No. 1 vs. No. 2 Battle on the Bayou for Southern Lead

March 23, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

NEW YORK – Head coach MIKE NEU and the AFLWA's No. 2 New Orleans VooDoo (6-2) have their sights set on repeating as Southern Division champions, but AFLWA's Coach of the Mid-Year, DOUG PLANK and the No. 1 Georgia Force (6-2) have other plans when the two teams face this Saturday at 8 p.m. ET at the New Orleans Arena on AFL Net – www.arenafootball.com.

AFLWA's Offensive Player of the Mid-Year, New Orleans QB ANDY KELLY (6-3, 220 Tennessee), leads the AFL in completions (243), passing yards (2,417) and touchdowns (49). Kelly has the VooDoo offense clicking with one of the best trios in the AFL – OS AARON BAILEY (5-11, 190, Louisville), WR/LB THABITI DAVIS (6-3, 210, Wake Forest) and JACQUES RUMPH (5-8, 180, Carson Newman). Add WR/DB CARL BOND (6-0, 195, Connecticut), who had 11 receptions for 126 yards and four touchdowns in last week's victory over Chicago, to the mix and Kelly's has a full arsenal at his disposal.

On the other side, "Thunder and Lighting" will look to strike the VooDoo secondary when AFLWA's All-Arena Mid-Year WR/LB DEREK LEE (6-5, 225, Tennessee Tech) and Rookie of the Mid-Year OS TROY BERGERON (6-2, 190, Middle Tennessee State) take the field. The duo have combined for 121 receptions, 1,540 yards and 40 touchdowns.

In Dallas, a potential ArenaBowl XIX Las Vegas preview will occur when Offensive Player of the Year candidate DAMIAN HARRELL (6-3, 200, Florida State) and the Central Division-leading Colorado Crush (5-2) head to American Airlines Center to face Rookie of the Year candidate QB CLINT STOERNER (6-2, 210, Arkansas) and the Eastern Division-leading Dallas Desperados this Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on FSN Rocky Mountain, FSN Southwest and INHD.

Should Harrell catch a touchdown this week, it would mark his 41st straight game with a touchdown catch, which would tie the AFL all-time record currently held by ‘Touchdown" EDDIE BROWN. Harrell has caught a touchdown in all 37 games he has played with the Crush. The former Seminole leads Colorado with 48 receptions for 641 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Stoerner is on pace to shatter the single-season rookie-quarterback record for touchdowns with 74 (64, Buffalo's JIM KUBIAK in 2001). The former Razorback has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,837 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Colorado head coach MIKE DAILEY and Dallas head coach WILL MC CLAY, both Coach of the Year candidates, will match wits as the Crush's No. 3 scoring offense (54.6 PPG) will battle the Desperados' No. 2 scoring defense (44.1 PPG).

On Monday night, six-time Ironman of the Year WR/LB BARRY WAGNER (6-3, 225, Alabama A&M) and the defending ArenaBowl champion San Jose SaberCats (4-3) travel to the Thomas & Mack Center to face defending Offensive Player of the Year OS MARCUS NASH (6-3, 210, Tennessee) and the Western Division-leading Las Vegas Gladiators (5-3) at 10 p.m. ET, televised locally on NBC-San Jose and on AFL Net – www.arenafootball.com.

Games slated for Week 9 include: Austin at Orlando (AFL Net - www.arenafootball.com), Colorado at Dallas (FSN Rocky Mountain, FSN Southwest, NASN-Europe) on Friday; New York at Columbus (FSN New York, FSN Ohio, NASN-Europe), Grand Rapids at Philadelphia (Comcast-Philadelphia, FSN Detroit, The Score-Canada), Georgia at New Orleans (AFL Net - www.arenafootball.com), Arizona at Nashville (AFL Net - www.arenafootball.com), Tampa Bay at Los Angeles (FSN West, Sun Sports, The Score-Canada, INHD) on Saturday and San Jose at Las Vegas (San Jose-NBC, AFL Net - www.arenafootball.com) on Monday. The Chicago Rush have a bye week.


ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 Georgia Force 6-2 101 (10)
2 New Orleans VooDoo 6-2 92 (2)
3 Dallas Desperados 6-2 87 (1)
4 Colorado Crush 5-2 63 (1)
5 New York Dragons 5-2 61
6 Orlando Predators 5-3 37
7 San Jose SaberCats 4-3 24
8 Tampa Bay Storm 4-3 22
Also receiving votes: Las Vegas Gladiators 15 and Los Angeles Avengers 2.

AUSTIN WRANGLERS (3-5) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (5-3)
FRIDAY, MARCH 25 AT 7:30 P.M. ET
TV: AFL NET – www.arenafootball.com

This matchup features Southern Division rivals... Austin's first franchise win came in their season opener with a 49-48 overtime win against Orlando last season... Orlando's 43-26 win over Austin in Week 15 of last season prevented Austin from earning the last available postseason spot... Austin is coming off a 57-47 win over New York that ended New York's four-game winning-streak... Orlando is 2-1 at home this season while Austin is 2-1 on the road... The last time Orlando followed a loss with a game against a Southern Division opponent the following week, Orlando defeated New Orleans 63-52 and QB JOE HAMILTON completed 11-of-20 passes for 169 yards and six TDs... Against Southern Division opponents this season (Tampa Bay & Georgia), Austin QB JOHN FITZGERALD has thrown for 534 yards and 11 TDs and WR/DB KEVIN NICKERSON has 12 receptions for 192 yards and six TDs... Hamilton and Fitzgerald, who have not thrown under four TDs a game this season, are tied at No. 4 in total offensive TDs (39)... Austin is +5 in turnovers in their three wins this season, but they are –6 in turnovers in their five loses... Orlando head coach JAY GRUDEN is 1-1 in head-to-head match-ups against Austin head coach SKIP FOSTER.

2005 LEADERS WRANGLERS PREDATORS
SERIES LEADER Series tied 1-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. New York, 57-47 Lost at Georgia, 47-49
2005 LEADERS WRANGLERS PREDATORS
PASSING Fitzgerald: 251-165-7, 1966, 37 TDs Hamilton: 252-153-8, 1806, 34 TDs
RECEIVING Chiaverini: 59-527, 10 TDs Fleming: 38-403, 13 TDs
RUSHING Bryant: 26-52, 6 TDs Price: 15-76, 5 TDs
TACKLES Walker: 44.5 Mason: 49.5
SACKS Humphrey: 2.0 Burt: 5.0
INTERCEPTIONS Hunter: 3 McEntyre: 3
KICKING Dodson: 31-38 PAT, 2-11 FG; 37 PTS Gowins: 30-37 PAT; 5-11 FG; 45 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 49.2 PPG (11); 297.6 YPG (4) 46.9 PPG (13); 251.8 YPG (16)
TEAM DEFENSE 57.4 PPG (16); 329.1 YPG (17) 44.6 PPG (3); 257.0 YPG (4)
















COLORADO CRUSH (5-2) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (6-2)
FRIDAY, MARCH 25 AT 8:30 P.M. ET
TV: FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN, FSN SOUTHWEST, INHD, NASN-EUROPE
KEVIN ESCHENFELDER & GARY REASONS

