Orlando, Georgia battle for Southern bragging rights

March 16, 2005 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release

NEW YORK – Two of the Arena Football League's hottest teams square off in a first-place battle for the Southern Division lead when the AFLWA's No. 2 Orlando Predators (5-2) travel to Philips Arena to face the No. 3-ranked Georgia Force (5-2) this Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on FSN South, Sun Sports and NASN-Europe.

NBC will feature the New Orleans VooDoo (5-2) traveling to Allstate Arena to face the Chicago Rush (4-3), while the Tampa Bay Storm (4-2) head north to Wachovia Center to play the Philadelphia Soul (2-5) – both games are this Sunday at noon ET on NBC. Los Angeles Avengers WR/LB GREG HOPKINS (6-2, 205, Slippery Rock) will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.

Second-year QB JOE HAMILTON (5-10, 190, Georgia Tech) heads to the state where he made his Heisman Trophy run as he leads the Predators attack with the help of 2004 U.S. Army Ironman of the Year WR/LB CORY FLEMING (6-3, 210, Tennessee). Hamilton has completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 1,509 yards and 30 touchdowns, while Fleming recorded three touchdowns in last week's victory over New Orleans.

Georgia first-year head coach DOUG PLANK has "Thunder and Lightning" in his arsenal with the rookie tandem of WR/LB DEREK LEE (6-5, 225, Tennessee Tech) and OS TROY BERGERON (6-2, 190, Middle Tennessee State). Lee, who is coming off a six-touchdown performance against New York, brings the thunder with 51 receptions for 624 yards and 17 touchdowns. Bergeron, who is averaging nearly three touchdowns per game, is the lightning with 57 receptions for 789 yards, 20 touchdowns and a League-leading 122 points.

In Chicago, QB ANDY KELLY (6-2, 220, Tennessee) and the No. 4-ranked New Orleans VooDoo (5-2) hope to rebound from last week's loss to Orlando, but will be facing WR/LB ETU MOLDEN (6-2, 195, Montana) and the Chicago Rush (4-3) at Allstate Arena this Sunday at noon ET on NBC.

Kelly, who leads the AFL with 43 passing touchdowns, is looking for his 80th career victory and add to the all-time mark for consecutive starts with 127 when he takes his first snap on Sunday. The former Volunteer is the AFL's all-time leader in attempts (4,985), completions (3,072), passing yards (34,139) and No. 2 in touchdowns (663).

Molden, a 2004 All-Rookie performer, is emerging as a U.S. Army Ironman of the Year candidate. The former Grizzly leads the Rush in receptions (49), receiving yards (570) and touchdowns (14), while adding 17.0 total tackles and two interceptions on defense.

In Philadelphia, veteran QB SHANE STAFFORD (6-3, 210, Connecticut) and the No. 6-ranked Tampa Bay Storm (4-2) travel to Wachovia Center to face QB TONY GRAZIANI (6-3, 210, Oregon) and the Philadelphia Soul (2-5) in a National Conference matchup this Sunday at noon ET on NBC.

On the west coast, it will be an All-Ironman showdown when WR/DB WILL PETTIS (6-0, 200, Midwestern State) and the No. 5-ranked Dallas Desperados (5-2) head to STAPLES Center to face WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM (6-0, 195, West Chester) and No. 8-ranked Los Angeles Avengers (4-2) on Friday at 10:30 p.m. ET on AFL Net.

Games slated for Week 8 include: Dallas at Los Angeles (AFL Net – www.arenafootball.com), Grand Rapids at San Jose (FSN Bay Area*-10:30 p.m./Sat., FSN Detroit *-11 p.m., NASN-Europe) on Friday; Orlando at Georgia (FSN South, Sun Sports, NASN-Europe), New York at Austin (KXAN Austin), Las Vegas at Arizona (FSN West, FSN Arizona, INHD, The Score-Canada) on Saturday; Tampa Bay at Philadelphia (NBC), New Orleans at Chicago (NBC) and Columbus at Colorado (Comcast -Colorado). The Nashville Kats have a bye week.

ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 New York Dragons 5-1 120 (12)
2 Orlando Predators 5-2 91 (2)
3 Georgia Force 5-2 86
4 New Orleans VooDoo 5-2 77
5 Dallas Desperados 5-2 69 (1)
6 Tampa Bay Storm 4-2 53 (1)
7 Colorado Crush 4-2 49
8 Los Angeles Avengers 4-2 24
Also receiving votes: Chicago Rush 5, Las Vegas Gladiators 1, San Jose SaberCats 1.



