New York Dragons game notes
April 3, 2007 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release
New York Dragons (1-3)
at Grand Rapids Rampage ()
Date: Saturday ▪ April 7, 2007
Kickoff: 7:00 PM (EST)
Site:
Radio: WNYG 1440AM with Peter Schwartz (play-by-play) and Wayne Morris (analyst).
Regular Season Series Record: (4-5)
Regular Season Series Streak: +1
Last Regular Season Meeting: April 1st, 2006
New York 48, Grand Rapids 24
Nassau Coliseum ▪ Uniondale, NY
Coaches All-Time Record:
Dragons ▪ Weylan Harding (21-17, 3rd year)
Rampage ▪ (10-26, 3rd year)
Officials: Referee: Dennis Lipski, Umpire: Rick Nelson, Head Linesman: Kavin McGrath, Line Judge: Darrel Leftwitch, Back Judge: Rich Wilborn.
DRAGONS - SOUL ALL-TIME
DATE H/A SCORE
May 8, 1998 A 27-45
June 6, 1998* H 48-47
May 14, 1999 A 47-61
July 31, 1999* H 56-49
April 29, 2000 A 37-39
July 8, 2000* H 52-19
July 13, 2002 H 45-54
Febuary 16, 2003 A 63-66
April 1, 2006* H 48-24
*Denotes Dragons win
ABOUT THE GAME
The Dragons return to the road in Week Six when the head to Grand Rapids to face the Rampage on Saturday at 7:00pm. The two franchises are 4-5 with the rampage leading. Since moving to Long Island, the Dragons have posted a 1-2 record versus the Rampage.
NEXT WEEK'S PREVIEW
The Dragons return home in Week Seven for their third home contest of the season when they face the Colorado Crush on Sunday, April 15th at 1:00pm. This will be the fourth meeting between the two teams and the Dragons are undefeated against the Crush with a 3-0 record. All three contests were played at the Nassau Coliseum.
DRAGONS' WEEK SIX PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Tuesday (4/3): 12:00-2:00 at Mitchel Field Practice Facility
Wednesday (4/4): 12:00-2:00 at Mitchel Field Practice Facility
Thursday (4/5): 12:00-2:00 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 Dragons their 106th regular season victory and their 113th of all-time.
- The team their 50th victory since moving to Long Island in 2001.
- The Dragons a 2-3 record and a 2-1 road record for the season.
DRAGONS RUSHING
The Dragons currently lead the league in rushing average with 4.4 yards per carry after recording 75 yards on just 17 attempts. The next closest team is Austin with 3.3 yards per carry followed by Arizona and Dallas with 3.2.
TOOMBS IN A RUSH
FB Ja'Mar Toombs has recorded rushing touchdowns in three consecutive games with two rushing touchdowns in each of the first two games he played in and one in last week's contest versus the Soul. He currently is ranked second in the league with yards per rush, averaging 4.0 yards on 11 rushes for 44 yards with five touchdowns. Georgia's Matt Huebner currently leads the category averaging 4.6 yards per rush.
WARLEY KICKS HIS WAY TO THE TOP
Kicker Carter Warley is ranked 2nd in the league in PAT's, making 19-20. He trails only Dallas Kicker Todd Sievers who has recorded 27-27 PAT's. However, as a team the Dragons are ranked first in the league in the PAT category. He is also ranked second in the league among kickers in field goal percentage. His three of four field goals leave his with a 75% accuracy. He only trails San Jose kicker A.J. Haglund who currently has an 83.3 percentage completing five of six field goal attempts.
HORACEK AIMS FOR MILESTONES
WR/LB Mike Horacek led the Dragons offense in the 2006 season after recording 121 receptions for 1,663 yards and 35 touchdowns in 15 games. He looks to reach a milestone of 10,000 yards this season and is shy by just 216 yards. Horacek also holds the league record for most receiving yards in a game with 285 when he accomplished the feat with the Iowa Barnstormers on July 15, 2000 versus Albany. He played in his 100th career game on March 23 at Tampa Bay.
ANTHONY: AN IRONMAN ON AND OFF THE FIELD
Not only is Chris Anthony an outstanding athlete, but citizen as well. This Ironman kept busy this past offseason by starting his own non-profit organization called SpineLife. SpineLife assists athlete's who suffer sports related spinal cord injuries and head traumas. Anthony was first inspired after witnessing the tragic death of Al Lucas (Los Angeles Avengers) on the field during the Dragons game in Los Angeles in the 2005 season. Visit www.StandWithTravis.com to learn more about SpineLife's latest ventures.
DRAGONS KICKED OFF SEASON AT HOME
Since moving to Long Island, the Dragons have kicked off the season at home three times: 2001, 2005 and 2006. In each of those seasons, the Dragons have made the playoffs.
AARON GARCIA STARTS ON INJURED RESERVE
Aaron Garcia continues to rehab his leg in California as the Dragons head into Week One. This is the second home opener Garcia hasn't started with the other coming in 2002. That season, Garcia was with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers. Garcia will be out for an indefinite amount of time, but for a minimum of four weeks due to the AFL rule change of the injured reserve.
BLAST FROM A PAST SEASON
DB Billy Parker returns to the Dragons for the 2007 season after spending the 2006 season on the Carolina Panthers Practice Squad. In 2005, Parker led the Dragons defense in interceptions and tied the franchise interception record with ten. He was also named to the All-Rookie and All-Arena teams as a DS in 2005.
ARENABOWL XXI
New Orleans will host ArenaBowl XXI at New Orleans Arena on Sunday, July 29 at 3:00pm EST. This will be the first championship game held in New Orleans since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
STATISTICS:
A look at how New York and Grand Rapids match-up based on 2007 regular season statistics:
Statistical NEW YORK GRAND RAPIDS
Category Rank Stat Rank Stat
Scoring Offense 19th 41.5 14th 47.2
Scoring Defense 15th 59.5 19th 68.2
Total Offense (yds/g) 16th 278.0 17th 256.8
Total Defense (yds/g) 12th 299.2 16th 306.0
Pass Offense 15th 259.2 17th 245.2
Pass Defense 11th 274.5 17th 290.5
Rushing Offense 12th 18.8 16th 11.5
Rushing Defense 14th 24.8 6th 15.5
Passer Rating 18th 89.4 19th 82.7
Def. Passer Rating 7th 109.2 19th 128.7
Kickoff Returns (y/rtn) 7th 17.9 5th 19.1
MFG Returns 15th 2-8 12th 1-14
Turnover Margin 19th -11 18th -6
Field Goals 3rd 3-4 T-9th 5-10
PATs 1st 19-20 11th 22-25
First Downs 19th 69 16th 77
3rd Down Conversion 12th 11-24 11th 17-36
4th Down Conversion 19th 1-6 2nd 5-6
Penalties (yds/g) 2nd 35.5 14th 56.5
Sacks By 19th 1-11 11th 4-15
Sacks Against 17th 10-63 13th 7-32
Time of Possession 12th 29:10 3rd 33:05
Red Zone Offense T-11th 10-12 14th 14-17
Red Zone Defense 5th 12-15 14th 17-19
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