The Crush are looking to extend their franchise-record four-game winning streak and the Desperados want to continue their best start in franchise history... In the last meeting between these two teams in 2003, the Desperados came out on top 73-55... In that game Crush QB JOHN DUTTON threw for 278 yards, six TDs and two INTs... Looking to intercept Dutton this time around is DS JERMAINE JONES who is tied for No. 5 in the League with five INTs... Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL is tied for No. 4 in the League in scoring with 114 points and has caught at least one touchdown in 40 consecutive regular-season games (42 including postseason), which includes one in every game he has played for Colorado... Harrell is also No. 10 in the League in receiving yards (641)... Entering Week 9, Dutton and Dallas QB CLINT STOERNER are tied for No. 4 in the League in TDs thrown (37) and their pass ratings of 113.6 and 118.1 rank them at No. 6 and No. 4 respectively... Crush DS RASHAD FLOYD is still leading the League in tackles (57.5), despite not playing in last weeks game, and is on pace to finish the season with 131 tackles and break the single-season record that he set in 2004 (122)... Dallas's No. 4 ranked offense (54.4 points/game) is ranked No. 2 in the League in rushing yards (312) and FB/LB JA'MAR TOOMBS and FB/LB DUKE PETTIJOHN are ranked No.2 (130) and No. 3 (114) in the League in rushing yards... Both Colorado and Dallas can rely on their kickers... Crush K CLAY RUSH and Desperados K CARLOS MARTINEZ are ranked No. 2 and 3, respectively, in points scored by a kicker with 72 and 71 points...

2005 LEADERS CRUSH DESPERADOS
SERIES LEADER Dallas leads 1-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1
LAST GAME Won vs Columbus, 52-37 Won at Los Angeles, 72-50
2005 LEADERS CRUSH DESPERADOS
PASSING Dutton: 248-154-4, 1739, 37 TDs Stoerner: 230-144-5, 1837, 37 TDs
RECEIVING Harrell: 48-641, 19 TDs Shelley: 52-700, 13 TDs
RUSHING Young: 10-32, 1 TDs Toombs: 35-130, 9 TDs
TACKLES Floyd: 57.5 Jones: 38.5
SACKS Young: 4.0 Simpkins, Pettijohn, Toombs: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS McKenzie:4 Jones, Pettis: 3
KICKING Rush: 45-50 PAT; 9-18 FG; 72 PTS Martinez: 53-56 PAT; 6-14 FG; 71 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 54.6 PPG (3); 255.3 YPG (14) 54.4 PPG (4); 263.0 YPG (13)
TEAM DEFENSE 46.7 PPG (5); 317.4 YPG (16) 44.1 PPG (2); 231.5 YPG (1)



NEW YORK DRAGONS (5-2) AT COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (1-6)
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 AT 7 P.M. ET
TV: FSN NEW YORK, FSN OHIO, NASN-EUROPE
DAN HOARD & JIM LACHEY

This matchup features Eastern Division rivals... New York is 2-0 against other teams in the Eastern Division, but they are also 0-1 in the state of Ohio... A New York win would tie them with Dallas atop the Eastern Division... Columbus is looking for their second win of the season and is looking to bring their record at home at 2-2... New York WR/DB MIKE HORACEK is averaging 91.3 receiving yards and two TDs while playing on the road... New York QB AARON GARCIA, who is tied at No. 4 in TD passes (37), has a career average of 269.5 passing yards and 6.6 TDs against Columbus and has thrown for over 300 yards three times... Columbus QB RYAN VENA will be making his first home start and is averaging 212 passing yards and three TDs in two appearances... In Vena's only start against New York, he was 17-of-23 for 265 yards and five TDs... Dragons DS BILLY PARKER is leading the team and is No. 2 in the League with five INTs and WR/DB COREY JOHNSON is tied at No. 3 with four INTs... Columbus traded DS JOJO POLK, who was tied at No. 2 on the team in tackles (22.0), for FB/LB SEDRICK IRVIN this past week... This will be the first game between Columbus rookie head coach CHRIS SPIELMAN and New York rookie head coach WEYLAN HARDING, who was the Destroyers defensive coordinator and DBs coach for the past three seasons.