DALLAS DESPERADOS (5-2) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (4-2)
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, AT 10:30 P.M. ET
(TV: AFL NET – www.arenafootball.com)

Los Angeles has made the playoffs every year since they came into the AFL in 2000 and a win this Friday would allow them to hold onto their half-game lead in the Western Division... This will be Dallas' third trip to Southern California since joining the League in 2002 and second to Los Angeles where they are undefeated... Los Angeles head coach ED HODGKISS won the only meeting against Dallas head coach WILL MC CLAY 60-44 on March 21 of last season in Dallas... In that game, Los Angeles WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM had three TD receptions... Dallas teammates WR/DB BOBBY SIPPIO had six receptions for 76 yards and three TDs and WR/DB WILL PETTIS had seven receptions for 106 yards and three TDs in their previous meeting... Dallas QB CLINT STOERNER is ranked No. 5 in passing TDs (33), most by any other rookie and is on pace to break single-season records for rookies in TDs (75) and passing yards (3,872) set by JIM KUBIAK (64 TDs, 3,787 yards) in 2001 while with Buffalo... Since Los Angeles WR/DB TONY LOCKE was called up from the practice squad three weeks ago, he is No. 2 on the team in TD receptions (6)... Dallas FB/LB JA'MAR TOOMBS is ranked No. 1 in the League in rushing TDs and has scored at least one rushing TD in every road game this season... Over 100 points has been scored in each of the previous four meetings between these two teams... Los Angeles is 7-0 dating back to last season when scoring 60-or-more points during the regular season, while Dallas is 1-5 during the same time period.

2005 LEADERS DESPERADOS AVENGERS
SERIES LEADER Tied at 2-2
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 4-1
LAST GAME Won at Austin, 52-28 Won at Arizona, 33-29
2005 LEADERS DESPERADOS AVENGERS
PASSING Stoerner: 200-126-5, 1694, 33 TDs Kaleo: 212-126-4, 1502, 27 TDs
RECEIVING Shelley: 46-632, 11 TDs Hopkins: 40-410, 4 TDs
RUSHING Toombs: 30-122, 7 TDs Ford: 13-68, 2 TDs
TACKLES Jones: 35.0 Simmons: 32.5
SACKS Simpkins, Pettijohn: 2.0 Almanzar, Demary: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Pettis: 3 Rachal: 2
KICKING Martinez: 43-46 PAT; 6-13 FG; 61 PTS Hamilton: 30-33 PAT; 17-20 FG; 81 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 51.9 PPG (7); 275.4 YPG (10) 48.5 PPG (9); 264.8 (14)
TEAM DEFENSE 43.3 PPG (2); 228.4 YPG (1) 49.0 PPG (10); 320.2 YPG (16)










GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-5) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (3-3)
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, AT 10:30 P.M. ET
(TV: FSN BAY AREA -10:30 P.M. SAT, FSN DETROIT- 11 P.M., NASN-EUROPE –
RANDY HAHN & MIKE PAWLAWSKI)

San Jose head coach DARREN ARBET is 1-0 against an offensive led by Grand Rapids head coach SPARKY MC EWEN... In that game San Jose QB MARK GRIEB threw a nine-yard TD pass to WR/LB JAMES ROE with thirty seconds left to win the game 56-55... Grieb has faced Grand Rapids four times and has thrown 18 TD passes in three games and five TDs and 255 yards, a personal best against Grand Rapids, in the fourth ... Grand Rapids QB MICHAEL BISHOP has scored at least six TDs in every game he has started this season... Bishop is ranked No. 1 in rushing yards (245) and is averaging more yards per game (49.0) than any other entire team... Since joining San Jose in 2000, WR/DB BARRY WAGNER has averaged 5.25 tackles and has scored at least one TD in every game against Grand Rapids... In two games against Grand Rapids, San Jose WR/LB JAMES ROE and WR/DB JAMES HUNDON have combined for 10 TDs while Roe is averaging 81.0 receiving yards and Hundon is averaging 85.5 receiving yards... San Jose rookie DS TREMAIN MACK has made his presence felt winning the Defensive Player of the Game Award in every game he has started this season (2)... San Jose is 1-5 in their last six games against an American Conference opponent, before that, they had an 11-game winning streak against American Conference opponents... Since the 2000 season, San Jose is 14-5 following their game against Grand Rapids.

