
Playoff picture takes shape on NBC this Sunday
May 26, 2004 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK â Five teams are fighting for the final three playoff berths, while the five teams that have clinched are battling for playoff positioning as the Drive to ArenaBowl XVIII heads into the final week of the regular season. The San Jose SaberCats (11-4) and Chicago Rush (11-4) have clinched home games during the Quarterfinal Round, while the Arizona Rattlers (10-5), Colorado Crush (10-5), New Orleans VooDoo (10-5), Los Angeles Avengers (9-6) and Orlando Predators (9-6) still have a chance at hosting.
Two playoff-caliber games â Orlando at Los Angeles and Chicago at Colorado â highlight NBC's Week 17 coverage on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. Indiana rookie QB ADRIAN MC PHERSON will join AFL on NBC studio host AL TRAUTWIG and analyst GLENN PARKER in the studio for halftime commentary and postgame wrap-up interviews.
Orlando, who have won six of their last seven games, are led by U.S. Army Ironman of the Year candidate WR/LB CORY FLEMING (118 receptions, 1,462 yards, 31 TDs and 15.5 total tackles), travel to Staples Center to play Los Angeles and Baby Ruth Real Deal Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB TONY GRAZIANI (64.7 passing percentage, 4,028 yards, 94 TDs and 4 INTs) on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on NBC. The winner clinches a playoff berth, while the loser will need help to get in.
Chicago head coach MIKE HOHENSEE has the Rush focused on earning the top seed when they travel to Pepsi Center to play the MIKE DAILEY-led Colorado Crush. Offensive Player of the Year candidate OS DAMIAN HARRELL (110 receptions, 1,635 yards and 41 TDs) looks to spark the Crush offense, while Lineman of the Year candidate JOHN MOYER (10.0 sacks, No. 1 in AFL) leads the Rush defense. Chicago has secured a Quarterfinal-Round home game and needs a victory to have a shot at the top seed. Colorado needs a victory and help to secure a Quarterfinal Round home game.
One of the AFL's best rivalries has a little extra at stake when Arizona travels to HP Pavilion to play San Jose on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. A victory for San Jose secures the top seed, while an Arizona victory and a Chicago loss to Colorado would give the Rattlers the No. 1 seed. Led by 2003 All-Arena QB SHERDRICK BONNER (64.7 completion percentage, 3,620 yards, 73 TDs and 8 INTs), the Rattlers are on a seven-game winning streak which included a 58-41 victory over the SaberCats on May 9. San Jose's Offensive Player of the Year candidate QB MARK GRIEB (72.9, 3,837, 71 and 7) looks to lead the SaberCats to their third No. 1 seed in the past four seasons.
The Austin Wranglers needs a victory against fellow expansion team New Orleans and some help in order to stay in the hunt for the playoffs. The VooDoo have secured a spot, but have their sights set on improving their standing.
The New York Dragons (8-7) face the Philadelphia Soul (5-10) with a chance to land a playoff berth. Head coach MICHAEL TRIGG and the Soul started this budding rivalry with a last-second field goal to clinch the 60-58 victory. Former Offensive Player of the Year QB AARON GARCIA (61.0 completion percentage, 3,563 yards and 86 TDs) looks to get the Dragons in the playoffs for the second straight season. An upset by Philadelphia would jeopardize the Dragons playoff chances.
Games for Week 17 include: Detroit at Grand Rapids and Carolina at Georgia on Saturday; Arizona at San Jose, Columbus at Las Vegas, Orlando at Los Angeles (NBC), Chicago at Colorado (NBC), Philadelphia at New York, Austin at New Orleans and Tampa Bay at Dallas on Sunday. Indiana has a bye week.
ARENA FOOTBALL LEAGUE WRITERS' ASSOCIATION (AFLWA) POLL
RANK TEAM RECORD VOTES (FIRST PLACE)
1 Chicago Rush 11-4 154 (9)
2 San Jose SaberCats 11-4 147 (7)
3 Arizona Rattlers 10-5 133 (5)
4 Colorado Crush 10-5 100
5 New Orleans VooDoo 10-5 74
T-6 Orlando Predators 9-6 47
T-6 Tampa Bay Storm 8-7 47
8 Los Angeles Avengers 9-6 42
Also receiving votes: New York Dragons 9 and Austin Wranglers 3.
