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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Must-see matchups: week four

February 27, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK QB AARON GARCIA vs. ARIZONA QB SHERDRICK BONNER

It's sure to be a blast from the past when Dragons QB AARON GARCIA (6-1, 195, Sacramento State) goes up against his former teammate and Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER (6-4, 240, Cal. St. Northridge) on Sunday, February 29 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. The two played together in Arizona during the 1995 season, where Garcia served as a backup to Bonner. Garcia now enters his ninth AFL season as one of the League's top passers. He ranks No. 1 all-time with 561 TDs and No. 3 with 27,510 passing yards and 2,127 completions. Garcia has eclipsed Bonner in all-time TD passes, but Bonner still ranks higher (No. 2) in passing yards (27,563) and completions (2,182). Bonner is No. 3 in AFL history with 543 TD passes.

Now in his 11th year with the Rattlers, Bonner has not thrown an INT since a Week 1 loss. He is 68-of-113 for 777 yards and 9 TDs on the season. Bonner rushed into the endzone for two of his season total 13 TDs last week against the Cobras.

Garcia is tied for No. 3 in the League in TDs (17), and is No. 7 in the League (119.3) passer rating, completing 62-of-95 for 730 yards with only 2 INTs. In the last matchup between Arizona-New York in 2001, Garcia got offensive, throwing for 305 yards and 7 TDs in a 62-55 victory for New York.

PHILADELPHIA DS JOE TODD vs. TAMPA BAY OS FREDDIE SOLOMON

Soul DS JOE TODD (5-9, 180, Mississippi Valley) is tied for first in the AFL with two INTs and continues to come up big. He has recorded an INT in consecutive games. Todd's first INT with the Soul came against Dallas QB GLEN GAUNTT (6-2, 220, South Florida) in the Soul endzone during Week 2. In the team's first-ever victory against Columbus, Todd picked off QB JOHN RAYBORN (6-3, 240, Texas-El Paso) in the Soul endzone, leading to a TD by Soul OS TYRONNE JONES (5-9, 170, Grambling). Todd also leads the team in tackles (13.0).

After being shut out in the first half against Austin last week, Tampa Bay OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (5-11, 185, South Carolina State) hauled in a pair of TD passes in the second half. His two TD catches gave him 10 for the season, the most in the League. He also leads the League in scoring with 60 points. He still owns the AFL season-high with 30 points scored in a game (February 13 vs. Georgia). These two up-and-coming stars will faceoff this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on NBC.

NEW ORLEANS QB JOHN FITZGERALD-OS AARON BAILEY vs. LAS VEGAS QB CLINT DOLEZEL-OS TERRILL SHAW

The offensive one-two punch of New Orleans' Fitzgerald/Bailey and Las Vegas' Dolezel/Shaw should make for an action-packed, high-scoring game in Las Vegas this Sunday, February 29 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. New Orleans OS AARON BAILEY (5-11, 190, Louisville) is lighting it up, two 100+ receiving games (140 vs. PHI on 2/9 and 128 vs. IND on 2/14), with a little help from his QB JOHN FITZGERALD (6-4, 230, Tulsa). Fitzgerald's numbers hold steady going into Week 4 as he is 48-of-99 for 665 yards, 12 TDs and 0 INTs. Fitzgerald is one of only four QBs who have not yet thrown a pick. Bailey is No. 4 in the League for scoring with 7 TDs and tied for No. 3 in receptions (22 for 320 yards.)

Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL passed the 25,000-yard mark last week with 222 yards passing in only three quarters of action to become just the fourth player in AFL-history to reach the milestone (AARON GARCIA, SHERDRICK BONNER and ANDY KELLY). He also threw five TD passes to bring his career total one shy of 500. Against the Avengers in Week 2, Dolezel passed for a single-game high eight TDs and no INTs, becoming one of only three QBs to surpass the 300-yard mark (304) this season. Dolezel will again rely on his main target, OS TERRILL SHAW, who is two receptions shy of reaching 300 career. On the season, Shaw has caught 22 passes for 298 yards and four TDs.

CHICAGO QB RAYMOND PHILYAW vs. INDIANA SECONDARY

In an intense Central Division rivalry that has left the series split at 3-3, Rush QB RAYMOND PHILYAW (6-1, 200, Louisiana-Monroe) will have to face his former Indiana teammates for the first time this Sunday, February 29 at 3 p.m. ET on NBC. Philyaw, a member of the Firebirds for four years before being traded to the Rush in the off-season, continues his solid play this season, completing 51-of-80 passes for 636 yards and 10 TDs. Philyaw is also ranked No. 3 in the League for rushing among QBs, gaining 21 yards and five TDs.

Most importantly, Philyaw has yet to throw an INT this season, with 80 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Dating back to last season, Philyaw has thrown 106 consecutive passes without being picked off. The last time the Rush went three games without throwing an INT was May 25 through June 8, 2002, when then-QB BILLY DICKEN went three-consecutive games without an INT. The Rush has never gone four-consecutive games without throwing an INT, and the Firebirds secondary aims to keep it that way.

Last week against Detroit, the Firebirds got four turnovers in the first half. The Firebirds secondary has been rock solid while continually improving, holding opponents to 54, 41 and 34 points in each of the first three games. DS EVAN HLAVACEK (5-10, 185, San Diego) is tied for No. 2 in the League in fumble recoveries (2), while DS ANTHONY DERRICKS (6-0, 185, Mississippi State) and WR/LB BRETT BECH (6-1, 200, LSU) have both had picks. Derricks has also accounted for six pass breakups this season.

DALLAS OS JASON SHELLEY vs. COLUMBUS WR/LB CORNELIUS WHITE

JASON SHELLEY (6-2, 192, Central State, OH), who spent his first two years in Dallas as a WR/LB, has stepped out of the shadows to become one of the top go-to receivers in the League. After catching 69 passes for 794 yards and 13 TDs in his first two AFL seasons, Shelley has already caught 22 passes for 253 yards and six TDs in only three games. He has established single-game career-highs this season in receptions (10 vs. Carolina, 2/8), receiving yards (122 vs.Carolina, 2/8), receiving TDs (three vs. Philadelphia, 2/15) and total TDs (four vs. Philadelphia, 2/15). Overall, he has accounted for 48 of the team's 148 points.

Prior to 2004, Destroyers WR/LB CORNELIUS WHITE (6-1, 200, Virginia Tech) might not have been mentioned among the top receivers in the AFL, despite putting up solid numbers during his six-year career. Through three games this season, White has established himself as one of the League's elite receivers. Last week in Philadelphia, White led the team in receiving for the second week in a row recording eight catches for a career-high 141 yards and one TD. Entering Week 4, White has 22 catches (T-3rd in AFL) for 295 yards (6th in AFL) and four TDs. With his first catch of the game in Week 2 against the Cobras, White surpassed 2,000 receiving yards for his career and finished the game with 2,245 yards.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 27, 2004


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