2005 LEADERS RAMPAGE SABERCATS
SERIES LEADER San Jose leads 6-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 1-4 0-5
LAST GAME Lost vs Chicago, 45-48 Won vs Philadelphia, 52-26
2005 LEADERS RAMPAGE SABERCATS
PASSING Bishop: 160-83-3, 1260; 27 TDs Grieb: 234-157-5, 1889, 31 TDs
RECEIVING Jackson: 35-483, 9 TDs Roe: 50-668, 15 TDs
RUSHING Bishop: 36-245, 6 TDs Kinsinger: 15-39, 7 TDs
TACKLES Doggette: 28.0 Smith: 20.5
SACKS Avery, Mitchell, Powell: 1.0 Jacobs, Warren. 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Robinson: 1 Kinsinger, Thomas: 2
KICKING Martinez: 31-37 PAT; 7-18 FG; 52 PTS Frantz: 38-46 PAT; 2-6 FG,44 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 52.7 PPG (6); 293.8 YPG (6) 56.3 PPG (2); 330.8 YPG (1)
TEAM DEFENSE 63.0 PPG (17); 304.0 YPG (14) 48.5 PPG (8); 282.5 YPG (9)



ORLANDO PREDATORS (5-2) AT GEORGIA FORCE (5-2)
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, AT 7 P.M. ET
(TV: FSN SOUTH, SUN SPORTS, THE SCORE-CANADA, NASN-EUROPE –
BOB RATHBUN, CHARLES DAVIS & BEAU ESTES)

The winner of this game will move into first place in the Southern Division... The last time the Predators and the Force met, Georgia won 54-44... Force QB MATT NAGY and Predators' QB JOE HAMILTON are both 0-1 against the opposition as starting QBs... Entering Week 8, Nagy is ranked No. 5 in the League in completion percentage (66.7) and Hamilton is tied at No. 4 in offensive TDs (35)... Predator's OL/DL E.J. BURT is looking to add to his total of 4.0 sacks on the season (t-No. 3 in AFL)... Force rookies OS TROY BERGERON and WR/LB DEREK LEE have caught 108 passes for 1,401 yards and 37 TDs... As a duo, they have more receiving yards and touchdowns than any other two receivers in the League... Bergeron is tied for No. 2 in the League in receptions (57), tied at No. in TDs (20), ranked No. 2 in reception yards (789), and No. 3 in all-purpose yardage (1,320)... Bergeron currently has a streak of catching at least one TD pass in each of the seven games this season... Lee is ranked No. 6 in the League in receptions (51) and No. 7 in receving yards (624)... Predator veteran DS DAMON MASON is looking to spoil the rookies' success... Mason leads the Predators and is ranked No. 5 in the League in combined tackles with 45.0... On defense for the Force, DS KEVIN GAINES and WR/DB WILLIE GARY are ranked No. 2 (55.0) and No. 4 (45.5) respectively in the League in combined tackles... Gaines is also tied for the League with five interceptions.

2005 LEADERS PREDATORS FORCE
SERIES LEADER Georgia leads 4-2
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 4-1
LAST GAME Won at New Orleans, 63-52 Lost at New York, 51-53
2005 LEADERS PREDATORS FORCE
PASSING Hamilton: 221-130-7, 1499, 30 TDs Kubiak: 158-104-3, 1146, 22 TDs
RECEIVING Fleming: 30-316, 10 TDs Bergeron: 57-787, 20 TDs
RUSHING Price: 15-76, 5 TDs Thomas: 15-56, 3 TDs
TACKLES Mason: 45.0 Gaines:55.0
SACKS Burt: 4.0 Wilson, Smith: 2.5
INTERCEPTIONS McEntyre: 3 Gaines: 5
KICKING Gowins: 25-31 PAT; 5-10 FG; 40 PTS Garner: 41-47 PAT; 5-9 FG; 56 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 46.9 PPG (14); 241.1 YPG (16) 51.1 PPG (8); 294.1 YPG (5)
TEAM DEFENSE 44.0 PPG (3); 254.1 YPG (4) 44.9 PPG (4); 289.7 YPG (10)



NEW YORK DRAGONS (5-1) AT AUSTIN WRANGLERS (2-5)
SATURDAY MARCH 19, AT 8:30 P.M. ET
(TV: KXAN-AUSTIN – ROGER WALLACE & GLYN MILBURN)

