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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

Playoff Implications in Tampa

May 7, 2003 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK – Two of the Arena Football League's top teams square off on NBC at 3 p.m. ET this Sunday in a matchup of the unstoppable force vs. the immovable object – the San Jose SaberCats and Tampa Bay Storm. The Storm currently have the top record in the Drive to ArenaBowl XVII playoffs, while the SaberCats are tied for second-best.

San Jose head coach DARREN ARBET, who is the League's winningest coach over the last four seasons (50-13, .794), looks to the passing of QB MARK GRIEB (66.8 completion percentage and 65 touchdowns) and the receiving corps of WR/DB JAMES ROE (102 receptions and 29 touchdowns), OS JAMES HUNDON (63 receptions and 25 touchdowns) and WR/LB BARRY WAGNER (45 receptions and 21 total touchdowns). San Jose's offense leads the AFL in scoring (62.3 PPG), touchdown efficiency (71.7 percent), rushing offense (39.8 YPG) and rushing touchdowns (44).

Tampa Bay head coach TIM MARCUM, who is the AFL's all-time winningest coach (154-54, .740), has his defense hitting on all cylinders. The Storm defensive pressure comes from B.J. COHEN, KELVIN KINNEY and EARNEST CERTAIN, while linebackers DAVID WHITE and Ironman of the Year candidate LAWRENCE SAMUELS (3.5 sacks and four interceptions) add to the mix. A stifling secondary led by Defensive Player of the Year candidate OMARR SMITH (80.0 tackles and eight interceptions) and DS COREY SAWYER (48.0 tackles and six interceptions) blanket the defensive backfield. The Storm have held opponents to a League-low 55.8 scoring efficiency and 43.1 PPG (No. 1, tied with Georgia), while collecting 25.0 sacks.

The Las Vegas Gladiators and Detroit Fury battle for supremacy in the Eastern Division on Sunday. The winner will clinch a spot in the playoffs, but will have to wait until the result of the New York-Buffalo game to see if it also captures the division title. If either team wins both their remaining games, they would clinch the division title and a first-round home game. The AFL's all-time touchdown passing leader (536) – Detroit QB ANDY KELLY – guides the Fury offense against a Las Vegas secondary led by former All-Arena DS DAMON MASON (48.5 tackles and three interceptions) and WR/DB T.J. HILL (55.5 tackles and three interceptions).

In Chicago, Rush head coach MIKE HOHENSEE looks to keep Chicago (7-7) in the Central Division title hunt. A victory over Hall of Fame head coach DANNY WHITE and the Arizona Rattlers (8-6) on NBC at 3 p.m. ET this Sunday would clinch a playoff spot.

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

CAROLINA COBRAS (0-14) AT ORLANDO PREDATORS (10-4) FRIDAY, MAY 9 AT 7:30 P.M. ET

Carolina QB STEWART PATRIDGE has completed 44-of-90 for 527 yards, eight touchdowns and six interceptions in his last three games. Carolina OS BERNARD HOLMES, listed as questionable (knee) for this Friday's game, leads the team with 83 receptions as the target of 28 percent of the Cobras passing plays and is second overall in all-purpose yards (2,461). The Carolina team is No. 3 overall in kickoff return yards (1,924). The Cobras own the No. 4 pass defense (243.3 YPG), led by LARRY CASHER (two interceptions and eight pass breakups) and DEREK STINGLEY (one pick, 12 pass breakups, one forced fumble). With a win this weekend, Orlando will be one step closer to a first-round bye in their 10th playoff appearance in team history. Orlando QB JAY GRUDEN has completed 69-of-109 (63.3 percent) for 793 yards, 15 touchdowns and one interception in his last three games. Gruden has led the charge during the team's four-game winning streak, connecting with veteran WR/LB CORY FLEMING for nine touchdowns in the stretch. The AFL's second-best pass defender KENNY MCENTYRE (nine interceptions, 14 pass breakups and 80.5 tackles,) is matched by DS RASHAD FLOYD (51.5 tackles, four interceptions, seven pass breakups, two fumble recoveries) to police the backfield for Orlando, limiting opponents to an average of 43.4 points each week (No. 3, AFL). McEntyre has collected a total of six interceptions in his last four games. Orlando is third for the most sacks this season (21), led by Predators lineman E.J. BURT (7.0 sacks, No. 2 overall), who is also the League leader in forced fumbles with 7.0.

