Philadelphia's D'Orazio, San Jose's Smith and San Jose's Geathers Earn Conference Championship Honor
Published on July 15, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - Philadelphia Soul QB MATT D'ORAZIO, San Jose SaberCats DB OMARR SMITH and WR/LB JASON GEATHERS have been named Offensive Player, ADT Defensive Player, and Ironman of the Week, respectively, for the Conference Championship Round of the 2008 playoffs.
OFFENSIVE: D'Orazio (6-4, 230, Otterbein) completed 17-of-25 passes for 184 yards and eight touchdowns as the Philadelphia Soul (15-3) defeated the Cleveland Gladiators (11-8), 70-35, on Saturday in the National Conference Championship game. D'Orazio led Philadelphia's offense on scoring drives on 10 of the team's 11 possessions while compiling a passer rating of 129.0. The Soul will make its first-ever ArenaBowl appearance when it faces the San Jose SaberCats (13-5) in Virgin Mobile ArenaBowl XXII on Sunday, July 27 at 3 p.m. ET (ABC HD).
ADT DEFENSIVE: Smith (5-9, 186, San Jose St.) registered four-and-a-half tackles, a Conference Championship Round-high three interceptions and two passes defensed as the San Jose SaberCats (13-5) defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage (8-11), 81-55, in the American Conference Championship game. Smith's pass defense of a pass by Rampage QB JAMES MACPHERSON on San Jose's 24-yard line in the first quarter marked the game's first turnover. On Grand Rapids' third possession of the second quarter, Smith intercepted MacPherson on the SaberCats 21-yard line and resulted in a San Jose touchdown seven plays later. During Grand Rapids' second possession of the third quarter, Smith intercepted MacPherson on San Jose's 20-yard line, forcing his third turnover and keeping the SaberCats lead at 41-28. With 3:05 remaining in the game, Smith intercepted MacPherson on the Rampage 16-yard line to force his fourth defensive stop of the game.
IRONMAN: Geathers (6-4, 225, Miami) accounted for four touchdowns (2 - receiving, 1 - rushing, 1 interception) and became the first player in AFL postseason history to register rushing and receiving touchdowns, and return an interception for a touchdown in a single game as the San Jose SaberCats (13-5) defeated the Grand Rapids Rampage (8-11), 81-55, on Saturday. Geathers recorded receiving touchdowns of 14 and nine yards along with a 14-yard touchdown run on offense. On defense, Geathers intercepted a pass by Rampage QB JAMES MACPHERSON on the final play of the game, and returned the interception 29 yards for the only defensive touchdown of the game to seal the victory.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from July 15, 2008
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- Pettis Named 2008 Ironman of the Year - Dallas Desperados
- Dallas' Will Pettis Named 2008 AFL Ironman of the Year - AFL I
- Eight TDs Earns D'Orazio Weekly Honor - Philadelphia Soul
- Swayne Named to 2008 Al Lucas Hero Team for Community Efforts - New York Dragons
- Philadelphia's D'Orazio, San Jose's Smith and San Jose's Geathers Earn Conference Championship Honor - AFL I
- Columbus Destroyers Name Pat Sperduto Head Coach - Columbus Destroyers
- Mance Activated from IR - Philadelphia Soul
- Championship Chatter - AFL I
- McFadden Named to Al Lucas Hero Team for Community Service - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Gladiators WR Otis Amey Named to Al Lucas Hero Team - Cleveland Gladiators
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