This is the first meeting between the Dragons and the Wranglers...One of Austin's two wins this season came against the only team New York has lost to, Las Vegas... New York enters Week 8 as the only team in the League with one loss... New York's lone loss is the only game that QB AARON GARCIA, who is ranked No. 10 in passing yards (1373), threw for less then 200 yards and under five TDs and WR/LB MIKE HORACEK caught less than five passes... Horacek is leading the team with 35 receptions for 495 yards and 14 TDs (t-No. 8 in AFL) and has caught at least one TD pass in every game this season... As a member of the Indiana Firebirds in 2004, Horecek caught seven passes for 104 yards and one TD against the Wranglers... Wranglers QB JOHN FITZGERALD is ranked No. 6 in the League in passing yards (1,618)... Fitzgerald has thrown seven interceptions which is the second most in the League... He will have to face the Dragon's defense who have recorded 15 interceptions this season which is more than half of the season record of 29 set by Orlando in 1992... Dragons DS BILLY PARKER is leading the team and tied for No. 1 in the League with 5 INTs and WR/DB COREY JOHNSON is tied at No. 3 with 4 INTs... Wranglers WR/LB DARRREN CHIAVERINI is leading his team and ranked No. 10 in the League in receptions with 48... One of the defenders looking to stop the Dragons offense is Wranglers' DS CEDRIC WALKER who is tied for No. 9 in the League with 38.0 total tackles.

2005 LEADERS DRAGONS WRANGLERS
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 2-3
LAST GAME Won vs. Georgia, 53-51 Lost vs Dallas, 28-52
2005 LEADERS DRAGONS WRANGLERS
PASSING Garcia: 180-118-3,1373, 31 TDs Fitzgerald: 212-135-7, 1618, 31 TDs
RECEIVING Horacek: 35-475, 14 TDs Chiaverini: 48-424, 8 TDs
RUSHING White: 16-59 4 TDs Bryant: 23-47, 5 TDs
TACKLES Angel: 42.5 Walker: 38.0
SACKS Cherry: 1 Humphrey: 2.0
INTERCEPTIONS Parker: 5 Hunter: 2
KICKING Bironas: 38-47 PAT, 3-8 FG, 47 PTS Dodson: 31-38 PAT, 2-11 FG; 37 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 54.8 PPG (4); 234.2 YPG (17) 48.1 PPG (10); 289.7 YPG (7)
TEAM DEFENSE 46.2 PPG (5); 290.7 YPG (11) 58.9 PPG (16); 325.7 YPG (17)



LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (4-3) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (1-6)
SATURDAY MARCH 19, AT 9 P.M. ET
(TV: FSN WEST, FSN ARIZONA, INHD – KENT DERDIVANIS, RON WOLFLEY
& KEVIN MC CABE)

This matchup features Western Division rivals... This weekend at least one streak will end... Arizona is in the middle of a six-game losing streak, but are 3-0 at home against Las Vegas... Las Vegas is coming off a 63-34 win in Columbus and have not won back-to-back this season... In Arizona, QB SHERDRICK BONNER'S only home game against Las Vegas, he completed 21-for-263 yards and nine TDs... Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL averages 28 completions for 280 yards and eight TDs against Arizona, including passing for 290 yards and nine TDs in last year's contest in Arizona... Dolezel needs just two completions and 368 passing yards to reach 2,500 completions and 30,000 yards in his career... Bonner is 5-2 against Dolezel... In last season's game in Arizona, Las Vegas WR/LB MARCUS NASH, who is coming off a 10-reception, 133-yard and five-TD performance in Columbus, had 15 receptions for 145 yards and a career-high seven TD receptions... Arizona OS SIAHA BURLEY has at least six receptions and one TD in every game this season and has had multiple TD games in six of his team's seven games... Burley is currently ranked No. 1 in receptions (811) and TD receptions (20)... Las Vegas FB/LB FRANK CARTER is ranked No. 1 in sacks (9) and is on pace to break the record for most sacks in a season (20) set by OL/DL CRAIG WALLS (13) while with Pittsburgh in 1987.