DALLAS DESPERADOS (8-6) AT GEORGIA FORCE (8-6) SATURDAY, MAY 10, AT 7:30 P.M. ET

Fighting for home playoff position in the closing weeks of the regular season, the Force, who has already clinched a playoff berth, is hoping that its top-ranked defense (231.1 YPG) will be able to contain the Desperados' No. 1 offense (300.4 YPG) and guide them into the postseason. Third-year DS SCOTTY LINDSEY led Georgia's No. 1 pass defense (218.9 YPG) last week with an interception and 3.0 tackles. The strong line play of MARCUS KEYES and JERMAINE SMITH (4.5 sacks, one interception and four blocked kicks) has led the Force to a fourth-ranked (tie) 15.0 sacks. In his record-setting 13th season, AFL veteran FB/LB DARRYL HAMMOND leads Georgia in scoring (110 points), and continues to brush off defenders (31.0 tackles, two interceptions, four pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles). Georgia is tied for the fourth-best turnover margin (+9) and has allowed the fewest opponents first downs (240). The Force's red-zone defense is third among all teams (tie), allowing the opposition to score on 47-of-61 opportunities inside the 10-yard line (77.0 percent). Rookie QB LEON MURRAY found his rhythm last week, completing 81.6 percent of pass attempts last week for 307 yards and six touchdowns (no interceptions), including four to OS TYRONNE JONES. Murray also rushed for another score as the Force scored their highest point total (77) in team history. Playoff-bound for their second consecutive season, the Desperados are still in the hunt for a first-round bye and looking to secure at least one home playoff game. Dallas ' JIM KUBIAK boasts the League's top pass-completion percentage (69.1) and is the lone quarterback to exceed 4,000 passing yards. On 59-of-78 passing in his last two games (75.6 percent), Kubiak has thrown for 583 yards and 14 touchdowns. On 3rd-down conversions, Kubiak goes to WR/LB DIALLEO BURKS 37 percent of the time, connecting for six touchdowns to date. Burks (1,106 yards), who has recorded 13 touchdown receptions in his last five games, and WR/LB ANDY McCULLOUGH (1,143) became the first receiving tandem from the same team to surpass 1,000 yards this season. Lineman of the Year candidate TOM BRIGGS leads the AFL with 9.5 sacks and needs 3.5 over his last two games to tie the all-time mark (13) set by Arena Football Hall of Famer CRAIG WALLS with Pittsburgh in 1987.

COLORADO CRUSH (2-12) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (10-4) SATURDAY, MAY 10 AT 10:30 P.M. ET (TV: FOX SPORTS WEST 2 – BILL MACDONALD and ARTIE GIGANTINO)

Colorado QB JOHN DUTTON has completed 66-of-111 (60.4 percent) for 817 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions in his last three games. Dutton has been most efficient on 3rd down by completing 43-of-65 (66.2 percent) with 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. With the Crush placing OS DAMIAN HARRELL (97 receptions and 38 touchdowns) on injured reserve, WR/DB CHARLIE DAVIDSON (65 receptions and 15 touchdowns) and WR/LB JOE DOUGLASS (63 receptions and 12 touchdowns) will look to pick up the slack. Los Angeles QB TONY GRAZIANI has completed 63-of-102 (61.7 percent) for 776 yards, 20 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games. Week 14 Offensive Player of the Week, OS CHRIS JACKSON has 27 receptions for 364 yards and 14 touchdowns in his last three games. Jackson is one touchdown reception away from tying the AFL single-season touchdown record (46, MIKE HORACEK with Iowa in 2000 and MIKE FURREY with New York in 2003). The Avengers are the only team in the Arena Football League to have four players with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards this season. Jackson (1,612), WR/DB KEVIN INGRAM (1,129), WR/DB SIAHA BURLEY (1,101) and WR/LB GREG HOPKINS (1,071) have combined for 4,913 yards in 14 games this season (the equivalent of 2.8 miles).

