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New York Dragons game notes

April 18, 2006 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release


New York Dragons (7-5)
vs. Los Angeles (3-9)

Date: Saturday ▪ April 22, 2006
Kickoff: 10:30 PM (EST)
Site: Staples Center (17,942)

TV: FSN
Radio: WLIE 540 AM: (play-by-play) Peter Schwartz and Wayne Morris (analyst)

Regular Season Series Record: (0-4)
Regular Season Series Streak: -4
Last Regular Season Meeting: April 10th, 2005
New York 35, Los Angeles 66
Staples Center ▪ Los Angeles, CA (17,942)

Coaches Record:
Dragons ▪ Weylan Harding (17-11, 2nd year)
Avengers ▪ Ed Hodgkiss (41-33, 5th year)

Officials: Referee: Dennis Lipski (28), Umpire: Rick Nelson (10), Head Linesman: Kavin McGrath (15), Line Judge: Darrel Leftwich (14), Back Judge: Rich Wilborn (83)

DRAGONS - AVENGERS ALL-TIME
DATE H/A SCORE
April 19, 2002 A 25-43
March 9, 2003 H 61-65
May 16, 2004 H 53-58
April 10, 2005 A 35-66

*Denotes Dragons win

ABOUT THE GAME
The New York Dragons continue on the road in Week 13 when they head to Los Angeles to take on the Avengers. The Dragons are 7-5 this season and 4-2 on the road. The Avengers are 3-9 this season and have a home record of 2-2. This will be the 5th meeting between the two clubs and the Avengers sweep the series 4-0. The game will take place at the Staples Center.

LAST WEEK'S RECAP
In Week 12, the Dragons were victorious in a crucial game against the division rival Columbus Destroyers. The win put the Dragons right back in the running for the playoffs and left Columbus with a 5-7 record. At the half, the Dragons were down by 11 but the Dragons made a strong comeback in the second half, defeating the Destroyers 64-57 and improving their record to 7-5 for the season.

NEXT WEEK'S PREVIEW
The Dragons return home in Week 14 to take on the Philadelphia Soul for the second meeting this season. The Dragons will be looking for a win after being defeated by the Soul in Philadelphia during Week Four of this season. The Soul currently have a record of (7-5), same as the Dragons. However, the Soul are placed ahead of the Dragons due to the head-to-head tie-breaker. A win for the Dragons in this Division game is crucial in order to keep their playoff dreams alive.

DRAGONS' WEEK THIRTEEN PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tuesday (4/18): 12:15-2:15 at Mitchel Field Practice Facility
Wednesday (4/19): 12:15-2:15 at Mitchel Field Practice Facility
Thursday (4/20): TBD

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 8-5 record for the season and a 5-2 road record.
- The Dragons their 101st regular season victory and their 107th of all-time.
- The team their 45th victory since moving to Long Island in 2001.
- The Dragons a regular season and all-time record of 4-1 versus Los Angeles.

DRAGONS CONTINUE ON THE ROAD
The Dragons continue on the road in Week 13 to face the Los Angeles Avengers. The win is crucial for the Dragons in order to have some pull in the division if a tie-breaking scenario arises for the playoffs. The Dragons are currently 0-3 in division games, losing to each division rival and Columbus is the first of the rematches. The Dragons will look to improve their road record to 4-2 and their season record to 7-5.

DEFENDING THE EAST
The Dragons are currently 1-3 in the Division after last weeks win over Columbus and their previous losses to Philadelphia in Week Three, Columbus in Week Six and Dallas in Week Eleven. The Dragons have two division matchups remaining when they take on the soul in Week 14 and Dallas in Week 16. 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.

HORACEK LEADS THE OFFENSE
WR/LB Mike Horacek recorded his sixth game this season with over 100 receiving yards in his stellar performance over the Columbus Destroyers in Week 12. In the game, he recorded 10 receptions for 158 yards and four touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown with just over 20 seconds left to play. He also recorded one rush for 2 yards.