2005 LEADERS DRAGONS DESTROYERS
SERIES LEADER New York leads 6-4
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 1-4
LAST GAME Lost at Austin, 47-57 Lost at Colorado, 37-52
2005 LEADERS DRAGONS DESTROYERS
PASSING Garcia: 211-141-5,1725, 37 TDs D'Orazio: 126-86-2, 899, 14 TDs
RECEIVING Horacek: 42-578, 16 TDs White: 46-561, 9 TDs
RUSHING White: 19-67, 4 TDs D'Orazio: 22-74, 2 TDs
TACKLES Angel: 50.5 Franklin: 37.0
SACKS Cherry: 1 Jones, McCleary, Pelshak: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Parker: 5 Hefflin, Polk: 1
KICKING Bironas: 43-53 PAT, 3-9 FG, 52 PTS Videtich: 35-38 PAT; 6-13 FG; 53 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 53.7 PPG (5); 251.1 YPG (17) 42.4 PPG (16); 255.3 YPG (15)
TEAM DEFENSE 47.7 PPG (6); 299.6 YPG (t-12) 51.0 PPG (11); 261.0 YPG (6)



GEORGIA FORCE (6-2) AT NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (6-2)
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 AT 8 P.M. ET
TV: AFL NET – www.arenafootball.com

Georgia and New Orleans are tied for first in the Southern Division... The winner will not only be in sole possession of first place in the Southern Division, but will also boast the best record in the League... Georgia is not only 3-0 against their Southern Division opponents, but they are 2-2 on the road... The VooDoo are 3-1 while playing in New Orleans Arena, and are undefeated at home over the past two seasons against every team except Orlando... Georgia won the first meeting of the season 46-44 in Week 1... In that game, Georgia OS AARON BAILEY had 164 all-purpose yards... The last time these two teams met in New Orleans, the VooDoo won 44-40 in Week 15 of last season... In that game OS DIALLEO BURKS had six receptions for 103 yards and one TD... Georgia rookie OS TROY BERGERON and rookie WR/DB DEREK LEE are tied at No. 2 in the League in TD receptions (20) and first among rookies... Lee and Bergeron together average 179.5 receiving yards and 3.7 TDs a game on the road... Bailey is ranked No. 1 in the League in receptions (69) and teammate WR/DB THABITI DAVIS is ranked No. 3 (66)... New Orleans QB ANDY KELLY is ranked No. 1 in the League in passing TDs (49) and is averaging over six TDs a game at home this season... If Kelly throws for his average this Saturday, it will put him back on pace to finish the season as the second quarterback in League history to hit the century mark in TD passes (100) in a single season... Last week Kelly won his 80th game as a starting quarterback with a 46-40 win in Chicago... New Orleans head coach MIKE NEU is 3-4 life-time against Georgia, but holds a 2-1 record as New Orleans head coach.

2005 LEADERS FORCE VooDoo
SERIES LEADER New Orleans leads 2-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1
LAST GAME Won vs. Orlando, 49-47 Won at Chicago, 46-40 (OT)
2005 LEADERS FORCE VooDoo
PASSING Kubiak: 158-104-3, 1146, 22 TDs Kelly: 360-243-6, 2417, 49 TDs
RECEIVING Bergeron: 61-828, 20 TDs Bailey: 69-858, 17 TDs
RUSHING Thomas: 20-80, 4 TDs Thompson: 22-36, 4 TDs
TACKLES Gaines: 57.0 Pointer: 45.0
SACKS Smith: 3.5 Cohen: 5.0
INTERCEPTIONS Gaines: 6 Coleman, Spears: 2
KICKING Garner: 48-54 PAT; 5-9 FG; 63 PTS Schmitz: 51-56 PAT; 6-11 FG; 69 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 50.9 PPG (8); 292.1 YPG (7) 53.1 PPG (6); 306.5 YPG (2)
TEAM DEFENSE 45.1 PPG (4); 294.2 YPG (10) 48.0 PPG (t-7); 262.1 YPG (7)



ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-7) AT NASHVILLE KATS (1-6)
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 AT 8:30 P.M. ET
TV: AFL NET – www.arenafootball.com

Arizona and Nashville have not met since May 2000 when Nashville won 66-46... One of these teams will come away with their second win of the season, neither team has won since Week 1... Both teams have also struggled at the quarterback position... In his three games against the Kats, Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER is 1-2... The Kats are anxiously awaiting the return of QB LEON MURRAY who is set to start his weekend, while Bonner is doubtful for Week 9 and the Rattlers will most likely start QB JOE GERMAINE... Germaine has completed 64% of his passes for 1,139 yards and 23 TDs, but has yet to record a win this season as starting QB... Rattlers' OS SIAHA BURLEY has at least six receptions and one TD in every game this season and has had multiple TD receptions in seven of the eight games this season... Burley is currently leading the League in scoring (146), receiving yards (943), and TD receptions (24) and is No. 2 in the League in receptions (67) and all-purpose yards (1480)... Kats WR/LB DARRYL HAMMOND needs one interception to become the second player in AFL history to record 30 interceptions and 8,000 receiving yards in a career... Currently Hammond is ranked No. 10 all time in the League for receiving yards with 8,106.

2005 LEADERS RATTLERS KATS
SERIES LEADER Arizona leads 3-2
LAST FIVE GAMES 0-5 0-5
LAST GAME Lost vs Los Vegas, 63-66 Lost vs Colorado, 35-42
2005 LEADERS RATTLERS KATS
PASSING Bonner: 161-80-9, 1061, 20 TDs Murray: 145-87-5, 845, 12 TDs
RECEIVING Burley: 67-943, 24 TDs Coleman: 44-460, 5 TDs
RUSHING Kelly: 14-30, 2 TDs Alexander: 36-105, 5 TDs
TACKLES Lawson: 48.0 Jenkins: 36.5
SACKS Glover, Hutch: 3.0 Taylor: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Joseph: 3 Jenkins: 3
KICKING Brenner: 19-22 PAT; 2-3 FG; 25 PTS Kral: 30-38 PAT; 3-13 FG; 39 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 49.9 PPG (10); 284.2 YPG (8) 40.4 PPG (17); 265.0 YPG (11)
TEAM DEFENSE 55.4 PPG (t-14); 255.1 YPG (3) 49.3 PPG (10); 260.1 YPG (5)



TAMPA BAY STORM (4-3) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (4-3)
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 AT 10:30 P.M. ET
TV: FSN WEST, SUN SPORTS, THE SCORE-CANADA, NASN-EUROPE
BILL MACDONALD, JOHN JACKSON & LINDSAY SOTO

The Storm are 0-3 on the road this season, having all four wins come at home... They defeated the Avengers last season at home 63-55... In 2004 against the Avengers, Storm QB SHANE STAFFORD completed 67% of his passes for 321 yards, eight TDs and one INT... Avengers's QB JOHN KALEO has never faced the Storm... Kaleo was the starting QB for the Storm in 2003 when they went 15-4 and became ArenaBowl XVII Champions... Entering Week 9, Kaleo is ranked No. 8 in passing yards (1753) and tied for No. 9 in TD passes (34)... Stafford is ranked No. 3 in the League in passing TDs with 43 and No. 4 in passing yards with 2,033... On defense, Storm DS TRAMIAN JONES is ranked No. 3 in the League with 51.5 total tackles... The Avenger's defense is tied for No. 2 in the League in interceptions with 10 and looks to force mistakes by Stafford who has thrown only three INTs on the season which ties him for the least amount of INTs thrown... Los Angeles's DS ANTUAN SIMMONS is ranked No. 12 in the League in total tackles with 39.0 and has recorded two of the Avengers 10 INTs... The Avengers' lineup includes two of the most productive two-way players in the League... WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM and WR/LB GREG HOPKINS... Ingram is No. 2 on the team in receiving (32-for-393 yards and 11 TDs) and combined tackles (27.5) and Hopkins is leading the team in receiving (42-for-444 yards and 4 TDs) and No. 2 in combined tackles (21.0).

