New York Dragons game notes
March 1, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release
New York Dragons (3-2)
Vs. Columbus Destroyers (2-3)
Date: Friday ▪ March 3, 2006
Kickoff: 7:30 PM (EST)
Site: Nassau Coliseum (11,985)
Web: AFL NET
Radio: WLIE 540 AM: Peter Schwartz (play-by-play) and Wayne Morris (analyst)
Regular Season Series Record: 8-4
Regular Season Series Streak: New York +2
Last Regular Season Meeting:
New York 56, Columbus 44
Nassau Coliseum ▪ Uniondale, NY
April 24, 2005
Coaches Record:
Dragons ▪ Weylan Harding (13-8, 2nd year)
Columbus ▪ Doug Kay (17-27, 4th year)
Officials: Referee: Bill McCabe (48), Umpire: Jeff Carr (73), Head Linesman: Kelly Saalfeld (57), Line Judge: R.G. Detillier (54), Back Judge: Jimmy Buchanan (86), Supervisor: Jim Lapetina
ABOUT THE GAME
The Dragons are home for the second consecutive game when they face division rival, the Columbus Destroyers this Friday at 7:30 PM. The Dragons have a record of 3-2 and are 2-1 at home. Columbus is 2-3 and 0-2 on the road. This will be the 13th meeting between the clubs and the Dragons lead the series 8-4. Last season the Dragons were 2-0 over the Destroyers and will aim to continue that on Friday. The game will take place at the Nassau Coliseum.
LAST WEEK'S RECAP
Last Sunday the Dragons took on the Orlando Predators at the Nassau Coliseum for their second home game of the season. Despite the loss of QB Aaron Garcia in the third quarter, the Dragons won 55-35 making their home record 1-1 and regular season record 3-2.
NEXT WEEK'S PREVIEW
The Dragons hit the road again as they take on the Austin Wranglers. This is the Wranglers third year in the league but there has only been one meeting between the two clubs, leaving the Dragons 0-1 against Austin. If the Dragons defeat the Wranglers they will be three for four on the road.
DRAGONS' WEEK FIVE PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tuesday (2/28): 12:00-2:00 at Mitchel Field Practice Facility
Wednesday (3/1): 12:00-2:00 at Mitchel Field Practice Facility
Thursday (3/2): 12:00 Walk Through at Mitchel Field Practice Facility
To confirm the Dragons' practice schedule/time or to receive directions, please contact Kerri Griesbeck at 516-501-6889.
IF THE DRAGONS WIN, IT WOULD GIVE...
- The team a 4-2 record for the season and a 2-1 record at home.
- The Dragons their 97th regular season victory and their 103rd of all-time.
- The team their 42nd victory since moving to Long Island in 2001.
- The Dragons a regular season and all-time record of 9-4 over the Destroyers.
DRAGONS CONTINUE AT HOME
After returning home last weekend and defeating the Orlando Predators, the Dragons will look to continue to win at home when they face the Columbus Destroyers this Friday, March 3 at 7:30 PM in a division game. The Dragons are currently 2-1 at home this season.
DEFENDING THE EAST
After their loss to Philadelphia in Week Three, the Dragons are focusing on winning the game Friday against Columbus, their second division game of the season. The Dragons will face both teams again and have yet to face Dallas, the fourth division rival currently in first place in the division. Last season, the Dragons won the Eastern Division for the third consecutive season (2003-2005). The Dragons swept all of their Eastern foes (Columbus, Dallas and Philadelphia) with a perfect 6-0 record in divisional play.
GARCIA INJURED FOR INDEFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME
In Week Five versus the Orlando Predators, QB Aaron Garcia suffered a fractured tibia in the third quarter after being sacked on a play. Before he left the game, Garcia completed 16 of 19 passes for 189 yards and four touchdowns. His is injured for an indefinite amount of time.
OBERT LEADS IN WEEK 5
Rookie Kicker Jesse Obert was the leagues top kicker in week five, recording 2 field goals and going seven for seven on extra points. His current season total for PAT kicks is 30-33. On field goals he is 3-4 and has recorded 46 kickoffs for an average of 50.93 yards.
WOOD TO START AT QB
Rookie QB Juston Wood will start in Garcia's place for Friday's game vs. Columbus. Wood has previously seen playing time on the kickoff team, as well as holder, wide receiver and defensive back. He recorded his first touchdown last Sunday on a 17-yard pass to Kevin Swayne when he subbed in for Garcia.