CAROLINA COBRAS (6-9) AT GEORGIA FORCE (6-9)
SATURDAY, MAY 29, AT 7 P.M. ET
In a win against Grand Rapids last week, Carolina QB RICKEY FOGGIE completed 21-of-33 for 275 yards, three TDs and one INT... Carolina's FRED VINSON had 11.0 total tackles and two PBUPs... Cobra OS TODD DOXZON is No. 11 in the League in receptions (90), and No. 17 in receiving yards (1044)... WR DAMIEN GROCE is No. 12 in the League in all-purpose yards (1735)... Winning against Austin last week, Georgia's LEON MURRAY was 15-of-26 for 216 yards, five TDs and two INTs, with four rushes for 15 yards and one TD... Force OS MARKEITH COOPER set a new single-season record for most receiving yards when he hauled in 40 yards on three catches against Austin, giving him 1,027 on the year... Cooper became the first 1,000+-yard receiver in club history... He also broke the Force single-season mark for most TDs in a season (22)... Cooper is currently tied for No. 12 in the AFL for leading scorer non-kickers (156 points). Averaging 31.3 yards a game rushing, the Force currently rank No. 4 in the League in rushing offense... FB/LB ROBERT THOMAS currently is No. 2 among all rookies in rushing (213 yards on 47 carries, 11 scores)... Murray is No. 3 among all QBs (191 yards rushing on 47 carries, 13 TDs)... Murray stands tied for No. 6 overall in the AFL in rushing.
DETROIT FURY (4-11) AT GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE (1-14)
SATURDAY, MAY 29, AT 7:30 P.M. ET
The one win this season by Grand Rapids was a 45-49 victory over Detroit on 4/10... The loss sent Detroit on a seven-game losing streak... Last week in a loss to Colorado, Detroit's RON CARPENTER had five KO returns for 119 yards, including a 57-yard TD return... Fury QB ANDY KELLY has completed 337-of-552 passes for 3,842 yards, 67 TDs and 12 INTs this season... Detroit WR THABITI DAVIS has the opportunity to break two Fury receiving records, receptions in a season and receiving yards... Davis currently has 120 receptions for 1,443 yards... He only needs five more receptions and 181 yards to tie the franchise records... Davis is No. 2 in the League in receptions and No. 5 in receiving yardage... Rookie DAWAN MOSS needs 10 more rushing yards to have a 100-yard rushing season, the first in Fury history... The Fury are 2-0 when leading after the first quarter... Grand Rapids Rampage DS CECIL DOGGETTE leads the League with 26 passes defended... Last week, Doggette broke up two passes which put him all-time as the AFL's career leader in pass breakups (135)... Doggette is No. 16 in the AFL with 67.0 total tackles (49 solo, 36 assists)... Rampage QB ANTHONY BUICH leads Grand Rapids in passing, completing 217-of-363 passes for 2,351 yards, 35 TDs and eight INTs... In his first game as OS last week, due to the season-ending injury to STEVE SMITH, CARLOS JOHNSON caught 14 passes for 173 yards and one TD.
ARIZONA RATTLERS (10-5) AT SAN JOSE SABERCATS (11-4)
SUNDAY, MAY 30, AT 4 P.M. ET
The Arizona Rattlers have won seven games in a row... With a win over San Jose and a loss by Chicago this week, Arizona can clinch the League's best record... If San Jose wins over Arizona, they walk away with the League's best record and the No. 1 seed... The SaberCats are currently ranked No. 1 in the AFLWA poll... The last time these two teams met, Arizona QB SHERDRICK BONNER tossed seven TDs in the 58-31 win over the SaberCats... OL/DL TONY PLANTIN and FB/LB FRANK TRENTADUE both got sacks against San Jose Offensive Player of the Year candidate MARK GRIEB... WR/LB HUNKIE COOPER has 52 yards to go to become the AFL's all-time leader in all-purpose yards... The record (20,480 yards) is held by GEORGE LAFRANCE... Bonner needs 73 yards to set a new Arizona franchise record for passing yards in a season... Bonner set the record last year when he threw for 3, 692 yards... Last week, San Jose's Grieb went 22-of-29 for 289 yards, 5 TDs and 0 INTs in a win against Philadelphia... Grieb currently has the highest passer rating in the League (133.5)... To become QB with the highest passer rating all-time in the AFL, he will need to stay above RAYMOND PHILYAW'S 131.7 passer rating from 2001... Grieb is also on track to have the AFL's highest completion percentage for a season (72.9%)... the record is currently held by JIM KUBIAK (69.7%, in 2003).
