Sports stats



New York Dragons game notes

May 11, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release


Quick Facts: Los Angeles Avengers (7-6) at New York Dragons (8-5) Date: Sunday, May 16, 2004 Kickoff: 3:00 PM (EST) Site: Nassau Coliseum (11,216) Officials: Referee: Bill Athan Umpire: Rick DiBernardo Head Linesman: Tim Podraza Line Judge: R.G. Detillier Back Judge: Jim Anderson Supervisor: Ed Manning Radio: WLIE 540 AM Peter Schwartz (PxP) and Wayne Morris (color) Series Record: This is the third meeting between the franchises. The Avengers have won the two pervious meetings. Last Regular Season Meeting: Los Angeles 65 – New York 61 March 9, 2004 – Nassau Coliseum Coaches: Los Angeles – Ed Hodgkiss (26-17, 3rd Year) Dragons - Todd Shell (45-34, 6th Year 16-9, 2nd year as Dragons Coach)

Last Regular Season Meeting Recap: Los Angeles 65 – New York 61 March 9, 2004 – Nassau Coliseum

In the second week of the Todd Shell regime, the New York Dragons fought hard but still could not come out with their first victory of the season, losing to Los Angeles, 65-61. On the last play of the game, Kevin Clemens ran the ball into the end zone from less then a yard out to give LA the victory.

The action picked up when the Dragons tied the game at 14-14 after Aaron Garcia hooked up with Chris Anthony in the end zone and then found Mike Furrey for a two-point conversion. On LA's next possession, quarterback Tony Graziani lost his grip on the pigskin as Kerry Brown fell on the loose ball for the Dragons' first defensive stop of the game.

The Dragons' defense came up with another defensive stop as the first half expired. Former NY Giant Kory Blackwell deflected a Graziani pass on second down. Avenger DB Kevin Ingram then dropped a pass in the end zone on third, which then led to a successful 32-yard field goal attempt by Remy Hamilton.

LA came up with a defensive stop of their own late in the third quarter. Tight defense set up a field goal attempt for Pete Elezovic, however the kick sailed wide right. The Avengers then retook the lead as Graziani threw a dump pass to WR Slaha Burley, who found his way through the New York's defense to get into the endzone.

The Dragons fought back to retake the lead with just fifty seconds remaining as Mike Furrey brought in his third touchdown of the game. Unfortunately the Dragons could not stop the Avengers offense, which scored a touchdown as time expired.

Game Preview: It's "East meets West" as the Dragons look to make it three straight wins with a victory over the Los Angeles Avengers. It is a battle of two of the top offenses in the League.

Next Week: The Dragons head south to the Jungle as they look to avenge last season's playoff loss to the Orlando Predators. With the Dragons only one game ahead of Orlando in the playoff race, this game could significantly impact the Dragons playoff hopes.

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 W 64-50 March 14 At Tampa Bay 12:00 W 40-35 March 20 Columbus 7:00 W 62-41 April 4 At Carolina 3:00 W 57-41 April 10 At Columbus 7:00 L 55-65 April 18 Colorado 3:00 W 52-49 April 24 At Philadelphia 7:30 L 58-60 May 2 At Dallas 3:00 W 44-20 May 8 Carolina 7:00 W 61-39 May 16 Los Angeles 3:00 May 23 At Orlando 3:00 May 30 Philadelphia 4:00

The IFS:... If the DRAGONS defeat the Avengers it would... *Give the Dragons an 9-5 record this season. *Give the Dragons a five-game home winning streak. *Give the Dragons a 5-2 home record. *Give the Dragons a 1-2 record all-time vs. LA.

Dragon Tales: Three over .500: With their 61-39 win over the Carolina Cobras on Saturday night, the Dragons record improved to 8-5 putting the team three games over .500 for the first since moving from Iowa. The Dragons finished the 2000 season with a 9-5 record.

Winning at Home: With the Dragons 61-39 home victory over the Carolina Cobras, the team won their fourth home game of the year. Since moving to Long Island in 2001, the Dragons are 14-15 at the Nassau Coliseum, including a home playoff win last season vs. the Chicago Rush. This season they are 4-2 at home. The Dragons have now won four-consecutive home games for the first time since May 25 – June 3, 2001 when they won four straight. They last won five straight in Iowa from May 20 – July 15 in the 2000 season.