ANTHONY RETURNS AS STRONG IRONMAN
After battling with a hamstring injury for the majority of the season, WR/LB Chris Anthony returned in Week 12 and came up big winning the Ironman of the Game honors. In the final seconds of play, Anthony recorded an interception and returned the ball for 10 yards, eliminating columbus' chance of a comeback.

WEEK TWELVE AFL AWARD CANDIDATES
In Week 12 vs. Columbus, the AFL named three New York Dragons candidates for awards. WR/LB Chris Anthony was a nominee for the AFL Ironman of the Week. Anthony recorded six receptions for 53 yards on offense. On defense he recorded 0.5 tackles and an interception for 10 yards, securing the Dragons victory with just seconds remaining. WR/LB Mike Horacek and QB Nick Browder were both nominee's for the AFL Offensive Player of the Week. Horacek recorded 10 receptions for 158 yards and 4 touchdowns including the game-winning touchdown. He also recorded one rush for two yards. Browder completed 31of 46 passes for 387 yards and 7 touchdowns.

BLUE RECEIVES AFL IRONMAN OF THE WEEK
In his rookie year and first week back from the injured reserve, FB/LB Bruce Blue was named Ironman of the Game and AFL Ironman of the week for his Week Ten performance vs. the Grand Rapids Rampage. In the game, he recorded 2.0 tackles including a sack for a safety, and added two rushes for 28 yards and two touchdowns. Blue is currently the youngest player in the AFL and therefore youngest to receive this award.

GARCIA OUT FOR THE SEASON
In Week Five versus the Orlando Predators, QB Aaron Garcia suffered a fractured tibia in the third quarter. He underwent successful surgery and will be out for the season.

WOOD OUT FOR THE SEASON
In Week Seven vs. the Austin Wranglers, quarterback Juston Wood suffered a dislocated kneecap in the first quarter, the second Dragons quarterback to be injured within a two-week period following Garcia's injury in Week Five. Wood underwent successful surgery and will be out for the rest of the season.

OBERT HOLDS NEW DRAGONS RECORD
Obert now holds a new Dragons record making 29 consecutive PAT kicks before ending his streak in Week Eight vs. Tampa Bay. In the league he is in the top 7 of all kickers in the last 3 seasons for most consecutive PAT kicks.

BROWDER CONTINUES AS STARTING QUARTERBACK
After Wood's injury in the first quarter of Week Seven, quarterback Nick Browder subbed in with the Dragons trailing 14-7. Browder completed 21 of 39 passes for 222 yards and five touchdowns and led the Dragons to a 59-56 victory over the Austin Wranglers. Browder has continued as starting quarterback since and the Dragons are 4-2 with Browder as quarterback.

BACKGROUND ON BROWDER
Browder returned to the Rampage in 2005 after a season with the expansion Philadelphia Soul, in which he set career marks in every passing category. He previously played for the Rampage in 2001 and 2003 behind the team's all-time leading passer Clint Dolezel. In 2004 with the Soul, he went 3-6 as the starting QB and set career highs in completions (145), attempts (244), yards (1,685) and touchdowns (31). In 2003 he completed 8-of-13 for 120 yards with one passing score and three rushing scores. In 2002 he went through training camp with the Rampage. He signed to the Indiana Firebirds practice squad on May 20, then was picked up by the Detroit Fury and had his best games when he tossed five scores and ran in another with 299 yards against the Rampage and was named Game MVP. He also ran in a 16-yard score. In 2001 he did not record any stats backing up Clint Dolezel, but saw action in six games on defense, registering 2.5 tackles. In the playoffs, he completed 3-of-5 passes for 26 yards vs. Chicago and rushed for a touchdown. In 2000 Browder played in five games with Buffalo where he totaled 122 yards and threw one touchdown along with one fumble recovery. In 1999, he was the starting quarterback for the Indoor Football League champion Green Bay Bombers.

Browder spent his college career at Valparaiso and ranked as the school's all-time total offense leader. He received All-Conference honors in 1995 and 1996 and was elected as an All-American in 1996. He graduated with a degree in sports management and earned his master's in athletic administration from Valparaiso and lettered in basketball, baseball, football and track in high school.

