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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Playoff Berths on the Line

April 23, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – With four weeks remaining in the 2003 regular season, the Los Angeles Avengers and Tampa Bay Storm have secured playoff berths in the Drive to ArenaBowl XVII. The San Jose SaberCats, Orlando Predators and Grand Rapids Rampage control their own destinies by virtue of needing one more victory to guarantee a playoff position.

The race in the Central Division heats up when Grand Rapids (8-4) travels to play the rival Chicago Rush (5-7) at Allstate Arena on NBC this Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. A victory for head coach MICHAEL TRIGG and the Rampage will secure a playoff spot. Chicago head coach MIKE HOHENSEE hopes to get his team back in the mix for the playoffs as they currently stand at the No. 13 spot for the 12-team postseason.

Los Angeles (9-3) has its sights on the No. 1 seed, but will need to continue winning – starting with this weekend's contest against the Dallas Desperados (7-5). Dallas head coach JOE AVEZZANO guided his squad into the playoffs during their inaugural season last year and will be looking to QB JIM KUBIAK (3,572 passing yards, No. 2 in AFL) to land a second postseason invitation.

Orlando QB JAY GRUDEN's return from a Week 4 ankle injury has lifted the Predators (8-4) first-round bye hopes as they battle division rival Georgia (7-5) at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Orlando has won two straight since Gruden returned under center in Week 11. Georgia Head Coach MARTY LOWE has his defensive unit clicking (42.4 PPG, No. 2 in the AFL) while rookie QB LEON MURRAY holds the reins to the Georgia offense due to the injury to DONNIE DAVIS.

The defending ArenaBowl champion SaberCats (8-4) look for a first-round bye and the top seed, while the Colorado Crush (2-10) are coming off from a big win over Tampa Bay and need the victory to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. San Jose QB MARK GRIEB has completed 72.4 percent of his passes (71-of-98) for 926 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last three games.

The entire schedule of games for Week 13 include: Indiana Firebirds at Buffalo Destroyers, Orlando Predators at Georgia Force and Carolina Cobras at Arizona Rattlers on Saturday; Grand Rapids Rampage at Chicago Rush (NBC), San Jose SaberCats at Colorado Crush, Los Angeles Avengers at Dallas Desperados (NBC), Tampa Bay Storm at New York Dragons (NBC) and Detroit Fury at Las Vegas Gladiators on Sunday.

INDIANA FIREBIRDS (5-7) AT BUFFALO DESTROYERS (4-8)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, AT 7:00 P.M. ET (TV: UPN INDIANA TV 23 - ARI WOLFE and CHARLES ARBUCKLE)

In his 176 pass attempts this season to date, Firebirds QB RAYMOND PHILYAW has not thrown one interception (No. 2 AFL passer rating, 122.0). Since he returned to the playing field as Indiana's starter two weeks ago, Philyaw has averaged more than 340 passing yards and eight touchdowns in each contest. In those games, his primary targets have been OS EDDIE BROWN (four scoring catches) and WR/DB JEREMY McDANIEL (three). Rookie WR/DB and former Boilermaker BRIAN ALFORD had an impressive debut last week, pulling in six receptions for 148 yards and three touchdowns. With five kickoff returns for touchdowns, DS/KR EVAN HLAVACEK is tied for No. 1 overall (Antonio Chatman, Chicago). On the strength of Philyaw, FB/LB LEROY THOMPSON and FB/LB RICH YOUNG, the Firebirds own the second-best rushing offense (26.3 YPG, 23 touchdowns). Indiana also boasts the No. 2-ranked rushing defense, giving up just 10.7 yards per game and a League-best 12 touchdowns this season. Led by DWAINE CARPENTER and JOJO POLK, Buffalo owns the fifth-most interceptions (tie-16) among AFL teams. Polk is No. 6 overall in tackles (60.0). Head coach RON SELESKY has his defensive unit holding opponents on 4th-down conversions 25.0-percent of the time (No. 2). Buffalo ranks fifth for their red-zone defense -- opponents have scored on 42-of-54 attempts, 77.8-percent. Averaging 15.2 yards per catch, Destroyers OS GUNNARD TWYNER is No. 3 among AFL receivers.