ORLANDO PREDATORS (9-6) AT LOS ANGELES AVENGERS (9-6)
SUNDAY, MAY 30, AT 4 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC -- TOM HAMMOND, PAT HADEN and LEWIS JOHNSON)
The Orlando Predators can clinch a playoff spot with a win or an Austin, New York or Tampa Bay loss... The Avengers can clinch a playoff spot with a win or an Austin, New York, or Tampa Bay loss... After a 3-5 start, the Predators have won six of their last seven... Orlando's JOE HAMILTON completed 14-of-17 passes for 168 yards, four TDs and 1 INT, along with five rushes for 4 yards and one TD in a win over New York last week... WR/LB CORY FLEMING is No. 2 in the league in receptions (118)... Last week, Ironman of the Year candidate Fleming had nine receptions for 88 yards and three TDs, a 49-yard KO return for TD and 2.0 total tackles... The Predator defense leads the League with 33 sacks, including 7.5 by FB/LB RUPERT GRANT... DS KENNY MCENTYRE leads the League with nine INTs... Orlando's IDRIS PRICE won Defensive Player of the Week honors with 3.5 total tackles, 2.0 sacks and 2 INTs, including 44-yard INT return for TD... In a win over Las Vegas last week, L.A.'s TONY GRAZIANI went 17-of-24 for 229 yards, six TDs and 0 INTs with one rushing TD... Graziani needs six TDs to reach 100 for the season... Graziani will be only the second AFL player in history to throw for 100 TDs in a season (New York's AARON GARCIA has the record with 104)... Ironman of the Year candidate KEVIN INGRAM had six receptions for 88 yards and three TDs, one rush for 12 yards, three KO returns for 48 yards and 8.0 total tackles last week... The Avengers currently lead the League, averaging 56.9 points per game and 7.3 yards per play... L.A. is No. 3 in the AFL in red-zone offense, scoring on 68 of its 77 trips (59 TDs [42 passing, 17 rushing] and nine FGs)... The Avengers currently have a red-zone percentage of 88.3... The Avengers are 5-0 this season when they score 60 or more points... The Avengers have turned the ball over only 10 times (the fewest in the AFL).
CHICAGO RUSH (11-4) AT COLORADO CRUSH (10-5)
SUNDAY, MAY 30, AT 4 P.M. ET
(TV: NBC -- BOB PAPA and RAY BENTLEY)
Chicago can clinch the AFL's best record with a win and a San Jose loss this week... Colorado can clinch a quarterfinal home game with a victory over Chicago and a loss by either Arizona or New Orleans, or with an Orlando loss and a loss by either Arizona or New Orleans... In the last matchup of the two teams, Chicago won out over Colorado, 65-35, with Colorado OS DAMIAN HARRELL hauling in three TDs and Chicago's ETU MOLDEN catching two TDs... Last week against Indiana, Rookie of the Year candidate Molden had four receptions for 26 yards and two TDs, one rushing TD and one KO return for 13 yards, along with 1.0 total tackle and a fumble recovery (net recovery for a TD), earning him Ironman of the Week honors... Lineman of the Year candidate JOHN MOYER had 4.5 total tackles, 2.0 sacks and 1 PBUP in the game... Moyer leads the League in sacks (10.0 total)... Moyer needs three more sacks to tie the single-season record... Last week, in a win against Detroit, Colorado's Harrell caught 13 receptions for 208 yards and three TDs... Harrell ranks No. 3 in scoring (246 points) and receiving yards (1,635)... Colorado QB JOHN DUTTON has completed 323-of-506 passes for 3,929 yards, 70 TDs and seven INTs this season... DS RASHAD FLOYD leads the Crush and the League with 114.5 tackles, including 99 solo tackles... Floyd needs 7.5 tackles to break the single-season record of 121.5 tackles... Floyd also has six INTs, No. 3 in the AFL.