2005 LEADERS STORM AVENGERS
SERIES LEADER Tampa Bay leads 2-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 2-3 3-2
LAST GAME Lost at Philadelphia, 63-69 Lost vs Dallas, 50-72
2005 LEADERS STORM AVENGERS
PASSING Stafford: 286-189-3, 2033, 43 TDs Kaleo: 248-148-5, 1753, 34 TDs
RECEIVING Samuels: 56-641, 7 TDs Hopkins: 42-444, 4 TDs
RUSHING Penright: 9-28, 1 TDs Ford: 14-72, 2 TDs
TACKLES Jones: 51.5 Simmons: 39.0
SACKS Hall, Muhammed: 2.0 Almanzar, Demary: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Ordway, Samuels: 2 Rachal, Simmons, Hopkins: 2
KICKING George: 49-53 PAT; 6-15 FG; 67PTS Hamilton: 35-40 PAT; 18-22 FG; 89 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 57.9 PPG (2); 292.9 YPG (5) 48.7 PPG (12); 263.1 (12)
TEAM DEFENSE 51.7 PPG (12); 272.1 YPG (8) 52.3 PPG (13); 399.6 YPG (t-12)



GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-6) AT PHILADELPHIA SOUL (3-5)
SATURDAY, MARCH 26 AT 7 P.M. ET
TV: COMCAST SPORTSNET PHILADELPHIA, FSN DETROIT, THE SCORE –CANADA, NASN-EUROPE
ARI WOLFE, VAUGHN HEBRON, & RHEA HUGHES

Grand Rapids is looking for their first road win and second win of the season... On the season, Philadelphia is 1-1 against Central Division opponents and 1-0 against the Central Division while playing at the Wachovia Center... After beating Tampa Bay 69-63 last week, Philadelphia is looking to put together their first winning streak of the season... The win last week gave Philadelphia head coach JAMES FULLER his first win since being named head coach after Week 5... Fuller is looking to even his record as Philadelphia's head coach at 2-2 this weekend... In last week's win, Philadelphia QB TONY GRAZIANI threw for 320 yards and tied a season-high eight TDs... Graziani is ranked No. 1 in offensive TDs (50) and No. 3 in passing yards per game (265.2)... Graziani is 3-0 against Grand Rapids and has thrown for 762 yards and 19 TDs... Since being named the starter in Week 2, Grand Rapids QB MICHAEL BISHOP has scored at least five TDs in every game... Bishop, who is known for his ability to run the ball, has thrown for 739 yards and 14 TDs on the road this season... Grand Rapids WR/LB CHRIS JACKSON has also stepped up his game when playing away from home by averaging six receptions for 80 yards and two TDs... Philadelphia WR/DB SEAN SCOTT and WR/DB STEVE SMITH have been a dangerous tandem this season, combining for 93 receptions for 1,236 yards and 34 TDs... Scott and Smith are tied at No. 2 in the League in receiving TDs (17)... Smith is ranked No. 1 in all-purpose yards (208.1), No. 1 in kick return yards (850) and tied at No. 2 in kick return TDs (3).

2005 LEADERS RAMPAGE SOUL
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 1-4
LAST GAME Lost at San Jose, 48-72 Won vs Tampa Bay, 69-66
2005 LEADERS RAMPAGE SOUL
PASSING Bishop: 193-103-3, 1482; 32 TDs Graziani: 266-155-9, 2122, 48 TDs
RECEIVING Jackson: 41-534, 11 TDs Smith: 50-744, 17 TDs
RUSHING Bishop: 39-250, 6 TDs M. Jackson: 22-50, 0 TDs
TACKLES Avery: 30.0 Todd: 37.5
SACKS Avery, Mitchell, Powell Simpson: 1.0 Missouri: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Wesley, Reece, Polk, Robinson: 1 Coleman: 3
KICKING Martinez: 37-44 PAT; 7-20 FG; 58 PTS Schorejs: 38-46 PAT; 2-7 FG, 44 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 52.0 PPG (7); 274.9 YPG (10) 50.6 PPG (9); 283.9 YPG (9)
TEAM DEFENSE 64.3 PPG (17); 300.0 YPG (14) 55.4 PPG (t-14); 300.1 YPG (15)