ORLANDO PREDATORS (8-4) AT GEORGIA FORCE (7-5)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

With a win this weekend, Orlando will clinch their 10th playoff berth in team history. Predators QB JAY GRUDEN has led the charge during the Predators two-game winning streak, spreading the ball around his receivers with multiple-touchdown contest for CORY FLEMING (three total), ANTONIO STANLEY (four) and LAMONT MOORE (three). Policing the backfield for Orlando are a pair of the AFL's top defenders KENNY MCENTYRE (72.5 tackles, eight interceptions, 12 pass breakups), and RASHAD FLOYD (44.5 tackles, four interceptions, five pass breakups, two fumble recoveries), limiting opponents to an average of 44.9 points each week (No. 3, AFL). McEntyre has collected a total of four interceptions in his last two games. Orlando is third for the most sacks this season (18), led by Predators lineman E.J. BURT (5.0 sacks, No. 3 overall), who is also the League leader in forced fumbles with 7.0. The AFL's youngest head coach, MARTY LOWE (31), brings the Force's No. 1-ranked defense (222.7 YPG) to this Southern Division showdown. In his sixth AFL season, KEVIN GAINES leads Georgia's No. 1 pass defense (209.2 YPG) with 40.5 tackles, seven interceptions, and 10 pass breakups to date. Linemen MARCUS KEYES and JERMAINE SMITH continue strong line play, leading the Force to a fourth-best 15.0 sacks. Veteran FB/LB DARRYL HAMMOND (26.5 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles) continues to brush off defenders and challenge opposing offenses, leading the team in scoring (92 points). The Force placed the AFL's No. 4 scoring rusher (eight, tie), FB/LB DAN CURRAN on injured reserve last week (left knee MCL sprain). Curran and FB/LB TRAVIS REECE (six) have guided the Force's seventh-ranked rushing offense (20 touchdowns, 20.0 YPG). Rookie QB LEON MURRAY earned his first career win for the Force last week, completing 22-of-32 pass attempts for 221 yards and six touchdowns, finding standout OS TYRONNE JONES and WR/LB JARRICK HILLERY for two scoring catches each.

CAROLINA COBRAS (0-12) AT ARIZONA RATTLERS (7-5)
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, AT 10:00 P.M. ET

The last time Carolina and Arizona faced was in the quarterfinals of last year's playoffs – the Rattlers won 61-59 at the final buzzer. Arizona is coming in off from the most productive two-game span in team history – 164 points, including setting and tying a franchise single-game scoring mark (82). Rattlers QB SHERDRICK BONNER has captured Offensive Player of the Week honors for the third time this season and second consecutive week. Bonner has completed 63-of-97 (64.9 percent) for 828 yards, 18 touchdowns and one interception over the last two weeks. He has not thrown more than one interception in any game this season. The Rattlers are 5-1 when at least one receiver records at least three touchdowns and 2-4 when they don't. Carolina Cobras OS BERNARD HOLMES (5-11, 176, Texas A&M-Kingsville) became the third player to have more than 400 all-purpose yards in one game when he tallied 413 yards in last week's 59-19 loss to the Georgia Force. In his last nine games, Holmes has posted 200 or more all-purpose yards each week.

GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (8-4) AT CHICAGO RUSH (5-7)
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, AT 3 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – ELI GOLD and CHARLES DAVIS)

This will be the sixth regular-season meeting (seventh overall) between these two Central Division rivals. Grand Rapids swept the season series in 2001, while Chicago returned the favor in 2002. The Rampage regained the regular season series lead with a 48-34 victory over the Rush earlier this season at Van Andel Arena. Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL completed 106-of-173 for 1,373 yards, 28 touchdowns and three interceptions in five regular-season games against the Rush, while being named co-MVP twice (5/19/01 & 3/29/03) and game MVP once (7/7/01). Chicago OS ANTONIO CHATMAN registered 20 catches for 312 yards and eight touchdowns in three regular-season contests against the Rampage, while adding 11 kickoff returns for 315 yards, including two for touchdowns. Chatman has also scored at least one touchdown in nine straight games. Chicago QB BILLY DICKEN has thrown 18 touchdowns and two interceptions over the last three games. For the first time this season, three different Rush linemen – JAMES BARON, RILEY KLEINHESSELINK and TONY BOWICK recorded sacks in the same game.

SAN JOSE SABERCATS (8-4) AT COLORADO CRUSH (2-10)
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 3 P.M. ET

Colorado QB JOHN DUTTON faces his former team when QB MARK GRIEB leads the SaberCats into Pepsi Center in a Western Division showdown. A victory by the SaberCats and they clinch a playoff berth, while the Crush, who hold on to playoff hopes, need a victory to stay in the race. San Jose DS CLEVAN THOMAS continues to lead the League with nine interceptions and 23 passes defended, that despite missing the last two games with turf toe. The San Jose offense leads the AFL in touchdown efficiency by tallying scores on 93-of-130 possessions (74.5 percent). Colorado OS DAMIAN HARRELL, in his fifth AFL season, needs only 45 yards to surpass his 1,340 total he collected in 2001 with Toronto and is only 11 grabs shy of his 2001 total of 98. Colorado WR/LB JOE DOUGLASS is tied-No. 2 overall (Grand Rapids' WILLIS MARSHALL) in catch percentage with 77 percent (56 receptions in 73 chances). Dutton, who earned ArenaBowl XVI MVP, completed 26-of-38 (68.4 percent) with six touchdowns (one interception) against Tampa Bay in last week's victory and 11 touchdowns over the last two games. The No. 6-ranked Crush pass offense is averaging 286.2 yards per game.

LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (9-3) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (7-5)
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, AT 3 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)

Los Angeles is already in and Dallas needs a victory to move closer to securing its second playoff berth in both seasons of their two-year existence. Los Angeles OS CHRIS JACKSON has 103 receiving touchdowns and became just the 13th player in AFL history to reach 100 career. Jackson has not caught fewer than two touchdowns in all 12 games this season and is 3-of-3 passing with three touchdowns – all three came in Los Angeles victories. Avengers QB TONY GRAZIANI has a 61.9 first-down passing percentage connecting on 117-of-189 passes and scoring 42-of-69 touchdowns. Los Angeles WR/LB GREG HOPKINS, who is the defending Ironman of the Year, has caught at least one touchdown in 11 straight games. Desperados QB JIM KUBIAK enters the game completing 67.9-percent of his passes while the offense is racking up 302.2 yards per game (No. 2 in AFL). His go-to guy, OS DIALLEO BURKS, has chalked up 18 touchdowns this season, half of which occurred on 1st down. The Desperados are No. 1 in the AFL by converting 77.8 percent (7-of-9) of their 4th-down opportunities. Led by Lineman of the Year candidate TOM BRIGGS (9.5 sacks), the Desperados lead the AFL with 21.0 sacks.

TAMPA BAY STORM (9-3) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (5-7)
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 3 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – MIKE BREEN, RAY BENTLEY and DAVE BURNS)

It's a match-up between the AFL's best defense and it's No. 1 offense this Sunday when New York and Tampa Bay go head-to-head. The last time these two organizations faced off was ArenaBowl X in 1996, when the Storm defeated the then-Iowa Barnstormers, led by KURT WARNER, for the title. The Dragons are averaging an AFL-best 312.6 yards per game (303.8 passing). For QB AARON GARCIA, the go-to guy has been the AFL's scoring leader OS MIKE FURREY (276 points), whose nearest scoring competitor is close to 60 points away. The Dragons' "D" continues to climb the ranks each week led by DONVETIS FRANKLIN (73.0 tackles, No. 2 overall), who is tied for No. 2 among pass defenders (17 pass breakups, four interceptions). They'll battle the AFL's winningest coach, Tampa Bay's TIM MARCUM (152-54) and the League's toughest scoring defense (41.2 PPG). The Storm's No. 3-ranked total defense allows just 249.3 yards per game, including a League-best 6.8 rushing yards per game. Tampa Bay holds the No. 1 defensive scoring percentage, allowing opponents to score on 55 percent of possessions (72-of-131). Snaring the most interceptions this season (19, tie-Georgia), the Storm is led by ball hawks (combined 12 interceptions) WR/DB OMARR SMITH and DS COREY SAYWER. Tampa Bay owns the second-best turnover margin (+12). The Storm not only owns the No. 1 red zone defense (allowing scores on 40-of-55 attempts, 72.7 percent), but also has the toughest defense on 3rd- and 4th-down conversion, 28 stops on 82 attempts (34.1 percent). The Storm is second in sacks (19) – eight different Storm players have at least 1.0 sack, including sack leaders LAWRENCE SAMUELS, B.J. COHEN and KELVIN KINNEY with at least three each. The AFL's sixth-best passer rating belongs to JOHN KALEO (119.7), whose primary scoring target has been OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (138 points). Tampa Bay's rushing offense has been equally effective, scoring 22 touchdowns in its last nine games.

DETROIT FURY (6-6) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (6-6)
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 3 P.M. ET

The winner of this Fury-Gladiators matchup will claim the top position in the Eastern Division. Fury QB ANDY KELLY continues his assault on the Arena Football League record books, as he remains the League's all-time leading passer in attempts (3,915), completions (2,409) and passing yards (26,875). Kelly enters this weekend as No. 3 (tie) in passing touchdowns this season with 70. MARCUS NASH and JASON KAISER have combined for seven touchdown receptions in the Fury's last two contests. Detroit has the second-toughest defense on 3rd-down conversion, 36 stops on 60 attempts (40.0 percent). Las Vegas Head Coach FRANK HAEGE brings the AFL's No. 4 rush offense (23 touchdowns, 20.7 YPG). Gladiators QB JAY MCDONAGH leads the charge with 10 ground scores; WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON has seven to his credit. Veteran QB TODD HAMMEL stepped in for McDonagh last week, connecting 14-of-24 pass attempts for 128 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Las Vegas is third overall in fumble recoveries (11). Las Vegas OS MIKE HORACEK leads his team in scoring with 168 points (tie-No. 5, AFL).



Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from April 23, 2003


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