Victory on the Road: With the 44-20 win over the Dallas Desperados, the Dragons upped their road record to 4-3. The win snapped the first two-game road losing-streak since Head Coach Todd Shell took over the Dragons on Feb. 24,2003. The team is 10-3 on the road in the regular season under Shell. .

The Defense Rests: Averaging 45.6 points allowed per game, which is tied for third best in the AFL, 15.7 rushing yards, which is fourth best, the Dragons boast one of the League's best defenses. The Dragons are scoring 52.8 points per game, which is fifth in the League. The Dragons have won their eight games by an average score of 54-38.

Dragons Getting Stops: In the eight wins, the Dragons have recorded 37 stops and six made field-goals while in the five losses they only stopped Chicago twice (missed field-goals), Columbus once (missed field-goal) and the Soul twice (interception and missed field goal).

Taking it to the House: Dragons KR Lincoln Dupree is topping the AFL charts as the special teams play has been successful in recent weeks. Dupree is tied for sixth in the AFL with 102-missed field-goal return-yards and tied for first with one touchdown. As a kick returner, Dupree ranks tied for sixth averaging 21.4 yards/return and tied for seventh with two scores.

Corey Johnson Ties Franchise Record: With three interceptions at Dallas on May 1, Corey Johnson tied the franchise record for interceptions in a game previously set by Todd Harrington on July 5, 1997 and again by Mike Furrey on May 18, 2002. Donvetis Franklin added an interception in the game as the team recorded four INT's for the first time since that May 18 game at New Jersey. Johnson now has four interceptions on the year, ranking him tied for sixth in the League. He has recorded 17 interceptions for his career.

QB Aaron Garcia Continues to Lead AFL: Dragons QB Aaron Garcia enters his tenth AFL season as one of the League's top passers. He ranks first all time with 609 touchdowns, third with 29,324 passing yards and fourth with 2,286 completions. On Apr. 18 vs. the Colorado Crush, Garcia became the first professional football player to throw for 600 career TD's. On March 7 vs. San Jose, he went over 28,000 passing yards. On Feb. 8 at Georgia, he recorded his 2100th AFL completion.

Aaron Garcia All-Time Rankings: Rank TDs Yardage Completions 1st Aaron Garcia621 Andy Kelly31,209 Andy Kelly2, 712 2nd AndyKelley607 Sherdick Bonner30,244 Shedrick Bonner2, 574 3rd Sherdick Bonner 604 Aaron Garcia29,817 Clint Dolezel2,363 4th Aaron Garcia2, 321

Johnson Named Week 13 Defensive Player of the Week: Corey Johnson (5-9, 190, Georgia), who is in his seventh season, helped lead the New York Dragons (7-5) to a 44-20 victory over the Dallas Desperados (6-6) on Saturday. The former All-Rookie performer led the Dragons with 9.0 total tackles, one pass breakup and a team record-tying three interceptions (twice, last by MIKE FURREY, May 18, 2002). This marks the first time that the former Bulldog has earned an AFL weekly honor.

Dupree Named Week 6 US ARMY Ironman of the Week: The AFL following the Dragons 40-35 victory over Tampa Bay named rookie WR/DB/KR Lincoln Dupree the Week 6 US Army Ironman of the Week. The 5-11, 190-pound Dupree played college football at Eastern Michigan and was the 2002 arenafootball2 Rookie of the Year. He tallied two receptions for 28 yards and two touchdowns on offense, 1.5 total tackles and a fumble recovery on defense, and a 55-yard kickoff return and a 38-yard missed-field-goal return for two additional touchdowns. This marks the first time that the former Eagle has earned an AFL weekly honor.

