New York Dragons Playoff Game Notes
May 27, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
New York Dragons News Release
Quick Facts:
New York Dragons (8-8) at Orlando Predators (12-4)
Date: Sunday, June 1, 2003
Kickoff: 3:00 PM
Site: TD Waterhouse Center (16,613)
Officials: Referee: Bill LeMonnier Umpire: Rick Nelson Head Linesman: Alan Baynes Line Judge: David Meslow Back Judge: Billy Beckett Supervisor: Ed Manning
TV: NBC4 Tom Hammond (pxp), Pat Haden (analyst), Lewis Johnson (sideline)
Radio: Webcast: www.newyorkdragons.com Sid Rosenberg and Peter Schwartz on the call
Series Record: This is the 11th meeting all-time between the franchises and the third in the postseason. All-time, the Predators hold a 7-3 advantage as well as a 2-1 postseason edge. Orlando defeated the Dragons 72-56 at the Nassau Coliseum in Todd Shell's first Dragons game earlier in the season.
Last Meeting: New York 54 â Chicago 51 March 23, 2003 â Allstate Arena
All-Time Playoff Records:
August 19, 1995 Orlando 56 â Iowa 49 in Iowa
August 16, 1997 Iowa 52 â Orlando 35 in Iowa
August 13, 1999 Orlando 48 â Iowa 41 in Iowa
Coaches: Orlando â Fran Papasedero (19-11, 2nd year, 2-1 in playoffs) New York - Todd Shell (37-29, 5th Year - 8-4, 1st year as Dragons coach, 1-3 in playoffs)
Game Preview:
Coming off their first-ever playoff win since moving to New York, the Dragons head to Orlando to meet Jay Gruden and the Orlando Predators. The Dragons were defeated earlier in the season by Orlando in Todd Shell's first game after taking over the helm. The Dragons have been perfect on the road under Shell, finishing the season with a six-game winning streak.
Last Week:
Chicago 45 â New York 48
Ian Howfield successfully connected on a game-winning 30-yard field goal with 3.3 seconds remaining in the game to give the New York Dragons a 48-45 victory against the Chicago Rush. A 17-0 run in the fourth quarter keyed the Dragons comeback.
The first quarter was a back and forth battle between the two hungry teams. The Dragons struck quickly when QB Aaron Garcia found his biggest target WR/LB Chris Anthony for a three-yard strike. Chicago fought back when Rush QB Billy Dicken hooked up with All-Arena OS Antonio Chatman for a 16-yard score. After that, things got wild. On the Dragons ensuing possession Garcia lost control of the ball when Chicago linemen John Moyer sacked him. Luckily for New York, the ball tumbled out of bounds. That set up an impressive 47-yard field goal by Kicker Ian Howfield to give the Dragons a 10-7 lead. However, a Cornelius Bonner 16-yard touchdown reception gave the Rush a 14-10 lead to finish the first quarter.
The Dragons ran into some more trouble early in the second quarter. Chicago's stingy defense held Garcia and his offense to a turnover on downs deep in their own zone. The Dragons got their first break of the game when the Rush tried a trick play down by the endzone and WR Cornelius Bonner took a handoff and attempted to throw the ball to Chatman. However, Dragons DS Donvetis Franklin made a spectacular interception, which then led to another Anthony touchdown that put the New York back on top, 17-14. But as the half ended, Dicken ran the ball in from a yard out and Chicago went into halftime leading 21-17.
Chicago had the first possession of the second half but the Dragons showed they can play defense as well when they held the Rush to a field goal on Chicago's first possession. William Holder, who earlier left the game with a head injury, came back to make two key third quarter touchdown receptions. However the story of the third quarter was Antonio Chatman. Chatman took two consecutive kickoffs all the way back for a touchdown score. After Chatman's second one, Rush Kicker Keith Gispert kicked the ball perfectly off the iron on the rebound nets. Chicago's Jamie McGourty recovered the free ball and then later ran the ball in for six points. The Rush opened up a 45-31 lead by the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter belonged to the Eastern Division Champions. The Garcia to Holder combination hooked up for the third time of the game with a seven-yard catch, but the Rush lead was only cut to eight as Howfield missed the extra point attempt. On Chicago's next possession, the Rush had to settle for a field goal attempt and when the ball hit the scoreboard the Dragons had the ball back down eight points. Garcia quickly found WR Todd Doxzon for an 11-yard catch in the back of the endzone. The Dragons went for two and "AG" called his own number on a successful two-point conversion that tied the game at 45.
The Rush's offense simply couldn't get into a rhythm. WR Furnell Hankton fumbled late in the game at the Dragons' four-yard line and the ball went through the endzone for a touchback. Aaron Garcia led his troops down the field and with 3.3 second remaining Ian Howfield successfully connected on the 30-yard field goal to give the Dragons the victory.
