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New York Dragons game notes

March 2, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release


Quick Facts:
San Jose SaberCats (3-0) at New York Dragons (1-3)
Date: Sunday, March 7, 2004
Kickoff: 12:00 PM (EST)
Site: Nassau Coliseum (11,216)
Officials: Referee: Perry Havener
Umpire: Tom Laverty
Head Linesman: Kelly Saalfeld
Line Judge: David Meslow
Back Judge: Dino Paganelli
NBC: Pat Haden (PxP), Tom Hammond (Color) and Lewis Johnson (Sideline)
Radio: WLIE 540 AM Peter Schwartz (PxP), Wayne Morris (Color)
Series Record: This is the ninth meeting all-time between the teams with the series tied at 4-4. San Jose is 4-3 in regular season meetings vs. the Dragons franchise. The Dragons are 1-1 against the SaberCats since moving to New York.
Last Regular Season Meeting:
New York 41 – San Jose 65
June 22, 2002 – HP Pavilion
Coaches:
San Jose – Darren Arbet (6th Year, 56-19)
Dragons - Todd Shell (38-32, 6th Year 9-7, 2nd year as Dragons Coach)

Media Contacts:
San Jose: Phil Simon
New York: Howie Wirtheim

Last Meeting vs. San Jose Recap:
New York 41 – San Jose 65
June 22, 2002 – HP Pavilion

The Dragons losing streak moved to four games following a 65-41 loss to the 10-0 San Jose SaberCats in front of 13,717 fans at the Compaq Center in San Jose. The game marked the return of QB Aaron Garcia to Arena Football following a mini-camp stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Garcia showed signs of "Arena" rust throwing only five touchdowns with two interceptions. OS Steve Papin, who was returning to the place that he spent five seasons, received a loud mixed ovation and recorded 257 yards of total offense, including a touchdown. The game did feature the first two AFL touchdown receptions of WR/DB Damien Groce's career and a team leading seven tackle - one touchdown run performance from FB/LB Chin Achebe.

Game Preview:
The Dragons will look to snap a three-game losing streak when the 3-0 San Jose SaberCats come to the Nassau Coliseum. It will be a reunion of sorts for Head Coach Todd Shell as he coached the SaberCats from 1995-1998 earning a 29-25 record.

Next Week:
The Dragons head south to face the reigning ArenaBowl Champion Tampa Bay Storm. The Storm defeated the Dragons 59-45 last season.

The IFS:...
If the DRAGONS defeat the SaberCats, it would...
*Give the Dragons a 2-3 record this season.
*Give the Dragons a one-game winning streak.
*Give the Dragons a 1-2 home record.
*Give the Dragons a 5-4 record all-time vs. San Jose.

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 L 44-56
February 29 At Arizona 3:00 L 41-53
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:
First Loss on the Road for Coach Shell:
With the defeat in Arizona, the Dragons had their regular season road-winning streak snapped at seven games. Since Head Coach Todd Shell took over the Dragons on Feb. 24 last season, the team is 7-1 on the road in the regular season. The winning streak had dated back to a 65-57 overtime victory over the Detroit Fury on March 16.

Home Struggles:
While the Dragons have been red hot on the road, they have not had the same success at home losing their first two home games this season. Since moving to Long Island in 2001, the Dragons are 10-15 at the Nassau Coliseum, including a home playoff win last season vs. the Chicago Rush. This season they are 0-2 at home.

QB Aaron Garcia Continues to Lead AFL:
Dragons QB Aaron Garcia enters his ninth AFL season as one of the League's top passers. He ranks first all time with 565 touchdowns, third with 27,716 passing yards and 2,141 completions. On Feb. 8 at Georgia, Garcia recorded his 2100th AFL completion.

Aaron Garcia All-Time Rankings:
Rank TDs Yardage Completions
1st Aaron Garcia565 Andy Kelly28, 328 Andy Kelly2, 547
2nd AndyKelley559 Shedrick Bonner27, 779 Shedrick Bonner2, 183
3rd Sherdick Bonner 547 Aaron Garcia27, 716 Aaron Garcia2, 141

Holder Topping the Charts:
Dragons WR/DB Will Holder is having a breakout season sitting in the Top 10 of the AFL's receiving leaders. Holder ranks tied for second with nine touchdown receptions, tied for second with 60 points, seventh with 322 receiving yards and 10th with 23 receptions. Holder was named the Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Game Week 3 vs. Dallas catching nine passes for 105 yards with four touchdowns.

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.

Game Award Winners:
Week 1 at Georgia:
Offensive Player of the Game: Aaron Garcia
Defensive Player of the Game: Will Holder

Week 3 vs. Dallas:
Offensive Player of the Game: Will Holder
Defensive Player of the Game: Donvetis Franklin
Ironman of the Game: Joey Dozier

Dragons Transactions:
2/27 – Signed off practice squad WR/DB Chuck Wesley and DS Jerald Brown.
2/27 – Signed off IR FB/LB Chin Achebe.
2/27 – Placed on IR OL/DL Jermaine Miles
2/26 – Signed K Gary Kral
2/25 – Waived K Pete Elezovic
2/23 – Waived WR/LB Vinny Sutherland
2/21 – Activated WR/LB Richmond Flowers from IR
2/21 – Released WR/DB Sean Riley
Signed OL/DL Kelvin Ingram
Placed OL/DL Ken Talanoa on IR
2/17 – Placed WR/LB Curtis Fagan on IR
2/11 – Announced Retirement of Eddie Brown.


MILESTONES WITHIN REACH

Joey Dozier – 6 yards shy of 400 rushing yards

Anthony Hutch – 1.5 sacks shy of 20

Jerry Sharp – 4.5 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)

Donvetis Franklin – 0.5 tackles shy of 200 total tackles

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

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

Richmond Flowers – Made his AFL debut (2-22 vs. Dallas)
Recorded his first career AFL reception (2-22 vs. Dallas)

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)

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