Garcia Named Week 5 Offensive Player of the Week: QB Aaron Garcia was named the AFL's Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Week after their 64-50 victory over the previously undefeated San Jose SaberCats (3-1). The 2001 Offensive Player of the Year led New York by completing 19-of-21 (90 percent) for 285 yards and nine touchdown passes and one interception. He connected with five different receivers for touchdowns and currently leads the AFL in touchdown passes (30). The former Hornet connected on three scoring strikes in the final quarter as the Dragons outscored the SaberCats 20-3 in the final 15 minutes. This marks the 10th time that the two-time All-Arena QB has earned an AFL weekly honor

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 Week 5 vs. San Jose: Offensive Player of the Game: Aaron Garcia Defensive Player of the Game: Terrance Joseph Ironman of the Game: Lincoln Dupree Week 6 at Tampa Bay Offensive Player of the Game: Lincoln Dupree Defensive Player of the Game: Lincoln Dupree Ironman of the Game: Rodney Filer Week 7 vs. Columbus: Offensive Player of the Game: Aaron Garcia Def. Player of the Game: Terrance Joseph Ironman of the Game: Richmond Flowers Week 9 at Carolina: Offensive Player of the Game: Lincoln Dupree Def. Player of the Game: Terrance Joseph Ironman of the Game: Richmond Flowers Week 11 vs. Colorado: Offensive Player of the Game: Aaron Garcia Def. Player of the Game: Donvetis Franklin Ironman of the Game: Lincoln Dupree Week 12 at Philadelphia: Defensive Player of the Game: Jermaine Miles Week 13 at Dallas: Offensive Player of the Game: Will Holder Defensive Player of the Game: Corey Johnson Week 14 vs. Carolina: Offensive Player of the Game: Aaron Garcia Defensive Player of the Game: Chuck Wesley Ironman of the Game: Cosmo DeMatteo

Dragons Transactions: 4/30 – Activated WR/LB Richmond Flowers off of IR. Signed OL/DL Will Burnett off practice squad. Placed WR/LB Curtis Fagan on IR. 4/27 – Placed OL/DL Richard Harris on IR. 4/16 – Activated WR/LB Chris Anthony and OL/DL Tim McGill from IR. Placed OS Kevin Swayne on IR. 4/14 – Waived OL/DL John Gillies from practice squad. 4/8 – Placed WR/LB Richmond Flowers on IR. Activated WR/LB Curtis Fagan. 4/7 – Re-signed OS Kevin Swayne. 4/7 – Waived and placed on practice squad DS Jerald Brown and FB/LB Kerry Taylor. Released OL/DL Corey Brannon 4/3 – Activated OL/DL Jerry Sharp off IR. 4/1 – Signed OL/DL John Gilles to practice squad 3/18 – Placed OL/DL Jerry Sharp and Tim McGill on IR. Activated OL/DL Jermaine Miles off IR. 3/12 – Signed OL/DL Ken Talanoa off IR. Signed FB/LB Kerry Taylor 3/9 – FB/LB Joey Dozier on IR 3/7 – Placed WR/LB Chris Anthony on IR 3/5 – FB/LB Chin Achebe on IR. Signed WR/LB Cosmo DeMatteo off of IR. 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 Rodney Filer - 8 receiving yards shy of 200 yards 11 solo tackles to 100 tackles Aaron Garcia - 183 passing yards shy of 30,000 Terrance Joseph - 7 total tackles shy of 100 total tackles Jerry Sharp – 2.5 tackles shy of 100 total tackles Kevin Swayne - 7 touchdown receptions shy of 100 touchdowns.

MILESTONES REACHED

Chris Anthony – 1,000th receiving yards (2-14 vs. Chicago) 100th AFL reception (5-8 vs. Carolina) 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 – 200th total tackle (4-18 vs. Colorado) 50th Pass Break-Up (4-18 vs. Colorado) Aaron Garcia – 2100th AFL completion (2-8 at Georgia) 600th AFL touchdown (4-18 vs. Colorado) 2,300th AFL Completion (5-1 at Dallas) Will Holder – 1000th AFL receiving yard (3-20 vs. Columbus) 100th AFL reception (5-1 at Dallas) Anthony Hutch – 20th AFL sack (4-10 at Columbus) Corey Johnson – 200th solo tackles (4-4 at Carolina) 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) Chuck Wesley – Recorded 200th receiving yard (4-24 at Philadelphia)

• Discuss this story on the Arena Football League (1987-2008) message board...

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 11, 2004


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent New York Dragons Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central