SITUATIONAL RECORDS
At Home 3-3 Tied At Half 1-0
On The Road 4-2 Behind At Half 2-4
Friday Games 3-1 Ahead After Three Quarters 4-1
Saturday Games 3-1 Tied After Three Quarters 1-0
February 3-2 Behind After Three Quarters 2-3
National Conference 4-3 Outcome 6 pts or Less 2-0
Eastern Division 1-3 Outcome 3 pts or Less 2-0
Southern Division 3-0 Outcome 7 pts or More 3-4
American Conference 3-1 Outcome 4 pts or More 0-0
Central Division 2-1 Overtime 0-0
Western Division 1-0 Plus Turnover Margin 6-1
Opponents Scored First 4-3 Even Turnover Margin 0-0
Ahead At Half 4-1 Minus Turnover Margin 1-4

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.

Congratulations on the win Coach! This was obviously a crucial game for the Dragons. What do you say to your team before a game like that and when you are down at the half, what do you tell them to keep them motivated and focused?
WH: I simply challenged the team and the coaching staff to let it go! Hold nothing
back and go for broke. We have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our playoffs start now. There is no tomorrow!

Hi Coach. I have to congratulate you. I saw the game last night and the difference in coaching styles really can make or break the game. Can you explain how you decided to go for it on the fourth down as opposed to Columbus who opted to kick a field goal? Is that always your coaching style or when would you play more conservative?
WH: The decision to go for it was based on the momentum of the game. It was also a gesture to my team that I believe in them. You can't preach going for broke
and not follow thru. In a different scenario maybe the call changes. After looking at how hard we worked to get to that position I could not get conservative at that point.

Why are you not utilizing the whole WR core? The offense appears to have become predictable with Horacek as the obvious target. If you want to make the playoffs I feel that you need to be less predictable and you have the weapons to do it. Go Dragons!
WH: I don't believe you have access to our film sessions because your comments reflect a very narrow view. The game plan is to use each and every weapon according to what a defense allows or what we perceive as a weakness. All of our receivers contribute and have the potential to have breakout games
according to scheme and productivity. There is a lot more to making a play work
than just choosing which receiver to throw it to. Food for thought.... Damien
Harrell has 43 touchdowns for the Crush at this point. Everyone knows where
the ball is going. Would you suggest they not throw it to him because of
predictability?

Are penalties a concern of yours? I noticed a few bad calls and a few penalties that the team should not have taken. Do you feel they have affected you this season and more or less than last season?
WH: Our penalties have gone down dramatically compared to last year. We
along with other teams have been the victims of some pretty questionable
calls. As far as the effect, it depends on the situation in which it is called. What I look for is if the penalty is self imposed such as off sides or false starts. Those penalties can be controlled more so than a pass interference. We are getting better which is what I require.

2006 SCHEDULE
DATE TIME/SCORE OPPONENT
Sat, 1/28 L 57-28 vs. Nashville
Fri, 2/3 W 51-47 at Chicago
Sat, 2/11 W 84-81 at Utah
Sun, 2/19 L 75-59 at Philadelphia
Sun, 2/26 W 55-35 vs. Orlando
Fri, 3/3 L 65-54 vs. Columbus
Sun, 3/12 W 59-56 at Austin
Sat, 3/18 L 60-44 at Tampa Bay
Fri, 3/24 W 54-48 vs. Kansas City
Sat, 4/1 W 48-24 vs. Grand Rapids
Sun, 4/9 L 46-28 vs. Dallas
Fri, 4/14 W 64-57 at Columbus
Sat, 4/22 10:30 at Los Angeles
Sat, 4/29 7:00 vs. Philadelphia
Sat, 5/6 7:00 vs. Georgia
Sat, 5/13 8:00 at Dallas

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NY-LA CONNECTIONS:
Dragons DS Mark Ricks played for the Avengers from 2001-2002 where he recorded 107.0 tackles, 30 pass breakups, nine interceptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He also recorded 63 kickoff returns for 1081 yards and one touchdown.

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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 injury in Week Five vs. Orlando will prevent him from 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 Hodgekiss. However, Harding does not hold the distinction of being the youngest young 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.

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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.

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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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.

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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.

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