NEW YORK DRAGONS (6-8) AT BUFFALO DESTROYERS (5-9) SUNDAY, MAY 11, AT 3 P.M. ET

The 12th-seeded Dragons, who are averaging a second-best 297.9 yards per game, face the No. 13 seeded Buffalo in a battle for Eastern Division positioning and one of the four remaining playoff positions. New York is only one game out of the division lead. The Dragons may see the return of their top offensive weapon – QB AARON GARCIA (averages 313.1 passing YPG, 86 total touchdowns), who is eligible to be activated from injured reserve (head) this week. In his first AFL career start, WALTER CHURCH stepped in under center last week against Las Vegas and passed for 204 yards and four touchdowns, including a game-winning touchdown strike to WR/DB DAMIEN GROCE with less than a minute remaining. New York's red-zone offense is third overall, scoring on 88.7 percent of opportunities inside the 10-yard line (47-of-53). The Dragons' "D" has held their last five opponents to an average 42.8 points per game. Led by veteran linemen ERIC ENGLAND and ANTHONY HUTCH, New York has stepped up its pass rush, collecting 15 sacks (No. 4) and recording 35 quarterback hurries this season – 76 percent of their season's pressure stats coming in the last eight games (six wins). New York DS DONVETIS FRANKLIN (85.0 tackles, tie-No. 1 overall), who is tied for fourth among pass defenders (18 pass breakups, four interceptions) with Buffalo DS DWAINE CARPENTER (16 pass break ups, six interceptions). Carpenter set a team record last week with his ninth interception of the season – he and JOJO POLK lead the Destroyers No. 2-ranked pass defense (224.0 YPG), which has collected 18 interceptions (tie-No. 6). Both Buffalo defenders are among the Top 10 in tackles – Carpenter is fourth with 77.0; Polk is at No. 6 with 70.0). Of Buffalo's 15 sacks (tie-No. 4), close to half are credited to KEN BOUIE and SILAS DEMARY – the pair has consistently pressured opposing passers (seven quarterback hurries combined). First-year head coach RON SELESKY has his defensive unit holding opponents to just 46.2 points per game (No. 4, AFL). Buffalo ranks fifth for their red-zone defense – opponents have scored on 49-of-63 attempts, 77.8 percent. The Destroyers may have found their quarterback in BOB BEES, who last week passed for 238 yards and six touchdowns, a pair each to WR/LB CORNELIUS WHITE, OS JAMES BOWDEN and rookie WR/DB JASON COLLINS-BAKER. White has pulled in six touchdown receptions in his last four games.

ARIZONA RATTLERS (8-6) AT CHICAGO RUSH (7-7) SUNDAY, MAY 11 AT 3 P.M. ET (TV: NBC – MIKE BREEN, RAY BENTLEY and DAVE BURNS)

A victory by the Chicago Rush would secure a postseason position for the third straight season for the third-year franchise. Chicago QB BILLY DICKEN has completed 57-of-80 for 669 yards, 12 touchdowns and one interception in his last three games. Chicago OS ANTONIO CHATMAN became the 4th player in AFL history to record 25 receiving touchdowns, 100 receptions, 1,000 receiving yards and 1,000 return yards in a season. Last Sunday at Carolina, Chatman caught 10 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns plus added 108 return yards, including a record-tying 58-yard touchdown. WR/DB CORNELIUS BONNER (44 receptions and eight touchdowns) has at least one touchdown reception in six straight games. Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER has completed 60-of-93 (64.5 percent) for 837 yards, 20 touchdowns and one interception in his last three games. Ironman of the Year candidate WR/DB RANDY GATEWOOD has recorded 28 receptions for 310 yards and 12 touchdowns in his last four games. The former All-Arena and All-Ironman Team performer has at least one touchdown in his last 12 games. Two-time Ironman of the Year WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER leads the League in catch percentage (82.0 percent).

LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (7-7) AT DETROIT FURY (7-7) SUNDAY, MAY 11, 3 P.M. ET

The winner of this matchup is guaranteed a playoff spot and the lead in the Eastern Division. Two weeks ago, these teams faced off and Las Vegas proved victorious. Gladiators Head Coach FRANK HAEGE brings the AFL's fifth-best defense (258.0 YPG) to face all-time passing leader Detroit QB ANDY KELLY and the vengeful Fury squad. Las Vegas possesses the No. 4 rushing offense (30 touchdowns, 23.1 YPG), led by QB JAY MCDONAGH, who is No. 2 overall in rushing touchdowns with 14; WR/DB SEDRICK ROBINSON has eight to his credit. Las Vegas is No. 2 (tie) overall in fumble recoveries (13). Former Offensive Player of the Year OS MIKE HORACEK leads the AFL in receptions (114) and tops the Gladiators scorers list with 186 points (No. 6, AFL). Las Vegas gives up the second fewest yards on kick returns (17.5 YPG) and is one of only three teams this season to allow one (or none) return touchdowns on kickoffs. Leading the Fury to the .500 mark, Kelly continues his assault on the AFL record books, as he remains the League's all-time leading passer in attempts (4,002), completions (2,459), yards (27,357) and touchdowns (536). Kelly enters this weekend as No. 4 in passing touchdowns this season with 81. Last week, TY GROVESTEEN and HERMAN BELL combined for four touchdown receptions in the Fury's division win over Buffalo. Detroit DS/KR RON CARPENTER leads the AFL in kick returns (86) and kick return yards (2,051) and he's tied for No. 4 in kick returns for touchdowns (three). Detroit has the second-toughest defense on 3rd-down conversion, 42 stops on 71 attempts (40.8 percent).