SAN JOSE SABERCATS (4-3) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (5-3)
MONDAY, MARCH 28 AT 10 P.M. ET
TV: NBC- SAN JOSE
BARRY TOMPKINS & KEENA TURNER

One of the ArenaBowl XVIII Champion SaberCats' five losses came against the Gladiators in 2004... In that game the Gladiators defense held SaberCats' QB MARK GRIEB to 192 yards and one TD... It was the only game last season where Grieb was unable to throw multiple TDs... The Gladiators' defense also took responsibility for three of Grieb's seven INTs last season... Entering Week 9, the Gladiators are ranked No.1 in scoring defense (43.6) and No. 2 in total defense (251.6)... Their defense will have to face San Jose's offense who ranks No. 1 in scoring (58.6) and total offense (323.0 yards/game)... Grieb is ranked No. 2 in the League in passing yards (2,66) and is tied at No. 4 in passing TDs (37)... Gladiator QB CLINT DOLEZEL reached a milestone last week of 2,500 completions and 30,000 yards in his career... SaberCat WR/DB BARRY WAGNER needs 239 all-purpose yards to pass HUNKIE COOPER and become the all-time AFL leader in all-purpose yards... Gladiators OS MARCUS NASH is ranked No. 4 in the League in receptions (62) and No. 2 in receiving yards (888)... San Jose WR/DB RASHIED DAVIS is No. 8 in the League in all-purpose yards (1,038) and Nash is No. 10 (893)... Las Vegas FB/LB FRANK CARTER is ranked No. 1 in sacks (9).

2005 LEADERS SABERCATS GLADIATORS
SERIES LEADER San Jose leads 3-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 3-2
LAST GAME Won vs. Grand Rapids, 72-48 Won at Arizona, 66-63
2005 LEADERS SABERCATS GLADIATORS
PASSING Grieb: 260-174-6, 2166, 37 TDs Dolezel: 129-88-6, 1062, 21 TDs
RECEIVING Roe: 52-709, 16 TDs Nash: 62-888, 17 TDs
RUSHING Kinsinger: 16-36, 7 TDs Filer: 19-85, 1 TD
TACKLES Fernandez: 21.0 Bonner: 38.5
SACKS Warren. 2.0 Carter: 9.0
INTERCEPTIONS Kinsinger, Thomas: 2 Taylor: 3
KICKING Frantz: 48-56 PAT; 2-7 FG,54 PTS Lewis: 34-43 PAT, 5-9 FG, 49 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 58.6 PPG (1); 323.0 YPG (1) 42.6 PPG (15); 292,8 YPG (6)
TEAM DEFENSE 48.4 PPG (9); 274.1 YPG (9) 43.6 PPG (1); 251.6 YPG (2)

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 23, 2005

• Week nine injury report - AFL I
• No. 1 vs. No. 2 Battle on the Bayou for Southern Lead - AFL I
• Las Vegas Gladiators game notes - Las Vegas Gladiators
• Kats Continue To Shuffle Roster - Nashville Kats
• Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
• Columbus Destroyers game notes - Columbus Destroyers
• Tampa Bay Storm game notes - Tampa Bay Storm
• WR/LB Darrin Chiaverini Earns US Army Ironman of the Week - Austin Wranglers
• Force grab top spot in AFLWA poll - Georgia Force
• Settlement reached in Tampa Bay salary cap case - AFL I

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