BACKGROUND ON WOOD
Juston Wood attended Portland State University where he was two-time ADA Academic All-American and team captain as a junior and senior. He ended his college career ranked sixth in school history with 5,681 yards of total offense and was ranked in the top-ten in career passing yards (5,653), touchdown passes (37), completions (414) and 300-yard passing games (6).
In April 2003, Wood signed on as a free agent with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and was later released at training camp. In 2004, he spent 18 weeks on the Los Angeles Avengers practice squad and later that year he joined the af2's Central Valley Coyotes where he also spent 2005. Wood was named second-team All-National conference at quarterback. He led the af2 in total offense with 282.4 yards per game and finished second in the league in passing yards per game with 272.6. In 2005 he posted a 106.92 passer rating in 16 games with the Coyotes, completing 60.5 percent of his throws for 4,361yards, 89 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 158 yards on 34 carries, scoring 12 touchdowns.
DRAGONS AND BLAZE SET NEW AFL RECORD
Garcia and Germaine also greatly added to the 24-combined touchdown total, breaking the old record of 23 combined touchdowns in a game. The four remaining touchdowns were scored by Utah's Kevin Moffett on a net recovery with :03 left in the second quarter, Utah's Justin Skaggs on a one-yard run with 2:48 left in the third quarter, Dragons OS Kevin Swayne with a 54-yard kickoff return with 1:53 remaining in the third quarter, followed by FB/LB Bruce Blue scoring on a one-yard run with :00 left in the third. The previous records of 23 touchdowns was set on April 13, 2003 when Arizona (12) faced Los Angles (11) as well as on April 3, 2004 when Los Angeles (12) faced Austin (11).
GARCIA AN ALL-TIME GREAT
It was already known by most, but QB Aaron Garcia is now enshrined as one of the top-20 all-time great players in AFL history. During training camp, the league came out with their top-20 players from the first 20 years of the AFL. Garcia ranked 11th, one spot ahead of fellow former Iowa Barnstormer QB Kurt Warner. After Warner left the franchise, Garcia supplanted him as the franchise's star quarterback and the Dragons - or Barnstormers - have never looked back.
RETURNING DRAGONS
The Dragons have 11 players on their roster from their final 2005 roster. QB Aaron Garcia is the longest tenured Dragon at eight seasons. The complete list includes: WR/LB Chris Anthony, OL/DL Jamaal Cherry, DS DaShane Dennis, WR/DB Angel Estrada, OL/DL Stacy Evans, WR/LB Mike Horacek, WR/DB Will Holder, OL/DL Joe Laudano, OL/DL Marcus "Snowball" Owen, OL/DL Steve Scifres and OS Kevin Swayne along with Garcia.
DRAGONS WITH af2 EXPERIENCE
The Dragons have 10 players on their roster who have played in af2 at one point in their career. The list includes: WR/LB Chris Anthony, WR/LB Maurice Brown, OL/DL Jamaal Cherry, WR/DB DaShane Dennis, OL/DL Jon Hall, OL/DL Joe Laudano, FB/LB Richard McCleskey, K Jesse Obert, DS Dahnel Singfield, OL/DL Andrew Tippins, OL/DL Paul White and QB Juston Wood.
INSIDE THE HEADSET:
Every week, Dragons head coach Weylan Harding lets the fans get inside his headset in an open question and answer forum. Here's this week's journal.
Coach, I think the Dragons played like champions this weekend and Juston Wood did a great job stepping into the game. He seems to throw a lot like Aaron. How confident are you in his ability to be successful for however long he is needed?
There is a reason for Juston being a member of this team. He proved his worth in training camp in order to make this team. He is not Aaron Garcia but I feel that myself and this family are confident with him taking us into battle. I expect for him to do his 1/8 and let his brothers shoulder the rest of the load.
How does a game like that feel, when you are strong offensively and defensively and come out with a great win, yet you experience such a loss like Garcia's injury?
I am proud of the team for rallying because that is what true teams do. My feelings are mixed because we did win and suffered a setback for one of our family members. The team goals have not changed though. We will go on more determined then ever. Aaron's contributions will be missed on the field most assuredly but we will find a way! Everyone just has to do a little more now.
Coach, what were you most satisfied with in the Dragons' performance this past weekend and which areas do you feel still need the most work?
Every facet of the team contributed in this win. Again, I am proud of the way we fought and the effort given. No team plays a perfect game so there is always something to critique as a coach. We are getting better each week and that is all I can ask at this point. I feel our continued maturation will bring about the consistency I am looking for. When this team finally realizes who they really are, it is going to be scary.
When Garcia left the game the team was up by only seven points. What goes threw your mind at that time and what does coming out on top by 20 say about the character of the team?