INDIANA FIREBIRDS (5-9) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (8-6) SUNDAY, MAY 11 AT 3 P.M. ET

Indiana QB RAYMOND PHILYAW has completed 70-of-109 (64.2 percent) for 804 yards and 15 touchdowns and one interception in his last three games. When Philyaw's 29th pass of the game was intercepted by Georgia's SCOTTY LINDSEY in last week's contest, it snapped the AFL regular-season record of consecutive passes without an interception – the streak reached 300 passes dating back to 2002. Indiana OS JEREMY MCDANIEL has caught at least one touchdown in his last four games. Grand Rapids QB CLINT DOLEZEL has completed 62-of-97 (63.9 percent) for 876 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions in his last three games. The former All-Arena performer is one touchdown pass away from becoming the first quarterback in history to throw at least 80 touchdowns in four different seasons – 1998-99 and 2001 were his previous three. WR/DB WILLIS MARSHALL has recorded a reception in each of the 35 games he has suited up for Grand Rapids. Since the beginning of 2002, Marshall has posted 146 catches for 1,738 yards and 28 TDs and is currently No. 4 in the AFL in catch-percentage (75.0 percent). The Rampage are No. 4 in the AFL with a 68.4 touchdown scoring percentage.

SAN JOSE SABERCATS (10-4) AT TAMPA BAY STORM (11-3) SUNDAY, MAY 11, 3 P.M. ET

If the Storm wins against defending champion San Jose this Sunday, Tampa Bay can clinch the No. 1 seed (if Los Angeles loses to Colorado on Saturday night). If the SaberCats win, San Jose would secure their own first-round bye and could take or tie for the lead in the Western Division (pending outcome of Los Angeles game). Led by WR/DB BARRY WAGNER (16) and FB/LB KEALA KEANAAINA (10), the SaberCats boast the No. 1 rushing offense (39.8 YPG) and, with two games remaining, have scored the most rushing touchdowns by a team in AFL history (44). They face an uphill battle against the Storm's top-ranked rushing defense, which gives up just 8.6 yards per game and has allowed a League-low 15 ground scores. Led by MARK GRIEB (3,450 yards, 65 touchdowns), who is averaging a League-best 8.7 yards per pass attempt (tie), San Jose's red-zone offense is a near-perfect 98.4 percent on opportunities inside the 10-yard line (60-of-61). Grieb's favorite target (36 percent of the time) has been WR/DB JAMES ROE, who leads the SaberCats in scoring with 186 points (tie-No. 6, overall). San Jose DS/KR CLEVAN THOMAS is on pace to break the AFL mark record for most interceptions in a season – he has a League-best 11 picks in 12 games (three returned for touchdowns). The SaberCats have collected 21 picks through Week 14. It's the Storm that has snared the most interceptions this season (22), led by ball hawks (combined 14 interceptions) DS COREY SAYWER and former SaberCat WR/DB OMARR SMITH. Tampa Bay owns the best turnover margin (+16). The Storm not only has the second-best red zone defense (allowing scores on 50-of-67 attempts, 74.6 percent), but also has the toughest defense on 3rd- and 4th-down conversion, 65 stops on 98 attempts (66.3 percent). The Storm is tied for No. 1 in sacks (25) – five different Storm players have at least 2.0 sacks, including sack leader B.J. COHEN, who has recorded 6.0 to date. The AFL's fourth-best passer rating belongs to JOHN KALEO (120.0), whose primary scoring target has been OS FREDDIE SOLOMON (168 points). Tampa Bay's rushing offense has been equally effective, scoring 25 touchdowns in its last ten games.

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 7, 2003


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