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New York Dragons game notes

February 17, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release


Quick Facts:
Dallas Desperados (1-1)
at New York Dragons (1-1)
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2004
Kickoff: 3:00 PM
Site: Nassau Coliseum (11,216)
Officials:
Referee: Bill LeMonnier
Umpire: Rick Podraza
Head Linesman: Allen Baynes
Line Judge: Dana McKenzie
Back Judge: Billy Beckett
NBC: Bob Papa (PxP), Ray Bentley (Color), Otis Livingston (Sideline)
Radio: WNYG 1440 AM Peter Schwartz (pxp) and Wayne Morris (Color)
Series Record: This is the third meeting all-time between the teams with Dallas leading the series 2-0. Dallas defeated the Dragons 60-56 in Dallas in last season's opener.
Last Regular Season Meeting:
New York 56 – Dallas 60
February 2, 2003 – Reunion Arena
Coaches:
Dallas – Will McClay (1-1, 1st year)
Dragons - Todd Shell (37-29, 6th Year 9-5, 2nd year as Dragons Coach)

Last Meeting vs. Dallas Recap:
New York 56 – Dallas 60
February 2, 2003 – Reunion Arena
The Dragons opened the 2003 season in Dallas suffering a 60-56 defeat to the Desperados. QB Aaron Garcia threw for 324 yards and eight-touchdown passes. Ironman of the Game Mike Furrey caught seven passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns on offense while recording a key interception in the third quarter.
Both teams' offenses were red-hot in the first quarter as the teams traded touchdowns and combined for 33-points. Dragons QB Aaron Garcia hooked up with Kerry Brown (13-yards) and Chris Anthony (32-yards), but kicker Jimmy Kibble missed both extra points. Dallas came out with a 21-12 edge.
The Dragons started to come back in the second quarter with touchdown receptions by Mike Furrey and Todd Doxzon (both with successful two-point conversions) and eventually tied the game at 28. A Tim Martin touchdown reception gave Dallas a 35-28 lead and with less then 30 seconds left in the half, Garcia was picked off by Kareem Larrimore in the endzone. Scot Maynard's defense held Dallas to a 32-yard field goal. The Dragons trailed by ten at the half.
The second half started out with a roar. On the second play of the quarter, Garcia found Furrey for a 48-yard touchdown. Brown added one of three Dragons' two-point conversions and the Dragons found themselves only trailing by two. Furrey then intercepted a Jim Kubiak pass deep into the endzone for New York's first defensive stop of the game. Garcia hit Chris Anthony to take their first lead of the game. The Dragons outscored the Desperados 15-0 in the third quarter.
After the teams traded a couple of touchdown scores, Dallas held the Dragons on three downs, who were trailing by three after Steve Papin returned a kickoff for 37 yards. Jimmy Kibble then connected on his first field goal attempt of the game, however the officials did not see the football hit the netting and ruled it no-good. The field goal would have tied the game at 53-53 and changed the complexion of the final minutes of regulation. Instead, the Dragons could not recover and fell to the Desperados 60-56.

Game Preview:
It's a battle of 1-1 division rivals when the Dragons and Dallas Desperados meet for the first of two meetings this season. The Dragons are looking for their first victory over the Desperados and first home win of the season.

Next Week:
The Dragons head west to play the first of a two-game stretch against teams Head Coach Todd Shell previously coached when they play the Arizona Rattlers. Shell was the defensive coordinator in Arizona from 1992-1994.


The IFS:...
If the DRAGONS defeat the Desperados, it would...
*Give the Dragons a 2-1 record this season.
*Give the Dragons a one-game home-winning streak.
*Give the Dragons a 1-1 home record.
*Give the Dragons a 1-2 record all-time vs. the Desperados.