My concern was strictly for Aaron's well being at the time of the injury. The score was not a concern. It might as well have been zero to zero at that point. What went through my mind afterwards was an appreciation of how they responded! We did not panic or falter. Everyone stepped up their level of play! We played like a family and that is all I have ever asked of my team. Do that and winning will take care of itself.
NY-COLUMBUS CONNECTIONS:
Dragons head coach Weylan Harding spent four seasons coaching the Destroyers (2000, 2002-2004) before coming to the Dragons in 2005. He was the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.
Dragons OL/DL Troy Pelshak played for Columbus in 2005 where he recorded six solo tackles, two assists and one sack.
Destroyers WR/DB Lincoln Dupree played for the Dragons in 2004 where he recorded 24 solo tackles, eight assists and one interception for 28 yards.
Destroyers DS Jerald Brown also played for the Dragons in 2004 where he recorded nine solo tackles, 2 assists and one interception for 30 yards.
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GARCIA FIRST IN TD'S, SECOND IN COMPLETIONS AND YARDS:
Although he's currently injured, here is where Dragons QB Aaron Garcia stacks up against other quarterbacks in the league. Garcia remains one of the league's top passers. He's first all-time with 757 touchdowns and is second in all-time passing yards with 36,074 and in completions with 3,062. His recent injury will hinder the process of reaching 800 touchdowns this season.
The All-Arena QB became the first player to reach the 700-touchdown plateau last season on April 29 at Dallas.
LIVING YOUNG:
The Dragons are led by one of the great defensive coaches in the AFL and he also happens to be the youngest in professional football. Weylan Harding enters the 2006 season at 34 years old -- 14 months and 13 days younger than the second-youngest head coach - Los Angeles' Ed Hodgkiss. However, Harding does not hold the distinction of being the youngest coach in league history. That honor goes to Kevin Guy of the 2000 New Jersey Red Dogs, who was 27 years old.
Team Coach DOB Age
NYD Harding 1/5/1972 34
LAA Hodgkiss 10/23/1970 35
PHI Munsey 8/19/68 37
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ARENA-BRED COACHES
The Dragons are the only team in the league to have their entire coaching staff comprised of former AFL players. In total, the Dragons' coaching staff has a combined 22 years of AFL playing experience and another combined 18-plus years as coaches.
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SWITCHING POSITIONS
DaShane Dennis and Jamaal Cherry have switched positions from 2005 and will now line up at DS and OL/DL, respectively. Bruce Blue began training camp as a lineman and has since converted to FB/LB. Although Cherry was listed at FB/LB last season, he played primarily as a defensive lineman in his rookie season.
THREE DRAGONS TO WATCH:
OL/DL Marcus "Snowball" Owen: An All-Ironman selection in 2005, Owen will once again anchor the offensive and defensive line of the Dragon. Linemen sometimes go unnoticed, but watch out for Owen's contributions on the offensive side.
OS Kevin Swayne: When he remains healthy, Swayne is one of the best receivers in the league. He's a big target for Garcia and one of his favorites, too. In Week One, Swayne caught three of the four touchdowns thrown by Garcia.
DS Dahnel Singfield: Singfield is off to a strong start in his rookie season. He has recorded 36.0 tackles in the first five games with 11 solo tackles in Week Two vs. Chicago. He also recorded four interceptions so far this season for a gain of 87 yards, making him tied for second in the league.
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ORIGINAL DRAGONS
QB Aaron Garcia is a New York Dragon through thick and thin. He is the only player to be a part of the team for each of its first five seasons on Long Island. Garcia made the move when the Iowa Barnstormers relocated to New York prior to the 2001 season. Garcia was traded to Iowa from New Jersey on June 2, 1998 for WR/DB Chris Spencer and OL/DL John Dixon. This is Garcia's 12th AFL season and ninth with the franchise.
OS Kevin Swayne has been the property of the Dragons for all six seasons, however he spent two seasons on the exempt list from 2002-2004. After a successful 2001 campaign, he was signed by the NFL's New York Jets and stayed there for three seasons. He returned to the Dragons mid-way through the 2004 season. Swayne also suited up for the Barnstormers from 1998-1999.
WR/LB Mike Horacek is the only other player to have played for both the Barnstormers and the Dragons. From 1997 to 2000, Horacek split time as a WR/DB and an OS with Iowa. He was the AFL's Offensive Player of the Year in 2000, his last with the team until he was selected in 2004 Dispersal Draft. The 2006 season is his second with the Dragons, but sixth with the franchise.
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