2005 LEADERS GLADIATORS RATTLERS
SERIES LEADER Arizona leads 4-1
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 0-5
LAST GAME Won at Columbus, 63-34 Lost at Tampa Bay, 56-59
2005 LEADERS GLADIATORS RATTLERS
PASSING Dolezel: 89-57-4, 782, 12 TDs Bonner: 153-73-9, 988, 19 TDs
RECEIVING Nash: 53-728, 12 TDs Burley: 57-811, 20 TDs
RUSHING Filer: 19-85, 1 TD Kelly: 13-27, 2 TDs
TACKLES Bonner: 37.5 Lawson: 43.0
SACKS Carter: 9.0 Glover, Hutch: 3.0
INTERCEPTIONS Taylor: 3 Gatewood: 2
KICKING Lewis: 28-34 PAT, 5-9 FG, 43 PTS Brenner: 14-15 PAT; 2-2 FG; 20 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 39.3 PPG (17); 294.6 YPG (4) 48.0 PPG (t-11); 276.6 YPG (9)
TEAM DEFENSE 40.9 PPG (1); 239.3 YPG (2) 53.9 PPG (14); 251.6 YPG (3)



TAMPA BAY STORM (4-2) AT PHILADELPHIA SOUL (2-5)
SUNDAY, MARCH 20 AT NOON ET
(TV: NBC – BOB PAPA, MIKE PAWLAWSKI & VAI SIKAHOMA)

In the only meeting between these two teams, the Storm won 40-37... Two of the League top quarterbacks will go head to head... Storm QB SHANE STAFFORD is 1-0 against the Soul and Soul QB TONY GRAZIANI is 1-1 against the Storm... Stafford is ranked No. 4 in the League in passing TDs with 35 which is five less than Graziani who is ranked No. 2... Graziani is ranked No. 3 in the League in passing yards (1,802) and Stafford is at No. 5 (1,685) in one less game... Stafford and the Storm face the Soul on the road where so far this season they are 0-2, having all four wins come at home... In the Storm's four wins, Stafford has completed at least 66% of his passes and has hit four-or-more receivers for at least one TD reception, totaling at least seven TD passes a game... Entering Week 8, Stafford has not thrown an interception in the last four games and has only one this season, the lowest of any starting quarterback in the League... The Storm defense will be looking to add to their season total of seven interceptions, four which they have returned for a TD, against Graziani who has thrown a League-leading nine on the season... Storm WR/DB CLIF DELL is tied at No. 7 in the League in receptions with 50 and is ranked No. 10 in reception yards with 582... Soul WR/LB SEAN SCOTT and OS STEVE SMITH are two of the Leagues best receivers and have a combined 85 receptions for 1,114 yards and 31 TDs... Scott is tied at No. 2 in the League with 18 TDs and ranked No. 3 in points scored (110)... Smith is ranked No. 8 in the League in receving yards with 622 and is leading the League in kick returns with 34 for 726 yards... On defense, Storm DS TRAMIAN JONES is ranked No. 3 in the League with 47.5 total tackles... The Storm's two losses this season came when they failed to score at least 50 points and the Soul's two wins came when they held their opponents to under 50 points.

2005 LEADERS STORM SOUL
SERIES LEADER Tampa Bay leads 1-0
LAST FIVE GAMES 3-2 1-4
LAST GAME Won vs Arizona, 59-56 Lost at San Jose, 26-52
2005 LEADERS STORM SOUL
PASSING Stafford: 241-158-1, 1685, 36 TDs Graziani: 233-137-9, 1802, 40 TDs
RECEIVING Samuels: 50-582, 6 TDs Scott: 43-492, 17 TDs
RUSHING Penright: 9-28, 1 TDs M. Jackson: 22-50, 0 TDs
TACKLES Jones: 47.5 Thompson: 35.5
SACKS Muhammed: 2.0 Missouri: 1.0
INTERCEPTIONS Ordway & Samuels: 2 Thompson, Crespina: 2
KICKING George: 40-44 PAT; 6-14 FG; 58 PTS Schorejs: 38-46 PAT; 2-7 FG, 44 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 57.0 PPG (1); 283.8 YPG (8) 48.0 PPG (t-11); 270.1 YPG (11)
TEAM DEFENSE 48.8 PPG (9); 266.2 YPG (7) 54.3 PPG (15); 293.4 YPG (12)



NEW ORLEANS VooDoo (5-2) AT CHICAGO RUSH (4-3)
SUNDAY, MARCH 20 AT NOON ET
(TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, RAY BENTLEY & LEWIS JOHNSON)

This is the first meeting between the two teams... After a loss last week to Orlando, the VooDoo are looking to avoid their second two-game losing streak in team history... Rush WR/LB ETU MOLDEN has caught a touchdown pass in every game this season to extend his streak to 17 straight games with a touchdown reception... The VooDoo lead the League in touchdowns (52) and pass completions (209) while the Rush lead the League in pass completion percentage (68.1)... The VooDoo rank No. 2 in pass completion percentage (66.6)... VooDoo QB ANDY KELLY is the League leader in pass attempts (314), completions (176), passing yards (2106) and passing touchdowns (43)... Kelly has thrown for over 250 yards and has scored at least five touchdowns in each game this season... Rush QB TODD HAMMEL leads the League in passing yards per attempt (10.3) and has thrown at least five touchdowns in each game he has started... VooDoo OS AARON BAILEY is one of five players in the AFL to average more than 100 receiving yards per game this season (109.7)... Bailey leads the League in receptions (61)... VooDoo OL/DL B.J. COHEN ranks No. 2 in the League in sacks (5).