2004 Schedule

Date Opponent Time Result
February 8 At Georgia 3:00 W 54-28
February 14 Chicago 3:00 L 54-56
February 22 Dallas 3:00
February 29 At Arizona 3:00
March 7 San Jose 12:00
March 14 At Tampa Bay 12:00
March 20 Columbus 7:00
April 4 At Carolina 3:00
April 10 At Columbus 7:00
April 18 Colorado 3:00
April 24 At Philadelphia 7:30
May 2 At Dallas 3:00
May 8 Carolina 7:00
May 16 Los Angeles 3:00
May 23 At Orlando 3:00
May 30 Philadelphia 4:00

Dragon Tales:
Season and Home Openers:
With the win over the Georgia Force in Week 1, the Dragons won their first season opener since moving to New York. After losing on Saturday to Chicago, in home openers since moving to New York, the Dragons are 1-3 with a win over the Buffalo Destroyers in 2002.

Road Warriors:
Since taking over the Dragons on Feb. 24 last season, the team is 7-0 on the road in the regular season. The winning streak dates back to a 65-57 overtime victory over the Detroit Fury on March 16.

Sharp Plays in 100th AFL Game:
Saturday's game vs. Chicago marked the 100th in the AFL Career of Jerry Sharp. In his 10th year in the League out of Syracuse University, Sharp has recorded 93.5 total tackles.
QB Aaron Garcia Continues to Lead AFL:
Dragons QB Aaron Garcia enters his ninth AFL season as one of the League's top passers. On Feb. 8 at Georgia, Garcia recorded his 2100th AFL completion.

Aaron Garcia All-Time Rankings:
Rank TDs Yardage Completions
1st AndyKelly556 Andy Kelly28, 064 Andy Kelly2, 523
2nd AaronGarcia556 Aaron Garcia27, 270 Shedrick Bonner2, 132
3rd Sherdick Bonner 540 Shedrick Bonner27, 267 Aaron Garcia2, 107

Will Holder Named Week 1 Ironman of the Week:
Dragons WR/DB Will Holder was named the US Army Ironman of the Week following the team's 54-28 victory over the Georgia Force. As a wide receiver, Holder caught six passes for 81 yards along with two touchdowns. On defense, he came up with a key interception in the fourth quarter. Holder had an "Only in the Arena League" stretch of the fourth quarter where he caught a touchdown pass, recorded a special teams tackle and intercepted a pass in three consecutive plays.

Three Dragons Record First Career Reception:
Three newcomers to the Dragons recorded their first career receptions on Feb. 8 at Georgia. Lincoln DuPree, Curtis Fagan and Vinny Sutherland all played in their first AFL games and caught their first passes. DuPree and Fagan also recorded their first AFL touchdown receptions.








MILESTONES WITHIN REACH

Joey Dozier – 9 yards shy of 400 rushing yards

Donvetis Franklin – 7 tackles shy of 200 total tackles

Anthony Hutch – 1.5 sacks shy of 20

Sean Riley – 4 touchdowns shy of 50 receiving touchdowns

Jerry Sharp – 6.5 tackles shy of 100 total tackles

MILESTONES REACHED

Chris Anthony – 1,000th receiving yards (2-14 vs. Chicago)

Lincoln DuPree - Made his AFL debut (2-8 at Georgia)
Recorded his first career AFL reception (2-8 at Georgia)
Recorded his first career AFL touchdown (2-8 at Georgia)

Curtis Fagan – Made his AFL debut (2-8 at Georgia)
Recorded his first career AFL reception (2-8 at Georgia)
Recorded his first career AFL touchdown (2-8 at Georgia)

Aaron Garcia – 2100th AFL completion (2-8 at Georgia)

Terrence Joseph – 50th total tackle (2-8 at Georgia)

Jerry Sharp – 100th games played (2-14 vs. Chicago)

Vinny Sutherland - Made his AFL debut (2-8 at Georgia)
Recorded his first career AFL reception (2-8 at Georgia)
Recorded his first career AFL touchdown (2-14 vs. Chicago)



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 17, 2004


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