavilion, with both games being decided by a combined total of 14 points. This will be the first postseason meeting between the clubs.
COLORADO QB JOHN DUTTON AND OS DAMIAN HARRELL vs. ARIZONA QB SHERDRICK BONNER AND WR/DB ORSHAWANTE BRYANT
The road to ArenaBowl passes through America West Arena this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. The second-year Colorado Crush (12-5) have never been to the ArenaBowl, while the No. 1-seeded Arizona Rattlers (12-5) aim to return to the big game for the third year straight and their first victory since 1997.
In the last meeting of the two teams on March 27, Colorado outscored the Rattlers 42-22 in the second half to secure a 54-46 win. Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL (6-3, 200, Florida State) caught seven passes for 109 yards and three scores to pace the Crush. QB JOHN DUTTON (6-4, 225, Nevada) completed 20-of-32 passes for 227 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, in addition to a rushing touchdown.
In a win against the No. 4-seeded New Orleans VooDoo last week, Dutton threw 23-of-35 for 239 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. All three touchdowns went to Dutton's go-to-guy Harrell, who ended up with a total of 10 receptions for 134 yards.
Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER (6-4, 240, Cal State-Northridge) earned Offensive Player of the Week honors by completing 26-of-33 passes (78.8 percent) for 227 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in a 59-42 quarterfinal win last week over the Los Angeles Avengers. The last time Bonner faced the Crush he completed 31-of-50 passes for six touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions that contributed to the loss.
Stepping up in a big way during the quarterfinals, WR/DB standout ORSHAWANTE BRYANT (5-11, 190, Portland State ) set a new Rattlers postseason record with 13 receptions in the win over Los Angeles. Bryant finished with 126 yards and three touchdowns, and also recovered a fumble at the end of the game to help preserve the Arizona victory and earn Ironman of the Game honors.
Arizona's loss to the Colorado Crush on March 27 was the team's last before going on their current nine-game winning streak.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 10, 2004
- Must-see matchups: semifinals - AFL I
- Quick hitters: semifinals - AFL I
- San Jose fined $20,000 for operations violations - AFL I
- New Orleans' Mike Neu named Coach of the Year - AFL I
- John Elway, Danny White Q&A - AFL I
- New Orleans VooDoo Coach Mike Neu named Arena Football League's Coach of the Year - New Orleans VooDoo
- SaberCats announce All-Decade Team - San Jose SaberCats
- AFL Q&A: Colorado OS Damian Harrell - AFL I
- Ron Jaworski to chat live on USAToday.com this Friday - AFL I
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