PHILADELPHIA SOUL (5-10) AT NEW YORK DRAGONS (8-7)
SUNDAY, MAY 30, AT 4 P.M. ET
New York clinches a playoff spot this week with a win and a Tampa Bay loss, or with losses by Austin, Tampa Bay and Las Vegas... Dragons' LINCOLN DUPREE is tied for No. 6 in the AFL with 102-missed FG return-yards and tied for No. 2 with one TD... As a kick returner, Dupree ranks tied for No. 7, averaging 20.5 yards/return... The New York defense is averaging 47.7 PPG (No. 8 in the AFL), and they rank No. 3 in red zone defense... On offense, the Dragons are scoring 52.0 PPG, No. 6 in the League... The Dragons have won their eight games by an average score of 54-38... The last time these two teams met (4/24/04), K KEN HINSLEY nailed a 52-yard FG as time expired to give the Soul a 60-58 victory... The Dragons and Soul are No. 4 and No. 5 in the League defending the rush... The Soul have averaged 2.1 yards per rush, while the Dragons have allowed a 1.9 yard average... The Soul are tied for No. 1 in the AFL in kickoff coverage... Their defense starts at a League-best 11.4 average yard line, and they have covered 82 kickoffs and allowed 1,286 yards and 0 TDs for a 15.7 yard return average... The Soul are tied for No. 4 in the AFL in rushing TDs (28 in 115 rushing attempts)... CHRIS RYAN leads the team in rushing TDs with 15... Ryan needs one rushing TD to hit 50 for his career... Soul OS TYRONNE JONES needs two yards rushing for 100 yards for his career and 31 KO return yards to reach 700 for the season... DS JOE TODD has 21 passes defensed, No. 2 in the AFL... Philadelphia's DWAYNE MISSOURI had 2.0 total tackles and 2.0 sacks against San Jose last week.
AUSTIN WRANGLERS (8-7) AT NEW ORLEANS VOODOO (10-5)
SUNDAY, MAY 30, AT 4 P.M. ET
Austin can clinch a playoff spot this week with a win and a New York and Tampa Bay loss... New Orleans beat the Wranglers at home in the final seconds during their first meeting of the 2004 season... QB JOHN KALEO threw five TDs and surpassed 25,000 passing yards on his career during that game... With just over a minute remaining in the game, Austin had their largest margin of the game at 59-48, when New Orleans scored two TDs to win... WR/DB CHARLIE DAVIDSON and Rookie of the Year candidate TACOMA FONTAINE together account for 3,148 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, KO returns, INT returns)... That is more than half of the Wranglers 5,687 total all-purpose yards in the 2004 season... Fontaine is No. 20 in the League for scoring (128 points) and No. 14 in receiving yards (1062)... Austin OL/DL and Lineman of the Year candidate TOM BRIGGS is No. 2 in the League in sacks (8.5)... New Orleans VooDoo OS AARON BAILEY is No. 4 in AFL scoring (204 points)... FB/LB DAN CURRAN is the leading rusher in the AFL with 79 carries for 320 yards and 21 rushing TDs... Curran's total of 21 rushing TDs is No. 2 in AFL history, tied with Orlando's BARRY WAGNER of Orlando in 1995... Curran is only the fourth player in AFL history to record over 20 rushing TDs in a season... The VooDoo became the first AFL expansion franchise to win 10 games in a season and clinched a playoff berth when they defeated the Georgia Force 44-40 last Saturday... The VooDoo has a 6-1 record at the New Orleans Arena... New Orleans and the Colorado Crush (6-1) trail the San Jose SaberCats (6-0) for the best home record... Through 14 games, New Orleans has surrendered an average of only 45.8 PPG, No. 3 in the AFL in scoring defense.