DRAGON TALES
Storylines from the 2003 season:
Dragons Win First Eastern Division Title in Franchise History:
After starting the season 0-6, the Dragons won eight of their last 10 games claiming the first Eastern Division Title in franchise history. This is the Dragons second postseason appearance in three years on Long Island. The Dragons entered the 2003 Arena Football Playoffs ranked as the 8th seed. On May 25, the Dragons defeated the Chicago Rush 48-45 at the Nassau Coliseum, marking the first playoff win since moving to New York. The win also marked the first of Todd Shell's coaching career.
Todd Shell Takes over For John Gregory:
The New York Dragons announced on Feb. 24 that they named former San Jose Sabercats Head Coach Todd Shell as the second head coach in franchise history. He is assisted by Lary Kuharich and Derrick Chachere.
The hiring came after Head Coach John Gregory and his assistants, Ted Heath, Scot Maynard and Dick Adams were relieved of their duties. Gregory was in his ninth year with the Iowa/New York franchise, earning a record of 66-48. In three years in New York with the Dragons, Gregory was 11-21. The Dragons finished the 2003 season 8-8 after finishing the 2002 season 3-11.
Serving as the first Head Coach in Sabercats history, Shell led his 1995 squad to a record of 8-4 and a Western Division Championship. His team became the first expansion franchise in AFL history to win a division title. After four seasons at the helm in San Jose, Shell compiled a record of 29-25 earning a playoff berth in three of four seasons.
Shell was the San Francisco 49ers' 1984 first-round draft pick out of BYU where he proceeded to win two Super Bowl rings (1984 and 1988). Shell played five seasons in San Francisco before retiring due to injuries. He most recently worked as the color commentator for the Arizona Rattlers, where he served as defensive coordinator from 1992-1994.
This is the second time in Shell's career he has lead a team to a Division Title in his first year at the helm. Dragons Become "Road Warriors":
With the win at Buffalo on May 11, the Dragons set a franchise record with a five-game road winning streak. The Dragons finished the season 6-0 under new Head Coach Todd Shell. The previous record of four games was set twice between 1996-1997 when Iowa won their last three road games in â96 (Orlando, Anaheim and Connecticut) and their first road game in â97 (Texas) and again in â97 with four consecutive road wins (Albany, Portland, Milwaukee and Tampa Bay) after a loss in New Jersey separated the Texas and Albany wins.
Aaron Garcia Reaches Two Personal Milestones. Gains League Honor Following Both Wins Over Chicago Rush:
The Arena Football League named Dragons QB Aaron Garcia the Offensive Player of the Week for Week 8 after Garcia led the Dragons to victory by completing 28-of-38 passes for 339 yards and eight touchdowns in a 54-51 victory over the Chicago Rush on March 23. Along with the victory, Garcia reached two significant individual milestones, recording his 500th career touchdown pass and 25,000th career passing yard. He became only the second player, along with Detroit's Andy Kelly, in League history to reach those marks. Garcia tied a career-high with nine straight 300-yard passing games after throwing for his 35th career 300-yard game.
Garcia was also named the Arena Football League's Offensive Player of the Week following the Wild Card Round win over the Rush. In leading the Dragons to their first ever New York playoff win he completed 25-of-34 passes for 291-yards and six touchdowns. He also made a key play running in the two-point conversion to tie the game with under two minutes left.
Aaron Garcia All-Time Rankings:
Rank TDs Yardage Completions
1st AndyKelly548 Andy Kelly27, 831 Andy Kelly2,503
2nd AaronGarcia544 Shedrick Bonner26, 790 Shedrick Bonner2,114
3rd Sherdick Bonner 534 Aaron Garcia26, 780 Aaron Garcia2,086
4th Todd Hammel24, 379 Todd Hammel1,962
Garcia and Furrey Top League Rankings: Dragons QB Aaron Garcia finished the 2003 campaign amongst the AFL leaders in several offense categories.
Category Rank Amount
Completion Pct. 2nd 68.7
Completions 4th 349
Pass Rating 2nd 122.9
Passing Yards 4th 4,279
Passing TD's 1st 100 Former Dragons Offensive Specialist Mike Furrey, before leaving for the NFL's St. Louis Rams, ranked among the AFL leaders in 2003.
Category Rank Amount
Points 1st 288*
Receptions 6th 108
Rec. Yards 5nd 1,574
Receiving TD's 1st 46+
All-Purpose Yards 10th 1,782
*New Dragons team record
+Ties AFL single-season record
Don of the D:
Second-year player DS Donvetis Franklin ended 2003 leading the AFL with 93.5 tackles (82-23). He also ranked fourth in the AFL with 25 passes defended. Last season, in his rookie year, Franklin finished the season ranked second in the AFL with 90.5 tackles and in the Top 10 in passes defended, fumble recoveries and interceptions.
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