2005 LEADERS VooDoo RUSH
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 3-2
LAST GAME Lost vs Orlando, 52-63 Won at Grand Rapids, 48-45
2005 LEADERS VooDoo RUSH
PASSING Kelly: 314-209-6, 2106, 43 TDs Philyaw: 175-116-6, 1301, 23 TDs
RECEIVING Bailey: 61-768, 15 TDs Molden: 49-570, 14 TDs
RUSHING Thompson: 16-31, 3 TDs McMillen: 26-83, 3 TDs
TACKLES Pointer: 42.0 Johnson: 35.5
SACKS Cohen: 5.0 Moyer: 3.0
INTERCEPTIONS Coleman, Spears: 2.0. Shaw, Howard: 2
KICKING Schmitz: 47-50 PAT; 6-9 FG; 65 PTS Gispert: 36-41 PAT; 6-8 FG; 54 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 54.1 PPG (5); 305.3 YPG (2) 47.7 PPG (13); 298.1 YPG (3)
TEAM DEFENSE 49.1 PPG (11); 257.0 YPG (5) 48.3 PPG (6); 295.1 YPG (13)



COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (1-5) AT COLORADO CRUSH (4-2)
SUNDAY, MARCH 20, AT 3 P.M. ET
(TV: COMCAST-COLORADO – MITCH HYDER & DAVID DIAZ-INFANTE)

The Crush are looking to extend their franchise-record three-game winning streak... Crush OS DAMIAN HARRELL is averaging three touchdowns per game this season and has had a touchdown reception in 39 consecutive games... Crush QB JOHN DUTTON is averaging 265.6 yards and 6.2 touchdowns per game over the last five games... The Destroyers have returned five kickoffs for a touchdown this season, ranking them second behind New York (6)... The Destroyers and Dragons have the same amount of kickoff return touchdowns as the other 15 teams in the League combined (11)... The Destroyers lead the League in kickoff return yards (880)... Even though the Rush are the Central Conference leaders and have a 4-2 record, they rank last in the League in time of possession... Crush DS RASHAD FLOYD leads the League in tackles (57.5) and is on pace to finish the season with 153 tackles and break the single-season record that he set last year (122)... Floyd leads the League in pass breakups (12).

2005 LEADERS DESTROYERS CRUSH
SERIES LEADER First Meeting
LAST FIVE GAMES 4-1 1-4
LAST GAME Lost vs Las Vegas, 34-63 Won at Nashville, 42-35
2005 LEADERS DESTROYERS CRUSH
PASSING D'Orazio: 126-86-2, 899, 14 TDs Dutton: 219-137-4, 1554, 34 TDs
RECEIVING White: 42-492, 8 TDs Harrell: 44-588, 18 TDs
RUSHING D'Orazio: 22-74, 2 TDs Young: 10-32, 1 TDs
TACKLES Franklin: 33.0 Floyd: 57.5
SACKS Jones, McCleary, Pelshak: 1.0 Young: 4.0
INTERCEPTIONS Hefflin, Polk: 1 McKenzie: 3
KICKING Videtich: 33-34 PAT; 5-11 FG; 48 PTS Rush: 38-43 PAT; 8-15 FG; 62 PTS
TEAM OFFENSE 43.3 PPG (15); 242.5 YPG (15) 55.0 PPG (3); 266.8 YPG (12)
TEAM DEFENSE 50.8 PPG (13); 273.0 YPG (8) 48.3 PPG (t-6); 315.0 YPG (15)

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from March 16, 2005

• Orlando, Georgia battle for Southern bragging rights - AFL I
• Dolezel, Garcia approaching milestones in week eight - AFL I
• Arizona Rattlers game notes - Arizona Rattlers
• Dragons Rank Tops in Polls - New York Dragons
• Soul waive kicker Derek Schorejs - Philadelphia Soul
• Orlando Predators game notes - Orlando Predators
• Tampa Bay Storm game notes - Tampa Bay Storm
• Austin Wranglers game notes - Austin Wranglers

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