TAMPA BAY STORM (8-7) AT DALLAS DESPERADOS (6-9)
SUNDAY, MAY 30, AT 4 P.M. ET
Offensive Player of the Week SHANE STAFFORD earned honors for a win against the No. 4-ranked New Orleans VooDoo, completing 22-of-30 for 267 yards, six TDs and 0 INTs... Tampa Bay can now clinch a playoff berth with a win; or a loss by Austin and New York and a Las Vegas win... In the New Orleans' win, Tampa Bay's DAVID SAUNDERS had six receptions for 83 yards and three TDs, along with 2.0 total tackles and a forced fumble... Storm OS FREDDIE SOLOMON is No. 6 in the AFL for scoring (192 points)... Dallas' QB SCOTT DREISBACH completed 27-of-38 passing for 316 yards with four TDs and two INTs... Tampa Bay is one of only two teams (Colorado) that the Desperados have never scored fewer than 60 points against... Through 15 games, Dallas has rushed for a club-record 265 yards on 82 carries, an improvement over the previous team record by 119 yards (146 yards in 2002)... WR/DB WILL PETTIS currently ranks No. 1 in KO return yards (1,664), No. 5 in missed field goal return yards (135) and No. 16 in receiving yards (1,055)... Compared to other teams three leading pass catchers, OS JASON SHELLEY, Pettis and rookie BOBBY SIPPIO rank No. 3 in the league in receptions (256), No. 2 in receiving yards (3,348), No. 2 in receiving TDs (69) and No. 6 in average yards-per-catch (13.08).
COLUMBUS DESTROYERS (6-9) AT LAS VEGAS GLADIATORS (7-8)
SUNDAY, MAY 30, AT 6 P.M. ET
Last week, the Destroyers scored more points than any game dating back to 6/25/00 when they racked up 79 points against the New Jersey Red Dogs... The Destroyers have won six games when they win the turnover battle, and are 0-6 when they lose it... Destroyers OS SEDRICK ROBINSON has five rushing, five returns and 18 receptions for TDs, leading the team in scoring with 28 total TDs and 170 points... He also leads the team in KO returns with 67 for 1,489 yards... He leads the team in all-purpose yards with 2,538 yards (No. 2 in AFL)... In a win over Dallas last week, Robinson had seven receptions for 125 yards and four TDs, five KO returns for 153 yards (including 56-yard TD) and he completed a 17-yard pass on fourth down... Last week, Las Vegas WR/LB MARCUS NASH caught nine passes for 75 yards with two TDs to bring his season totals to 148 receptions for 1,709 yards and 44 TDs... His 148 receptions is a current AFL record and he is within range of breaking the league record of 46 receiving TDs in a season (MIKE HORACEK 2001, CHRIS JACKSON 2003, MIKE FURREY 2003)... Nash, with 288 points this season, needs 23 points scored on Sunday to break the record for most points scored in a season (310 set by BARRY WAGNER in 1997)... Gladiator COCO BLALOCK has 26 receptions for 344 yards, six TDs, 20 KO returns for 422 yards, one for a TD and 9.5 total tackles... On the season, Las Vegas QB CLINT DOLEZEL has completed 363-of-559 for 4,164 yards and 86 TDs... The highest pass completion percentage in a season for the Gladiators is 62.3 by JAY MCDONAGH in 2002... Dolezel is currently at 65.2... Las Vegas' trio of Nash, Blalock and CORNELIUS BONNER are one of the top receiving threesomes in the league and are ranked No. 1 in receptions (276) and No. 3 in receiving yards (3,243).
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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 26, 2004
- Playoff picture takes shape on NBC this Sunday - AFL I
- AFL injury report - AFL I
- San Jose SaberCats game notes - San Jose SaberCats
- Vena, Ward re-sign with Columbus - Columbus Destroyers
- Crucial Final Week of The AFL's Regular Season Featured Sunday At 4 P.M. ET - AFL I
- Kickoff for Destroyers versus Gladiators moved to 6:00 PM - Columbus Destroyers
- Austin Wranglers game notes - Austin Wranglers
- Rampage High School Combine This Saturday - Grand Rapids Rampage
- Colorado Crush game notes - Colorado Crush
- Carolina Cobras game notes - Carolina Cobras
- AFL serves its fans with launch of AFLFan.net 9.0 Internet Access - AFL I
- Players set to rewrite record books - AFL I
- Predators make roster moves - Orlando Predators
- Los Angeles Avengers game notes - Los Angeles Avengers
- Philadelphia Soul game notes - Philadelphia Soul
- Arizona Rattlers game notes - Arizona Rattlers
- Columbus Destroyers game notes - Columbus Destroyers
- Detroit Fury game notes - Detroit Fury
- Grand Rapids Rampage game notes - Grand Rapids Rampage
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